Self and Identity (2)

Content and Studies

Cognitive View of the Self

Self-Schemas (Markus, 1977)

Self-Reference Effect (Rogers et al., 1977)

Working Self-Concept

Self-Schemas (Markus 1977)

cognitive structures organising self-relevant info

evidence: faster processing/recall of schema-consistent traits (e.g. “sociable” if self-rated as sociable)

Self-Reference Effect (Rogers et al., 1977)

better memory for traits judged as self-descriptive (even if untrue)

Working Self-Concept

context-dependent self-views (McGuire et al., 1986)

Example: religiously salient in church; age salient if younger than peers

Self-esteem and Social Function

Sociometer Theory (Leary, 2012)

Fragile Self-Esteem

Cultural Differences

Sociometer theory (Leary 2012)

Self esteem = gauge of social acceptance

study: drop in self-esteem after exclusion (Leary et al., 1995)

Fragile Self-Esteem

unstable self-worth - anger/defensiveness (Kernis et al., 2013)

Cultural Differences

Chinese self-concept = relational (Wang and Ollendick, 2001); less need for consistency (Boucher et al., 2009)

Social Identity and Collective Self

Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner 1978)

Self-Categorisation Theory (Turner)

Self-Expansion Model (Aron and Aron 1986)

Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner 1978)

Self-defintion via group membership (“we vs “they”)

Self-Cateogorisation Theory (Turner)

Shift from personal (“I”) to social identity (“we”) in group settings

Self-Expansion Model (Aron and Aron 1986)

including others in self (e.g. sharing traits with spouse; Aron et al., 1991)

Alternatives to Cognitivism

Dialogical Self

William James’ Components (1980)

Dialogical Self (Hubert Hermans)

Multiple “I-positions” (e.g. “I as a teacher”)

William James’ Components (1980)

Empirical (body/environment), social (personas), spiritual (values)