Psychology of Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

Podcast Beta

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What are the three aspects of self according to William James' theory?

Physical self, emotional self, intellectual self

Cognitive self, behavioral self, aesthetic self

Material self, social self, spiritual self (correct)

Psychological self, cultural self, philosophical self

What does the ideal self represent in self-discrepancy theory?

What we want for ourselves (correct)

What others expect us to be

What we think we should avoid

What we currently are

How is self-esteem primarily developed?

By ignoring feedback from others

Through comparisons with others (correct)

By focusing solely on personal achievements

Based on external possessions alone

What is a potential negative outcome of excessive self-esteem?

Narcissism and mental health issues Signup and view all the answers

Which self is described as influencing behavior through moral values?

Spiritual self Signup and view all the answers

What does the ought self refer to in self-discrepancy theory?

What others expect us to be Signup and view all the answers

What example is used to illustrate the material self?

The type of car we drive Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of healthy self-esteem?

A realistic view of oneself and abilities Signup and view all the answers

What led to the demise of Narcissus in Greek mythology?

His love for his own reflection Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of too much self-awareness?

Desire to escape from discomfort Signup and view all the answers

What trend was discovered in the study on song lyrics and narcissism?

A positive correlation between self-referential words and narcissism Signup and view all the answers

How does a mirror affect children's behavior in the trick-or-treat study?

It promotes alignment with instructions Signup and view all the answers

What does introspection involve?

Examining one's own thoughts and feelings Signup and view all the answers

What is one method to enhance self-awareness while eating?

Sitting in front of a mirror Signup and view all the answers

What is the relation between Narcissus and narcissistic personality disorder?

Narcissus is a historical figure representing narcissism Signup and view all the answers

What can introspection potentially lead to?

Misinterpretation of one's emotions Signup and view all the answers

How did participants feel about themselves when comparing to Mr. Dirty?

Better Signup and view all the answers

What was the emotional response of participants when comparing themselves to Mr. Clean?

Worse Signup and view all the answers

Which individual did participants compare themselves to that made them feel better?

Mr. Dirty Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the influence of appearance on self-perception in this study?

Comparing to poorly dressed individuals improves self-esteem. Signup and view all the answers

What was the overall trend in self-perception based on the individuals participants compared themselves to?

Lower self-perception with better dressed individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What type of motivation is demonstrated when a student takes a class purely for enjoyment?

Intrinsic Motivation Signup and view all the answers

According to self-determination theory, which of the following is NOT one of the three key components?

Achievement Signup and view all the answers

How does relatedness contribute to happiness according to the provided content?

By enhancing a sense of belonging Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon explains why people remember information related to themselves more easily?

Self-Referencing Effect Signup and view all the answers

What can result from children receiving extrinsic rewards after play, according to the content?

Decreased interest in play Signup and view all the answers

What concept indicates that personal relevance can enhance memory recall?

Personal examples Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the two-factor theory of emotion?

Recognizing physical reactions Signup and view all the answers

In the context of social comparisons, what does upward comparison refer to?

Comparing oneself to someone more successful Signup and view all the answers

What effect does drinking excessive coffee have according to the content?

Leads to irritability Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn from the Scary Bridge Study regarding male participants?

Their arousal was misattributed to attraction to the interviewer. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primacy effect in the context of preferences?

The tendency to remember the first item in a sequence better than later items. Signup and view all the answers

What leads to cognitive dissonance?

A discrepancy between one's behavior and values. Signup and view all the answers

Which example best illustrates self-perception?

Laughing at a joke and concluding that it's funny. Signup and view all the answers

How do participants typically respond to their cognitive dissonance regarding animal welfare?

They rationalize their behavior to align with their values. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about cognitive dissonance is correct?

It results in discomfort that motivates a change in behavior or beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a role of self-perception?

To influence decisions based on societal standards. Signup and view all the answers

Why do participants maintain their initial explanations even when informed about the primacy effect?

They experience cognitive dissonance. Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is associated with cognitive dissonance?

Increased motivation to resolve inconsistencies. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Self-Concept

William James' theory categorizes self into material, social, and spiritual components.
Self-discrepancy theory distinguishes between the ideal self (personal aspirations) and the ought self (social expectations).
Material self involves external identifiers like cars, homes, and clothing, reflecting personal identity to others.
Spiritual self is rooted in intrinsic values and morals; for instance, choosing not to run a red light demonstrates moral consideration.
A significant gap between actual self and ideal/ought self can lead to cognitive dissonance and dissatisfaction.

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is the individual's perception of their value, shaped largely through social comparisons.
Healthy self-esteem is important for well-being, while excessive self-esteem may manifest as narcissism.
The myth of Narcissus illustrates the dangers of excessive self-love and its psychological implications.

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is recognizing one's behaviors and aligning them with personal values.
Increased self-awareness can assist in conforming actions to values, but too much self-reflection may lead to discomfort.
Children's behavior regarding candy was influenced by self-awareness induced by mirrors, reinforcing conformity to instructions.
Eating in front of a mirror may enhance self-regulation associated with weight loss.

Introspection

Introspection is the self-examination of thoughts and feelings, often through processes like meditation.
While introspection can promote self-understanding, it doesn't always guarantee accurate self-perception.

Motivation

Motivation can be intrinsic (driven by personal desire) or extrinsic (influenced by external expectations).
Intrinsic motivation leads to greater fulfillment compared to extrinsic, which is often task-related.

Self-Determination Theory

Happiness arises from autonomy in decision-making and acting according to personal agency.
The theory emphasizes the ABCs: Autonomy, Belonging, and Confidence for optimal well-being.
Children rewarded for play may exhibit reduced interest in it compared to play driven by personal enjoyment.

Relatedness

Relatedness involves feeling cared for and connected to others, enhancing a sense of belonging.
Connection is fostered through both giving and receiving care and support.

Self-Referencing Effect

Individuals recall information related to their own experiences or identities more easily.
The primacy effect influences preferences, with initial choices often becoming defining reasons even if misattributed.

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance refers to discomfort experienced when actions conflict with personal values.
An example involves participants who valued animal welfare but also engaged in meat consumption, creating a dissonant state.

Self-Perception

Self-perception involves understanding one's identity by observing behaviors.
Behavioral observations can reveal true feelings or interests, like laughing at a joke indicating enjoyment.

Memory Recall

Personal connections enhance memory retention, making individuals more likely to remember relevant information.
Similarity to one’s name can increase the likelihood of recalling names that share similar letters.

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

Emotion arises from physical reactions interpreted through environmental context, leading to potential misinterpretations.
Examples include caffeine-induced irritability being misattributed to interpersonal interactions or arousal from exercise misidentified as attraction.

Social comparisons help gauge personal performance against others.
Upward comparisons motivate but can evoke negative emotions, while downward comparisons can enhance self-esteem.
The Mr. Clean and Mr. Dirty studies illustrate how social contexts influence self-perception and well-being.

Studying That Suits You

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

Description

Explore the intricacies of self-concept, self-esteem, and self-awareness in this quiz. You will examine theories from William James about material, social, and spiritual selves, and the impacts of these aspects on personal identity and well-being. Test your understanding of self-discrepancy and the balance between personal aspirations and social expectations.