Podcast
Questions and Answers
What aspect of culture allows people to live together in relative harmony while distinguishing them from others?
What aspect of culture allows people to live together in relative harmony while distinguishing them from others?
What was a key finding of the study by Csikszentmihalyi & Figurski regarding self-reflection?
What was a key finding of the study by Csikszentmihalyi & Figurski regarding self-reflection?
What happens to self-awareness according to the Self-Awareness Theory of Introspection when an individual exceeds their internal standards?
What happens to self-awareness according to the Self-Awareness Theory of Introspection when an individual exceeds their internal standards?
How does introspection affect behavior in competitive situations like taking a timed test?
How does introspection affect behavior in competitive situations like taking a timed test?
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What can be a consequence of reflecting on one's behavior according to the Self-Awareness Theory?
What can be a consequence of reflecting on one's behavior according to the Self-Awareness Theory?
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What was the role of the mirror in Diener & Wallbom's study on introspection?
What was the role of the mirror in Diener & Wallbom's study on introspection?
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How do high internal standards affect future self-expectations?
How do high internal standards affect future self-expectations?
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What does introspection primarily involve according to the discussed theories?
What does introspection primarily involve according to the discussed theories?
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What effect does increased introspection have on the likelihood of abusive comments on social media?
What effect does increased introspection have on the likelihood of abusive comments on social media?
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In which situation are individuals most likely to compare themselves to others?
In which situation are individuals most likely to compare themselves to others?
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What is the primary outcome of upward social comparison?
What is the primary outcome of upward social comparison?
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How do people generally react to upward social comparisons when they believe they cannot improve?
How do people generally react to upward social comparisons when they believe they cannot improve?
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What impact does a calm voice have on individuals during a conflict?
What impact does a calm voice have on individuals during a conflict?
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What is the primary focus of Self-Perception Theory?
What is the primary focus of Self-Perception Theory?
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Which type of social comparison is aimed at self-improvement?
Which type of social comparison is aimed at self-improvement?
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What does downward comparison theory primarily help to restore?
What does downward comparison theory primarily help to restore?
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What do greater social norms often lead to when introspection is low?
What do greater social norms often lead to when introspection is low?
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How does physiological arousal relate to emotions according to Dutton & Aron?
How does physiological arousal relate to emotions according to Dutton & Aron?
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What can significantly influence the perceptions of ourselves and others?
What can significantly influence the perceptions of ourselves and others?
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What is the significance of observing our behaviors in particular contexts?
What is the significance of observing our behaviors in particular contexts?
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What is one potential benefit of social comparison according to Gerber et al (2018)?
What is one potential benefit of social comparison according to Gerber et al (2018)?
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Which motivation does self-enhancement correlate with?
Which motivation does self-enhancement correlate with?
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Study Notes
Introspection
- Introspection is looking inward to examine thoughts, feelings, and motives.
- Studies show that people have lower affect when thinking about themselves.
- Self-awareness theory suggests that introspection leads to evaluating and comparing our current behavior with internal standards and values. This can cause guilt and judgment.
- Self-awareness can be positive temporarily when we exceed our internal standards, but this often leads to raising the bar higher for the next time.
Observing Our Own Behaviour
- Self-perception theory: We infer our attitudes and feelings by observing our own behavior and the situation in which it occurs.
- Studies found that people are not good at knowing why they think or feel a certain way and this can lead to misattributing feelings of arousal.
- For instance, people may misinterpret physiological arousal (e.g., increased heart rate) as fear or excitement depending on the situation.
Comparing Ourselves To Others (Social Comparison)
- Social comparison is the process of thinking about others in relation to ourselves, noticing similarities and differences.
- We compare behavior, ability, opinions, life circumstances, jobs, and possessions.
- Social Comparison Theory: We learn about our abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to others.
- There are three main types of social comparison:
- Upward: Comparing to people doing better than us - this can lead to envy and regret.
- Downward: Comparing to people doing worse than us - this can lead to feeling better about ourselves.
- Lateral: Comparing to similar people - this can provide a sense of belonging and support.
- Cultural differences exist in motivation for engaging in social comparisons.
- Responding to upward comparisons is complex and can lead to both positive and negative outcomes, depending on our perception of our ability to improve.
- Self-evaluation maintenance theory: We are threatened by the success of others in domains we care about. We can reduce this threat by:
- Reducing closeness to the successful person
- Reducing the importance of the domain
- Sabotaging the other person’s success
- People with narcissistic personality are more likely to reduce closeness to a friend who outperforms them.
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Description
Explore the concepts of introspection, self-awareness, and self-perception in this quiz. You'll learn how examining our thoughts and behaviors influences our feelings and decision-making. Delve into the impact of comparing ourselves to others and the psychological theories behind these processes.