Understanding Self-Concept and Behavior

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to self-concept, behavior, and psychology.

Ontological Self

The part of you that feels and does things.

Ex: Feeling happy, scared, or excited

Epistemological Self

What you know about yourself.

Example — “I am nice” or “I am shy”

Declarative Self

Things you can say about yourself.

Example — “I like pizza” or “I am a student”

Procedural Self-Knowledge

Things you know how to do without thinking.

Example — Riding a bike or tying your shoes

Self-Schema

A belief about yourself.

Example — “I am good at sports”

Schematic

Something about you that feels very important.

Example — Caring a lot about being smart in school

Aschematic

Something about you that is not important to you.

Example — Not caring about fashion

Self-Schemas Effect

Your beliefs change how you act.

Example — If you think you are smart, you try harder

Candle Problem

A puzzle showing how beliefs affect thinking.

Example — Someone who thinks they are bad at puzzles gives up

Assimilation

Making new info fit what you already believe.

Example — “I failed because the test was unfair”

Accommodation

Changing what you believe about yourself.

Example — “Maybe I need to study more”

Self-Esteem Protection

Making bad feedback sound good.

Example — “The teacher didn’t mean it”

Social Comparison

Looking at others to judge yourself.

Example — Seeing how your friend did on a test

Upward Comparison

Comparing yourself to someone better.

Example — Looking at the smartest kid in class

Downward Comparison

Comparing yourself to someone worse.

Example — Feeling better because someone else did worse

Upward Comparison Effect

Can make you try harder or feel bad.

Example — Wanting to study more or feeling sad

Downward Comparison Effect

Makes you feel better.

Example — Feeling proud of your score

Self-Concept Differentiation

Being different in different places.

Example — Quiet at school, loud with friends

Narrative Self

The story you tell about your life.

Example — “I had a hard time but I am doing better now”

Culture and Self

People from different places see themselves differently.

Example — Some people care more about family than themselves

Personality Disorder

When someone acts the same bad way for a long time.

Example — Always fighting with others

Personality Disorder Traits

Hard to change behaviors.

Example — Acting the same way for many years

Culture in Diagnosis

Culture matters when judging behavior.

Example — What is normal in one culture may not be in another

Comorbidity

Having more than one problem at once.

Example — Being very angry and very anxious

Normal vs Abnormal Traits

Everyone has traits, some are just stronger.

Example — Confidence vs too much confidence

Ego-Syntonic

Feels okay to the person.

Example — “This is just how I am”

Ego-Dystonic

Feels bad to the person.

Example — “I don’t like acting this way”

Insight

Knowing something is wrong.

Example — Realizing you need help

Help-Seeking

Asking for help.

Example — Going to therapy