Psychology of Introspection and Self-Awareness

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Questions and Answers

What happens to self-affect when people engage in voluntary activities like watching TV according to the study by Csikszentmihalyi & Figurski?

Self-affect tends to be negative. (correct)

Self-affect is unrelated to the activity.

Self-affect tends to remain neutral.

Self-affect tends to be positive.

Which statement accurately describes the impact of self-awareness on behavior according to the Self-Awareness Theory of Introspection?

Self-awareness can cause feelings of guilt when internal standards are not met. (correct)

Self-awareness has no significant impact on behavior conformance.

Self-awareness results in increased happiness regardless of the outcomes.

Self-awareness leads to a permanent improvement in behavior.

What effect did the presence of a mirror have on participants during the cheat test in Diener & Wallbom's study?

Participants were less likely to cheat. (correct)

Participants were more likely to cheat.

Participants showed no change in behavior.

Participants reported higher levels of anxiety.

According to Sohn et al. (2019), how does introspection affect online behavior?

It reduces the likelihood of posting abusive comments. Signup and view all the answers

How does self-awareness affect individuals' expectations of themselves after exceeding their own standards?

They raise their standards and feel pressure to improve next time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason people engage in social comparison?

To measure their performance against others Signup and view all the answers

Which type of social comparison involves looking at individuals who are more successful than ourselves?

Upward social comparison Signup and view all the answers

What effect can downward social comparison have on a person's self-esteem?

It can enhance self-esteem Signup and view all the answers

Which question is NOT one of the four main areas of social comparison theory?

How does social media affect comparisons? Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential negative outcome of upward social comparison?

Feelings of envy towards others Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes lateral social comparison?

Comparing to peers at the same skill level Signup and view all the answers

What is one effect of comparing oneself downward according to downward comparison theory?

It promotes self-esteem restoration Signup and view all the answers

Which motivation is primarily associated with self-enhancement in the context of social comparison?

To feel better about oneself Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to happen when there is less introspection in individuals?

They are more likely to bully others or participate in online bullying. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes self-perception theory?

It involves inferring attitudes and feelings from body reactions and behavior. Signup and view all the answers

According to Dutton and Aron (1974), what is a potential misunderstanding individuals have regarding emotions?

They often confuse feelings of arousal as being solely sexual attraction. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does a calmer voice have on conflict situations?

It lowers heart rate and promotes calmness. Signup and view all the answers

What is one factor that influences how we perceive others according to the content?

The attractiveness of people who are kind. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do individuals face when trying to determine their feelings and thoughts?

They often struggle to know the true reasons behind their thoughts and feelings. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of self-awareness, what happens during introspection when someone is asked about their identity?

They check their behaviors to see how they align with their self-perception. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a critical aspect of physiological reactions as discussed in the content?

They can change our perceptions of ourselves and others. Signup and view all the answers

What motivates individuals to engage in social comparisons according to cultural differences?

Cultural motivations Signup and view all the answers

What can be a positive response to upward social comparison when individuals believe they can improve?

Engaging in self-improvement behavior Signup and view all the answers

How do individuals commonly respond negatively when they see someone they cannot outperform?

Creating coalitions against the individual Signup and view all the answers

What is one method individuals use to reduce the threat to self-evaluation when comparing themselves to a friend?

Reduce closeness to the friend Signup and view all the answers

According to Self-Evaluation Maintenance Theory, which scenario is more threatening?

Being outperformed by a friend Signup and view all the answers

What behavior is more likely from narcissistic individuals when a friend outperforms them?

Reducing closeness Signup and view all the answers

Which response is common among individuals who feel threatened by the performance of someone they care about?

Engaging in sabotage Signup and view all the answers

What's a key factor that determines the threat posed by social comparisons?

Whether the comparison is to a stranger or a friend Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introspection

Looking inward to examine our thoughts, feelings, and motives.
We often don't spend much time thinking about ourselves.
Csikszentmihalyi & Figurski (1982) found that people have lower affect when thinking about themselves, especially during voluntary activities.
Self-Awareness Theory: Explains that introspection leads us to evaluate our current behaviour against internal standards, causing self-judgment and potential guilt.
Diener & Wallbom (1976): Participants with a mirror in front of them were less likely to cheat on a timed test, implying that self- awareness promotes ethical behaviour.
Sohn et al. (2019): People who see themselves on Facebook (greater introspection) are less likely to write abusive comments, showing that greater introspection can reduce negative social behaviour.

Observing Our Own Behaviour

Self-Perception Theory: We infer our feelings and attitudes by observing our behaviour and the situation.
Nisbett & Wilson (1977): We are often unaware of the true reasons behind our thoughts and feelings, suggesting our explanations are often inaccurate.
Dutton & Aron (1974): Misattribution of arousal can occur, meaning we can mistake physical signs of fear for attraction.
Costa et al. (2018): People act calmer when their voice sounds calmer, demonstrating the influence of behaviour on feelings and perceptions.

Using Other People for Self-Reflection

Social Comparison Theory: We learn about ourselves by comparing with others.
Upward Social Comparison: Comparing ourselves to those doing better than us (can lead to envy or inspiration).
Downward Social Comparison: Comparing ourselves to those doing worse (can reduce self-esteem, or, ironically, provide comfort).
Lateral Social Comparison: Comparing ourselves to those at the same skill level.
Gerber et al. (2018): We both contrast and assimilate with others during social comparisons.
Helgeson & Mickelson (1995): Cultural influences motivate different comparison strategies: self-enhancement, self-destruction, self-evaluation, self-improvement, altruism, common bond.
Song et al. (2019): Facebook fatigue is influenced by cultural motivations for social comparisons.
Johnson (2012): Shows that reacting negatively to upward comparisons (by harming the successful person) can result from feeling threatened and unable to improve.
Self-Evaluation Maintenance Theory/Model: We are particularly sensitive to the success of those we are close to in domains we care about.
Tesser & Smith (1980): People sabotage the success of friends who excel in areas they care about.
Nicholls & Stukas (2011): Narcissists are more likely to reduce closeness to friends who outperform them because they are preoccupied with maintaining an image of superiority.

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Description

Explore the concepts of introspection and self-awareness in psychology. This quiz covers important theories and studies, including Self-Awareness Theory and Self-Perception Theory, which explain how we evaluate our behaviors and their impact on our moral actions. Test your understanding of how introspection influences ethical behavior and social interactions.