self-affirmation theory lecture

self-esteem

-Evaluation of our worthiness as individuals -Thinking we are good at things we value

maintaining self-integrity

-adequate is key not a desire to be excellent or perfect -threats to self-integrity -not about praise but behaving in a way that would merit praise

application of self-affirmation

-education: stereotype threat can affect academic performance -community -health -Self-affirmation prior to exposure to potentially threatening information

what self-affirmation is not

-not self-help -focus on your values - not a mood enhancer - different than self-esteem

health psychology

-people tend to respond defensively to health issues -self affirmation intervention can reduce defensiveness ex. those at risk of type 2 diabetes if primed right will not respond defensively to information

when does self esteem work?

1. Sense of threat or risk must be evoked: Information or the event must threaten one's sense of self 2. Ability to address the threat: can benefit from self-affirmation 3.Lack of awareness: participants should not know what self-affirmation is

examples of defensive responses

Downplay seriousness of disease Question reliability or accuracy Hyper critical of the content

responses to threats

acceptance reframe the information defense responsive: can be reduced self-affirmation can reduce defense response -Act of reflecting on important aspects of one's life or making salient one's core values -Self-affirmation provides a means for reducing defensive or negative responses -Reflecting on a core value unrelated to the threat leads to -Realization that one's self is not tied to one domain -Less of a negative impact on psychological well-being

backfire of self-affirmation

lack of relevance: non-drinker will not be effected

threats to self-integrity

major life events: job loss mundane threats: sports team loose real or perceived threats

cognitive dissonance

overall goal of the self-system is to protect of an image of its self-integrity of its moral and adaptive adequacy - sense tha we are good able to control the choices we make virtuous