Psychology Chapter on Self-Concept and Self-Efficacy

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What does the self-concept primarily consist of?

Learned behaviors from social interactions

Unconscious desires and fears

A collection of beliefs about one's own nature (correct)

Inborn personality traits and social influences

Which term refers to the specific self-concept that is accessible at any given time?

Working self-concept (correct)

Cognitive self-structure

Dynamic self-schema

Influential self-perception

What are self-schemas?

Beliefs developed from past experiences (correct)

Random thoughts about oneself

External labels given by society

Universal traits shared by all humans

How do possible selves influence individuals?

They help in visualizing and achieving future goals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best illustrates a self-schema?

Believing you are a great leader Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of self-concept results from both strengths and weaknesses an individual perceives?

Multifaceted structure Signup and view all the answers

Which psychologist is credited with the term 'possible selves'?

Hazel Markus Signup and view all the answers

Which source of self-efficacy is characterized by learning from one’s own experiences, especially through overcoming challenges?

Mastery experiences Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the impact of watching unsuccessful role models on self-efficacy?

It undermines self-efficacy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the least effective method of developing self-efficacy among the four discussed?

Persuasion and encouragement Signup and view all the answers

How does persistence through failure contribute to self-efficacy?

It reinforces the message of personal capability. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the concept of vicarious experiences in building self-efficacy?

They involve learning by observing competent models. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant factor that influences a child's self-concept?

Parents' views of the child Signup and view all the answers

How do individuals' perceptions of how others evaluate them differ from their actual evaluations?

They are generally better at guessing how people evaluate them in a general context. Signup and view all the answers

Which cultural value is emphasized in American culture according to the content?

Individuality Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes collectivism in terms of self-concept?

Emphasizing shared values and cooperation Signup and view all the answers

When do individuals' perceptions of others' judgments become less influenced?

When there is objective information available Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes individualism?

Prioritizing personal goals above group goals Signup and view all the answers

What is one effect of meeting cultural expectations on self-esteem?

It can lead to increased self-esteem. Signup and view all the answers

Children in collectivist cultures are typically taught to value which of the following traits?

Shared resources Signup and view all the answers

Feedback from others is filtered through which of the following systems?

Social perception systems Signup and view all the answers

Which motive was found to be the strongest in influencing behavior?

The self-enhancement motive Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the ability to direct and control one's behavior?

Self-regulation Signup and view all the answers

What is self-efficacy primarily concerned with?

Beliefs about capabilities with skills Signup and view all the answers

How does high self-efficacy impact an individual's goal commitment?

It increases commitment and persistence Signup and view all the answers

According to Albert Bandura, self-efficacy beliefs vary based on what factor?

A person's skills Signup and view all the answers

What can individuals with high self-efficacy do better in stressful situations?

Anticipate success and manage negative thoughts Signup and view all the answers

What implications does self-efficacy have concerning academic success?

It positively correlates with academic success and responses to stress Signup and view all the answers

When does self-regulation primarily develop?

In early childhood and remains stable Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about self-efficacy is true?

Self-efficacy can be learned and changed. Signup and view all the answers

What can self-defeating behavior be described as?

A failure of self-control Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the ability to hear one's name in a noisy environment?

Cocktail party effect Signup and view all the answers

What type of attribution assigns the cause of behavior to personal factors?

Internal Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor in making attributions according to Fritz Heider?

Cognitive biases Signup and view all the answers

Self-attributions can significantly affect one's personal adjustment. What is a common attribution made by lonely individuals?

I am unlovable Signup and view all the answers

Which example best demonstrates the self-attribution process?

A tennis player attributes success to home court advantage Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes external attributions?

They focus on situational factors Signup and view all the answers

What effect can attributions have on mental health?

They can lead to depression based on how setbacks are interpreted Signup and view all the answers

What is revealed by the cocktail party effect in cognitive processing?

Attention can be selectively focused while ignoring distractions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following illustrates an external attribution?

I failed because I wasn’t feeling well Signup and view all the answers

Why do individuals engage in attributional thinking?

To make sense of their experiences Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Self and Its Development

Carl Rogers viewed personality as a single construct, the self-concept.
The self-concept is a collection of beliefs about one's nature, qualities, and behavior.
It's a mental picture of oneself, encompassing self-perceptions like "I am easy-going" or "I am intelligent."
The self-concept is a multifaceted structure, not a single entity.
Self-schemas are organized collections of beliefs about the self, developed from past experiences.
These schemas include personality traits, abilities, physical features, values, goals, and social roles.
Self-schemas are based on dimensions important to the individual, encompassing strengths and weaknesses.
Each schema is tied to distinct thoughts and feelings.

Working Self-Concept

Contemporary psychologists argue that only a portion of the total self-concept is accessible at any given time.
This accessible portion is known as the working self-concept.
Self-schemas are dynamic and play a vital role in processing self-relevant information.

Possible Selves

Self-beliefs influence not only current behavior but also future behavior.
Possible selves are conceptions of the future self.
These conceptions derive from past experiences, current actions, and future expectations.
Possible selves help individuals envision desired future goals and motivate them to achieve those goals.
Negative possible selves (e.g., being an alcoholic) can serve as cautionary images.

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Individuals have multiple sets of self-perceptions.
These consist of the actual self (perceived qualities), ideal self (desirable qualities), and ought self (qualities one should have).
Discrepancies between these self-perceptions can lead to emotional distress, especially when the actual self is at odds with the ideal self.

Self-Discrepancies and their Effects

Aligning with ideal and ought selves leads to high self-esteem.
Discrepancies trigger dejection-related emotions (like sadness).
Self-discrepancies don't always produce predicted emotions; their intensity depends on factors like the discrepancy's size, awareness, and perceived importance.

Coping with Self-Discrepancies

Individuals can change their behavior to align it with their personal standards.
They can also lower self-awareness, for instance by drinking alcohol.
Larger discrepancies, greater awareness, and perceived importance of the discrepancy can increase negative feelings.

Factors Shaping the Self-Concept

Self-concept is influenced by observations of one's behavior, feedback from others, and cultural views.
Early experiences with parents are influential in shaping the self-concept.
Self-concept is dynamic and susceptible to change.

Individuals evaluate themselves by comparing themselves to others.
The reference group is a set of individuals against which individuals compare themselves.
This social comparison is vital for self-assessment and skill development.

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is one's overall evaluation of self-worth.
It's a relatively stable component of self-concept.
Social comparisons influence fluctuations in self-esteem
Self-esteem can be boosted by being considered a "big fish in a small pond," meaning one is perceived as above average in their specific reference-group.
Positive distortion of self-image is common
This leads to potentially unrealistic beliefs.
Self-esteem is influenced by feedback from others
Self-esteem is often shaped by other people's feedback, but is also influenced by cultural views.

Self-Perception and Cognitive Processes

People deal with a plethora of daily decisions.
Cognitive shortcuts help avoid overload.
Attention towards the self is prioritised over other information.

Self-Attribution

Self-attributions are inferences about the causes of one's behavior.
Internal and external factors explain behaviour or events
Internal attributions focus on personal characteristics, traits, and feelings
External attributions point to situational factors
attributions significantly impact personal adjustment
Stable attributions tend to be more related to depression.
Unstable attributions may be a less prominent cause of depression.

Controllability of Causes

Controllability involves the perception of whether a cause of behaviour is under one's control.
Controllable causes are considered to be under one's control.
Uncontrollable causes affect behavior, but they are outside of one's direct control (e.g., weather).

Attributional Style

Attributional style is the tendency to use the same explanations for diverse life outcomes.
People display either optimistic or pessimistic styles. Optimistic people attribute failures to unstable, external, and specific factors.
Pessimistic people attribute failures to stable, internal, and global factors.

Self-Regulation

People continually try to control impulses and regulate their behavior.
It involves directing thoughts, feelings, and actions towards goals.
Self-efficacy is essential for self-regulation.

Self-Presentation

People often want to create a favorable impression on others.
Efforts to manage this impression are called impression management.
Common methods include ingratiation (becoming likeable), self-promotion (highlighting competence), exemplification (demonstrating honesty), and intimidation.
People sometimes create perceived circumstances that lead to negative outcomes to present an excuse for failure.

Self-Monitoring

Self-monitoring involves paying attention to how others perceive oneself.
People vary in their degree of self-monitoring with high self-monitors being highly aware of their behavior.
Low self-monitors are less aware.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your understanding of self-concept and self-efficacy in this quiz based on key psychological theories. Explore concepts such as self-schemas, possible selves, and the influences of role models on self-efficacy. Perfect for students of psychology preparing for exams or wanting to deepen their knowledge.