Psych 301, 9/17/3SELFSelfThe nature of self SelfThe mental representation of personal experience, including thought processes, a physicalbody, and conscious experience of individualityMinimal selfConsciousness of self in here and now, but separate from the environmentObjectified selfThe cognitive capacity to be the object of one’s own attentionSymbolic or narrative selfCapacity to form a mental representation of oneself through languageUnique to humans(?)Self-awareness develops in infancySelf-awarenessThe state in which the sense of self is the object of attentionReflected appraisalsViews we believe others have of usContribute to self-awarenessSelf-recognitionDevelops between 18 months and 2 yearsOnly shown in a few species Age 2Children recognize themselves in mirrorsBegin to use personal pronouns to refer to themselvesAge 3Emergence of social emotions of embarrassment, shame, and guiltAge 4Develop episodic memory of personal experiencesFrontal lobes & self-awarenessExecutive functions of frontal lobesSelection and use of controllable mental operationsRight frontal lobe is involved in recognition of our own imageWada test study Frontal lobes also involved inMemory storageInterpreting ongoing eventsSelf-concept is a knowledge structureSelf-conceptThe full store of knowledge that people have about themselvesSelf-schemaThe cognitive aspect of the self-conceptAn integrated set of memories, beliefs, and generalizationsWorking self-conceptThe part of the self-concept being processed at a given timeAffects people’s descriptions of themselvesSelf-complexityThe number of distinct perspectives a person uses in self-definitionAffects stability of self-esteemCulture and self-conceptInterdependent self-construals Self-concept determined by social roles and personal relationshipsCharacteristic of collectivist societiesIndependent self-construalsSelf-concept based on distinctions from others and personal accomplishmentsCharacteristic of individualist societiesWhat is the function of self-esteem?Self-esteem and perceived social regardSelf-esteem The evaluative aspect of self-conceptWhether people perceive themselves in positive or negative waysSociometer theory Self-esteem serves as a monitor of social acceptance or rejectionHelps people manage their public imagePositive views of selfSelf-enhancement motive People are motivated to seek out information that confirms their positive self-viewBetter-than-average effectMost people describe themselves as better than average in most areasAutomatic favoritism for things we associate with ourselvesPositive illusionsPeople tend to overestimate their own skills and abilitiesSelf-defeating when people set unrealistic goalsPeople tend to have unrealistic perceptions of personal controlBasis for aspects of gambling and superstitious behaviorsPeople tend to be unrealistically optimistic about their own futuresStrategies to maintain self-esteemSocial comparisonEvaluating one’s own actions or accomplishments by contrasting them with those ofothersUpward comparisonDownward comparisonSelf-serving biasTendency to take credit for our successes and to blame circumstances for our
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