Chapter 3 - The Social Self


The Social Self

Nature of the Self

  • Belief in a Stable Self:

    • A consistent self defined by stable personality traits.

    • Social psychology challenges this view, suggesting malleability.

Components of the Self

  • Individual Self:

    • Personal traits, abilities, preferences.

  • Collective Self:

    • Identity as a group member.

  • Relational Self:

    • Identity in specific relationships.

Social Self Dynamics

  • The self is influenced by social context.

  • It is constructed, maintained, and flexible, not fixed.

Understanding Schemas and Stereotypes

Schema Definition

  • Organized body of stored knowledge that guides behavior and expectations in various contexts.

  • Types include:

    • Situational (scripts)

    • Traits

    • Self

    • Objects

    • Groups of people (stereotypes)

Self-Schemas

  • Definition: Cognitive structures reflecting beliefs about self.

  • Influence information processing and judgment.

  • Example of conscientiousness schema affecting recall and behavior.

Origins of Self-Knowledge

  • Sources include:

    • Family and socialization agents

    • Culture

    • Gender

    • Social comparison

Looking-Glass Self Concept

  • Formed through society's feedback and perception.

  • Reflected Self-Appraisals: Internalizations of how others see us influence our self-view.

Situationism and the Self

Understanding Stability vs. Change

  • Core beliefs are stable while situational factors fluctuate.

  • Traits vs. States:

    • Traits are stable characteristics.

    • States change based on context.

Distinctive Aspects of Self

  • The self-concept highlights unique traits depending on context.

Cultural Perspectives on Self

Independent vs. Interdependent Self

  • Independent Cultures: Emphasize personal attributes.

  • Interdependent Cultures: Highlight relationships and roles.

Gender Perspectives

  • Men tend to have independent self-views while women are often interdependent.

Social Comparison Theory

  • People compare selves to others to evaluate opinions and abilities.

  • Motivated comparisons are either upward (to improve) or downward (to feel better).

    • Example: Katie comparing her exam performance to James.'