Self Perception And Embarassment And Personal And Professional Development And Stress Flashcards
(47 cards)
The Focus on social-psychological thinking about how people attempt to control the impressions other people form of them is referred to as?
Focus
–on social-psychological thinking about how people attempt to control the impressions other people form of them or how people control the way others perceive them or how we manage the impressions that others form about us.
It is a psychological process that influences our behavior in social settings that’s why its called socio-psychological
•This topic is referred to as self-presentation or impression management.
Why do we manage something? So it does not get out of hand.If we don’t manage our self impressions, people will see us in a way that we don’t want them to see us.
•A close look at the self.
–We think of the self in terms of private, internal experience.
–We also tend to think of ourselves in terms of our emotions, desires and values.
in social situations, we also consider how others see us and adjust our behavior accordingly.
In short, self-presentation is about balancing how we see ourselves and how we want others to see us.
Mead believed what about how people see themselves?
Explain this in relation to being a doctor
• Some thinkers (like Mead, 1962) argue that our sense of self is shaped by how others see us.
• Instead of being something purely internal, the self is something we perform in social settings.
2. Self as an Accomplishment, Not Just an Inherent Quality
• This perspective sees selfhood as something we build through actions rather than something we naturally possess.
• It’s more about nurture (external influence) than nature (inborn traits).
• A quality is something you inherently have, while a qualification is something you earn or prove over time.
there is a tradition of thought about the self that stresses the way in which our knowledge of ourselves is a reflection of others’ opinions of us (Mead, 1962).
•For thinkers in this tradition, having a self of this sort is primarily to act in a certain way in a public arena.
•So our knowledge of ourselves is what goes on in that arena-
–their view is that the self is more of something we accomplish than it is something we have inside that we merely have to express
Mead’s concept of the self is based on social interaction—you develop your sense of self by interacting with others.
Key Ideas:
1. The Self is Not Born, It Develops
• You aren’t born with a sense of self; you gain it through social experiences.
2. Two Parts of the Self:
• The “I” → The spontaneous, creative, and unpredictable side (your personal reactions).
• The “Me” → The socialized side that follows rules and expectations (how society sees you).
3. How the Self Develops (Role-Taking Stages):
• Imitation Stage (Infancy) – Babies copy others but don’t fully understand roles.
• Play Stage (Young Children) – Kids pretend to be others (e.g., playing “doctor” or “parent”).
• Game Stage (Older Children & Beyond) – They understand multiple roles and society’s rules (e.g., teamwork in sports).
At the final stage, they develop the “generalized other,” meaning they understand how society expects them to behave.
Example:
• A child playing “teacher” understands what a teacher does (role-taking).
• As they grow, they realize teachers must follow rules (generalized other).
• Eventually, they balance their personal identity (I) with social expectations (Me).
So as they interact with society, they see how society expects them to behave. That’s why he said it’s more about nurture and not nature
Would you like me to simplify this even more?
In relation to being a doctor, According to this conception of the self, the most important aspect of a doctor’s self is her being a great doctor. Cuz tjay is what society expects of them.
•This is a matter of public accomplishment, not private experience.
•Not many doctors are great doctors cuz their identity as great doctors depends on how society views them or the recognition of their skills rather than personal feelings about themselves.
So they are at home in thinking of the self as something that goes on outside in the social world.
•We shall, later, study the social psychological aspect of emotions and understand that this conception sees the self as something inside us, something private and personal, something that we just are rather than something we accomplish.
•This conception lays great stress on emotions, because our emotions are surely our most individual private, personal side.
•Now, we focus on the public aspect of the self that is presented to others.
Two Views of the Self
• Private Self → Focuses on emotions and personal experiences.
• Public Self → Focuses on how we present ourselves and are perceived by others.
• Right now, the focus of impression management is on the public aspect—how we shape and manage our social image.
What is symbolic interactionism
What is the looking glass self theory
What is the social psychological aspect
Social-Psychological Aspect → The interaction between personal identity and social influence.
• Impression Management → The process of controlling how others perceive us.
• Symbolic Interactionism → The idea that our self-concept is shaped through interactions with others.
• Looking-Glass Self → The theory that we develop our identity by imagining how others see us.
• Public vs. Private Self → The distinction between social identity and personal identity.
According to symbolic interactionism (Mead, 1962), our self-concept is shaped by social feedback—we see ourselves as others see us.
• This aligns with the looking-glass self theory, which suggests that our identity develops through reflection on others’ opinions.
3. Self as an Accomplishment vs. an Inherent Quality
• Instead of being a fixed personality trait, the self is something we actively construct in social settings.
• This supports the idea that self-presentation is more about nurture (external shaping) than nature (inborn qualities).
What book did irvin Goffman write?
What are the three main things goffman points out about self?
What is self interest in this context of impression management?
Why should we engage in impression management?
“The presentation of self in everyday life” that’s the book.
Goffman points out that,
–first, how people treat us depends on what they think of us, on how they think we are.
•What: our content, what we are made of. This is the final impression they make of us after experiencing us or based on their first impression of us.
•How: our manners, the way we act, ou behavior, our attitude, our presentation. This is the first impression of us.
–Second, how people treat us depends on their impressions of us. So it is in our interest to influence what other people think of us. We all do this.
–Third, one important way we can affect what others think of us is through our behaviour.
•So it is in our interest to arrange our behaviours so that people draw conclusions we want them to about who we are.
•Therefore, it is people’s interest to manage the impressions others form of them. This is self-interest. Through this self-interest, the idea of self- presentation is introduced.
In this context, self-interest refers to the natural desire to be treated well and achieve favorable outcomes in social interactions. Since how people treat us depends on their perception of us, it is in our best interest to manage those perceptions to our advantage.
Because of this self-interest, people engage in self-presentation (impression management)—they consciously shape their behavior, appearance, and communication to influence how others see them.
Example: If a doctor wants to be respected, they will act professionally and demonstrate competence so that patients trust them.
Impression management makes people treat you better
Makes people trust you
Promotes your self interest
According to Erving Goffman, what is a working consensus and explain it in the doctor patient relationship
According to Erving Goffman, a working consensus is an unspoken agreement between people in a social interaction about how to behave in a given situation.
Key Points:
• People adjust their behavior to maintain social harmony and avoid conflict.
• It’s not a permanent agreement, just a temporary understanding for that specific interaction.
• Everyone “acts” in a way that fits the social setting (similar to a performance in a play).
In a doctor-patient interaction, a working consensus is the unspoken agreement that:
• The doctor takes on the role of the expert, asking questions, diagnosing, and giving advice.
• The patient plays the role of someone seeking help, answering honestly and following the doctor’s guidance.
Even if a patient doubts the doctor’s advice, they usually act in line with the expected roles during the conversation to maintain the flow of interaction.
Both parties involved implicitly agreeing to treat each other as if they had certain identities.
If the working consensus breaks (e.g., the patient aggressively challenges the doctor’s authority or the doctor dismisses the patient’s concerns), the interaction may become awkward or confrontational or embarrassing
Explain Goffmans definition of situation in relation to self presentation and working consensus
The definition of the situation in which we interact with other people is also another way Goffman introduces the idea of self-presentation.
• E.g. there is that working consensus or unspoken agreement that a doctor is expected to be knowledgeable about his practice and dress and walk, and sit and interact with patients in some way.
• He is supposed to be educated and smart,
- What’s the expectation in the Ghanaian context? A doctor knows everything about diseases and their cure.
• and supposed to be concerned about his patients and their physical welfare.
What is self esteem?
When do people become embarrassed?
Self-esteem is a person’s sense of self-worth or value.
According to Andre Modigliani, people feel embarrassed when they suddenly lose self-esteem, usually because they fail to impress others and lose esteem in their eyes. This links emotions (like embarrassment) to self-presentation—how we want others to see us.
However, embarrassment isn’t always about self-esteem. People can feel embarrassed even if they don’t think less of themselves, suggesting other factors are involved.
For example:
• Someone trips in public but doesn’t feel less valuable or lose their sense of self worth , yet they still feel embarrassed.
embarrassment isn’t just about losing self-esteem, but also about social discomfort and unexpected disruptions in self-presentation.
Embarrassment is a link between our emotions and our self- presentations.
–If your emotions tally /agree with your self-presentations there will be no embarrassment.
State four effects or consequences of embarrassment
Apply it to doctors
What are the things they do to prevent themselves from
Feeling embarrassed
Consequences of embarrassment:
- embarrassments have a variety of effects. They give rise to signs of embarrassment, e.g.
• avoidance of eye contact.
• People who are embarrassed also give off general signs of distress-
• speech disturbances (stuttering for e.g.) and
• bodily movement, shaking (Hampson, 1979).
For a doctor, embarrassment can come from losing face—failing to meet the high expectations of competence and confidence which will make you want to save face
Application to doctors:
1. Avoiding Help to Save Face
• A doctor might hesitate to ask a colleague for advice on a difficult case, fearing it will make them look incompetent.
2. Failing to Act in an Emergency
• If a doctor encounters a medical emergency outside the hospital (e.g., on the street) but doesn’t intervene immediately, it could be due to fear of failing in front of others.
In both cases, the fear of embarrassment (appearing incompetent) might override the moral duty to act, showing how self-presentation affects behavior.
Questions:
1. what are the motives people have for self-presentation.?
2. What emotions do they feel when such attempts fail?
3. To present oneself, as one wishes, one must not only be motivated to do so, but one must also stage a performance that will project the right impression. True or false?
4. in self presentation, we project a certain character just as a stage actor does. What resources do we have to put on a successful performance and what pitfalls must we overcome?
- What are the motives people have for self-presentation?
• To gain social approval and be liked.
• To maintain self-esteem and feel good about themselves.
• To achieve social or professional goals (e.g., getting a job or earning trust).
• To align with social norms and avoid rejection.- What emotions do they feel when such attempts fail?
• Embarrassment (when they fail to impress others).
• Shame (if they feel deeply unworthy).
• Anxiety (worrying about how others see them).
• Frustration or anger (if they feel unfairly judged). - To present oneself as one wishes, one must not only be motivated to do so, but one must also stage a performance that will project the right impression.
• True. Motivation alone isn’t enough; people must also act in ways that convince others of their desired image. - In self-presentation, we project a certain character just as a stage actor does. What resources do we have to put on a successful performance, and what pitfalls must we overcome?
Resources:
• Appearance (clothing, grooming, body language).
• Speech and Behavior (tone, confidence, politeness).
• Social Setting (choosing the right environment to support the impression).
• Props (certificates, uniforms, or objects that reinforce identity).
Pitfalls:
• Inconsistency (acting differently in different settings may break credibility).
• Overacting (trying too hard can seem fake).
• Unexpected Situations (mistakes, failures, or others challenging their image).
- What emotions do they feel when such attempts fail?
State three things used in self presentation and explain them
What are the risks of being a team player?
The how of self-presentation
• 1. sets and props
• 2. teams
• 3. appearance and manner
The how of self-presentation: performances: sets and props
Theatres make use of sets and props. They orient the audience to the action that will follow, informing the audience about the characters that will appear in the play. In the medical profession, who are the audience?
The kind of house someone lives in, the type of car he/she drives, the type of dress, uniform he wears, etc., say something about what he/she is.
These are what we believe define our profession and attempt to tell who we are. But is this true?
No, they appear to tell how we are, but not who we are. They don’t even tell what we are.
These background elements of our everyday lives announce to all who see them something about the kinds of people we are, something about the kinds of things we care about or do. But the question is, do you really care and do?
Teams: Having a team is useful partly because of division of labour.
• Just as we draw inferences about people from the settings they appear in, so too do we draw inferences from the people other people associate with.
• We know something about a person if we know her spouse, children, family, friends, and co-workers.
• And we learn quite a lot about a person from the ways her friends treat her and we may change our perception about someone based on how her friends treat her. So if we see her as a very serious person but her friends treat her like she’s a fool, we may start seeing her as such.
Being a team player comes with risks because individuals are often judged based on their group’s actions. If someone fails or does something wrong, those associated with them may also suffer consequences.
For example, if a criminal is caught, their family may feel shame and face social rejection, even though they didn’t commit the crime themselves. This shows that social identity can bring both benefits and burdens.
Appearance and Manner: is one source of information about our character. Our gender, age, and physical attractiveness are always available as a source of inference.
The clothes we wear announce much about us. The fabric’s colour, and cut we choose tell about our taste and our social class. Rarely do we choose our clothes so as to announce these things; rather, part of our socialisation by our family and later our peers teaches us to like (and think we look good in) certain sorts of clothes. But regardless of why we wear what we wear, it comments on who we are. How we talk announces volumes too. First, there is the matter of accent. Jargon of every sort has the same function.
• In fact, some people treat a disparagement of their field’s jargon as a rejection of their personally
State the 5 strategies of self presentation
The main self-presentation strategies include:
1. Ingratiation – Trying to be liked by others (e.g., giving compliments, agreeing with people).
2. Self-Promotion – Emphasizing one’s strengths and achievements to appear competent.
3. Intimidation – Projecting power or toughness to gain respect or control.
4. Exemplification – Acting morally superior or self-sacrificing to gain admiration.
5. Supplication – Presenting oneself as weak or needy to gain help or sympathy.
Self handicapping too is part: self-presentation strategy where people create obstacles or excuses in advance to protect their image in case they fail.
How It Works:
• If they fail, they can blame the obstacle instead of their ability.
• If they succeed, they seem even more impressive because they overcame the challenge.
Explain ingratiation and self promotion (similar to each other)
How does self presentation help you gain influence over others
.
• Definition: Ingratiation is a matter of illicitly making oneself likable in another’s eyes. Jones articulates several ways that a person might try to accomplish the goal of looking desirable to another.
• One way is to simply agree with what other people think.
- John the baptizer debunked others’ opinion of him John 1:19-26
• Another is to praise your targets accomplishments, personality, etc.
• A third way is to do favours for the person you want to please. But all of these strategies require subtlety to succeed.
• Self-promotion is another self-promotional strategy very similar to ingratiation.
• While the ingratiator tries to be seen as likeable, the self promoter tries to be seen as competent.
• Interviewees, for example, project themselves as likable (ingratiators) and competent (self-promoters) to gain admission to school or work.
Ingratiation(likability) – Trying to be liked by others to gain favor or approval.
• This includes flattery, agreeing with others, or doing favors to appear likable and trustworthy.
• Example: A job applicant compliments the interviewer to make a good impression.
2. Self-Promotion(competence) – Trying to appear competent and successful to gain respect or opportunities.
• This involves highlighting achievements, skills, or intelligence.
• Example: A doctor emphasizes their qualifications and experience to gain patients’ trust.
More generally, ingratiation is aimed at getting people to like us, while self-promotion is aimed at getting other people to respect us.
•
• The most compelling way to self-promote is to demonstrate the competence we want to be seen as having.
• NB: self- promotion is a difficult strategy to carry out. Discuss.
It must be balanced with humility, subtle and backed by evidence.
Self-presentation helps gain influence over others by shaping how people perceive and respond to us. When we present ourselves in a specific way, we can guide their reactions, earn their trust, and increase our social power.
How It Works:
1. Building Trust and Likability – Using ingratiation (flattery, friendliness) makes people like and support us.
• Example: A politician who acts relatable gains votes.
2. Establishing Authority and Competence – Self-promotion (highlighting skills) earns respect and influence.
• Example: A doctor emphasizing their experience gains patients’ confidence.
3. Controlling Social Interactions – Through strategies like intimidation or exemplification, people shape how others treat them.
• Example: A strict boss gains obedience by projecting toughness.
By managing self-presentation, people can gain power, influence decisions, and shape relationships.
Explain intimidation and exemplification
What’s the difference between exemplification and self promotion
Intimidation and Exemplification:
Definition
- another way of gaining power over someone is by convincing him that you are dangerous.
- Convincing people that you can and will cause trouble if they do not do what you want to is aptly labelled by Jones as intimidation. Apply to the doctor the first danger of intimidation is that someone will call you bluff.
All these strategies are as a result of inadequate preparation in medical education at the preclinical and clinical stages of education. How can a student avoid these?
• Patients can stop seeing you or using your services or telling you the truth about themselves and their health problems.
Intimidation is a self-presentation strategy where a person gains power by making others believe they are dangerous or capable of causing harm if their demands are not met.
Application to a Doctor:
A doctor might use intimidation to ensure compliance, such as warning a patient about severe consequences if they don’t follow medical advice. For example:
• A doctor tells a diabetic patient, “If you don’t take your insulin, you will lose your legs.”
• A surgeon warns a patient, “If you don’t stop smoking, you may not survive the next surgery.”
Danger of Intimidation – Someone Might Call Your Bluff:
If the threat isn’t credible, people may stop taking the doctor seriously. For instance:
• If a doctor always exaggerates risks but patients don’t experience those consequences, they may lose trust and ignore future advice.
Thus, intimidation can work but must be used carefully, or it risks damaging credibility and relationships.
Exemplification, definition
• Another strategy to achieve interpersonal influence is by what Jones calls exemplification.
• It consists in portraying integrity and moral worthiness.
• The exemplifier is a kind of self promoter, but
- the self-promoter projects competence, while the exemplifier projects purity of character.
• Exemplification has its own dangers.
- The exemplifier, like the self-promoter, risks being found out as less than he appears to be that is, as a hypocrite.
Exemplification – Definition & Explanation
Exemplification is a self-presentation strategy where a person tries to influence others by projecting integrity, moral worthiness, or self-sacrifice. Unlike self-promotion, which highlights competence, exemplification focuses on portraying oneself as ethical, dedicated, or selfless.
Example in a Doctor’s Context:
• A doctor who works long hours for low pay and constantly emphasizes their dedication to saving lives is using exemplification.
• If they publicly reject bribes and promote ethical medical practices, they appear morally upright.
Dangers of Exemplification:
1. Risk of Being Seen as a Hypocrite – If the doctor is later caught taking bribes or neglecting patients, people will see them as fake or insincere.
2. Unrealistic Expectations – Others may expect the doctor to always act selflessly, making it hard to set boundaries.
3. Social Backlash – Some may view excessive moral posturing as self-righteousness, leading to resentment.
To avoid these risks, exemplification should be genuine and backed by consistent behavior.
The key difference between self-promotion and exemplification lies in what aspect of the self is being highlighted:
1. Self-Promotion – Focuses on competence and success to gain respect and admiration.
• Goal: To appear skilled, intelligent, and capable.
• Risk: Can seem arrogant or boastful.
• Example: A doctor listing their qualifications and achievements to gain patients’ trust.
2. Exemplification – Focuses on moral integrity and self-sacrifice to gain admiration and influence.
• Goal: To appear ethical, selfless, and dedicated.
• Risk: Can seem hypocritical if actions don’t match words.
• Example: A doctor emphasizing how they work long hours without expecting rewards.
Main Difference:
• Self-promotion = “I am competent.”
• Exemplification = “I am morally good.”
Both aim to influence others, but in different ways.
Explain supplication and handicapping
Supplication and Self- Handicapping
• Final strategy is supplication, making oneself seem weak and dependent.
- To supplicate means and implies what?
• Applied to a medical student doctor or practitioner, she feels so diffident that she feels like depending on more competent colleagues to carrying out his duties.
Self-handicapping
• A tactic related to supplication.
• It is like a doctor who for lack of confidence in performing simple surgery becomes drunk with alcohol so that his lack of performance will be blamed on drunkenness instead of lack of surgical skills.
• Some feigning tiredness, illness, etc. in other to avoid tasks that will expose their incompetence.
Supplication & Self-Handicapping
1. Supplication – A self-presentation strategy where a person appears weak or dependent to gain help or sympathy.
• Implies: The person cannot act independently and needs assistance.
• Example (Medical Student/Doctor): A medical student constantly saying, “I’m not good at this,” so senior doctors take over their responsibilities.
2. Self-Handicapping – Creating obstacles or excuses before a task to protect one’s image in case of failure.
• Example (Medical Student/Doctor): A doctor saying, “I didn’t have time to study this case well,” before making a diagnosis, so if they are wrong, they can blame the lack of preparation rather than incompetence.
Key Difference:
• Supplication = Seeking help by appearing weak or incapable.
• Self-Handicapping = Making excuses or creating barriers to avoid blame for failure.
In conclusion:
Goffmsn’s Approach to Self-presentation
• Impression Management and Identity
• Goffman points out
- 1st people treat us the way they think of us.
- 2nd people treat us the way they are impressed about us.
- 3rd our behaviour affect what others they think about us
• So we arrange our behaviours for people to draw the conclusion we want them to
Avoiding embarrassment
- How? Trying to create and sustain the impression by training.
- Why? To be treated by patients as he wishes.
- This is where we introduce impression management Embarrassment: Definition; how are we embarrassed??
Embarrassment and loss of esteem
Andre Modigliani and loss of esteem.
Embarrassment and interaction
Consequences of embarrassment. Variety of effects.
Embarrassment & Interaction
• Embarrassment occurs when there is a disruption in self-presentation, causing a loss of face in social interactions.
• It often leads to attempts to restore social order by apologizing, laughing it off, or avoiding the situation.
• In interactions, embarrassment shows how much we care about others’ perceptions of us and our social identity.
Impression Management & Identity
• Impression Management is the process of controlling how others see us to maintain a desired social identity.
• We use different self-presentation strategies (e.g., self-promotion, ingratiation) to shape our image.
• Our identity is influenced by how we manage impressions, as people tend to believe and internalize the roles they consistently present.
What is embarrassment
Embarrassment is a feeling of discomfort or awkwardness that occurs when a person’s self-presentation is disrupted or challenged in a social situation. It happens when someone fails to meet social expectations, violates norms, or is caught in an undesirable situation.
Key Aspects of Embarrassment:
1. Loss of Face – The person’s public image is threatened.
2. Social Awareness – Embarrassment occurs because we care about how others see us.
3. Attempts to Recover – People try to restore their image by laughing it off, apologizing, or avoiding the situation.
Example:
A doctor confidently explains a diagnosis but realizes they mixed up the patient’s chart. They might feel embarrassed and try to correct the mistake while maintaining professionalism.
What is self
How do you identify a problem
How do you develop positive self esteem
- The Concept of Self
The self refers to a person’s understanding of who they are, including their personality, values, beliefs, and how they relate to others. It has both a private (inner self) and public (social self) aspect, shaped by experiences, interactions, and society.
- Self-Esteem and Self-Definition
• Self-Esteem: How much we value and respect ourselves. High self-esteem leads to confidence, while low self-esteem can cause insecurity.
• Self-Definition: The way a person defines themselves based on personal traits, roles, and beliefs (e.g., “I am hardworking,” “I am a medical student”). - Developing a Positive Self-Esteem
• Self-Awareness: Knowing your strengths and weaknesses.
• Positive Self-Talk: Replacing negative thoughts with encouraging ones.
• Setting Achievable Goals: Building confidence through small successes.
• Surrounding Yourself with Supportive People: Avoiding toxic influences.
• Self-Care: Taking care of mental and physical well-being. - How to Identify a Problem
• Recognize when something is not working or causing difficulties.
• Define the root cause instead of just focusing on symptoms.
• Observe patterns or repeated challenges.
• Ask questions like: What is happening? Why is it happening? Who is affected? - Problem-Solving Skills
- Identify the Problem – Clearly define the issue.
- Gather Information – Understand the causes and possible solutions.
- Brainstorm Solutions – Consider different approaches.
- Evaluate Options – Weigh the pros and cons of each solution.
- Implement the Solution – Take action on the best choice.
- Review the Outcome – Check if the solution worked; adjust if needed.
Would you like examples for any of these topics?
What is self improvement?
State five common aspects of self improvement
What is personal development
What is personal efficiency and effectiveness
Self-improvement
The improvement (upgrading, enhancement, perfection, & expansion) of one’s knowledge, status, or character by one’s own effort.
What is Self Improvement?
• is the study and practice of improving one’s life, especially one’s
• career,
• education,
• relationships,
• health,
• happiness,
• productivity,
• spirituality, and
• other personal goals.
• Common aspects of self improvement include
• goal setting,
• motivation,
• changing habits,
• improving awareness,
• identifying one’s values and beliefs, and
• self-actualization.
Personal growth: what’s growth?
Personal development: what’s dev’t?
Self-help (do-it-yourself), other than group support.
Personal Development
Is a general method used by a person who seeks to improve any or all aspects of their life through
self-taught strategies,
publicly available information, or
techniques taught by experts.
Need success skills. What success?
Personal Efficiency
Personal efficiency refers to how well a person uses their time, energy, and resources to achieve a goal with minimum waste. It focuses on doing things in the best way possible to maximize productivity.
Difference Between Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Efficiency = Doing things in the best way (minimizing waste).
• Effectiveness = Doing the right things (achieving the goal).
Example:
• A doctor sees 20 patients in a day by working fast (efficient) but misdiagnoses some due to rushing (not effective).
• Another doctor sees fewer patients but provides accurate diagnoses (effective but less efficient).
The best approach is to balance both efficiency and effectiveness for optimal results.
History
• Self improvement has a rich history that includes influences from
• Ancient Greek philosophy,
• Eastern and Western religions,
• Existentialism,
• Psychoanalysis,
• Hypnotherapy,
• Gestalt Therapy, and
• Humanistic Psychology.
• Today many concepts and theories in self improvement have begun to be tested scientifically in domains of Clinical Psychology (especially therapies like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), as well as research in Positive Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Neuroscience.
• Now equipped with the science of modern psychology, humans have more resources and information available than ever before on how to live a better life.
What are the six psychological perspectives on human development?
Developmental psychology
Psychoanalytic psychology
Humanistic
Behaviorism
Social psychology
Jung’s work
- Which of the following psychologists are most associated with developmental psychology?
a) Jean Piaget & Erik Erikson
b) Sigmund Freud & Carl Jung
c) B.F. Skinner & John B. Watson
d) Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers
- Who are the main contributors to psychoanalytic psychology?
a) Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow
b) Sigmund Freud & Erik Erikson
c) Jean Piaget & Albert Bandura
d) Ivan Pavlov & B.F. Skinner
- Which two psychologists are best known for their contributions to humanistic psychology?
a) Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow
b) John B. Watson & B.F. Skinner
c) Jean Piaget & Erik Erikson
d) Sigmund Freud & Carl Jung
- Who are the leading figures in behaviorism?
a) John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner, & Ivan Pavlov
b) Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, & Erik Erikson
c) Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, & Kurt Lewin
d) Jean Piaget, Albert Bandura, & Carl Jung
- Which psychologists played a major role in social psychology?
a) Kurt Lewin & Albert Bandura
b) Carl Jung & Sigmund Freud
c) Erik Erikson & Jean Piaget
d) Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers
- Carl Jung’s work in psychology introduced which key concepts?
a) Classical conditioning & operant conditioning
b) Hierarchy of needs & self-actualization
c) Archetypes & the collective unconscious
d) Observational learning & social cognitive theory
Here are six MCQs that cover all the key figures associated with each type of psychology:
- Which of the following psychologists are most associated with developmental psychology?
a) Jean Piaget & Erik Erikson
b) Sigmund Freud & Carl Jung
c) B.F. Skinner & John B. Watson
d) Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers
Answer: a) Jean Piaget & Erik Erikson
- Who are the main contributors to psychoanalytic psychology?
a) Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow
b) Sigmund Freud & Erik Erikson
c) Jean Piaget & Albert Bandura
d) Ivan Pavlov & B.F. Skinner
Answer: b) Sigmund Freud & Erik Erikson
- Which two psychologists are best known for their contributions to humanistic psychology?
a) Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow
b) John B. Watson & B.F. Skinner
c) Jean Piaget & Erik Erikson
d) Sigmund Freud & Carl Jung
Answer: a) Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow
- Who are the leading figures in behaviorism?
a) John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner, & Ivan Pavlov
b) Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, & Erik Erikson
c) Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, & Kurt Lewin
d) Jean Piaget, Albert Bandura, & Carl Jung
Answer: a) John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner, & Ivan Pavlov
- Which psychologists played a major role in social psychology?
a) Kurt Lewin & Albert Bandura
b) Carl Jung & Sigmund Freud
c) Erik Erikson & Jean Piaget
d) Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers
Answer: a) Kurt Lewin & Albert Bandura
- Carl Jung’s work in psychology introduced which key concepts?
a) Classical conditioning & operant conditioning
b) Hierarchy of needs & self-actualization
c) Archetypes & the collective unconscious
d) Observational learning & social cognitive theory
Answer: c) Archetypes & the collective unconscious
Would you like explanations for each answer?
Which type of psychology perspective on human development focuses on Exploring the continual transformations and growth that occur at each life stage, from girl to woman, from youth to midlife, from middle age on, and how self direction is a life long skill that we refine over and over again, continually rediscovering, developing and reintegrating ourselves more effectively in each life stage as the focus of what motivates us changes?
Which type of psychology perspective on human development focuses on developing a thorough understanding of how the unconscious affects daily life; or emotional stumbling blocks left over from childhood that are irrational and counterproductive; and how to free up more personal resources for attaining self-direction and long-lasting intimate relationships.
Developmental psychology:
• Explores the continual transformations and growth that occur at each life stage, from girl to woman, from youth to midlife, from middle age on, and how self direction is a life long skill that we refine over and over again, continually rediscovering, developing and reintegrating ourselves more effectively in each life stage as the focus of what motivates us changes
• Psychoanalytic psychology:
• through this perspective, one can develop a thorough understanding of how the unconscious affects daily life; or emotional stumbling blocks left over from childhood that are irrational and counterproductive; and how to free up more personal resources for attaining self-direction and long-lasting intimate relationships.
Which type of psychology perspective on human development focuses on learning how to perform more efficiently and how conditioning can accelerate or reduce optimal performance
Which type of psychology perspective on human development focuses on
the uniqueness and wholeness of the individual, with becoming a fully functioning person by sorting out potentials and experiences of a self-actualised person and how to become self-actualised. An understanding of how these higher potentials relate to more basic needs can help in achieving more self-direction.
Humanistic psychology:
• Is concerned with the uniqueness and wholeness of the individual, with becoming a fully functioning person by sorting out potentials and experiences of a self-actualised person and how to become self-actualised. An understanding of how these higher potentials relate to more basic needs can help in achieving more self-direction.
• What are the basic needs; the hierarchy of needs. Refer to Abraham Maslow’s theory
• Behaviourism:
• through behaviourism, we learn how to perform more efficiently and how conditioning can accelerate or reduce optimal performance
Which type of psychology perspective on human development focuses on providing an understanding of how social forces can contribute to or detract from self-direction, and how to distinguish inner forces from the outer forces of society that can overwhelm self-identity and sweep the person along into conformity or cultism at the cost of being oneself?
Explain what Jung’s work seems to understand
• Social psychology:
• provides an understanding of how social forces can contribute to or detract from self-direction, and how to distinguish inner forces from the outer forces of society that can overwhelm self-identity and sweep the person along into conformity or cultism at the cost of being oneself.
• Through Jung’s work
• One becomes aware of the unconscious as a guide for self-direction toward the ultimate unfolding of our individuality. How to transcend everyday life to get in touch with our deepest potentials through understanding dreams, art and mythology is the subject of this study.
Carl Jung’s work emphasizes the unconscious mind as a powerful guide for personal growth and self-realization. He believed that by understanding symbols in dreams, art, and mythology, individuals could connect with their deepest potentials and move beyond ordinary life.
Key Ideas in Jung’s Concept:
1. The Unconscious as a Guide – Jung argued that the unconscious mind holds hidden wisdom that can lead us toward self-discovery and individuality.
2. Transcending Everyday Life – Instead of being trapped in routine, people can explore their inner world to find higher purpose and meaning.
3. Dreams, Art, and Mythology – These contain archetypal symbols (universal patterns of human experience) that help us understand ourselves better.
4. Individuation – The ultimate goal is to integrate all aspects of the self (conscious and unconscious) to become a whole, fully developed individual.
Jung’s approach teaches that by exploring these deep aspects of the psyche, a person can transcend ordinary existence and unlock their true potential.
Explain Abraham Maslow hierarchy of needs. There are five levels
Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory that describes human motivation in five levels, arranged in a pyramid from the most basic needs to higher-level aspirations.
The Five Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:
1. Physiological or basic or biological Needs – Basic survival needs such as food, water, air, sleep, and shelter.
2. Safety Needs – Protection from harm, financial security, health, and stability in life.
3. Love and Belongingness – Social relationships, friendships, family, and a sense of connection.
4. Esteem Needs – Self-respect, recognition, status, and the need to feel competent and valued.
5. Self-Actualization – Achieving one’s full potential, creativity, personal growth, and fulfillment.
Maslow suggested that lower-level needs must be met before higher-level needs can be pursued.