The Self

Question 1

The meaning maintenance model

Answer 1

• Ppl look for meaning in events.
• To perceive events in though a prism that maintains order, certainty & value to their lives
1. seeking explanation to explain relations btwn events & themselves
2. humans find it problematic to be robbed of meaning
3. when meaning frameworks are threatened, ppl will try to reaffirm alternative frameworks

Question 2

Self concept

Answer 2

collection of self representations

Question 3

Social identity

Answer 3

ones self concept connected to a group

Question 4

Personal identity

Answer 4

self concept unique to the individual and NOT connected to the group

Question 5

Work-self concept

Answer 5

• Brought to mind by a situation or by personal needs

* ppl have many “selves”

Question 6

Looking glass self theory

Answer 6

• We come to know ourselves based on how others see us
•Kenny & Depaulo 1993:
- rather than observing others actual response to us we rely on our own theories on what others think of us = self defenition

Question 7

Self affirmation theory (Steele, 1988)

Answer 7

• to protect the image of self integrity & adequacy

* ppl want to feel like they are a good person

Question 8

Self presentation

Answer 8

• strategies ppl use to shape what others think of them
• meeting ppls representatives
• we overestimate how much people are actually evaluating us, most ppl are too busy thinking about themselves
•ex: honeymoon stage in a relationship where there are no arguments and then once this stage is over you kind of see the rest of the person
ex: putting up our best pics on social media

Question 9

Self-serving bias

Answer 9

• tendency to perceive oneself favorably

* ex: if we pass a test we believe it is bc we are smart

Question 10

Better than average effect for attractiveness

Answer 10

• ppl believe that the most favorable ex. of their attractiveness (above average photos)
• for strangers= the worst pic or below average

Question 11

Unrealistic otimism

Answer 11

• many of us unrealistic positive view of things that will happen to us
• ex: asking a married couple what are the chances of them getting divorced & the couple says 0%. This is also an indication that they are NOT deppressed

Question 12

False concencous

Answer 12

tendency to overestimate the commonality of ones opinions, undesirable or unsuccessful behaviors

Question 13

False uniqueness

Answer 13

overestimate the commonality of our abilities

ex: not everybody can do this

Question 14

Self-handicapping

Answer 14

• creating obstacles/excuses b4 performances
• if we fail=external attribution, w/ reason, won’t feel so guilty
• short term gain=long term costs

Question 15

Bask In Reflected Glory (BIRG/BIRGING)

Answer 15

• ppl feel that they can share the glory of a successful other w/ whom they are some way associated
• trying to connect yourself with successful ppl/others
• ex: saying that you saw a successful football player across the street

Question 16

3 pervasive, enduring & systematic allusions about the self

Answer 16

1. unrealistic positive self- evaluations: most ppl believe they are better than average & better than others see them.
2. exaggerated perceptions of control: overestimate their degree of control over heavily chance determined events
3. unrealistic optimism: unrealistic positive views of the future
   • Taylor & brown suggest: positive illusions is good for mental health

Question 17

Cognitive dissonance

Answer 17

• unpleasant state of psychological discomfort when we become aware that our cognitions (attitude) are inconsistent w/ our behavior, ppl are motivated to reduce this discomfort.
ex: I am a good person (belief). I just cheated on my exam (behavior)

Question 18

Resowing dissonance

Answer 18

1. Change our behavior: make it consistent w/ our attitudes/ beliefs
2. change our attitudes: to be consistent w/ behavior
3. add new cognition & thoughts: that are consistent w/ behavior, attitudes & believes (RATIONALIZE)

Question 19

Moral disengagement

Answer 19

• re-labeling inconsistent or questionable behavior for a moral purpose

Question 20

Moral Hipocracy

Answer 20

• often apply strict moral standards on other ppl, but do not apply the same standards to ourselves

Question 21

The bad/How to curve dishonest behavior

Answer 21

1. Strict laws/rules
2. reminded of own standards (mirror)
3. self reflection (automatic cognition)
4. honor, moral, religious codes
5. Public accountability (dishonest behavior drops when ppl are less able or allowed to justify dishonest behavior)

Question 22

Justification effort

Answer 22

• tendency for individuals to INCREASE THEIR LIKING for something they have WORKED for.
• Arson & Mills (1959)
- justification of effort & increased commitment
- behavior in this situation shaped attitude
- short term strategies can have long term consequences

Question 23

Self-schemas

Answer 23

• beliefs about the self

* someone who believes they are overweight=the supermarket or buying new clothes can trigger thoughts about the self

Question 24

Affective forecasting

Answer 24

• process of predicting how one would feel in response to future emotional events.

Question 25

Self perception theory

Answer 25

• ppl getting input on themselves by observing themselves

Question 26

Dialectism

Answer 26

• eastern system of thought that accepts the coexistence of contradictictry characteristics within a single person.

Question 27

Terror magnet theory

Answer 27

• the theory that humans cope with the thought of death with the belief by constructing world views that help perserve their self-esteem
• ex: religious explanations for why we exist

Question 28

self awareness theory

Answer 28

• self attention leads ppl to notice self discrepancies by either an escape of self awareness or change of behavior

Question 29

implicit egotism

Answer 29

• nonconsious form of self enhancement

Question 30

downward social comparision

Answer 30

•comparing ourselves to ppl who are worst off

Question 31

Self-monitoring

Answer 31

• tendency to change behavior in response to the self-presentation concerns of the situation