Chapter 5 - Self-Knowledge PDF

CHAPTER 5 Self-knowledge and Self-evaluation  Chapter Outline vThe Nature of the Self vKnowing Ourselves Through Introspection vKnowing Ourselves by Observing our Own Behavior vKnowing Ourselves through Social Interaction vKnowing Ourselves by Comparing Ourselves to Others...

CHAPTER 5 Self-knowledge and Self-evaluation  Chapter Outline vThe Nature of the Self vKnowing Ourselves Through Introspection vKnowing Ourselves by Observing our Own Behavior vKnowing Ourselves through Social Interaction vKnowing Ourselves by Comparing Ourselves to Others vThe Need to Feel Good about Ourselves vSelf-Evaluation: Biased or Accurate?  Self Twenty Statement Test Write down twenty different responses to the question “Who am I?” 1. I am….. 2. I am ….. 3. I am…… 4. I am…… 20.I am  Self: The I and the Me — William James (1890) — Social Self — Self develops within the interpersonal, socio-cultural context — Divided self into — ME: object of thinking (something that can be known and observed (known) — I: thinking subject that does the observing and describing (knower) — “I am thinking about myself”  Self: The I and the Me — “I” : knower: agent, — Makes one aware of one’s environment as well as one’s own existence. — the self is “me” seen from the standpoint of “I.”  Self Self-concept: knowledge about who we are (Known/Me) Self-awareness: the act of thinking about ourselves (Knower/ I) — The two combine to make coherent identity § A psychological structure or process that is involved in attending to, thinking about, evaluating and regulating the individual  Self Self-recognition Rouge test Are humans unique  The Content of the Self: Self-Schemas Self- Schemas: knowledge about the self (e.g., attitudes, preferences, traits) that influences what people notice, think about, and remember about themselves.  Self-concept clarity Self-concept clarity: extent to which knowledge about the self is clearly and consistently defined. increased neuroticism decreased self-esteem increased rumination Celebrity worship, materialism & compulsive buying & self-concept clarity (Reeves et al., 2012) Empty self theory Absorption addiction model  Cultural differences Westerners: independent view of the self self-concept clarity & self-esteem positively related Collectivist societies: interdependent view of the self self-concept clarity & self-esteem  Culture & Self Markus & Kitayama, 1991 Independent Self construal Circles do not overlap Solid boundary Xs not shared boundary between ingroup and outgroup dotted  Culture & Self Markus & Kitayama, 1991 Interdependent Self construal Circles overlap dotted boundary Xs shared Solid boundary between outgroup and ingroup  Gender differences Individualist cultures Men= independent view of the self “I am honest, carefree, determined..” Women=relational interdependent view of the self “I am a sister, a good friend” Collectivist cultures Watkins et al. (1998) both genders equal tendency to have a relational view of the self that emphasizes interdependence  Gender differences Individualistic cultures: men do not completely lack interdependence collective interdependence than relational interdependence e.g. social groups such as sports teams.  Gender & Cultural differences Kashima et al., (1995): four dimensions of independent, interdependent self construal Collectivism: I don't sacrifice self interest for my group Agency: I think it is desirable for the members of my group to have the same opinions Assertiveness: I assert my opposition when I disagree strongly with the members of my group Relatedness: I often do what I feel like doing without paying attention to others' feelings  Cultural Differences Cultural differences Eastern: higher on collectivism & relatedness Western: agency & assertiveness  Gender Differences Gender differences Collectivism: non-significant difference Agency: non-significant difference Assertiveness: non-significant difference Relatedness: women higher on relational dimension  Self-Knowledge Knowing Ourselves through Introspection Only 8% thoughts about self Might be hidden from conscious awareness  Self-Knowledge Self-Awareness Theory When people focus their attention on themselves, they evaluate & compare their behavior to their internal standards and values. Congruent: good Discrepancy: Positive: encourages self –regulation Negative: Escape, avoid source of self-awareness Positive escape: religious experiences, spirituality, flow Negative escape: alcohol, binge eating, suicide  Cultural Differences in Self-Awareness — Eastern Cultures: outside perspective of the self, viewing themselves through eyes of other people. — Western cultures insider perspective of the self, focusing on private experiences without considering how others see them. — Mirrors in the head (Heine et al., 2008) — Canadian and Japanese students — Writing exam with mirror in room  Perspective taking The Effect of Culture on Perspective Taking (Wu & Keysar, 2007) Chinese and American pairs  Perspective taking The Effect of Culture on Perspective Taking (Wu & Keysar, 2007) Chinese participants more tuned to their partner's perspective than American participants. Americans often completely failed to take the perspective of their partner, whereas Chinese almost never did. Cultural dimension of interdependence focus attention on the other, causing Chinese to be better perspective takers than Americans. Although members of both cultures are able to distinguish between their perspective and another person's perspective, interdependent culture promotes the effective use of this ability to interpret other people's actions.  Self-Knowledge — Telling More than We Can Know: Verbal reports on mental processes. (Nisbett & Wilson, 1977) Right most stocking most frequently chosen “Telling more than we know” tendency to explain more about one’s feelings and behavior than one actually knows. — Casual theories  Self-Knowledge Smith et al., (1968) Car buying scenarios Male participants  Self-Knowledge Self-Perception Theory: Bem (1972): when we are uncertain how we feel about something, we turn to our behavior for answers free choice behavior intrinsically or extrinsically motivated  Self-Knowledge Over justification effect: Extrinsic reward underplay the importance of intrinsic rewards — Preserving Intrinsic Interest — performance-contingent rewards — task-contingent rewards: reward for participation  Knowing Ourselves Through Other People Looking-glass Self: We see ourselves through the eyes of others and incorporate their views into our self-concept  Knowing Ourselves Through Other People Social Comparison Theory: learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to other people Festinger (1964) When: no objective standard to use as a measure Whom: similar others on the relevant dimension  Self Control Executive function Self regulation Thought suppression? How to strengthen self regulation Implementation intentions Managing environment Rest  Self Control Executive function Cognitive depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? (Baumiester et al., 1998) Chocolate cookies group Radish group Performance on an unsolvable puzzle Which group do you think gave up quicker? Had depleted executive self control  Self Esteem: How We Evaluate Ourselves Learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to other people. Downward Social Comparison Others: Compare ourselves to those who are worse than we are in a particular trait or ability. Self: Can also compare current performance (e.g., superior university grades) with inferior past performance (e.g., average high school grades  Self Esteem: How We Evaluate Ourselves Upward Social Comparison; Compare ourselves to those who are better than we are in a particular trait or ability. usual self: inspirational best self: deflating Attainability is key.  Social Comparison Relationships & social comparison partner: empathy, shared fate Target of social comparison Pride/discomfort Deserving? Relationship comparison Upward downward  Social Comparison and Culture European-Canadians more motivated by positive (successful) role models than were Asian-Canadians (Lockwood et al., 2005). Asian-Canadians more motivated by negative (unsuccessful) role models than were the European-Canadians. Collectivist cultures: avoiding failures than achieving success Downward: learn how to avoid failure Upward: inspirational Individualistic cultures: achieving success than avoiding failure  Self Esteem: Social Acceptance Sociometer Theory — Self-fulfilling prophecy — How to improve — Self affirmation — Rewards  Self Evaluation: Biased Self enhancement: Unrealistic positive views about ourselves Associated with self-esteem& life satisfaction False uniqueness effect Cultural differences: Western phenomenon; Asian cultures tend to hold a negative view of themselves, self-effacement.  Self Evaluation: Accurate Self- verification theory Confirmation of self concept Tell me the truth, even if it hurts? Consistency Congruency Need for truth? dimension relationship When Certainty Consequences Malleability  Who Am I? Coding — A. Physical Self-Descriptions — Refer to physical qualities that do not imply social interaction; — "identity card" type information — examples: "I am female"; "I am a redhead." — "I am 19." "I live in Ontario." — B. Social Self-Descriptions — Refer to relationships, group memberships, social roles, and — attitudes which are socially defined and validated — examples: "I am a son"; "I am Canadian"; — "I am an Expos fan." "I am a liberal.”  Who Am I? Coding — C. Psychological Self-Descriptions — Refer to psychological traits and states and to attitudes that do not — refer to particular social referents — examples: "I am shy"; "I am happy"; — "I am ambitious"; "I am thrifty"; — D. Holistic Self-Descriptions — Refer to characteristics so comprehensive or vague that they do not distinguish one person from another — examples: "I am me"; "I am a human being