The Social Self

public self-consciousness

- a personality characteristic of individuals who focus on themselves as social objects -as seen by others

self-esteem

- an affective component of the self - consists of a person's positive and negative self-evaluations

dialecticism

- an eastern system of thought that accepts the coexistence of contradictory characteristics within a single person

self-handicapping

- behaviors designed to sabotage one's own performance in order to provide a subsequent excuse for failurw

self-presentation

- strategies people use to shape what others think of them

downward social comparison

- the defensive tendency to compare ourselves with others who are worse off than we are

facial feedback hypothesis

- the hypothesis that changes in facial expression can lead to corresponding changes in emotion

affective forecasting

- the process of predict how one would feel in response to future

overjustification effect

- the tendency for intrinsic motivation to diminish for activated that have become associated with reward or other extrinsic factors

self-monitoring

- the tendency to change behavior in response to the self-presentation concerns of the situation

social comparison theory

- the theory that people evaluate their own abilities and opinions by comparing themselves to others

self-awareness theory

- the theory that self- focused attention leads people to notice self-discrepancies, thereby motivating either an escape from self-awareness or a change in behavior

two-factor theory of emotion

- the theory that the experience of emotion is based on two factors: (1) physiological arousal (2) cognitive interpretation of that arousal

self-perception theory

- the theory that when internal cues are difficult to interpret, people gain self-insight by observing their own behavior

terror management theory

- the thoery that humans cope with fear of their own death by constructing worldviews that help to preserve their self-esteem

bask in reflected glory (BIRG)

- to increase self-esteem by associating with others who are successful

private self- consciousness

- a personality characteristic of individuals who are introspective, often attending to their own inner states

implicit egotism

- a nonconscious form of self-enhancement

People who score on the high-end range on a self-esteem test are most likely a. Canadian. b. Japanese. c. Korean. d. Vietnamese.

a. Canadian. -Cultures have differing effects on the pursuit of self-esteem. -Comparing the distribution of self-esteem test scores in Canada and Japan, researchers have found that whereas most Canadians' scores clustered in the high-end range, the majority of Japanese respondents scored in the center of that same range.

Monica thinks that she ought to spend more time with her family, but try as she may, she just can't seem to do it and also get her work done. Based on research by Higgins (1989) concerning the self-concept and self-guides, one can predict that Monica is likely to feel a. disappointment. b. agitation. c. envy. d. shame.

a. disappointment. - Monica is likely to feel a discrepancy between her ideal self (which wants to be with her family) and her actual self (which is not spending time with them). -Higgins's (1989) research on the self-concept and self-guides suggests that such ideal/actual self- discrepancies should lead to disappointment.

People who drink alcohol often avoid the negative aspects of focusing on themselves and downplay the discrepancy between their real and ideal self-concepts. This process is called a. drunken self-inflation. b. self-monitoring. c. private self-awareness. d. self-handicapping.

a. drunken self-inflation. -Drunken self-inflation is the tendency to discount real and ideal self-discrepancies when drinking. -Drinking is sometimes used as a self-handicapping strategy, but self-handicapping has little to do with focus of attention. -Private self-awareness occurs when people focus on their self-concepts and is decreased when people drink alcohol, but may or may not be related to discrepancies between real and ideal self-concepts. -As self-monitoring is the tendency to focus on the immediate social situation and adjust one's behavior accordingly, it has little to do with drinking alcohol.

Herbert has a crush on Beth, but after thinking it over and weighing the pros and cons, he decides to date Joan instead. Research by Wilson (1985) on the utility of introspection suggests that Herbert probably would a. enjoy dating Beth more than Joan. b. enjoy dating Joan more than Beth. c. enjoy dating Beth in the short run but Joan in the long run. d. enjoy dating Joan in the short run but Beth in the long run.

a. enjoy dating Beth more that Joan -Wilson's research suggests that introspection often leads to inaccurate self-knowledge. -This research implies that Herbert should probably go with his gut instinct and go out with Beth rather than Joan. -true for both the short run and the long run.

The __________ theory helps explain our relentless need for self-esteem. a. terror management b. self-handicapping c. social comparison d. two-factor

a. terror management. -Terror management helps to explain our relentless need for self- esteem. -humans are biologically programmed for life and self- preservation. -Yet we are conscious of—and terrified by—the inevitability of our own death. To cope, we construct and accept cultural worldviews about how, why, and by whom the earth was created; religious explanations of the purpose of our existence; and a sense of history filled with heroes, villains, and momentous events. -These worldviews provide meaning and purpose and a buffer against anxiety.

The desire to have others perceive us as we perceive ourselves is called a. self-presentation. b. self-verification. c. self-consciousness. d. self-monitoring

b. self-verification. - Self-verification is the desire to have others perceive us as we truly perceive ourselves. -Self-presentation encompasses the various strategies people use to shape what others think of them. - Self-consciousness occurs when people focus on themselves. - Self-monitoring is the tendency to change behavior in response to the self-presentation concerns of the situation.

self-schemas

beliefs about oneself that guide the processing of self-relevant information

As a child, Pete played baseball because it was fun. Now that he is a professional, he receives $1.9 million a year. Given his salary, he will probably experience a. social comparison jealousy. b. choking under pressure. c. an overjustification effect. d. self- handicapping

c. an overjustification effect. - used to play baseball for the fun of it (he was intrinsically motivated). - Now he gets paid big money to play. -Self-perception theory suggests that, when he interprets his own behavior, he will now begin to believe that he plays baseball at least partly for the money. -This will undermine his intrinsic motivation—an effect known as overjustification.

Research by McGuire and his colleagues shows that when asked "Who are you?" people spontaneously rely on a. the hindsight bias. b. self-verification. c. distinguishing features. d. rewards for competence.

c. distinguishing features. -research by McGuire and his colleagues shows that, when spontaneously describing themselves, people tend to point out how they differ from others in their social environment.

Jerry is a high school senior with slightly above-average grades. In order to feel good about his intellectual abilities, he selects a college with average-ability students. In doing so, Jerry makes it possible to engage in a. BIRGing. b. overjustification. c. downward social comparisons. d. drunken self-inflation.

c. downward social comparisons. -Attending a less selective school should give Jerry plenty of opportunity for contact with others who are not as smart as he is. -downward social comparisons—comparisons with others that would put him in a positive light. -Such comparisons can be self-enhancing.

During her job interview, Rachel goes out of her way to congratulate her prospective employers on their successful year and to agree with their strategies for the next fiscal year. Rachel's behavior is an example of a. the cocktail party phenomenon. b. the hindsight bias. c. ingratiation. d. basking in reflected glory.

c. ingratiation. -Ingratiation is a tactic of strategic self-presentation. -It includes such behaviors as flattery, agreement, and putting one's best foot forward.

Elena spends a lot of time in introspection. She is very much "in touch" with her attitudes, values, and opinions. Elena is someone who is high in a. self-monitoring. b. self-handicapping. c. private self-consciousness. d. public self-consciousness.

c. private self-consciousness. -People high in private self-consciousness know their attitudes well and spend a lot of time introspecting about them. -Elena is not someone high in public self-consciousness, concerned with her effects upon others, and there is no evidence that she is high in self-monitoring or self-handicapping.

According to the two-factor theory of emotion, the experience of particular emotions requires both physiological arousal and a. public self-consciousness. b. downward comparison. c. a cognitive interpretation. d. autobiographical memory.

c.cognitive interpretation - the two factors that the two-factor theory suggest are necessary and sufficient for an emotional response are physiological arousal and a cognitive label or a cognitive interpretation of the situation - Schachter emphasized in this model that we are particularly likely to look to others and their responses in the situation when forming a cognitive interpretation. - Public self-consciousness, downward comparison, and autobiographical memory are not included in the two-factor theory.

Introspection can impair self- knowledge for behaviors that a. consist of flashbulb memories. b. result from facial feedback. c. depend on social comparison. d. are caused by affective factors.

d. are cause by affective factors - Common sense tells us that introspection should lead to accurate self-knowledge -Wilson's (1985) research suggests that introspection often leads to inaccurate self-knowledge. - False feedback and social comparisons have not been shown to have an affect on introspection, and flashbulb memories are unrelated to the issue of introspection.

James is a big fan of his college's football team. After the team wins the league championship, Jim wears his baseball cap with the college's logo for a week straight. Jim is probably a. high in self-esteem. b. a high self-monitor. c. making downward social comparisons. d. basking in reflected glory.

d. basking in reflected glory. -basking in reflected glory demonstrates that people like to identify with groups that they are a part of when those groups succeed.

In their research on optimism and mental health Taylor and Brown (1988) argue that positive illusions about ourselves can a. be serious signs of mental disturbance. b. lead others to reject us. c. cause people to react violently in response to negative feedback. d. be adaptive in that they promote mental health.

d. be adaptive in that they promote mental health. -positive illusions are adaptive in that they promote happiness, caring for others, and productive work—in short, mental health. - many psychologists previously claimed: That accurate perceptions of reality are crucial for mental health. - Colvin and colleagues (1995) have noted that positive illusions can lead to relationship problems, while Baumeister and colleagues (1996) have suggested that high self-esteem and its positive illusions may actually lead people to lash out after negative feedback.

Jennifer is preparing for an important interview. In order to appear upbeat but also to feel upbeat, she sits alone before the interview and smiles for a while. Jennifer is making use of the a. two-factor theory of emotion. b. self-reference effect. c. egocentric bias. d. facial feedback hypothesis.

d. facial feedback hypothesis. - Research on the facial feedback hypothesis suggests that people's facial expressions can often influence their moods. -since there was no mention of physiological arousal or a cognitive label, the two-factor theory would be incorrect. The self-reference effect and the egocentric bias are unrelated to emotion.

People from western cultures tend to be more ______ than people from eastern cultures. a. interdependent b. compassionate c. shy d. individualistic

d. individualistic. -Research cited in the textbook suggests that people from western cultures are more individualistic than people from eastern cultures. -People in eastern cultures tend to be more interdependent than westerners. -There have been no differences noted in shyness or compassion between easterners or westerners

Preoccupied with their self-image, people who are high in self-monitoring go out of their way to learn about a. their autobiographical memory. b. self-verification strategies. c. their self-discrepancies. d. others with whom they'll interact.

d. others with whom they'll interact. -Since high self-monitors tailor their behavior to fit the situation they are in, they are very sensitive to the people with whom they interact. -recognize that other people are an important part of the situation. -there is little reason to expect that self-monitors will try to learn about their autobiographical memories, self- discrepancies, or self-verifications.

The desire to have others perceive us as we truly perceive ourselves is a good example of a. self-schema. b. self-esteem. c. self-monitoring. d. self-verification.

d. self-verification. -People are highly motivated in their social encounters to confirm or verify their existing self-concept in the eyes of others. -people selectively elicit, recall, and accept personality feedback that confirms their self-conceptions.

self-schemas are to an ________ ______ _______ as hypotheses are to a ________

individuals total self-concept; theory

Self concept

sum total beliefs that people have about themselves