Comprehensive Social Psychology Test 2 Review: Self, Attitudes, and Persuasion

What is the spotlight effect?

The tendency to overestimate how much others notice our appearance and behavior.

What is the self-concept?

The overall idea of who we are, encompassing beliefs, feelings, and perceptions about ourselves.

What is the working self-concept?

The self-concept that is activated in a specific context, influencing our thoughts and behaviors in that moment.

How does being self-schematic for a characteristic influence behavior?

Strong schemas guide our perceptions and actions, making us more likely to act in ways consistent with those schemas.

What is the self-reference effect?

The tendency to better remember information that is related to ourselves.

Differentiate between the Known (Me) and the Knower (I).

The Known (Me) refers to the self as an object of knowledge, while the Knower (I) refers to the self as the subject of experience.

What is self-awareness?

The ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and others.

How is self-recognition assessed?

Through tasks like the mirror test, where an individual recognizes themselves in a mirror.

What situations are likely to elicit self-awareness?

Situations that draw attention to oneself, such as being in front of an audience or being evaluated.

Differentiate between public and private self-awareness.

Public self-awareness focuses on how we are perceived by others, while private self-awareness involves introspection and self-reflection.

What is self-consciousness?

The heightened awareness of oneself as an object of observation, often leading to feelings of discomfort.

Describe self-discrepancy theory.

A theory that posits that individuals have three selves: actual self, ought self, and ideal self, with discrepancies leading to emotional discomfort.

What are the consequences of self-awareness according to self-discrepancy theory?

Increased feelings of anxiety, shame, or motivation to change behavior to align with the ideal or ought self.

What is social comparison theory?

The theory that we evaluate our own abilities and opinions by comparing ourselves to others.

What are upward and downward comparisons?

Upward comparisons are with those perceived as better, while downward comparisons are with those perceived as worse, impacting self-esteem.

What is the better-than-average effect?

The tendency for individuals to believe they are better than the average person in various traits or abilities.

What is self-esteem?

An individual's overall subjective evaluation of their worth.

Differentiate between trait and state self-esteem.

Trait self-esteem is a stable sense of self-worth, while state self-esteem fluctuates based on situational factors.

What is self-efficacy?

The belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task.

What is self-monitoring?

The degree to which individuals regulate their behavior to fit social situations.

What is cognitive dissonance?

The psychological discomfort experienced when holding two or more conflicting beliefs or values.

What is the Elaboration Likelihood Model?

A theory explaining how persuasive messages lead to attitude change through two routes: central and peripheral.

What factors influence the route of persuasion in the Elaboration Likelihood Model?

Factors include motivation, ability to process information, and personal relevance of the topic.