MISS PROF ONLY
The self How we come to understand ourselves The Nature of the Self The me, the “known” The self-concept the content of the self; that is, our knowledge about who we are (thoughts and beliefs) The I, the “knower” Self-awareness thinking about ourselves. It makes you more sensitive to your own attitudes and dispositions. The Self-Concept Self-complexity is the number of different self -schemas and possible selves that a person has “Who am I?” Physical descriptors Social descriptors Psychological descriptors The Self-Concept The Self-Concept Self-complexity Self -esteem is a person's global or overall evaluation of his or her own self -worth. The more complex our self -concept, the less any one failure seems to affect our self -esteem. The Functions of the Self Organizational Function Self-schemas Self- reference effect (Markus, 1977) Executive Function regulate behavior make decisions plan for future Self-regulatory resource model Cultural Definitions of Self Independent view defining oneself in terms of one’s own internal thoughts, feelings, and actions. Individualistic cultures Interdependent view defining oneself in terms of one’s relationships to other people, recognizing that one’s behavior is determined by the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others. Collectivistic cultures Gender Differences in the Definition of Self Tendencies, not absolutes Women Relational interdependence Ex: Significant others, Children, Siblings Men Collective interdependence Ex: Italian, a Yankees fan Knowing Ourselves Introspection: the process whereby people look inward and examine their own thoughts, feelings, and motives. Knowing Ourselves Introspection How often are people “introspective?” Self = 8% of total thoughts Csikszentmihalyi & Figurski (1982) Knowing Ourselves Introspection Strangers to Ourselves: Everyday Introspection (Wilson, 2004) Gut feelings without analysis Pros/Cons lists (analyzing reasons) It is difficult to know exactly why we feel a certain way Self-Awareness Theory The idea that when people focus attention on themselves, they evaluate and compare their behavior to their internal standards and values. What brings attention to the Self? What are internal standards and values? Self-Awareness Theory Self-Awareness When behavior ≠ standards we change or experience discomfort When self -awareness is uncomfortable, we often escape (via drinking, watching TV, FB, etc.) The Influence of Self-Focus Diener and Wallbom (1976) All Ps say that cheating is wrong. Half Ps are given opportunity to cheat on an anagram test 71% cheat Half Ps are given opportunity to cheat on the anagram test, but have a mirror on their desks only 7% cheat Self-Concept Formation Daryl Bem’s Self -Perception Theory When our feelings are uncertain or ambiguous… Self-perception is the process of inferring our own traits, attitudes, or emotions, by observing our behavior and the situation in which it occurs Self-Perception The overjustification effect The tendency to believe that a behavior was extrinsically (not intrinsically) motivated as external incentives increase Intrinsic motivation is engaging in an activity for the pure enjoyment of the activity itself Extrinsic motivation is engaging in an activity to gain external rewards or to avoid punishment The Overjustification Effect Greene, Sternberg, and Lepper (1976) 4th and 5th grade teachers introduced four new math games to their students. Greene, Sternberg, and Lepper (1976) 4th and 5th grade teachers introduced four new math games to their students. The Overjustification Effect Greene, Sternberg, and Lepper (1976) 4th and 5th grade teachers introduced four new math games to their students. The Overjustification Effect Preserving intrinsic interest Cannot harm interest if no interest to begin with Task-contingent rewards Giving reward just for doing it More harmful Performance- contingent rewards Giving reward for doing it well Less harmful Social Identity Theory Part of your identity comes from your membership in groups Family, school, work crew, sports fan Important source of pride & self -esteem BIRGing (& CORFing) Basking In Reflected Glory (BIRG) A way to boost self -esteem one associates themselves with known, successful others such that the winner's success becomes the individual's own accomplishment Cutting Off Reflected Failure (CORF) A way to preserve self -esteem Distancing oneself from anyone/thing seen as a failure Schachter’s Two-Factor Theory of Emotion PHYSIOLOGICAL AROUSAL -Feeling flushed -Hands shaky -Heart racing EXPLAIN AROUSAL - Snake EMOTION - Fear Schacter & Singer (1962) Cover Story: test “Suproxin’s ” effect on vision The participants were then put in one of four experimental conditions: 1. Adrenaline Ignorant 2. Adrenalin Informed 3. Adrenalin Misinformed 4. Control Group (placebo) Participants were then assigned to either the euphoria condition or the anger condition. Exposed to a confederate who either made them laugh or made rude comments. DVs: observational measures of emotional response through one- way mirror + self -report measures from participants Schacter & Singer (1962) Across both the euphoric & anger conditions… Most emotional display (lots of anger/euphoria) = those who received epinephrine but who were uninformed or misinformed about the effects Least emotional displays = those who were informed or who received placebo Misattribution of Arousal Dutton and Aron (1974) An attractive female assistant surveyed men crossing a 450- foot long, 230-foot high suspension bridge. Half were interviewed while on the bridge. Half were interviewed after crossing and resting a few minutes. Assistant gives her phone number if they have questions. Dutton and Aron (1974) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Percentage of men calling the assistant After Resting On Bridge Surveyed The misattribution of arousal is the process whereby people make mistaken inferences about what is causing them to feel the way they do. Cognitive Appraisal Theories of Emotion More recent than 2-factor theory Does not rely on arousal Claims that emotions are elicited by evaluations (appraisals) of events and situation. Accounts for why people may have very different emotional reactions to same event. Relationship ends Appraisal of loss Sadness Relationship ends Appraisal of relief Happiness Self-Concept formation via other observation Leon Festinger’s S ocial Comparison Theory When no objective standards exist, we rely on social comparison.
Social comparison is the process of evaluating our own opinions, abilities, or performance by comparing ourselves to others.
Social Comparison Theory When motivated to accurately evaluate the self: lateral social comparison involves seeking similar others to compare to. Social Comparison Theory When motivated to improve the self:
upward social comparison comparing ourselves to those who are better than we are on a particular trait or ability When motivated to enhance or protect our self- esteem: downward social comparison comparing ourselves to people who are worse than we are on a particular trait or ability Downward Social Comparison Pyszczynski, Greenberg, & LaPrelle (1985) Earned high marks (16/20) Earned low marks (8/20) Others did worse than you Others did better than you Downward Social Comparison Pyszczynski, Greenberg, & LaPrelle (1985) Earned high marks (16/20) Earned low marks (8/20) Others did worse than you Others did better than you Downward Social Comparison Pyszczynski, Greenberg, & LaPrelle (1985) Ps were then asked whether they would like to look at the tests of some other Ps. Earned high marks (16/20) Earned low marks (8/20) Others did worse than you Others did better than you Downward Social Comparison Pyszcynski, Greenberg, & LaPrelle (1985) 0 20 40 60 80 100 % wanting to see others' tests Positive feedack(16/20) Negative feedback (8/20) Others scored better Others scored worse Self-Presentation Self- presentation is the act of expressing a desired image of the self to an audience. Impression Management is the attempt to get others to see a person as they want to be seen. Ingratiation Self-handicapping: Strategy of creating obstacles and excuses so that they don’t have to blame themselves for poor performance Self-Presentation Self -handicapping Berglas and Jones (1978) Ps complete 20 logic problems For half, all problems are easy For half, all problems are difficult to impossible All Ps receive actual performance feedback Self-Presentation Self -handicapping Ps told they will take another test and must choose to ingest: “Actavil”: improves intellectual performance “Pandocrin”: impairs intellectual performance Results: Easy problems: Ps chose Activil Difficult problems : Ps chose Pandocrin