L4. Self and Self-Presentation

Johari Window Model

A model (by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, 1955) illustrating the relationship between self-knowledge and what is known by others, divided into four areas: Open, Blind, Hidden, and Unknown.

Open Area (Johari Window)

The quadrant of the Johari Window representing aspects of the self that are known both to oneself and to others.

Blind Area (Johari Window)

The quadrant of the Johari Window representing aspects of the self that are known to others but not known to oneself.

Hidden Area (Johari Window)

The quadrant of the Johari Window representing aspects of the self that are known to oneself but not known to others.

Unknown Area (Johari Window)

The quadrant of the Johari Window representing aspects of the self that are not known to oneself nor to others.

Self-Knowledge (Reflective Self)

One part of the self involving self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-deception.

Interpersonal Self (Reflexive Self)

One part of the self involving self-presentation, social roles, and reputation.

Self-Schema

Beliefs about oneself that guide the processing of self-relevant information (e.g., being schematic about weight).

Self-Concept

The sum total of beliefs that people have about themselves.

Reflexivity

The concept that the self is both the source and the object of its own behavior.

Looking Glass Self (C.H. Cooley)

The idea that one's sense of self develops through perceiving and interpreting the evaluations and appraisals of others.

"I" (G.H. Mead)

The part of the self that is the individual who acts (the source of action).

"Me" (G.H. Mead)

The part of the self toward whom action is directed; the self as a social object.

Self-Differentiation (Mead)

The capacity for reflexive action involving the ability to distinguish oneself from others.

Role-Taking (Mead)

The capacity for reflexive action involving the imaginative occupation of another person's perspective.

Use of Language (Mead)

The capacity for reflexive action, critical for understanding oneself as a social object.

Self-Construal

A way of thinking about the self, such as independent (individualist), interdependent (collectivist), or integrationist.

Independent Self-Construal

A self-view emphasizing individualism, typical in North American and European cultures.

Interdependent Self-Construal

A self-view emphasizing collectivism and connection to others, typical in many Asian cultures.

Identities

The meanings attached to the self by oneself and others.

Role Identities

Concepts of the self in specific social roles (e.g., student, employee), derived from social positions and expectations.

Social Identities

Definitions of the self in terms of social group characteristics (e.g., gender, nationality), providing standards for behavior.

Situated Self

The subset of self-concepts chosen in a particular situation, influenced by the social setting and activities.

Identity Control Theory (Burke, 1991)

A theory stating that actors use the social meaning of an identity as a reference; if reflected appraisals are inconsistent, they act to restore the identity.

Reflected Appraisal

A self-schema based on one's perception of how others react to them during social interaction.

Identity Salience

The relative importance of an identity to one's self-schema; a factor in choosing which identity to enact.

Social networks

Commitment through relationships.

Need for identity support

Enacting identities that need reinforcement.

Situational opportunities

Social situations restrict or enable identity enactment.

Identity Crisis

A weakened sense of unity in identities during life transitions, requiring a reorganization of one's identity hierarchy.

Self-Verification Strategies

Behaviors to ensure consistency of identities, like (1) selective interaction, (2) displaying identity cues, and (3) behaving to enhance identity claims.

Self-Awareness

Focusing attention on one's own appearance, actions, and thoughts.

Self-Discrepancy

A mismatch between one's actual self and ideal or "ought" selves, leading to specific emotions.

Actual-Ideal Discrepancy

A self-discrepancy mismatch associated with emotions of dejection and sadness.

Actual-Ought Discrepancy

A self-discrepancy mismatch associated with emotions of fear and tension.

Self-Esteem

The evaluative component of self-concept.

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

A 10-item self-report measure assessing global self-esteem via agreement with statements about self-worth.

Self-Esteem Implicit Association Test (IAT)

A computer-based test measuring automatic, unconscious evaluations of the self through reaction times.

Self-Presentation

The processes by which individuals control the impressions others form of them.

Authentic Self-Presentation

Presenting an image consistent with one's real self.

Ideal Self-Presentation

Presenting an image consistent with one's wished-for self.

Tactical Self-Presentation

Presenting an image consistent with others' expectations; conscious impression management.

Managing appearances

Controlling observable aspects like clothing, grooming, and props to support a claimed identity.

Ingratiation

A tactical impression management strategy aimed at increasing a target person's liking for us.

Aligning Actions

A tactical impression management style involving defining questionable conduct as normative (e.g., using disclaimers or accounts).

Altercasting

A tactical impression management style that involves imposing roles or identities on others.

Accentuation effect

An emphasis on perceived differences and unfavorable evaluations of an out-group when group membership is salient.

Stereotype threat

A situation where one is at risk of confirming, as self-characteristic, a negative stereotype about one's group.

Salience hierarchy

The hierarchy of identities based on their salience, which influences which identities are enacted.

Actual self

The self as one currently is.

Ideal self

The self as one would like to be.

Ought self

The self as one believes they should be.

Contingencies of self-worth

The specific domains (e.g., identities, qualities) on which a person bases their self-esteem.

Downward social comparison

Comparing oneself to those perceived as worse off to maintain or enhance self-esteem.

Upward social comparison

Comparing oneself to those perceived as better off, which can be motivating or damaging to self-esteem.

Selective information processing

A self-esteem protection strategy involving attending more to information consistent with one's self-evaluation.

Selective commitment to identities

A self-esteem protection strategy involving investing more in identities that provide favorable feedback.

Definition of the situation

A shared agreement among interactants about who they are, their goals, and what behaviors are proper.

Frame

A set of understood rules for a repetitive social situation that indicates proper roles and behaviors.

Situated identity (in interaction)

The conception of who one is in relation to the other people involved in a specific situation.

Self-disclosure

The process of revealing personal aspects of one's feelings and behavior to others.

Norm of reciprocity in disclosure

The social norm that one person should respond to another's disclosures at a similar level of intimacy.

Intimidation

A tactical impression management strategy aimed at making others fear us.

Self-promotion

A tactical impression management strategy aimed at making others respect our abilities.

Exemplification

A tactical impression management strategy aimed at making others respect our morals.

Supplication

A tactical impression management strategy aimed at making others feel sorry for us.

Front region

Settings where people carry out interaction performances and maintain appropriate appearances.

Back region

Settings inaccessible to outsiders where people may violate their front region appearances.

Opinion conformity

An ingratiation tactic involving pretending to share the target person's views.

Other enhancement

An ingratiation tactic involving flattery or complimenting the target person.

Selective self-presentation

An ingratiation tactic involving presenting one's own attributes to be judged as attractive.

Disclaimers

An aligning action used before an act to ward off negative implications.

Accounts

An aligning action used after a threatening act to explain and mitigate responsibility.

Excuses

A type of account where one admits an act was bad but denies full responsibility.

Justifications

A type of account where one accepts responsibility but denies the act was wrong.