Module IV - Self and Social Identity

Module IV: Self and Social Identity

1. The Self

• Definition: The self represents our sense of personal identity and individuality.

• Self-Concept: Central to our lives; encompasses who we believe we are based on personal experiences and characteristics.

  • The self is described as "me," which includes all our ideas and information about ourselves.

2. Self-Knowledge

• Understanding Yourself: Methods to gain self-knowledge include:

  • Reflected Appraisals: Formed by how we perceive others reacting to us.

  • Looking-Glass Self: The understanding of our self shaped by seeing ourselves through the eyes of others.

  • Social Comparison Process: Comparing our attributes to others to gauge our abilities.

  • Introspection: Examining our internal thoughts and feelings, though potentially biased.

3. Personal Attributes and Self-Concept

• Components of Self-Concept: These include age, gender, nationality, personal traits (e.g., being smart or artistic).

• Self-Concept Inquiry: Questions that help in understanding one's self-concept, such as:

  • "Tell us about yourself?"

  • "What are you not?"

  • "Tell us about school?"

  • "Tell us about your family?"

4. Distinctiveness Theory

• Suggests self-definition is influenced by unique attributes rather than commonalities (e.g., defining oneself by being a debater in an all-male school).

5. Self and Memory

• Autobiographical Memory: Vital for recalling self-related events.

• Influences: Peers, educational experiences, and religious involvement shape self-knowledge and behavioral standards.

6. The Self in Relation to Others

• Individual vs. Collective Self: The individual's personal self vs. self-concept derived from group memberships.

7. Self-Concept Dimensions

• Self-concept encompasses multiple dimensions, including academic, gender, race, and more.

8. Domains of Self-Knowledge

• Three main domains:

  • Self-assessment (SA): Seeking accurate information about oneself.

  • Self-verification (SV): Confirming existing self-knowledge.

  • Self-enhancement (SE): Preference for favorable feedback.

9. Self-Assessment in Career Planning

• Initial step for informed career decisions that includes evaluation of values, interests, skills, and ongoing self-perception.

10. Organizing Self-Knowledge

• Self-Schemas: Organized knowledge and memories about oneself which dictate behaviors.

  • Include attributes like age, occupation, and talents.

11. Self-Esteem

• Comes from a Greek word meaning "reverence for self"; involves self-worth and the appraisal of personal characteristics.

• Evaluating Self: Positive (high self-esteem) vs. negative (low self-esteem) assessments.

12. Maintaining Self-Esteem in Interactions

• Primary motives during social interactions:

  • Enhancing self-esteem.

  • Maintaining consistency with self-image (self-evaluation maintenance theory).

13. Self-Confidence

• The expectation of achieving a goal influences both self-perception and external perception.

• Key Categories: Achievement, Self-regulation, and Social climate.

14. Self-Control

• The regulation of behavior relative to one's ideal self vs. actual self through self-regulation techniques.

15. Self-Serving Cognitions

• Biases: Tendency to attribute success to internal factors and failures to external ones; supports self-consistency.

16. Self-Focus

• Heightened Awareness: Self-monitoring and self-handicapping behaviors affect self-esteem.

17. Self-Awareness

• Reflects attention to one's self-concept; influenced by external judgment leading to self-consciousness.

18. The Social Self

• Development of self-concept through social interactions; perceptions vary based on comparisons with others.

19. Social Comparison

• Process: Learning about abilities and opinions through comparisons with others; includes upward and downward comparisons.

20. Perceiving Others: Impression Formation

• Impression Formation: Making judgments about others based on initial and recurring information.

  • Includes concepts such as the primacy effect and the halo effect.

21. Identity

• A persisting sense of self that develops through life experiences and social interactions.

22. Identity Formation

• A crucial developmental task striving for an integrated self, combining personal and social definitions.

  • Features: Continuity and Contrast.

23. Self-Presentation

• The process of controlling impressions in social contexts, influenced by goals of authenticity, idealization, or manipulation.

24. In-Groups and Out-Groups

• Defined by social identity theory; positive regard for in-groups fosters self-esteem, contrasting with out-groups.

25. Social Identity Theory

• Self-concept shaped by group memberships; encompasses multiple identities and impacts interactions.

26. Superordinate Goals

• Goals transcending differences among individuals, emphasizing cooperative efforts for broader objectives.