NATURE, CULTURE, SELF

What is the definition of the human psyche?

The psyche is a broader term for mind, encompassing emotions, desires, perceptions, and all psychological processes.

What factors are said to shape the human psyche?

Nature and culture shape the psyche based on what it was designed to do.

What do nature explanations in psychology emphasize?

They emphasize that people are born a certain way, dictated by genes, hormones, and brain structure.

What do cultural explanations in psychology focus on?

They focus on what people learn from parents, society, and personal experiences.

What does the Theory of Evolution explain about human behavior?

It explains how change occurs in nature and highlights that humans are animals with instincts like competition and family ties.

What is a key feature of living things regarding life?

The drive to prolong life through living and reproduction.

What is natural selection?

A process whereby traits that improve survival or reproduction become more common, while those that reduce chances of survival tend to disappear.

What is culture in the context of human social life?

Culture is an information-based system where many people work together to satisfy biological and social needs.

What shared elements define a culture?

Shared beliefs, meanings, values, and ways of doing things.

How are humans different from most other creatures in terms of cultural behavior?

Humans base their actions on meaning and ideas, making them more cultural than any other animal.

What does the simultaneous sharing of experiences do to emotional reactions?

It intensifies emotional reactions when group members experience the same stimuli at the same time.

What is the duplex mind?

The human mind consists of both an automatic and a deliberate system.

What are the characteristics of the automatic system in the duplex mind?

It is fast, relatively effortless, and useful for simple tasks.

What are the characteristics of the deliberate system in the duplex mind?

It is slow, effortful, and useful for complex tasks.

How do culture and nature interact in human behavior?

Nature provides impulses and wishes, while culture teaches self-control and restraint.

What drives selfish impulses according to the lecture?

Nature drives selfishness, but culture necessitates overcoming such impulses.

What does self-knowledge entail in the context of the self?

It involves self-awareness and the development of beliefs about oneself.

What are the three main parts of the self?

Self-knowledge, the interpersonal self, and the agent function.

What distinguishes independent self-construal from interdependent self-construal?

Independent self-construal emphasizes individuality, while interdependent self-construal emphasizes connections to others.

What does private self-awareness refer to?

It refers to attending to one’s inner states.

What does public self-awareness mean?

It means attending to how one is perceived by others.

Why is self-awareness vital according to the lecture?

It is important for self-regulation and for adopting others’ perspectives.

What is the looking-glass self?

A concept by Charles Horton Cooley that describes how we learn about ourselves based on how others judge us.

What are the three components of the looking-glass self?

Imagining how one appears to others, imagining how others will judge that appearance, and developing an emotional response.

What does social comparison involve?

Examining the difference between oneself and another person.

What is the self-reference effect?

The finding that self-relevant information is processed more thoroughly and remembered better.

What is self-esteem?

It is how favorably someone evaluates themselves.

What does the self-serving bias entail?

It is a pattern where people claim credit for success but deny blame for failure.

What is the overjustification effect?

The phenomenon where intrinsic motivation diminishes when activities are associated with external rewards.

What drives the appraisal motive for self-knowledge?

A broad curiosity for important and reliable information.

What is the consistency motive in self-knowledge?

The desire to get feedback that confirms what people already believe about themselves.

What does self-handicapping involve?

Putting obstacles in one’s way to blame later if failing or to appear more competent if succeeding.

How does culture operate according to the lecture?

Culture functions as a 'general store' of information that helps individuals navigate social interactions.

What can lead to either change or escape in response to feeling inadequate?

Awareness of falling short of personal standards.