Social Psychology: Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

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Questions and Answers

What primarily defines self-esteem in the context of the self?

The mental representation of self-concept

The beliefs and thoughts related to individual traits

How a person feels about their self (correct)

The knowledge people have about their roles

Which aspect does NOT typically contribute to an individual's self-concept?

Physical appearance determinants (correct)

Social relationships and roles

External feedback from society

Memories of personal experiences

Which term best describes the organization of characteristics that a person believes define them across various situations?

Self-esteem

Personal traits

Self-schema (correct)

Self-image

What are self-aspects primarily characterized by?

Beliefs about the self in specific domains or roles Signup and view all the answers

In the context of social psychology, how is the self primarily viewed?

As both subject and object of self-reflection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts is NOT classified under the 'Big Two' dimensions in understanding self?

Dominance Signup and view all the answers

What role do group or social category memberships play in self-concept?

They contribute features shared with other group members Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best exemplifies a relational role in self-aspects?

The roles they play such as mother or friend Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of self-schemas in relation to self-concept?

To guide interpretation of the environment and behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of self-accessibility is influenced by social situations according to the content?

A person's gender identity becomes more prominent Signup and view all the answers

What does the working self-concept primarily guide?

Immediate thoughts, feelings, and actions Signup and view all the answers

How do situational cues affect self-knowledge according to Fazio et al. (1981)?

They encourage the activation of specific self-knowledge Signup and view all the answers

What is a key takeaway regarding the relationship between self-concept and behavior?

Working self-concepts influence behavior irrespective of actual personality Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about narratives related to self-identity is accurate?

They provide structure and meaning across time Signup and view all the answers

What role does self-concept play in self-reflection?

It serves as the object of self-reflection Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does defining the self in a specific way provide?

Increases comparability among individuals Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of the scientific method in social psychology?

Hypothesis testing through experimental validation Signup and view all the answers

What does construct validity refer to in the context of social psychology research?

The extent to which measures correspond to theoretical constructs Signup and view all the answers

What does external validity refer to in social psychology experiments?

Ability to apply results to broader contexts and populations Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the concept of peer assessment in group assignments?

It may indicate uneven contributions impacting the final evaluation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of covariation information in processing behavior?

It aids in potentially overcoming correspondence bias. Signup and view all the answers

How can internal validity be achieved in psychological experiments?

Through random assignment and careful manipulation of variables Signup and view all the answers

What challenges does social psychology face in terms of sample representation?

The reliance on data from non-diverse Western populations Signup and view all the answers

According to the algebraic model proposed by Anderson, what does the variable 'w' represent?

The weight or importance of the trait. Signup and view all the answers

What approach should researchers take to ensure their theories can be generalizable?

Use varied and appropriate sampling strategies in their research Signup and view all the answers

What bias influences the weighting of negative characteristics in evaluations?

Negativity bias. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best encapsulates the relationship between perception and communication?

Perception influences the manner and effectiveness of communication. Signup and view all the answers

How do people typically summarize the traits of others according to the discussed dimensions?

Communal, agentic, and moral. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consideration when attempting to validate a hypothesis in psychology?

Multiple measures should be adopted to enhance construct validity. Signup and view all the answers

Which motivational principle suggests people seek more accurate impressions when outcomes depend on another person?

Mastery. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of methods in social psychology is primarily concerned with the way data is collected?

Observing Signup and view all the answers

What effect does belonging have on how people evaluate others?

It influences evaluations less when relationships are stable. Signup and view all the answers

In trait gestalts, how are trait meanings affected?

They depend on the inter-trait context. Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential reason for forming positively biased impressions of others with disabilities?

To project a favorable self-image. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of introspection in personal construction of the self?

Looking inward at thoughts and feelings Signup and view all the answers

Self-perception theory suggests that self-knowledge is inferred from which of the following?

Observing one’s own behaviors Signup and view all the answers

The over-justification effect indicates that which type of motivation can diminish intrinsic interest?

Extrinsic motivation from expected rewards Signup and view all the answers

When comparing oneself to an extreme target, what effect is likely to occur?

Contrast effect away from target Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the role of social feedback in self-construction?

It shapes our self-concept based on societal norms. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of social feedback, what does the attribution condition imply about perceptions?

It suggests one is perceived positively. Signup and view all the answers

What is the likely outcome when self-knowledge is limited according to self-perception theory?

Behavioral inference to understand self Signup and view all the answers

Which process helps to increase self-consistency in behavior according to introspection?

Deep processing of personal reflections Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between comparison with moderate and extreme targets?

Moderate targets force alignment with others. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of culture is indicated to shape self-construal?

Independent vs. interdependent self-perception Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Perceiving the Self and Others

Understanding the self and others involves perception, influence, evaluation, communication, explanation, etc.
Social psychology focuses on the self as the object of self-reflection, encompassing self-concept and self-esteem.
Self-concept (self-image): Mental representation containing all knowledge about oneself, including beliefs, thoughts, memories, roles, relationships, and groups.
Self-esteem (self-evaluation): How a person feels about themselves, relating more to the function of the self.
Self-concept is knowledge about oneself, organized into different aspects, including personal, social, and social category memberships.
Self-schema is a knowledge structure that links and organizes self-concept components, guiding interpretation of the environment and behavior.
Narrative self/identity is the story of who one is and how they have become, providing meaning to self-components across time.
Working self-concept is the "now" self, influenced by situational cues, guiding acting, thinking, and feeling in the moment.
The self is constructed through introspection, self-perception, social comparison, and social feedback.
Introspection involves looking inward at thoughts and feelings, providing insights into self-understanding.
Self-perception theory suggests that people infer self-knowledge by observing their own behaviors.
The overjustification effect explains how extrinsic motivation (rewards) can decrease intrinsic motivation.
Social comparison involves comparing oneself to others, especially under uncertainty.
Social comparison can lead to contrast effects (comparing to extreme targets) or assimilation effects (comparing to moderate targets).
Accurate self-concept often comes from comparing to similar others.
Social feedback plays a role in shaping self-concepts as individuals internalize how they think others see them.
Culture plays a significant role in shaping self-construal, influencing whether individuals hold independent or interdependent self-construals.

Forming Global Impressions

Global impressions are formed by integrating trait inferences into overall evaluative impressions.
People may use simple addition or averaging of traits to form global impressions but not all traits are considered equal.
Some traits have a higher weight (importance) than others, resulting in weighted averaging.
There is a negativity bias where negative traits are weighed more heavily than positive ones.
There is also a positivity bias, a motivation to form positive global evaluations about people.
Trait gestalts suggest that traits have different meanings depending on the inter-trait context.
Agency and communion dimensions are often used to summarize others' traits: communal (social relationships) and agentic (goal attainment).
Motivational principles, like mastery, belonging, and "me and mine," influence judgement formation.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts from social psychology related to understanding the self and others. It covers self-concept, self-esteem, self-schema, and the narrative identity, providing insights into how these elements shape personal perceptions and interactions. Test your knowledge on the facets of self and their implications in psychology.