Chapter 3 - The Social Self

Self-Esteem

overall positive or negative evaluation of the self

Looking-Glass Self

(Theory) individuals develop the self based on how they are perceived by others

Reflected Self-Appraisals

beliefs about what others think of us

Contingencies of Self-Worth

(Theory) People’s self esteem depends on successes and failures in areas on which they base their self-worth

Self-Awareness

the understanding that we are separate from other people and objects

Part of the brain involved in self-awareness (and emotion)

Insular Cortex/Insula

Self-Concept

our personal summary of who we are, including qualities, relationships, beliefs, etc.

Self-Schema

organized knowledge about ourself that guides memory and self-cognition

Social Comparison Theory

(Theory) We develop our sense of worth and competence by comparing ourselves to others; can be upwards, downwards, or lateral

The WIDE Guide

Four factors that influence social comparison: Who, Interpretation, Direction, and Esteem

Situated Influences

role of the social situation on the self-schema

Private Self-Consciousness

Attention to non-public, introspective aspects of oneself

Public Self-Consciousness

Focus on projecting positive image to others to control one’s social image

Social Identity Theory

(Theory) Our self concept is made of two parts: the personal and social selves

William James on the Self (1890)

We have a material self (everything physical), spiritual self (who we are when alone), and social self (who we are around different people/in different situations, aka situated identities)

Independent Self

Self-concept based mainly on internal, personal qualities; seen in individualistic cultures

Interdependent Self

Self-concept based mainly on social connectedness and group memberships; seen in collectivist cultures

Distinctiveness Postulate

(Theory) people focus on unique traits during self analysis

Autobiographical Memory

Episodes and personal knowledge recalled from an individual’s life

Narrative Identity

Story of selfhood we develop to make sense and meaning out of life; the story of you from your perspective

Episodic Memory

Autobiographical information about past events, episodes, and experiences

Adaptive Memory (Roland Benoit)

Episodic simulations shape real-life decisions, attitudes, and perspectives of the world

Episodic Future Thinking

Imagining episodes that may happen in your personal future

Core brain networks involved in both episodic remembering and prospection (envisioning the future)

Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC) & Hippocampus

Self-Perception Theory

(Theory) we form our self-concept by observing our behaviors and inferring our motivations, attitudes, values, and traits

Self-discrepancy

When there is a mismatch between an individual’s actual, ideal, and ought (“should be”) selves

Self-Expansion Theory

(Theory) We can include close relationships as a way to grow and improve our self-concept

Self-Presentation Theory

(Theory) We strategically present ourselves to leave certain impressions

Impression Management

Consciously engaging in behaviors to lead to desired outcomes

three Impression Management techniques

• Ingratiation - Flattering someone to influence them

• Self-enhancement - Overplaying our influences or accomplishments

• Conspicuous consumption - Choosing products that show how successful we are

Self-monitoring

Tendency to regulate one’s social behavior based on either social demands or internal factors; some are higher self-monitors than others

Self-disclosure

Process of revealing intimate information about ourselves to others

Strangers on a Train

(Experiment) People are willing to self-disclose to strangers they might never see again

Stages in the development of self-disclosure

Orientation, Exploratory Exchange, Affective Exchange, and Stable Exchange

Collective Self-Esteem

Our evaluation of the worth of our social groups

Basking in reflected glory (BIRGing)

A method of self-enhancement that involves associating ourselves with in-groups after they are successful

Optimal Margin Theory

(Theory) Slight distortions in reality can improve psychological well-being

Positive Illusions

Unrealistic optimism about one’s future and an inflated self-concept

Three types of positive illusions

• Control - We have more control over our lives

• Optimism - Unrealistic hope for the future

• Meaning - Finding meaning in critical life events

Subjective Age

How old individuals feel, instead of their chronological age

Self-Serving Cognitive Biases

Mental distortions that enhance our self-concept, making us seem better than we are

Better-Than-Average Effect

The tendency for people to believe they are better than the average person

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one’s ability to complete a task

Self-compassion

An orientation to care for oneself in times of failure or suffering