Self and Identity: Key Concepts and Theories

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to the self and identity in psychology.

Self-Concept

Refers to a person’s beliefs about their roles, traits, abilities, and experiences.

Self-Concept Clarity

The degree to which an individual has a clear and consistent self-concept.

Self-Concept Complexity

The preference for having a self-concept with multiple facets to cope with threats to specific aspects.

Self-Verification

The tendency to seek out and attend to feedback consistent with existing beliefs about oneself.

Working Self-Concept

Refers to aspects of the social self that change according to different situations.

Schemas

Cognitive structures that help individuals remember, recognize, and make sense of things.

Self-Schemas

Represent the beliefs about oneself in general or in specific contexts.

Distinctive Hypothesis

The idea that people describe themselves in terms of what makes them unique from others.

Self-Presentation

The act of controlling and regulating the information one provides about themselves to create a desired impression.

Multiple Audience Problem

The challenge of presenting different identities to different audiences.

Socializing Agents

Influential figures such as parents, peers, and teachers that shape self-knowledge.

Looking-Glass Self

The notion that self-appraisal is shaped by people's reactions to us and how we interpret them.

Social Comparison

The process of evaluating one's own traits and abilities in relation to others.

Introspection

A deliberate focus on oneself in an effort to enhance self-understanding.

Self-Narratives

The stories people tell themselves and others to make sense of their experiences.

Self-Esteem

The overall evaluation one has of oneself, which can be positive or negative.

Trait Self-Esteem

A stable and enduring aspect of self-esteem.

State Self-Esteem

A fluctuating evaluation of oneself dependent on context and situation.

Sociometer Theory

The idea that self-esteem serves as an evolutionary metric for social acceptance.

Self-Compassion

Being mindful of negative thoughts and feelings while practicing kindness toward oneself.

Self-Regulation

The process by which individuals control their behavior in pursuit of goals.

Self-Handicapping

The behavior of creating obstacles to excuse potential failure.

Dual Process Model

A psychological framework distinguishing between automatic and controlled processing.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts used in decision making that simplify complex judgments.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for information that confirms existing beliefs.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

When expectations about oneself or others lead to actions that confirm those expectations.

Cognitive Dissonance

The discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs, leading to attitude change.

Groupthink

A mode of thinking that prioritizes group consensus over realistic appraisal of alternative actions.

Cultural Intelligence

The ability to understand and adapt to different cultural contexts.

Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis

The idea that higher levels of empathy lead to increased altruistic behavior.

Prosocial Behavior

Any behavior intended to help others.