Chapter Three

1. 1 THE SELF, PART I

2. 2

3. 3 The ABCs of the Self Affect: Self-Esteem Behavior: Self-Presentation Cognition: Content of Self-Concept

4. 4 The Self-Concept Self is prominent. Cocktail party effect. Self-Concept: The sum total of beliefs that people have about themselves. Self-concept is made up of self-schemas. Self recognition relatively unique from other animals

5. 5

6. 6 Source #1: Introspection Self knowledge through looking inward at one�s own thoughts and feelings. But does introspection always lead to accurate self-knowledge?

7. 7 Other Problems With Introspection We have difficulty in predicting responses to future emotional events. We tend to overestimate the strength and duration of our emotional reactions.

8. 8 Why a Durability Bias?

9. 9 Source #2: Perceptions of Our Own Behavior Daryl Bem (1972): People can learn about themselves simply by watching their own behavior. Self-Perception Theory: When internal cues are difficult to interpret, people gain insight by observing their own behavior.

10. 10 Self-Perceptions of Emotion Facial Feedback Hypothesis: Changes in facial expression can lead to changes in the subjective experience of emotions. Laird (1974): Facial expressions affect emotion through process of self-perception.

11. 11 Self-Perceptions of Motivation Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Motivation. Intrinsic Motivation: Extrinsic Motivation: What happens to intrinsic motivation once a reward is given?

12. 12 One Week Later��Paradoxical Effects of Reward on Intrinsic Motivation

13. 13 Understanding the Paradox Should rewards NOT be offered?

14. 14 Source #3:Influences of Other People People tend to describe themselves in ways that set them apart from others in their immediate vicinity. The self is �relative.�

15. 15 Social Comparison Theory Festinger (1954): When uncertain about our abilities or opinions, we evaluate self through comparisons with similar others. Key Questions: When do we turn to others for comparative information? With whom do we choose to compare ourselves?

16. 16 Source #4: Autobiographical Memories Essential for a coherent self-concept. Typically report more events from the recent than the distant past. Exceptions to this recency rule: Reminiscence peak Tendency to remember transitional �firsts� �

17. 17 Source #4: Autobiographical Memories (cont.) Flashbulb memories serve as prominent landmarks in our autobiographies. Memories not always accurate�.. SEPT 11th SEPT 11th

18. 18 Distortions in Memory of High School Grades

19. 19 Influence of Cultural Orientation on Self Individualistic cultures: Giving priority to one�s own goals over group goals; emphasizes uniqueness Collectivistic cultures: Giving priority to goals of one�s groups (e.g., family); emphasizes identity in relation to others

20. 20 Which Colored Pen Would You Like?

21. 21 Film Clip: Collectivist/Individualistic Cultures

22. 22 B: Self Esteem The affective component of the self

23. 23 Why Do We Have a Need for Self-Esteem? Leary & Baumeister (2000): People are inherently social animals.

24. 24 Terror Management Theory Greenberg, Solomon, & Pyszczynksi, 1997  Fear of death

25. 25 The Need for Self-Esteem Those with a positive self-image tend to be �� Those with a negative self-image tend to be ��.

26. 26 Exceptions to Benefits of High SE High SE can be related to����

27. 27 The Dark Side of High Self-Esteem

28. 28 Self-Discrepancy Theory Self-esteem reflects the match � or mismatch � between how we see ourselves and how we want to see ourselves. One�s self-esteem and emotional well-being can be predicted by examining the discrepancy between one�s �actual self� and one�s �self-guides.�

29. 29 Self-Discrepancy Theory Discrepancy between actual self and ought self � leads to ����� Discrepancy between actual self and ideal self � leads to�����..

30. 30 Self-Discrepancy Theory (cont.) Self-esteem depends on a number of factors: What makes us more or less focused on our personal shortcomings?

31. 31 Self-Awareness Theory We are not usually self-focused; however, certain situations cause self focus & certain people are more self-focused.

32. 32 The Causes and Effects of Self-Awareness (Carver & Scheier, 1981)

33. 33 Beaman et al.�s Halloween Study(self-focusing situation)

34. 34 Self-Focusing Persons Certain individuals are characteristically more self-focused than others. Private vs. public self-consciousness. Private self-consciousness: Tendency to introspect about inner thoughts and feelings. Public self-consciousness: Tendency to focus on outer public image.

35. 35 Draw A Capital E on Your Forehead

36. 36 Self-Regulation Self-regulation is the process by which we seek to control or alter our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and urges.

37. 37 Limits of Self-Regulation Self-control is a limited resource Example: Ps watching upsetting film about injured animals; IV=self-regulation 1/3 told to stifle emotional responses 1/3 told to amplify responses 1/3 given no instructions DV: physical strength before and after

38. 38 Self-Control as a Limited Inner Resource

39. 39 Let�s Try Something...

40. 40 Ironic Processes Wegner (1994):

41. 41 Mechanisms of Self-Enhancement How does the average person cope with his or her faults, inadequacies, and uncertain future? We often exhibit implicit egotism. E.g., name-letter effect What methods do we use to rationalize or otherwise enhance our self-esteem?

42. 42 Method #1: Self-Serving Cognitions People tend to take credit for success and distance themselves from failure. Most people are unrealistically optimistic.

43. 43 Method #2: Self-Handicapping Why do we make excuses? Self-Handicapping: Behaviors designed to sabotage one�s own performance in order to provide a subsequent excuse for failure.

44. 44 Why Self-Handicap? An ingenious strategy. Insulates the self from failure and enhances the self by success. Self-handicapping does have its costs. Objectively increases chance of failure Self-handicappers are less well-liked

45. 45 Method #3: Basking in theb Glory of Others To raise our self-esteem we often bask in reflected glory (�BIRG�) by associating with others who are successful. To protect our self-esteem, we will �cut off reflected failure� (�CORF�) by distancing ourselves from others who fail or are of low status.

46. 46 Would You Like a Team Badge?

47. 47 Method #4: Downward Social Comparison When self-esteem is at stake, tend to make comparisons with others who are worse off. Will make temporal comparisons between past and present selves. If experiencing a tragic life event, tend to: Affiliate with others in same predicament who are adjusting well (possible role models). Compare ourselves with others who are worse off.

48. 48 Are Positive Illusions Adaptive?

49. 49 Self-Presentation The behavioral component of the self

50. 50 Self-Presentation The process by which we try to shape what others think of us and what we think of ourselves. Two types of self-presentation, each serving a different motive:

51. 51 Strategic Self-Presentation Our efforts to shape others� impressions in specific ways to gain influence, power, sympathy, or approval.

52. 52 Self-Verification Desire to have others perceive us as we truly perceive ourselves. Do we self-verify negative self-concepts?

53. 53 Self-Monitoring Tendency to regulate one�s own behavior to meet the demands of the situation.

54. 54 Contingencies of Self-Worth People�s beliefs about what they must be or do to have worth�sources of SE. People differ in the domains in which they base self-esteem Self-esteem depends on success and failure in these domains Fall on a continuum from internal to external

55. 55 Influences of Gender, Race, and Culture Like individuals, social and cultural groups differ in their self-esteem. Gender differences? Among adolescents and young adults, males outscore females on various general measures of self-esteem. But this difference is very small, particularly among older adults.

56. 56 Self-Esteem in U.S. Minority Groups