Chapter 11: the self

Self-concept

what you think of yourself

self-esteem

reflect’s one’s evaluations of one’s worth and feelings

self-identity

what others think about us

development of mirror self-regulation

1. social responses

2. physical inspection

3. repetitive mirror-testing behavior

4. realization of seeing themselves

animals and the damn mirror

• chimps have decreased social behavior and increased self-directed behavior

  • vain motherfuckers

  • can you tell it’s 2AM?

• some animals are really good at this

• some animals are really bad at this

self-conscious emotions

involve feelings that relate to sense of self and the consciousness of others’ reactions to us

self-conscious emotions timeline

• emerge at 2

• 3-4, kids understand themselves in terms of characteristics

• early school kids self-based relationships

• adolescence, decribe themsleves abstractly but concretely

personal fable

Egocentrism, think your feelings are special

• feature of adolescence

imaginary audience

egocentrism, all eyes on you feeling

• feature of adolescence

• See also: Bryan Middle School, 2017-2020

self and aging

• sense of self becomes more internalized

• less worried about others’ thoughts

• search and experiment with roles to find identity and values

self-esteem timeline

• emerges at 8

• increased association with peer relationships influences each other

• peaks at middle age

• may be confoundign life success factor

identity

often externally imposed definitions, oftentimes searched for during adolescence

Identity achievement

explored identities, committed to one

identity foreclosure

not explored, chosen based on others values

moratorium

exploring and haven’t chosen yet

identity diffusion

not exploring, not making progress

methods to developing identity

• exploring

• questioning

• developing sense of purpose inand realtionships

• struggling with self-acceptance

self-development factors

• genetics

• enviornment

• culture

• life experiences

• social relationships

• self-relafections

culture and self

cultures emphasize self and importance differently

• ex. individualist cultures emphasize self

• collectivists emphasize interdependence