CH3 - the social self

Question 1

What can a lack of self-insight reveal?

Answer 1

It can be a self-protective measure - unconscious

Question 2

What is the definition of a self-schema?

Answer 2

They are organizing structures that help guide the construal of social info + represent a person’s beliefs and feelings about the self in both specific + general situations + organizing function

Question 3

What are the perceptions of siblings and the social self?

Born-to-rebel hypothesis

Answer 3

Siblings develop different personalities to peacefully coexist in the same niche

Older – stable, surrogate-parents, assertive, dominant

Younger – challenge status quo, more open to new ideas

Question 4

What term corresponds to the following definition?

beliefs about what others think of one’s social self

Answer 4

Reflected self-appraisals

“Looking-glass self”

Question 5

What is the link between the social self and situationism

Answer 5

The social self is shaped by the current situation, and different selves are evoked in different situations

Question 6

Do the reflected self-appraisals accurately represent reality?

Answer 6

No, because we internalize how we think others see us, not how they actually do.

Question 7

Explain the working self-concept and a study related to it

Answer 7

The working self-concept is a subset of self-knowledge that is brought to mind in a particular context.
We have a tendency to highlight what makes us unique in different situations.
Study: Asked 6th-graders to define themselves – did according to how they differed from classmates

Question 8

How does the social self vary?

Answer 8

Part malleability + part stability in sense of self
Pool of self-knowledge remains relatively constant over time

Study: LGBT ppl who are often faced with the decision of whether or not to disclose their sexuality
Being part of a minority is likely to be a cross-situational, core, noticeable aspect of the self

Question 9

Explain the study relating being LGBT and the sense of self

Answer 9

LGBT ppl who are often faced with the decision of whether or not to disclose their sexuality
Being part of a minority is likely to be a cross-situational, core, noticeable aspect of the self

Question 10

How does culture influence the construal of the social self?

+ study related to it

Answer 10

Western: independent self-construal,
self = autonomous entity, inward focus, recall inside-out

Asian: interdependent self-construal, outside-in when recalling

Study: asked ppl from Kenya to describe themselves:
uni-students, worker in Nairobi, tradition herding ppl
The higher educated ppl were more exposed to Western culture and thus more independent,
The traditional ppl used to comparing selves to others bc of role in tribe.

Question 11

What are the gender differences in the construal of the social self, and what caused it?

Answer 11

Women: emphasize relationships, interdependence
Men: uniqueness, construal in an independent way
These differences are caused by socialization.

Question 12

Explain the study where Facebook was used to measure social influence on construals and evaluations of self

Answer 12

Researchers accessed FB algorithms and controlled what type of content showed up on user’s feeds (multiple thousands of participants, ethical issues). They were then asked to answer questions about how FB makes them feel multiple times a day + linking w/ usage of FB
Conclusion: social media is a major potential social influence on construals + evaluations of self

Question 13

When is social comparison used?

Answer 13

Social comparison is used to learn about your own abilities, attitudes, and personality traits when nothing else is available for comparison. One should compare themselves to ppl with around the same skill-level as you, because downward social comparison makes us feel better BUT can sacrifice opportunities for improvement.

Question 14

What is the difference between trait self-esteem and state self-esteem?

Answer 14

Trait self-esteem: stable part of one’s identity, over time

State self-esteem: changes according to different contextual factors

🡪Self-esteem: overall positive/negative evaluation ppl have of themselves

Question 15

What is self-esteem defined by?

+ study related to the measure of self-esteem

Answer 15

Self-esteem is defined by contingencies of self-worth = very imp domains + being accepted by others
More important + higher Western > East-Asian cultures

Study: measures of ppl self-worth the day they got accepted/rejected from a grad school = higher self-esteem when accepted, lower when rejected, wise to place it in many different areas

Question 16

Which hypothesis has the following definition?

the idea that self-esteem is an internal, subjective index/marker of the extent to which a person is included/looked on favorably by others

Answer 16

Sociometer hypothesis

Question 17

Which motives drive self-evaluation?

Answer 17

self-enhancement - they tend to be stronger in ambiguous situations ie being ‘artistic’ rather than ‘tall’ (ponctual)

Self-verification: the theory that ppl strive for stable, subjectively accurate beliefs about themselves bc such self-views give them a sense of coherence and predictability
ex: “we accept the love we think we deserve”

Question 18

Which concept has the following definition?

the finding that most people think they’re above average on various personality traits + ability dimensions.

Answer 18

Better-than-average effects

Question 19

What is the self-affirmation theory, and to what concept is it related?

Answer 19

Self-enhancement.

It is the idea that ppl can maintain an overall sense of self-worth following psychologically threatening information by affirming a valued aspect of themselves unrelated to the threat.
It can lead to healthier coping mechanisms/responses among self-enhancers bc of the positive illusions.

Question 20

Describe the self-discrepancy theory

Answer 20

The theory investigates how ppl compare their actual self to both ideal self + ought self and the emotional consequences of such comparisons

Actual: self that people believe they are
Ideal: self that embodies ppl’s wishes + aspirations
Ought: self-concerned w/ duties, obligations, ext demands ppl feel they’re compelled to honor

Question 21

What do deviations to the ought self entail?

Answer 21

It entails avoidant behavior and a sensitivity to negative outcomes

Question 22

What is the difference between promotion focus and prevention focus?

Answer 22

Promotion focus: when ppl regulate their behaviour with respect to ideal self-standards for attaining positive outcomes – typical w Westerns

Prevention focus: when ppl regulate their behaviour with respect to ought self-standards for avoiding negative outcomes

Question 23

Which concept has the following definition?

behaviour that can excuse a poor performance/failure in order to protect their public self

Answer 23

Self-handicapping

Question 24

What is the definition of implementation intention?

Answer 24

The implementation intention specifies how one will behave to achieve a goal under particular circumstances (if-then)

Question 25

What is the difference between self-presentation and face?

Answer 25

Self-presentation: ppl present themselves the way they want others to see them

Face: image ppl want others to have about them

Question 26

What concept has the following definition?

A process that ensures that a person’s behaviour fits the demands of social context

Answer 26

Self-monitoring