UTS_-_Chapter_1-_Lesson_3_PDF
Lesson 3: The Self as Cognitive Construct
Lesson Objectives
Identify different ideas in psychology about the "self".
Create a personal definition of the "self" based on psychological definitions.
Analyze various psychological factors affecting the formation of the "self".
Introduction
Psychological perspectives on the self and identity tend to vary, with some overlaps between fields.
Modern research recognizes contributions from various fields, moving away from the nurture vs. nature debate.
Psychology focuses on the individual while considering contextual factors.
The concept of "self" is explored through various themes in psychology.
Defining the Self: Perspectives on Self and Identity
Key Concepts
Self: Personal identity and awareness of individuality (Jhangiani and Tarry, 2014).
William James's Aspects of Self:
"I": The acting, thinking, and feeling self.
"Me": Physical and psychological characteristics defining identity.
Carl Rogers's Theory:
Similar separation of self: "I" as the agent, and "me" as the object of the self.
Identity and Self-Concept:
Identity: A combination of personal characteristics and social roles (Oyserman, Elmore, and Smith, 2012).
Self-Concept: Immediate knowledge about oneself in response to the question "Who are you?".
Changeability of Self, Identity, and Self-Concept
Self-concept is not fixed; it can change based on life stages and experiences.
Metaphor of malleable metal or water to describe the adaptable nature of self-concept.
Self-Schema: Organized knowledge about the self that affects perception and feelings (Gleitman, Gross, and Reisberg, 2011).
The Role of Social Interaction in Self Development
Importance of Context
Society plays an essential role in forming one's self-concept.
Individuals are influenced by societal expectations and cultural norms.
Humans need social interactions to affirm their identity.
Symbolic Interactionism (G.H. Mead)
Argues the self is created through social interactions.
Self and identity are deemed products of social contexts:
Identity foundations formed by societal influences.
Reliance on others for self-definition.
Social history impacts self-expectations.
Self-Awareness and Self-Concept
Types of Self-Awareness
Private Self: Internal standards and thoughts.
Public Self: The image presented to others.
Self-Schema Types: Actual, Ideal, and Ought self:
Actual: Current state.
Ideal: Future aspirations.
Ought: Societal expectations.
Impact of Self-Awareness
Positive effects can prevent risky behaviors and improve time management.
Negative impacts lead to self-consciousness and potential deindividuation in large groups.
Social Comparison and Self-Esteem
Theories on Social Comparison
Downward Social Comparison: Enhancing self-esteem by comparing to those worse off.
Upward Social Comparison: Can lower self-esteem by comparing to those better off.
Self-Evaluation Maintenance Theory: Responses to being outperformed by close individuals.
Distance oneself, redefine relationships, or improve oneself.
Narcissism
Defined as self-admiration and focus on external validation (Jhangiani and Tarry, 2014).
The fine line between healthy self-esteem and narcissism.
Encourages self-improvement rather than mere self-flattery.
Conclusions on Self-Esteem
Self-esteem correlates with positive attributes but isn’t the sole determinant of a healthy self-view.
High self-esteem can lead to outgoing behavior but also to disregard for non-conforming aspects.
Backing self-esteem improvement with evidenced behaviors rather than superficial measures is crucial.
Application and Assessment
Conduct personal research to identify ten strategies to boost self-esteem.
Analyze potential for strategies to backfire into narcissism, revising as necessary for broader societal benefits.