L2 - The Self in Social World

Spotlight Effect

The belief that others are paying more attention to our appearance and behavior than they really are.

ex. Thinking everyone at work notices a food stain on your shirt, when they're busy with their own tasks

Illusion of Transparency

The illusion that our concealed emotions leak out and can be easily read by others.

ex. Thinking the interviewer can sense your extreme nervousness or lack of preparation.

Social surroundings affect our self-awareness

When we are the only member of our race, gender, or nationality in a group, we notice how we differ and how others are reacting to our difference.

Self-interest colors our social judgment

When problems arise in a close relationship, we usually attribute more responsibility to our partners than to ourselves. When things go well at home or work or play, we see ourselves as more responsible.

Self-concern motivates our social behavior

In hopes of making a positive impression, we agonize about our appearance.

Social relationships help define our sense of self

In our varied relationships, we have varying selves. How we think of ourselves is linked to the person we are at the moment. And when the relationships change, our self-concepts can change as well.

T or F: Self can sometimes be an impediment to a satisfying life. That’s why religious or spiritual meditation practices seek to prune the self’s egocentric preoccupations by quieting the ego, reducing its attachments to materials pleasures, and redirecting it.

True

Mysticism

by psychologist Jonathan Haidt; everywhere and always, it is about losing the self, transcending the self, and merging with something larger than the self.

Medial Prefrontal Cortex

a neuron path located in the cleft between your brain hemispheres, just behind your eyes, seemingly helps stitch together your sense of self. It becomes more active when you think about yourself.

Self-concept

What we know and believe about ourselves

Self-schema

Beliefs about self that organize and guide the processing of self-relevant information.

Social Comparison

Evaluating one’s abilities and opinions by comparing oneself with others.

Social Comparisons

This explains why high school students tend to think of themselves as better students if their peers are only average.

Other people’s judgements

refined by George Herbert Mead; noting that what matters for our self-concepts is not how others actually see us but the way we imagine they see us.

Individualism

the concept of giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.

Independent Self

Construing one’s identity as an autonomous self.

Collectivism

Giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often extended family or work group) and defining one’s identity accordingly.

Collectivistic culture

promotes greater sense of belonging and more integration between the self and others

Goal of Collectivistic Culture

The goal of social life is to harmonize with and support one’s communities.

Goal of Individualistic Societies

The goal is to enhance one’s individual self and make independent choices.

Identity of Individualistic

Personal, defined by individual traits and goals

Identity of Collectivist

Social, defined by connections with others

Independent (Individualistic)

What Matters: Me - personal achievement and fulfillment; my rights and liberties
Disapproves of: Conformity

Illustrative motto: “To thine own self be true.”
Cultures that support: Individualistic Western

Interdependent (Collectivist)

What Matters: We - group goals and solidarity; our social responsibilities and relationships
Disapproves of: Egoism

Illustrative motto: “No one is an island.”
Cultures that support: Collectivistic Asian and Third World

T or F: Many life’s big decisions did not involve predicting our future feelings.

False

Dual Attitude System

Differing implicit (automatic) and explicit (consciously controlled) attitudes toward the same object.

ex. A White American might verbally support diversity (explicit) but show subtle negative reactions to Black individuals (implicit), influenced by societal stereotypes learned early in life.

T or F: Verbalized explicit attitudes may change with education and persuasion; implicit attitudes change slowly, with practice that forms new habits.

True

Feedback

This is best when it is true and specific

High self-esteem people

usually react to a self-esteem threat by compensating for it (blaming someone else or trying harder next time). These reactions help them preserve their positive feelings about themselves.

Low self-esteem people

are more likely to blame themselves or give up.

Self-esteem

gauge alert us to threatened social rejection, motivating us to act with greater sensitivity to others’ expectations.

T or F: Studies confirm that social rejection lowers self-esteem and makes people more eager for approval.

True

T or F: Teen gang leaders, extreme ethnocentrists, terrorists, and men in prison for committing violent crimes also tend to have higher than average self-esteem.

True

T or F: Most people with high self-esteem value both individual achievement and relationships with others.

True

Narcissists

usually have high self-esteem, but they are missing the piece about caring for others

Narcissism

also linked to a lack of empathy - the ability to take someone else’s perspective and be concerned about their problems.

Self-efficacy

A sense that one is competent and effective, distinguished from self-esteem, which is one’s sense of self-worth.

Ex. A sharpshooter in the military might feel self-efficacy and low self-esteem.

“You’re special!”

Intended to build self-esteem

“I know you can do it!”

Intended to build self-efficacy

“You tried really hard.”

Self-efficacy feedback

“You’re really smart.”

Self-esteem feedback

Self-serving bias

The tendency to perceive oneself favorably.

ex. If they are fired or passed over for a promotion, they might blame an unfair manager, office politics, or a bad economy.

Self-serving Attributions

A form of self-serving bias; the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to other factors.

Ex. "I'm smart/studied hard" (internal cause), but if they fail, they blame the teacher's bad teaching or unfair test (external cause)

Illusory optimism

Increases our vulnerability;

Defensive Pessimism

The adaptive value of anticipating problems and harnessing one’s anxiety to motivate effective actions. (Low expectations + detailed planning)

Ex. A person anticipates tough questions and potential awkwardness, so they research the company deeply, practice answers with a friend, and prepare smart questions to ask, rather than just hoping for the best.

False Consensus Effect

The tendency to overestimate the commonality of one’s opinions and one’s undesirable or unsuccessful behaviors.

Ex. “I have had Botox. Everyone has!”

False Uniqueness Effect

The tendency to underestimate the commonality of one’s abilities and one’s desirable or successful behaviors.

Ex. Thinking you're a rare eco-warrior when many others also make personal sacrifices for the environment, like skipping showers during a crisis.

“Even though 50% of marriages fail, I know mine will be enduring joy.”

Unrealistic optimism

“I do more for my parents than my sister does.”

Comparing oneself favorably to others

Self-handicapping

Protecting one’s self-image with behaviors that create a handy excuse for later failure.

Ex. a student staying out all night partying before a big exam instead of studying; if they fail, they can blame the hangover or lack of sleep, not their intelligence.

Self-presentation

The act of expressing oneself and behaving in ways designed to create a favorable impression or an impression that corresponds to one’s ideals.

Self-monitoring

Being attuned to the way one presents oneself in social situations and adjusting one’s performance to create the desired impression.

ex. Changing your accent, vocabulary, or tone to match the group you're with.

T or F: Self-control requires energy - not just mental energy, but physical energy.

True