The Self

Question 1

Self-concept

Answer 1

• an individual’s mental representation of themselves
• constructed from a series of feedback received over time about personal attributes, characteristics, and preferences

Question 2

Self-schemas

Answer 2

• cognitive generalizations about the self that are domain-specific and learned from past experiences
• e.g., “I’m shy” -> specific to the domain of relationships/interactions with others
• A collection of self-schemas make up one’s self-concept (ex: athletic ability, intelligence, etc)

Question 3

What are 2 ways that self-schemas generate motivation?

Answer 3

1. they direct behaviour in ways that elicit feedback consistent with the self-schema (selective interaction)
   - Going toward/avoiding things that are or aren’t consistent with our self-schema
2. they move the present self toward a desired future self (see: discrepancy-creating processes/ideal self)

Question 4

What happens when feedback is inconsistent with the self-schema?

Answer 4

It produces tension

Question 5

When self-discrepant feedback is encountered, what may people do?

Answer 5

• Argue against feedback’s validity, importance, or relevance
• Discredit source’s reliability/judgment
• Engage in compensatory self-inflation
• Exhibit new behaviours to prove one’s self-view

Question 6

What do the effects of self-descrepant feedback on self-concept depend on?

Answer 6

The strength of the feedback and the self-concept certainty

Question 7

Self-discrepent feedback is weak but self-cocept is either low, moderate, or high:

Answer 7

self-discrepent feedback can be easily dismissed

Question 8

Self-discrepant feedback is strong but self-cocept is low:

Answer 8

Feedback overwhelms existing self-schema causing change in self-concept

Question 9

Self-discrepant feedback is strong but self-cocept is moderate:

Answer 9

self-verification occurs; additional feeback is sought: self-concept certainty increases or self-concept changes

Question 10

Self-discrepant feedback is strong but self-cocept is high:

Answer 10

Feedback is dismissed - no change in self-concept

Question 11

Self-regulation

Answer 11

• The ability to monitor, manage, and direct the self in a meaningful way
• Includes overt behaviour, but also thoughts, attention, decisions, and emotions

Question 12

Self-control

Answer 12

The ability to suppress, restrain, and override impulsive desires

Question 13

Self-control: Delay of gratification

Answer 13

Delay of gratification: the ability to forego a smaller, short-term reward for a larger, long-term reward
- Example: Assessed in children with the “Marshmallow Test”

Question 14

What are outcomes of delaying gratification and impulse control?

Answer 14

• Academic achievement
• Financial saving
• Social relationships

Question 15

can self-control be trained and practiced?

Answer 15

Yes, but it is also a limited resource/strength that is general and can be depleted