Unit 3: Interpersonal Communication & Self-Disclosure

Beliefs

Convictions or expressions of confidence(can change over time)

Values

Ideals that guide our behavior(generally long lasting)

Attitudes

Learned predispositions to a concept or object(subject to change)

Self

One's own sense of individuality, motivations, and personal characteristics

Self-esteem

based on the evaluations and judgements we make about various characteristics of our self-concept. It is developed through an assessment and evaluation of our various skills and abilities, known as self-efficacy, and through a comparison and evaluation of who we are, who we would like to be, and who we should be(self-discrepency theory)

Interpersonal communication

communication between people whose lives mutually influence one another

Intrapersonal communication

communication with oneself using internal vocalization or reflective thinking; triggered by some internal or external stimulus; takes place only inside our heads

actual self

consists of the attributes that you or someone else believes you actually possess

ideal self

consists of the attributes that you or someone else would like you to possess

ought self

consists of the attributes you or someone else believes you should possess

Prosocial self-presentation

entails behaviors that present a person as a role model and make a person more likable and attractive. Aimed at benefiting others

Self-serving self-presentation

entails behaviors that present a person as highly skilled, willing to challenge others, and someone not to be messed with. Aimed at benefiting the self at the expense of others

Looking glass self

explains that we see ourselves reflected in other people's reactions to us and then form our self-concept based on how we believe other people see us.

socializing influences on self-perception

family, culture, and media affect our self-perception because they give us feedback on who we are. This feedback can be evaluated positively or negatively and can lead to positive or negative patterns that influence our self-perception and then our communication.

Reference groups

groups we use for social comparison

Self-image

how you see yourself, how you would describe yourself to others including physical characteristics, knowledge experience, interests and relationships

Identity needs

our need to present ourselves to others and be thought of in particular and desired ways.

Self-concept

overall idea of who we think we are. It is developed through our interactions with others and through social comparison that allows us to compare our beliefs and behaviors to others.

Self-Efficacy

refers to the judgments people make about their ability to perform a task within a specific context

Influencers of self-concept and self-esteem

social comparison theory and self- discrepancy theory affect our self-concept and self-esteem because through comparison with others and comparison of our actual, ideal, and ought selves we make judgements about who we are and our self-worth. These judgements then affect how we communicate and behave

Self-discrepancy theory

states that people have beliefs about and expectations for their actual and potential selves that do not always match up with what they actually experience

Social Comparison Theory

states that we describe and evaluate ourselves in terms of how we compare to other people based on two dimensions: superiority/inferiority (attractiveness, intelligence, athletic ability, and so on) similarity/difference.

Internal vocalization

talking to ourselves (can help us achieve or maintain social adjustment)

Self-enhancement bias

tendency to emphasize our desirable qualities relative to other people. Presenting ourselves in order to evoke a positive evaluation response

Self-presentation

the process of strategically concealing or revealing personal information in order to influence others' perceptions.

Motivation

the underlying force that drives us to do things

Extrinsic motivation

when we do something to receive a reward or avoid punishment

Intrinsic motivation

when we want to do something for the love of doing it or the resulting internal satisfaction