PSYC207 - The Self

What is the Self?

The entirety of a person, including all characteristic attributes

The self includes:

Physical or personality traits, social and familial relationships, aspects of ethnicity or culture, etc.

What is the first aspect that the Self consists of?

Sense of self

What is Sense of self?

Awareness of being a distinct person

What is the second aspect that the Self consists of?

Self-recognition

What is Self-recognition?

Ability to identify oneself as a separate being across various modalities (physical or psychological)

What is the third aspect that the Self consists of?

Self-concept

What is Self-concept?

Cognitive representation of oneself made up of one's thoughts and attitudes

What is the fourth aspect that the Self consists of?

Self-esteem

What is Self-esteem?

An overall subjective evaluation of one's self worth and the feelings associated with it

Sense of self emerges in:

Early years of life, continues developing into adulthood

Infants have a rudimentary sense of self in:

The first months of life

1 multiple choice option

An infant's sense of self becomes more distinct at:

About 8 months of age

2 multiple choice options

Many children can look into a mirror and realise that the image they see is themselves:

By 18 - 20 months

1 multiple choice option

What is a way that researchers test if a child is able to recognise their self through their reflection in a mirror?

Rouge Test

At two years of age, infants display:

Self-conscious emotions, self-assertive behaviour, and even use of language, indicating self-concept

Self is largely socially constructed based on:

Observations by others

At age 3 - 4, self-concept is mostly about:

Concrete, observable characteristics

At age 3 - 4, self-concept is sometimes a product of:

Preferences and possessions

In childhood, children are unrealistically confident

True

In primary school, Self becomes more differentiated due to:

Social comparisons

In adolescence, the self is more:

Self-generated

In adolescence, children begin to think of themselves in terms of:

Abstract characteristics (e.g., extrovert)

1 multiple choice option

How do adolescents display egocentrism in the Self?

Personal fables and imaginary audience

What are Personal fables?

Differentiating their thoughts and feelings from those of others, feeling they are unique and special

What is Imaginary audience?

Belief that excessive attention is paid to them

High self-esteem =

More hopefulness, agency

1 multiple choice option

Low self-esteem =

More worthlessness, hopelessness

Is Low self-esteem or High self-esteem longitudinally related to problems in adulthood?

Low self-esteem

Low self-esteem is related to what problems in adulthood?

Mental health problems, substance abuse, weak economic prospects, low relationships satisfaction

What is the first factor that explains variations in Self-esteem?

Age

Self-esteem is highest in:

Childhood

Self-esteem is lowest in:

Adolescence

1 multiple choice option

After adolescence, self-esteem ________ in adulthood

Rebounds

What is the second factor that explains variations in Self-esteem?

Physical attributes (includes attractiveness)

What is the third factor that explains variations in Self-esteem?

Approval they receive from others (parents, and peers, increasingly important)

What is the fourth factor that explains variations in Self-esteem?

Gender

Self-esteem in boys is typically ______ than girls

Higher

1 multiple choice option

____ have higher self esteem in Athleticism, Physical appearance, and Self-satisfaction

Boys

____ have higher self-esteem in Behavioural conduct and Moral-ethical domain

Girls

Do Boys or Girls possess slightly higher self-esteem in Academics?

Boys

1 multiple choice option

Brummelman et al. (2014) studied:

Inflated praise

Parents tend to use ________ praise to boost the self-esteem of low self-esteem children

Inflated

2 multiple choice options

In Brummelman and colleagues' (2014) third study, children were either given:

Inflated praise, regular praise, or no praise

What was the first finding of Brummelman and colleagues' third study?

Children with low self-esteem who received inflated praise were less likely to challenge seek

What was the second finding of Brummelman and colleagues' third study?

Children with high self-esteem who received inflated praise were more likely to challenge seek

Inflated praise may unintentionally reduce a child's self-esteem

True

1 multiple choice option

Is it better to praise a child's effort that they put into a task or their innate abilities?

A child's effort

What's one way to support children and adolescents' self-esteem?

Having a secure attachment relationship with a child facilitates a strong internal working model

What's another way to support children and adolescents' self-esteem?

Promoting inclusion and peer support

What is Identity?

A definition of the self in terms of roles, beliefs, affiliations, and characteristics

What are the four Identity statuses?

Achievement, Foreclosure, Moratorium, Diffusion

What is Identity Achievement?

Achieved a coherent and consolidated identity, did this autonomously

What is Identity Foreclosure?

Not exploring, has made vocational or ideological identity based on the choices of others

What is Identity Moratorium?

Exploring choices but has not made a clear commitment

What is Identity Diffusion?

No firm commitments, not exploring to decide how to commit

Identity Statuses: High commitment, high exploration:

Identity Achievement

3 multiple choice options

Identity Statuses: High commitment, low exploration:

Identity Foreclosure

2 multiple choice options

Identity Statuses: low commitment, high exploration:

Identity Moratorium

3 multiple choice options

Identity Statuses: Low commitment, low exploration:

Identity Diffusion

2 multiple choice options

People tend to slow progress towards:

Identity Achievement

2 multiple choice options

Identity confusion is ___ __ ______ as Erikson maintained

Not as severe

1 multiple choice option

People in which identity statuses are typically lower in depression and anxiety?

Identity Foreclosure or Identity Achievement

People in which identity status are more likely to take drugs or have unprotected sex?

Identity Moratorium

1 multiple choice option