Exploring Self-Awareness and Consciousness

The overall set of beliefs that people have about their personal attributes

Knowing we are an entity o Distinguishing ourselves from other people

Do non-human animals have a self

Self-recognition develops between 18-24 months of age

Self-concept increases in complexity as we grow older

An organized body of knowledge about the self that influences what people notice, think, and remember

Includes attitudes, preferences, traits

O Consciousness is _______

O More attitude-behaviour congruence when reminded of _______

O Cultural Differences in Self _______

O People may not know why they feel or behave as they do o Products, but not the processes, of _______ are accessible

O Theories about the causes of one’s own feelings and behaviours o Can come from _______

O We can know about ourselves by observing our own _______

O The desire to engage in an activity because we enjoy it or find it interesting, not because of external rewards or pressures.  _______ Motivation

Self-schemas can bias our memory o We see (or remember) ourselves positively Example: Peters & Gawronski (2011) o Ps were led to believe that extraversion or introversion is superior o Generate explanations for why the trait was better o Ps were more likely to see themselves as possessing ______ trait

Self-Concept Clarity: o The extent to which knowledge about the self is stable and clearly and consistently ______

Low Self-Clarity is associated with: o o o o o Low self-esteem Higher depression and neuroticism Lower reflection (positive); more ______ (negative) Higher belief in achieving happiness through external sources More ______

High Self-Clarity is associated with: o Higher self-esteem o Higher life satisfaction o More ______

Self-concept clarity can decrease in adolescence and then increase in ______

Independent view of the self: o Defining oneself in terms of one’s own internal thoughts, feelings, and actions, and not in terms of the thoughts, feelings and actions of other ______

Interdependent view of the self: o Defining oneself in terms of one’s relationships to other people; recognizing that one’s behaviour is often determined by the thoughts, feelings, and actions of ______