Self-Regulation and Defending the Self

Vocabulary flashcards on self-regulation, emotions, and defending the self.

Self-Regulation

The process by which the self affects and regulates thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

Emotions

Complex experiences involving thoughts, feelings, biological reactions, and behavioral intentions, highlighting significant events.

Appraisal

An interpretation of an event that forms the cognitive basis of emotions, considering valence, cause, and controllability.

Regulatory Focus Theory

A theory describing how people strive toward meeting ideal or ought standards.

Ideal Self

A personal standard reflecting promotion focus, where the goal is to achieve positive outcomes, leading to feelings of happiness vs. sadness.

Ought Self

A personal standard based on obligations and duties, reflecting prevention focus, where the goal is to avoid negative outcomes, leading to feelings of relief vs. anxiety.

Ego-depletion

A state where self-regulation resources are depleted, making it harder to resist temptations.

Self-affirmation

Any action or event that enhances one’s sense of personal integrity, restoring the effect of ego-depletion.

Learned Helplessness

A state resulting from the belief that one has no control over negative events, leading to depressive attributional styles.

Self-Handicapping

Creating excuses in advance or sabotaging one's own performance to protect self-esteem from potential failure.

Self-Efficacy

Confidence in one's ability to produce the outcomes one desires.

Counterfactual Thinking

Consideration of how an outcome might have turned out differently.