Self, Identity, and Nature vs. Nurture

Vocabulary flashcards covering topics on Self, Self-Concept, Social/Role/Personal Identity, and the Nature vs. Nurture debate based on lecture notes.

Self-Concept

Cognitive structures that include content, attitudes, or evaluative judgments used to make sense of the world, focus attention on goals, and protect basic worth (Oyserman & Markus, 1998).

Self

Refers to a person's inner consciousness and awareness of their own existence, including thoughts, emotions, and experiences that shape how someone perceives themselves.

Self-Image

A component of Carl Rogers' theory of self-concept defined as how an individual sees themselves (e.g., "I am smart," "I am kind").

Self-Esteem

A component of Carl Rogers' theory of self-concept defined as how much an individual values themselves (e.g., confidence, self-worth).

Ideal Self

A component of Carl Rogers' theory of self-concept defined as who an individual wants to be or strives to become.

Identity

Refers to how a person defines themselves based on external and internal factors such as culture, roles, beliefs, and social influences, representing qualities that make them unique from others.

Social Identity

The part of a person's self-concept derived from belonging to social groups (e.g., nationality, religion, political affiliation), answering "Who am I in relation to group".

Social Identity Theory

Explains how people categorize themselves into groups and derive self-worth from group membership.

Role Identity

The part of self-identity shaped by specific roles a person plays in different social contexts, answering "Who am I based on my roles in society?"

Role Theory (Mead & Goffman)

Explains that people behave differently based on the roles they adopt in various social interactions.

Personal Identity

Focuses on individual uniqueness, derived from personal traits and values (e.g., creativity, honesty, ambition) and evolving with personal growth.

Social, Role, & Personal Identity Comparison Table

A reference table comparing social, role, and personal identities across focus, source of identity, examples, and flexibility.

Nature (in Nature vs Nurture)

Refers to an individual's innate qualities (nativism) and genes, determined by biological and family factors, which stay the same irrespective of where one was born and raised.

Nurture (in Nature vs Nurture)

Refers to personal experiences (empiricism or behaviorism), childhood upbringing, and social and environmental factors.

Nature vs Nurture Comparison Table

A reference chart comparing Nature and Nurture in terms of definition, examples, and influencing factors.

Donald Hebb's Rectangle Analogy

A classic response to the nature vs. nurture question where psychologist Donald Hebb asked, "Which contributes more to the area of a rectangle, its length or its width?" to illustrate their interdependent roles.

Descartes' View on Self

The philosophical argument ("I think, therefore I am") asserting that the self is intrinsically tied to inner consciousness.

Nature vs Nurture in IQ Debate

The observation that family environmental factors account for up to a quarter of childhood IQ variance, but this correlation disappears by late adolescence as adoptive siblings become no more similar in IQ than strangers.