Exam Two Study Guide PSYC 2115 (Introduction to Self in Context)

Socialization

The process through which people are taught to be proficient members of society; How people come to understand societal norms/expectations, to accept society’s beliefs and to be aware of societal values

What was some early research done on Socialization?

Harlow and Harlow’s 1957-63 research w/rhesus monkeys (wire mother vs. cloth mother)

Erikson’s (1960s) Stage Theory of Psychosocial Development

Personality continues to develop over time through psychosocial stages

What was Piaget’s (1960s) Focus on Social Interactions?

Social interactions were key for development; self is a negotiation between the world as it exists in one’s mind and the world as it is experiences socially

What is the “Looking Glass Self” sociological theory of development and its three steps?

Created by Charles Cooley; Self is constructed by how we perceive that others’ view us

Three steps to this process:

1. How do I appear to others?

2. What must others think of me?

3. This changes how I think about myself (influences my self image)

What are George Herbert Meads Three Stages of Self-Development?

1. Preparatory Stage: Children Imitating the actions of close others

2. Play Stage: Children take on the roles of close others

3. Game Stage: Children understand social interactions of others; learning to look from other’s perspective

What is the “Generalized other” in Meads Stages of Self-Development?

• Understanding how one is viewed by multiple others

• Understanding common behavioral expectations of general society which is having a “Self”

What is the “I” and the “Me” in Meads Stages of Self-Development?

• Me is the social self

• I is the response to the me

How does Mead define the Self?

refers to a person’s distinct identity that is developed through looking at oneself from another’s perspective during social interactions.

How does Mead define Socialization?

where we learn to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, see their point of view.

Who are Primary Agents of Socialization and what do they do?

1. Family (Parents, Grandparents, Siblings)

2. Close others (Babysitters, close caregivers)

They help build language, culture, acceptable behavior in children; help build trust, empathy and attachment (lays the groundwork for future social interactions)

Who are Secondary Agents of Socialization and what do they do?

1. School (Hidden Curriculum: informal teaching done by schools that reinforce societal norms)

2. Peer Groups

3. Mass Media (distribute impersonal information to a wide audience)

These agents help the person prepare for additional roles or navigate or adapt to the world.

Resocialization?

old behaviors that were helpful in a previous role and removed because they are no longer in use, and new relevant behaviors take their place

What is a close personal relationship?

Ongoing patterns of interactions that involve affectively strong bonds between

individuals and considerable interdependence

What are examples of close personal relationships?

Romantic, Marital Friendship, Parent-Child Relationship

What did Zajjonc et al (1987) research on married couples prove?

Showed that married couples look more similar over time; proved by judges being more accurate in matching the same spouses after 25 years than the same spouses as newlyweds; CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS RESULT IN CHANGES TO SELF OR IDENTITY TO MATCH CLOSELY WITH OTHERS

What is an important source of self esteem?

The perceived opinions of close others (Leary & Baumeister, 2000)

Behavioral Confirmation

The process where people act to confirm the expectations of others; key mechanism that explains how relationships affect the self

Empirical evidence: 1977 Study on Perceived Physical Attractiveness and 2000 Study on Similar Characteristics to Past Significant Others

What is the Michelangelo Phenomenon?

“A” holding a view of “B” consistent with b’s ideal self specifically leads to b becoming more like B’s Ideal Self. “b” also becomes more satisfied in the relationship.

What is partner affirmation?

When we move closer to our “ideal” selves because of the way that people close to us see us because they expect and encourage us to be this way; Perceptual and Behavior affirmation where partner affirms behaviors which are part of one’s ideal self

Partner Enhancement

When our partners perceive us more positively than we see ourselves.; “b: sees ”A” as “more” or “better” that “A” sees oneself

Self-reference Effect in Research

Faster response time when making judgements about oneself than other’s

What does Match-Mismatch Response Time Paradigm research show?

it is a measure of the overlap of the Self and the Partner

Cognitive Interdependency

Mental state characterized by a pluralistic, collective representation of the self-in-

relationship (Eventually coming to consider the partner as part of the self)

What is SDT?

The meta theory in psychology of human motivation; discusses the orgins of human agentic action (explains that which gives us our motivation); based on the organismic paradigm

Organismic Paradigm

People are active organisms that are motivated to assimilate and integrate knowledge and capacities in physical and social environments

When does Autonomous Motivation occurs?

When 3 basic psychological needs are met

driven by our values interest or our enjoyment

When does Controlled Motivation occur?

When the 3 basic psychological needs are not well met or thwarted

Driven by reward, punishment or internalized pressures from others

What are the 3 basic psychological needs for the Self Determination Theory?

Need for Competence: Humans desire to master their environment (supported by social Environment and provides challenges and opportunities)

Need for Autonomy: Humans desire for choice and volition in their action

Need for Relatedness: Humans desire for social belonging

What environments thwart satisfaction of the 3 fundamental needs?

Greater passivity

Greater Alienation

Greater ill-being (opposite of autonomy and self control)

What environments are created when the 3 needs are optimally supported?

More autonomous in their behaviors

More likely to persist at their behaviors

More likely to feel better overall

What are the 6 types of Motivation?

1. Amotivation

2. External Regulation

3. Introjected Regulation

4. Identified Regulation

5. Integrated Regulation

6. Intrinsic Motivation

Amotivation

Lack of motivation

External Motivation

Need rewards to be motivated

Introjected Motivation

Needs to achieve/be at the top or feels bad

Identified Motivation

Motivated by an ideal, successful version of yourself

Integrated Motivation

an individual fully accepts, integrates, and aligns an external value or action with their existing core beliefs and identity (Thinks grades will make them a better person)

Intrinsic Motivation

the drive to engage in an activity for its own sake—because it is personally rewarding, interesting, or enjoyable (Studying gives joy, curious, motivated to learn more)

What are personal identities?

1. Individual traits

2. Achievements

3. Qualities

What are our social Identities?

Our group affiliations that are recognized as being part of the self

Social Identity

The part of a persons self concept that derives from membership in groups that are important to them

What makes up a persons self concept?

1. Personal Identity

2. Social Identity

How do people maintain a positive self concept (acts as an important source of self-esteem)

They will change perceptions/change affiliations to maintain a positive self-concept

Who developed the Social Identity Theory?

Henri Tajfel

Social Categorization

People categorize themselves and others into ingroups and outgroups