Chapter 7 - Self-Knowledge

Self-concept

Content of the self or knowledge of who we are, including memory

Active self

What we are currently thinking about ourselves

Self-awareness

The act of thinking about the self

Self-schemas

Structures that help us organize information about ourselves, influencing what we notice, think about, and remember in the environment

Organization

The chronic or situational arrangement of self-schemas

Self-Reference Effects

The tendency to remember things better if related to the self

Independent self-construal

Defining the self in terms of internal thoughts, traits, feelings, and actions

Interdependent self-construal

Defining the self in terms of relationships/roles, having no 'self' outside of this

Self-regulation

The ability to imagine the future, plan for events, set long-term goals not based on survival, and control behavior through mental regulation

Self-regulatory resource model

Resources are limited, control over the self is like a muscle

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Involves the actual self, ideal self, and ought self, and the extent of discrepancy between them

Cybernetic Model of Self Regulation

Comparing the current state to internal standards, regulating behavior based on the velocity of movement towards goals

Introspection

Looking inward and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and motives

Causal theories

Theories about the causes of one's own feelings and behaviors, usually learned from culture

Self-Perception

Inferring attitudes by observing one's own actions or feelings, especially when unsure of beliefs

Two-factor theory of emotion

Involves experiencing physiological arousal and seeking an appropriate label or explanation for it

Misattribution of arousal

Making mistaken inferences about why one feels a certain way

Overjustification effect

Belief that behaviors are based more on external motivation and less on intrinsic motivation

Social Comparison Theory

Learning about oneself by comparing to others, evaluating opinions and abilities

Upward Social Comparison

Comparing to people who are better

Downward Social Comparison

Comparing to people who are worse

Self-Handicapping

Creating obstacles to attribute failure to, avoiding blaming the self