week 9 - The self and its strivings

What are the six facets of well-being?

1. Self-acceptance

2. Positive relationships

3. Environmental mastery

4. Purpose in life

5. Personal growth

6. Autonomy

What is self-acceptance?

Positive evaluation of oneself.

What is environmental mastery?

Ability to effectively manage life challenges.

What is purpose in life?

Having meaning and direction.

What are the two main views of the self?

Self as agent (doer)

Self as object (self-concept)

What is the self as agent?

The inner motivational force that initiates action.

What is the self as object?

The self as something we evaluate and label (self-concept).

What does defining the self involve?

Answering “Who am I?” to guide behavior.

What are two sources of self-definition?

Ascribed traits (e.g., gender)

Achieved traits (e.g., career, values)

How does society influence identity?

By shaping available roles and expectations.

What does developing personal potential involve?

Exploring interests and setting goals.

What is self-regulation?

Monitoring and adjusting behavior to reach goals.

What is psychological well-being?

A state of being happy, healthy, and functioning well

Is well-being a cause or outcome?

Both — it can be an independent and dependent variable.

Why is self-esteem not strongly motivating?

It reflects outcomes rather than causing them.

What increases self-esteem?

Achievement and productivity

What is the self-concept?

A set of beliefs about oneself.

What are self-schemas?

Domain-specific cognitive generalizations about the self

How are self-schemas formed?

From repeated past experiences.

What are benefits of well-developed self-schemas?

Faster self-processing

Easy recall of behavior

Resistance to contradictory info

Better prediction of behavior

How do self-schemas motivate behavior?

1. Maintain consistent self-view

2. Move toward possible selves

How do people maintain a consistent self?

Seek confirming feedback

Ignore contradictory info

What is selective interaction?

Choosing people who confirm your self-view.

When does self-concept change occur?

When: Certainty is low and Feedback is strong and undeniable

What are the two reasons for self-verification?

Epistemic (predictability) and Pragmatic (smooth interactions)

What are possible selves?

Future versions of oneself (desired or feared).

How do possible selves motivate behavior?

By creating a gap between current and ideal self.

What is identity (psychologically)?

Feeling that a role fits your self-concept.

What is a role?

Expected behavior tied to a social position.

What determines which identity is active?

The situation (salience).

What is agency?

Personal causation and self-initiated action.

What is differentiation?

Self becomes more complex.

What is integration?

Self becomes unified and coherent.

What is internalization?

Adopting societal values as one’s own.

What is the risk of internalization?

Losing authenticity due to social pressure.

What is the true self?

Being in touch with inner experiences

What is the false self?

Acting in ways disconnected from inner needs.

What are self-concordant goals?

Goals driven by pressure or rewards.

What leads to well-being in this self-concordance model?

Self-concordant goals → effort → achievement → need satisfaction → well-being

Which goals (intrinsic vs extrinsic) are better for well-being

Intrinsic goals.

What determines well-being more: achieving goals or why you pursue them?

Why you pursue them.

What are the 4 components of self regulation

Planning

Action

Monitoring

Reflecting

What are the 3 phases of self-regulation?

Forethought

Action

Reflection

What is self-control?

Overriding impulses to achieve long-term goals.

What is self-control often framed as?

Now vs later conflict.

What is high self-control?

Choosing larger later rewards.

What is impulsiveness?

Choosing smaller sooner rewards.

Key idea of Ainslie-Rachlin Model?

Value of rewards increases as they become immediate.

What is ego depletion in limited strength model?

Loss of self-control after effort.

How can self-control be restored? (limited strength model)

Nutrition

Positive mood

Need satisfaction

When does depletion occur most? (limited strength model)

When resisting attractive short-term rewards.

What does Small-but-Cumulative Effects Model say?

Small self-control choices add up over time.

What does delay of gratification predict?

Academic success

Health

Better relationships

Lower risk behaviors