Chapter 4: The Self

Question 1

Self-other accuracy problem

Answer 1

the tendency to be inaccurate about ourselves due to the fact that we alone have access to knowing our intentions. Additionally, we think (and truly may) know others better than they know themselves because “actions speak louder than words” (i.e., someone who is always late, regardless of their INTENTION to be on time, is still simply always late)

Question 2

Self-promotion

Answer 2

When people try to ensure that others form impressions f them based on their most favorable self-aspects.

Question 3

Self-verification perspective

Answer 3

The processes we use to lead others to agree with our own self-views. We may still wish to have other people - esp those closest to us - see us as we see ourselves, even if it means potentially receiving information that is negative about ourselves.

Question 4

Integration tactics

Answer 4

Social tactics used to make a good impression on others; if not used carefully, these can be overdone easily

Question 5

Self-deprecating

Answer 5

A form of an integration tactic, when we imply that we are not as good as the other person, admiring them or lowering an audience’s expectations of our abilities.

Question 6

Introspection

Answer 6

Privately thinking about the factors that made us who we are

Question 7

Social identity theory

Answer 7

According to this theory, we can perceive ourselves differently at any given moment in time, depending on where we are on the personal-verus-social identity continuum

Question 8

Personal-versus-social identity continuum

Answer 8

At the personal end of this continuum, we think of ourselves primarily as individuals. At the social end, we think of ourselves primarily as members of specific social groups. We do not experience all aspects of our self-concept simultaneously; where we place ourselves on this continuum at any given moment will influence how we think about ourselves.

Question 9

Salience

Answer 9

The part of our identity that is the focus of our attention

Question 10

Intragroup comparison

Answer 10

Descriptions of self at the personal identity level, involving comparisons with other individuals who share our group membership

Question 11

Intergroup comparison

Answer 11

Descriptions of self at the social identity level, involving contrasts between groups. We perceive ourselves as part of the group, so we emphasize what we share with other group members, and how the group as a whole differs from other groups as whole’s.

Question 12

Self-construal

Answer 12

How we characterize ourselves

Question 13

Social network analysis

Answer 13

Where the number of friendship ties between members of a school population were calculated

Question 14

autobiographical memory

Answer 14

strategically comparing present selves with past selves. two main reactions take place:

1. the “distant” self was criticized more strongly compared to the “nearer” self
2. when close to a recent failure, the “nearer” self is seen less positively than the “distant” self

Question 15

Possible selves

Answer 15

Thinking about a positively valued possible self can inspire people to forego current, short-lived pleasurable activities that might hinder bringing about this improved future self.

Question 16

Role models

Answer 16

Other people we wish to imitate or be like

Question 17

self-control

Answer 17

Refraining from actions we might enjoy more, and performing actions we prefer not to for the purpose of moving ourselves toward future goals.

Question 18

Ego depletion

Answer 18

The diminished capacity to exert subsequent self-control after previously doing so. This is often expected in many domains requiring self-regulation

Question 19

Downward social comparison

Answer 19

When your own performance is compared with someone who is less capable than yourself.

Question 20

Upward social comparison

Answer 20

Comparing your performance on the same task to someone who is better at it than you, and the result is that you might not feel good about yourself. Upward social comparison is often threatening to our positive self-image.

Question 21

Social comparison theory

Answer 21

Suggests that we compare ourselves to others because for many domains and attributes, there is no objective yardstick to evaluate ourselves against; other people are therefore highly informative. Judging similarities is often based on broad social categories such as age, sex, gender, race, or experience in a particular task

Question 22

Self-evaluation maintenance

Answer 22

Applies when we categorize the self at the personal level, and we compare ourselves as an individual to another individual

Question 23

Social identity theory

Answer 23

Applies when we categorize ourselves at the group level (a woman, a student), and the comparison to other is categorized as sharing the same category as ourselves.

Question 24

Above average effect

Answer 24

We think we are better than the average person on almost every dimension imaginable

Question 25

Implicit self-esteem

Answer 25

Self-feelings of which we are not consciously aware of. Automatic associations between the self and positive or negative concepts.