Understanding Self-Concept Psychology

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Questions and Answers

What is meant by the term 'telling more than we can know' in relation to cognitive processing?

Being fully aware of the reasons behind every feeling

Being unable to communicate our feelings effectively

Explaining feelings without fully understanding the underlying processes (correct)

Correctly identifying the causal theories of our feelings

What do causal theories refer to in the context of self-explanation?

Cultural beliefs about the origins of behaviors (correct)

Personal theories about the future of one's emotions

Assumptions about how others perceive our feelings

Conscious beliefs about emotional processing

What is 'Reasons-Generated Attitude Change'?

A technique used to identify motives in others

An automatic response to emotional stimuli

The process of changing behavior based on social feedback

Altering one's attitude after reflecting on the underlying reasons (correct)

According to self-perception theory, how do individuals infer their own attitudes and feelings?

By observing their behaviors and the context around them Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation?

Intrinsic motivation is fueled by enjoyment, while extrinsic is driven by external rewards. Signup and view all the answers

What is the self-concept primarily defined as?

An overall set of beliefs about personal attributes Signup and view all the answers

What aspect becomes more prominent in the self-concept as individuals mature?

Psychological states and social judgments Signup and view all the answers

How is morality viewed in relation to the self-concept?

It is central to understanding the self. Signup and view all the answers

In which view of self does one focus on internal thoughts and feelings?

Independent view of the self Signup and view all the answers

What is self-knowledge primarily concerned with?

Organizing personal information and beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What does introspection involve?

Examining our internal thoughts and feelings Signup and view all the answers

What effect does self-awareness have according to Self-Awareness Theory?

It helps us align behavior with internal standards. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes self-esteem?

The way we maintain a positive view of ourselves Signup and view all the answers

What does a fixed mindset imply about an individual's abilities?

Abilities are believed to be permanent and unchangeable. Signup and view all the answers

According to the two-factor theory of emotion, what is the first step in understanding our emotional states?

Experiencing physiological arousal. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of misattribution of arousal?

Making incorrect assumptions about what causes certain feelings. Signup and view all the answers

How does social comparison theory explain how individuals assess their own abilities?

By comparing themselves with others in similar situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of upward social comparison?

Judging your running speed against a professional athlete's speed. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of self-concept, how is it primarily shaped?

By social contact and relationships with others. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the phrase 'birds of a feather flock together' in relation to social beliefs?

Individuals are likely to associate with those who share similar values and views. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the growth mindset?

It encourages individuals to seek challenges and learn from failures. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of self-control according to the content?

To act as the chief executive in making choices Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy involves using flattery to improve likability?

Ingratiation Signup and view all the answers

How is reported self-handicapping different from behavioral self-handicapping?

It is generally less extreme than behavioral self-handicapping. Signup and view all the answers

What does affective forecasting entail?

Estimating how one will feel after a future emotional event Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an impression management strategy?

Thought Suppression Signup and view all the answers

What do people engage in to adopt another person's attitudes?

Social Tuning Signup and view all the answers

How does cultural context influence impression management?

It shapes the specific strategies used for managing impressions. Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of engaging in self-handicapping?

Reduction in personal accountability for failure Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Self-Concept

Overall set of beliefs people have about themselves and their personal attributes.
For children, self-concept is concrete, while adults emphasize psychological states and others' judgments.
Morality is considered central to self-concept, more than cognitive processes or desires.
Influences by culture:
- Independent view of the self: defines oneself based on internal thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- Interdependent view of the self: defines oneself based on relationships with others, recognizing external influence on behavior.

Functions of the Self

Self-knowledge: Understanding who we are and organizing self-information.
Self-control: Making plans and executing decisions.
Self-management: Presenting ourselves to others and controlling how we are perceived.
Self-esteem: Maintaining positive views of ourselves.

Introspection

Looking inward to examine thoughts, feelings, and motives.
Not always accurate or pleasant.
Reasons for feelings and behavior can remain hidden from conscious awareness.

Self-Awareness Theory

People evaluate their current behavior against their internal standards and values.
Self-awareness prompts us to become conscious of our internal standards, influencing subsequent behavior.

Telling More Than We Can Know

We are aware of the final result of our thoughts but often unaware of the cognitive processes leading to that result.
We tend to provide explanations for feelings and behavior that exceed our reasonable knowledge.
Causal theories: Learned explanations about the causes of our own feelings and behaviors, often influenced by culture.

Reasons-Generated Attitude Change

Attitude change resulting from thinking about reasons for our attitudes.
We assume our attitudes match plausible and easily verbalized reasons, even if they are not our true motivations.

Self-Perception Theory

When unsure about our attitudes and feelings, we infer them by observing our behavior and the situation in which it occurred.
Similar to attribution, we use the same attributional principles to understand our own attitudes and feelings.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation: Desire to engage in an activity for enjoyment or interest.
Extrinsic motivation: Desire to engage in an activity due to external rewards or pressure.

Two Kinds of Rewards

Task-Contingent Rewards: Given for completing a task, regardless of performance.
Performance-Contingent Rewards: Rewards based on the quality of the task performance.

Mindsets and Motivation

Fixed Mindset: Belief that abilities are fixed and cannot change.
Growth Mindset: Belief that abilities are malleable and can be developed.

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion

We infer our emotions by observing our behavior and seeking an explanation.
We experience physiological arousal and then search for a label or explanation to understand our emotional state.

Misattribution of Arousal

Misinterpreting the cause of our feelings.
We incorrectly attribute our feelings to the wrong source or situation.

Learning about our abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to others.
We ask:
- When do people engage in social comparison?
- With whom do they choose to compare?

Upward Social Comparison: Comparing ourselves to people who are better than us, often leading to feelings of inadequacy.
Downward Social Comparison: Comparing ourselves to people who are worse than us, often leading to feelings of superiority.

Adopting Other People's Views

We often use others as a measuring stick to assess our abilities.
We tend to adopt the views of our friends, especially those with similar opinions.
Social Tuning: People adopt others' attitudes.

Affective Forecasts

People’s predictions about their future emotional responses to events.

Self-Control

The executive function of the self, making choices about present and future actions.
Thought Suppression: Trying to push thoughts out of our minds.

Impression Management

The conscious effort to influence others' perceptions of ourselves.
We act like stage actors, trying to convince others of a particular image, even if it is not our true self.

Ingratiation

Using flattery or praise to make ourselves likable, often to someone of higher status.
It can be effective because we enjoy being complimented.

Self-Handicapping

Creating obstacles or excuses to avoid blaming ourselves for poor performance.
Two types:
- Behavioral self-handicapping: Creating actual obstacles that hinder success.
- Reported self-handicapping: Providing excuses in advance for potential failure.

Culture and Impression Management

All cultures are concerned with impression management, but strategies vary.

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Description

This quiz explores the various aspects of self-concept, including its development, functions, and cultural influences. It delves into how self-knowledge, self-control, and self-management shape our identities and self-esteem. Test your understanding of these psychological concepts and how they interact with our perceptions and relationships.