Test 2 Flashcards
(59 cards)
What is the looking glass self?
the idea that we see ourselves through the eyes of other people and incorporate their views into our self-concept
What is the sociometer theory?
the theory that self-esteem is a gauge that monitors the extent to which we are accepted or rejected by others
What is self esteem?
a person’s overall self-evaluation or sense of self worth
How does self-esteem function as a sociometer?
monitors our social environment for cues indicating disapproval, rejection, or exclusion
and
Alerts us via negative affective reactions when such cues are detected
What is the evidence for the sociometer theory?
Social exclusion lowers self esteem
Low trait self esteem predicts perceived exclusion
Threats to self-esteem motivate approval seeking behavior
What is the self-malleability hypothesis?
Exclusion encourages people to modify their self concepts to increase similarity to others as way to aid affiliation
What is the self-verification theory?
A theory suggesting that people have a need to seek confirmation to their self-concept, whether the self-concept is positive or negative
Why do we engage in self-verification?
Provides us with a sense of security, predictability, and accuracy
How do we engage in self-verification? (Behavioral strategies)
Selective interaction, identity cues, interaction strategies
How do we engage in self-verification? (Cognitive strategies)
Selective attention, selective recall, and selective interpretation
What is the social comparison theory?
The idea that we learn about our abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves with other people
How is this point from Festinger updated?
People have a drive to evaluate their opinions and abilities
Supported by research on “automatic” comparisons
Unclear whether evaluation or social connection is ultimate goal
How is this point from Festinger updated?
People seek accurate self-evaluation
Sometimes; comparisons also allow self-enhancement and self-improvement
How is this point from Festinger updated?
Objective standards preferred over social comparisons
Prefer social comparisons to objective standards
How is this point from Festinger updated?
Prefer comparisons to similar others
Similarity on “related attributes” also important; what is being evaluated also matters
What is the independent view of self?
Defining oneself in terms of own internal thoughts, feelings, and actions, not in terms of thoughts, feelings, and actions of other people
What is the interdependent view of self?
Defining oneself in terms of relationships with other people; recognizing that one’s behavior is often determined by the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others
What is introspection?
The process whereby people look inward and examine their own thoughts, feelings, and motives
What are the problems with introspection?
We don’t do it often enough, and it is not always accurate
What is the self-perception theory?
The theory that when our attitudes and feelings are uncertain or ambiguous, we infer these states by observing our behavior and the situation in which it occurs
What is an attitude?
An evaluation of a person, object, or idea
What is absolute judgement?
Good or bad
What is relative comparison?
better or worse than
What is the Tripartite Model of Attitudes?
Attitudes are a single entity that consists of three components:
Cognitive (ideas and beliefs), affective (feelings and emotions), and behavioral (action tendencies)
