Ch 3 social

The Self-Concept

The sum total of an individual’s beliefs about their own personal attributes.

Self-regulation

The process by which people control their thoughts, feelings, or behavior in order to achieve a personal or social goal

implicit egotism

A nonconscious form of self-enhancement

Private self-consciousness

A personality characteristic of individuals who are introspective, often attending to their own inner states

Public self-consciousness

A personality characteristic of individuals who focus on themselves as social objects, as seen by others.

Social Roles

Roles such as student or member of a team that shape behavior and expectations.

Personal Traits

Characteristics used in self-descriptions, like being impulsive or generous.

Existential Statements

Abstract self-descriptions, such as "I’m a child of the universe."

Self-Schemas

Beliefs about oneself that guide the processing of relevant information.

Functions of Self-Concept

Organizes experiences, regulates thoughts and behaviors, and manages social impressions.

Development of Self-Concept

Involves recognizing oneself as a distinct entity and incorporating others' perceptions.

Socialization

Process by which we learn the norms, rules, and values of our family and surrounding culture(s)

Looking-Glass Self

Concept by Cooley that describes how we form self-concepts based on others' perceptions.

Sources of Self-Knowledge

Includes introspection, socialization, feedback from others, self-perception, and social comparison.

Better Than Average Effect

The tendency to believe one is better than average in various traits.

Affective Forecasting

Predicting how one would feel in response to future emotional events.

Self-Perception Theory

Inferring attitudes and feelings from observing one's own behavior.

• Ex. Ben Franklin effect, facial feedback hypoth

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation that comes from within a person.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation that comes from external factors.

Overjustification Effect

When external rewards diminish intrinsic motivation for an activity.

Social Comparison Theory

Evaluating abilities and beliefs by comparing with others.

Upward Social Comparisons

Comparing oneself to those who are better off, often leading to negative feelings.

Downward social comparison

Compare ourselves to those who are worse off

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

Emotion is based on physiological arousal and interpretation of that arousal

Schachter & Singer Study

Demonstrated that people interpret their emotions based on others' behaviors.

Individualistic Culture

Values independence and personal goals over group allegiances.

Collectivist Culture

Prioritizes group goals and social harmony over individual desires.

Self-Esteem

The evaluative component of the self, reflecting how one feels about oneself.

Sociometer Theory

Self-esteem serves as a gauge of social acceptance and connection.

Terror Management Theory

Self-esteem protects against existential anxiety and gives life meaning.

Self-Discrepancy Theory

The gap between actual, ought, and ideal selves affects self-esteem.

Self-Awareness Theory

Self-focused attention can lead to noticing discrepancies, impacting self-esteem.

• “shape up” or “ship out”

Self-serving beliefs

Tendency to take credit for successes but distance ourselves from failures

• ex. you did bad on exam → your prof isa jerk

Self-handicapping

Tendency to self-sabotage our future performance to give an excuse for this failure

Self-Enhancement

Mechanisms that help preserve self-esteem and promote positive self-regard.

Self-Presentation

Strategies used to shape how others perceive us.

Strategic Self-Presentation

Aimed at influencing others' impressions for approval or power.

Self-Verification

The desire for others to see us as we see ourselves.

Self-Monitoring

The tendency to adjust behavior based on social presentation concerns.

Ingratiation

behaving in ways to become more likeable to the target

Self-promotion

purposefully presenting oneself in ways to maximize positive aspects and minimize negative aspects

High Self-Monitor

More concerned with public image and adapts behavior accordingly.

Low Self-Monitor

Less concerned with social standards, showing consistent behavior across situations.

Self-Determination Theory

Addresses the psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and psychological relatedness