Self & Expectations

Self-concept

a cognitive representation of ourselves that is a private, theory or knowledge about self

fluidity of self-concept

self-concept is diverse and depends on the context

The self across time

beliefs about oneself (social roles or group memberships) in the past, present, and future

Self-esteem

evaluative component of our self-concept (positive or negative)

Self-esteem reflects our…

beliefs about self-worth and self-acceptance

Self esteem influences…

wellbeing, goal pursuit/persistence, coping with setbacks/stressors

intra-individual comparisons

comparing self to past/future selves (our possible selves)

Possible selves

selves someone believes they would like they become

possible selves are important in…

goal-setting & motivation (looking ahead)

feared selves

selves we fear we might become

feared selves influence…

goal setting & motivation (avoidance)

Inter-individual comparison

comparing or selves to others

downward social comparison

comparing ourselves to others doing worse than us to feel better about ourselves

upward social comparison

looking up at someone to be like them or comparing ourselves to put ourselves down

Optimistic self-comparison

comparing yourselves as having a better outlook (e.g. health)

moderator of optimistic self-comparison

primary control in health domain

main finding of optimistic self-comparison study

low primary control over health, OSC was linked to lower odds of hospitalization and mortality over 2-6 years

optimistic bias

believing you are better off than others (e.g. more healthy)

expectations develop through

product of interaction with the environment

expectations arrive between

response and an outcome

why do we have expectations

to help predict the future

Learned helplessness

expects outcome to be poor no matter response, non-contingency

Seligman

learned helplessness

Avoidance learning task (Seligman)

a box where dog has to jump to avoid a shock (negative stimulus)

Associated with Learned helplessness

age, stress (poverty-related), anxiety/worry

learned helpless changes expectations

poorly, poor outlook on future outcomes

learned helplessness changes

subjective accounts (cognitive appraisals)

relationship between expectation and response/outcome

more R/O contingency experienced, the greater one’s expectation will happen again and increases perceived control

Locus of control

expectations about control over valued outcomes (or reinforcers)

Rotter

locus of control

locus of control attributions

internal or external (who controls the outcome)

we are happier attributing control to who when…

we are happier when we attribute positive outcomes to ourselves and negative ones to others

when is there less influence of perceived control

when you get older, increased challenges leads to loss objective control

how does control influence cognitive function?

higher perceived control leads to more social & cognitive activity and then more cognitive function