Week 10 - Self-Regulation Perspective Flashcards
explain schemas and self-regulation theory
Schemas often include info about behaviour
People use the info to recognise what others are doing and to guide the ‘making’ of behaviour.
They help people know what to do in scripted situations.
In self-reg models sometimes behaviour can be specified by interpretive schemas.
Self-regulation perspective -
Suggests that we make conscious decisions to help reach our goals.
Guiding thoughts, feelings and behaviours towards goals, current tasks, personal strivings, personal projects and current concerns.
describe intentions and their types
Intentions -
Products of mental algebra in which personally desired outcomes are weighted to yield an intent to act or not act.
Implementation intentions -
Constitute linking of strategies to the contexts in which the person wants to engage them.
How, when and where of the process.
Formed in a deliberate mindset.
Goal intention -
Intent to reach a particular outcome
- Deliberative mindset -
deliberating the decision to act - Implemental mindset -
focuses on implementing the intention to act. this mindset fosters persistence.
Both of these done in different brain areas (planning in frontal cortex)
describe goals and goal setting
Behaviour is directed towards goals.
Schemas suggest what action to take.
Forming and intention = setting up a goal to reach.
Goals energise activities, direct movements and provide meaning.
There is goals, sub goals and strategies.
Goals can be compatible or conflict.
Higher goals lead to higher performance (try harder, more persistence and enhance concentration)
explain feedback loops, their operation and implications
Once a goal for behaviour is evoked, self-reg reflects a process of feedback control.
A reference value (goal) is compared against present behaviour
If the two differ, behaviour is adjusted, leading to a new perception and comparison (hence ‘loop’)
Self-reg is a never ending process.
Goal reference value
> Comparator (input perceptions are compared against the goal)
> output function (changes in next behaviour)
> Effect on environment (outside disturbances can impact here)
> Input function (perception of your present behaviour and its effect)
and around we go»_space;»
Assumptions - Behaviour is purposeful
describe hierarchical organisation of goals
Hierarchical organisation can account for the fact that a goal can be attained by so many kinds of actions and that same action can occur in service to diverse goals.
Assumptions - that there are higher and lower level goals and that they relate to each other.
Eg: A man has the “principle” (broad guideline) of being thoughtful of his wife.
He uses the strategy of buying flowers to represent his principle of being thoughtful.
define self-regulation and emotions
Emotions -
convey important info which has a strong influence on behaviour.
Negative feelings: increase drive
Positive feelings: can decrease drive (coast, however this can help increase drive for other goals at that time)
Avoidance - creates distance instead of conformity
Self regulation sometimes entails self-control; the prevention of pursuing one goal, in service to another more important goal.
Expectancy of success - having the confidence in overcoming obstacles leads people back to self-regulatory effort.
Efficacy expectancy - Bandura - Can I achieve what needs to be done?
describe further themes of self-regulation
Approach - avoidance -
Not all actions are about approach, some are about avoidance (staying/getting away from a threat or unwanted outcome)
2 opposite motives can underlie the same overt action (like motive view of personality)
Goal is not only to reach success but also to avoid failure.
Intentions-based and stimulus-based action -
Behaviour can be guided by external stimulus as well (not just internal intentions)
Priming good example of this.
Intuitive system functions automatically
Rational system brought into play when you form an intention consciously (top down process)
Self-regulation as self control -
Self regulation sometimes entails self-control
People sometimes restrain effort on one goal to achieve another (can cause internal conflict)
Related to dual control.
explain the problems, assessment and therapy for self-regulation.
Problems -
Conflict between incompatible goals
Lack of specification of midlevel behavioural reference values to guide behaviour
People sometimes are unable to disengage from behaviours that are necessary for the attainment of higher-order goals.
Assessment -
Assessing individual differences in self-regulatory functions, such as self-reflectiveness, self-control or the level of abstraction at which people view their goals.
Goals themselves can be assessed also.
Therapy -
Training in problem solving
Self-regulation view has received mixed feedback.
