The Social Self in Social Psychology

A collection of vocabulary flashcards detailing key concepts related to self-concept and self-esteem in social psychology.

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, behave, and perceive themselves and others in a social context.

Self-Concept

The sum total of the beliefs that people have about themselves; includes self-schemas which guide processing of self-relevant information.

Self-Schema

Beliefs about oneself that guide processing of self-relevant information.

Self-Esteem

The degree to which one feels worthwhile; affected by how one thinks about oneself.

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Self-esteem is influenced by the match or mismatch between how we see ourselves and how we ideally want to be.

Terror Management Theory

The theory which posits that people are motivated to decrease existential anxiety related to death and meaninglessness by increasing their self-esteem.

Downward Social Comparison

The tendency to compare oneself to others who are worse off to feel better about one's own situation.

Looking Glass Self

The notion that our self-concept is shaped by how we believe others perceive us.

Self-Perception Theory

The theory that suggests people gain insight about themselves by observing their own behavior.

Implicit Self-Esteem

True self-worth that affects behavior unconsciously, often more stable than explicit self-esteem.

Self-Handicapping

Behaviors designed to sabotage one's own performance to provide an excuse for future failure.

Cognitive Distortions

Irrational negative thoughts about oneself that lead to low self-esteem.

Cultural Perspectives

The study of how cultural factors influence self-concept and self-esteem.

High Self-Monitors

Individuals who regulate their behavior to meet the demands of the situation, often seen as adaptable.

Self-Serving Cognitions

The tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to external factors.