Social Psychology: The Self Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the self?

The self is composed of our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, 'me', including our self-concept and self-awareness.

What is self-concept?

The content of the self; it includes our knowledge about who we are.

What is self-awareness?

The act of thinking about ourselves.

What are the two distinct ways the self can be characterized?

Personal level and social level. Signup and view all the answers

At what age does self-recognition develop?

Around age two. Signup and view all the answers

What are the cultural differences in defining the self?

Independent view of the self and interdependent view of the self. Signup and view all the answers

What is the independent view of the self?

A way of defining oneself in terms of one's own internal thoughts and feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What is the interdependent view of the self?

A way of defining oneself in terms of relationships to others. Signup and view all the answers

Describe gender differences in defining the self with reference to women.

Women have more relational interdependence. Signup and view all the answers

Describe gender differences in defining the self with reference to men.

Men have more collective interdependence. Signup and view all the answers

What are the sources of self-concept?

Introspection, self-perception, social comparison, and other people's views of us. Signup and view all the answers

Define introspection.

Careful, systematic self-observation of one's own conscious experience. Signup and view all the answers

What are the problems with introspection?

Thoughts are only accessible to the thinker, and it can be difficult to know why we feel a certain way. Signup and view all the answers

What does self-awareness theory propose?

When people focus their attention on themselves, they evaluate and compare their behavior to their internal standards. Signup and view all the answers

What are causal theories?

Theories about the causes of one's own feelings and behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What is reasons-generated attitude change?

Attitude change resulting from thinking about the reasons for one's attitudes. Signup and view all the answers

What is self-perception theory?

The theory that we infer our attitudes and feelings by observing our behavior and the context. Signup and view all the answers

Define intrinsic motivation.

Motivation that comes from within an individual, driven by internal satisfaction. Signup and view all the answers

Define extrinsic motivation.

Desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the overjustification effect?

A decrease in the likelihood of performing an intrinsically motivated task when the reward is removed. Signup and view all the answers

What are task-contingent rewards?

Rewards given for performing a task, regardless of performance quality. Signup and view all the answers

What are performance-contingent rewards?

Rewards based on how well we perform a task. Signup and view all the answers

What is Schachter's two-factor theory of emotion?

Emotional experience results from a two-step self-perception process: physiological arousal followed by seeking an explanation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Self

Comprises thoughts and beliefs about oneself, known as "me."
Consists of self-concept (knowledge of self) and self-awareness.

Self-Concept and Self-Awareness

Self-concept: Content reflecting knowledge about who we are, known as "I."
Self-awareness: The process of contemplating one's own existence and characteristics.

Characterizing the Self

Two levels: Personal level (unique individual identity) and Social level (group membership).
Personal perspective involves intra-group comparisons; social perspective involves intergroup comparisons.

Development of Self-Recognition

Self-recognition typically develops around age two and becomes more complex with age.

Cultural Perspectives on Self

Independent view: Defines self through personal thoughts and actions unique to oneself.
Interdependent view: Defines self in relation to social connections and the influence of others.

Gender Differences in Self-Definition

Women exhibit relational interdependence, focusing on deep personal relationships (e.g., feelings about family).
Men demonstrate collective interdependence, emphasizing group identity (e.g., nationality or broader affiliations).

Sources of Self-Concept

Introspection: Self-observation of personal thoughts and experiences.
Self-Perception: Understanding of self gained from observing behaviors.
Social Comparison: Evaluating oneself in relation to others.
Feedback from others: Influence of external perceptions on self-view.

Challenges of Introspection

Thoughts are private and may not be fully accessible; introspection may not reveal the reasons behind feelings.

Self-Awareness Theory

Focus on oneself leads to evaluation and comparison of behavior against personal standards and values.

Causal Theories

Ideas about the causes behind feelings and behaviors, often shaped by cultural context.

Reasons-Generated Attitude Change

Attitudes may shift based on reason reflection; people align attitudes with easily verbalized reasons.

Self-Perception Theory

Suggests we infer attitudes and feelings from observed behaviors when initial states are ambiguous.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation arises from internal satisfaction or pleasure in tasks.
Extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards or the threat of punishment.

Overjustification Effect

When external rewards diminish intrinsic motivation, resulting in decreased performance once the reward is removed.

Types of Rewards

Task-Contingent Rewards: Given for task completion regardless of performance quality.
Performance-Contingent Rewards: Given based on how well a task is executed.

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

Proposes emotional experiences arise from two steps: physiological arousal followed by seeking an explanation for that arousal.

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Description

Test your understanding of key concepts in social psychology related to the self. This quiz covers definitions of the self, self-concept, and self-awareness, providing a quick review of core ideas. Perfect for anyone studying social psychology or preparing for exams.