Self-Concept & Self-Esteem Flashcards

Flashcards about self-concept and self-esteem, covering definitions, theories, and related concepts.

Self-Concept

What we know about ourselves; directs and regulates our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Self-perception theory (Bem, 1967)

We make inferences about our personal characteristics on the basis of our overt behaviors, especially when internal cues are weak or ambiguous.

Looking glass self (Cooley, 1902)

Reactions serve as a kind of mirror, reflecting our image.

Social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954)

Self-concept is often shaped by comparisons between ourselves and others.

Contrast effect

An effect of a comparison standard that makes the perceiver’s judgment more different from the standard.

Assimilation effect

An effect of a comparison standard that makes the perceiver’s judgment more similar to the standard.

Self-aspects

Summaries of a person’s beliefs about the self in specific domains, roles, or activities.

Self-complexity

The extent to which a person possesses many and diverse self-aspects.

Self-schema

Few core attributes we believe characterize us uniquely among people and consistently across situations.

Self-esteem

The positive or negative evaluation of the self - how we feel about it.

Self-evaluation maintenance model (Tesser, 1988)

Closeness of the other & centrality of the attribute in the self-concept determines how others’ performance affects our self-esteem.

Self-criticism

In collectivist countries, it reflects how one fulfills their obligations.