4- Where does our Self Come From?

Question 1

What are the two groups of theories about the self?

Answer 1

Self-comparison and social-comparisons

Question 2

What is self-comparison?

Answer 2

How we find out about ourselves using internal standards and information

Question 3

What are social-comparisons?

Answer 3

Social sense of self- how we find out and develop a sense of self based on other people and groups

Question 4

What 3 theories are associated with self-comparison?

Answer 4

Self-perception theory, self-awareness theory, and self-discrepancy theory

Question 5

Who came up with the self-perception theory?

Answer 5

Bem, 1965

Question 6

What is the key idea of self-perception theory?

Answer 6

When attitudes or feelings are ambiguous then we infer them by observing our own behaviour

Question 7

What do we do if we keep doing things?

Answer 7

Assume that we like it and incorporate it into our self-concept

Question 8

What are some examples of things decided by self-perception theory?

Answer 8

Liking certain foods or activities

Question 9

Does self-perception theory happen consciously or unconsciously?

Answer 9

Automatically, not at the conscious level

Question 10

When does self-perception theory happen?

Answer 10

When there isn’t an external justification for behaviour

Question 11

What do people do when extrinsic motivation is strong?

Answer 11

People discount the influence of intrinsic motivation

Question 12

Who came up with self-awareness theory?

Answer 12

Duval and Wicklund, 1972

Question 13

What is the key idea behind self-awareness theory?

Answer 13

We aren’t always constantly paying attention to our behaviours

Question 14

What happens when we become self-conscious or self-aware?

Answer 14

We become objective observers of our own behaviour

Question 15

How do we compare our present behaviour?

Answer 15

To internal standards and values

Question 16

How do we become self-aware?

Answer 16

Certain triggers activate self-awareness

Question 17

How does self-awareness vary between people?

Answer 17

One person’s trigger may not trigger self-awareness in someone else

Question 18

Who came up with self-discrepancy theory?

Answer 18

Higgins, 1987

Question 19

What is self-discrepancy?

Answer 19

The size of mismatch there is between the actual self and ideal/ought self

Question 20

What is self-regulation?

Answer 20

Strategies to match behaviour to ideal or ought self

Question 21

What does self-regulation do?

Answer 21

Reduce discrepancy

Question 22

What are we motivated to do?

Answer 22

Reduce self-discrepancy

Question 23

Why do we sometimes change our behaviours and standards?

Answer 23

To match the desired standard or escape the situation

Question 24

What feelings is discrepancy between the actual and ideal self associated with?

Answer 24

Dejected, disappointed, dissatisfied, sad

Question 25

What feelings is discrepancy between the actual and ought self associated with?

Answer 25

Agitated, anxious, threatened, fearful

Question 26

What 3 theories are associated with social comparison?

Answer 26

Looking glass self, social comparison theory, social identity approach

Question 27

Why is social comparison important?

Answer 27

Experiences with other people feed into our self-concept and who we think we are

Question 28

What is the looking glass self?

Answer 28

We see ourselves and the social world through the eyes of other people and often adopt those views

Question 29

How do we incorporate other people's views into our self-concept?

Answer 29

By acquiring feedback and evaluation from others lead us to feel more confident in our self views

Question 30

How do we use non-verbal cues?

Answer 30

To guess, interpret and imagine how other people are seeing us

Question 31

What 3 components of the looking glass self did Cooley propose?

Answer 31

Imagining how we appear to others Imagine how other will judge us Develop an emotional response to that judgement

Question 32

How are our self views dictated?

Answer 32

More by how we think other people will see us instead of how they actually see us

Question 33

Who came up with social comparison theory?

Answer 33

Festinger, 1954

Question 34

What is the idea of social comparison theory?

Answer 34

People are driven to establish accurate self-views by comparing to others

Question 35

Why do we often feel a need to compare to others to mark our characteristics or abilities?

Answer 35

As we can't always observe our own behaviour

Question 36

Why are we motivated to seek out social comparisons?

Answer 36

To work out where we stand in relation to others

Question 37

What is an upward social comparison?

Answer 37

Comparing ourselves to people who are better than we are on a particular trait or ability

Question 38

Why can an upward social comparison be positive?

Answer 38

It can be inspiring or motivating

Question 39

Why can an upward social comparison be negative?

Answer 39

Can threaten self-esteem and be a bit dejecting

Question 40

What is self-evaluation maintenance?

Answer 40

We defend self-esteem against upward social comparison

Question 41

What is a downward social comparison?

Answer 41

We compare ourselves to people who are worse than we are on a particular trait or ability

Question 42

Why can a downward social comparison be positive?

Answer 42

It enhances or protects self-esteem

Question 43

Why can a downward social comparison be negative?

Answer 43

It doesn't motivate self-improvement

Question 44

Who came up with the social identity approach?

Answer 44

Tajfel and Turner, 1979, 1986

Question 45

What does the social identity approach focus on?

Answer 45

The collective self

Question 46

What interact in the social identity approach?

Answer 46

Personal identity and social identity

Question 47

What is important in the social identity approach?

Answer 47

Part of our self-concept that derives from membership in social groups where value and emotional significance is attached to that membership

Question 48

What does group membership provide us with?

Answer 48

Self-esteem

Question 49

What do we do when group identity is salient?

Answer 49

We act in accordance to group norms and prioritise maximising ingroup outcomes more than self-interest

Question 50

What is the goal of self-categorisation theory?

Answer 50

To elaborate and refine the cognitive element of social identity theory

Question 51

What do we do in any given situation according to self-categorisation theory?

Answer 51

Self-categorise in terms of any of our multiple selves, including individual, relational and social identities

Question 52

What are the 4 reasons a given identity is more likely to be activated?

Answer 52

If it is more accessible If it fits the situation If it satisfies the motive to reduce uncertainty If it satisfies the motive to self-enhance