W5 - The Self and Identity Flashcards
What key question does the study of the self address?
“Who are you?”—an exploration of self-definition.
What are William James’s (1890) distinctions in the self?
The ‘Me’ (material, social, spiritual) and the ‘I’ (stream of consciousness).
How did George Herbert Mead (1934) describe the formation of the self?
Through language and social interaction, resolving individual-society tension via ‘I’ and ‘Me’.
What is Erving Goffman’s (1959) ‘face work’ concept?
Maintaining a positive social identity through role performance.
How does Goffman’s theory view social roles?
Individuals act out roles prescribed by society to maintain order.
What distinguishes the concepts of ‘Self’ and ‘Identity’?
Self: individual understanding; Identity: relation to groups and roles.
Why is understanding historical context important in studying the self?
It highlights the philosophical and theoretical evolution of self-conceptualization.
What is introspection, and why is it significant?
The inward analysis of thoughts, feelings, and motives to understand oneself.
What does Self-Awareness Theory (Carver & Scheier, 1981) state about self-focus?
It can lead to moral alignment or avoidance when focusing on shortcomings.
What did Lewis et al. (2021) find about self-awareness and pro-social behavior?
Mirrors heightened self-awareness, increasing recognition of oneself as a social object.
What is the premise of Bem’s (1972) Self-Perception Theory?
People infer preferences by observing their own behavior, especially in ambiguous contexts.
What is the Proteus Effect (Yee & Bailenson, 2007)?
Behavior is influenced by self-similar avatars, emphasizing self-perception.
How did Navarro et al. (2022) explore the Proteus Effect?
Found that avatars resembling the self (e.g., in sportswear) increase physical activity.
What are the two types of social comparisons in Festinger’s (1954) theory?
Upward (inspiration) and downward (self-esteem boost).
What is the Big Fish, Small Pond Effect (Marsh & Parker, 1984)?
Academic self-concept varies with peer achievement context.
What did Jansen et al. (2022) conclude about peer influence on self-concept?
General peer achievements have a greater impact than specific peer subsets.
What is Tajfel and Turner’s (1979, 1986) Social Identity Theory?
Identity is shaped by group memberships and comparisons.
How does Liao et al. (2020) link team participation to social identity?
Team identity strengthens compliance and enjoyment.
What do Gough et al. (2013) argue about ‘De-Centered Selves’?
The self is culturally constructed, rejecting the notion of a singular, objective identity.
How does Foucault (1979) conceptualize identity?
As context-dependent, shaped by power dynamics and discourse.
What is Goffman’s (1959) ‘Dramaturgical Theory’?
Identity is performed through ‘front stage’ (public roles) and ‘back stage’ (private roles).
What are the limitations of Goffman’s theory (Ling, 1998)?
It lacks depth in addressing broader societal structures beyond face-to-face interactions.
How does Rowan & Cooper (1999) describe the plural self?
As consisting of multiple subpersonalities and existential possibilities.
What is Gergen’s (2009) concept of the relational self?
The self evolves through social interactions and shared language.
