Week 6 - Self Concept Flashcards
Self-Concept as Cognitive Construct:
Example: Consider someone with a self-schema of being athletic. They may process information related to sports more efficiently and remember instances where they excelled in physical activities.
Study: Markus (1977) found that individuals with a strong self-schema in a particular domain (e.g., athleticism) were more likely to recall information consistent with that schema, demonstrating the influence of self-schemas on memory processes.
Possible Selves and Motivation:
Example: A student envisioning a future self as a successful professional might be motivated to study hard and pursue career opportunities.
Study: Oyserman and Markus (1990) conducted research on possible selves, showing that individuals are more motivated when their current actions align with their envisioned future selves, leading to increased goal-directed behavior.
Pros and Cons of Complex Self-Concept:
Example: Having a complex self-concept can enable someone to navigate different social roles effectively, such as being a parent, employee, and friend simultaneously.
Study: Linville (1987) explored the benefits of a complex self-concept, finding that individuals with a more differentiated self-concept experienced less distress when faced with identity-threatening situations.
Critically Evaluating Self-Perception Motivations:
Example: In a job interview, a candidate may accurately assess their skills and competencies (self-assessment) to present themselves authentically to the interviewer.
Study: Colvin et al. (1995) examined self-assessment biases in personality judgments, revealing that individuals tend to have inflated views of their own abilities compared to objective measures.
Supporting Studies for Motivations:
Example: Research by Taylor and Brown (1988) showed that individuals with positive illusions about themselves, such as believing they have more control over outcomes than they actually do, experience greater well-being and mental health.
Study: Sedikides and Gregg (2008) demonstrated self-enhancement biases in memory recall, where individuals selectively remember positive self-relevant information while forgetting negative aspects.
Focus on Self-Enhancement:
Example: The ‘better than average’ effect is evident when drivers rate their own driving skills as above average, despite statistical impossibility.
Study: Alicke and Govorun (2005) investigated the ‘better than average’ effect in various domains, highlighting how individuals consistently rate themselves as superior to others in areas like intelligence, morality, and social skills.
Sedikides’ Contribution to Motives:
Example: Sedikides and Strube (1997) proposed that individuals seek self-enhancement to protect their self-esteem, but they also engage in self-assessment and self-verification to maintain a stable self-concept.
Insight: Sedikides’ research underscores the complexity of self-perception motivations, illustrating how individuals balance competing motives depending on situational demands and personal goals.
