Studied by 0 people
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
Note 
Flashcard (28)