Reminder: Cover study strategies02. The Social SelfWho has read this chapter?Outline1. The nature of the social self1. The nature of the social self1. Self-schemas1. Self-reference effect1. Self-complexity2. Origins of the selfWork in pairs2. Introspection2. Reflected self-appraisals2. Family and other socialization agents2. Family and other socialization agents2. Social comparison2. Social comparisonSlide 182. Independent/interdependent2. Independent/interdependent2. Independent/interdependent2. Within cultures2. Gender and the self2. Situationism2. Situationism: Uniqueness2. Malleability vs StabilitySlide 273. Self-esteem3. Sociometer hypothesis3. Self-esteem: Good or bad?3. Culture and self-esteem3. Culture and self-esteem4. Why?Slide 34Slide 35Slide 364. Self-enhancement4. Self-enhancementTest your knowledgeTest your knowledgeSlide 41Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale Rosenberg (1965)4. Self-evaluation maintenance model4. Cultural differences4. Self-verification5. Self-handicapping6. Self-regulation6. Self-discrepancy theory6. Strength model of self-control6. Discussion in scienceTest your knowledgeTest your knowledgeSummary03. Social CognitionReminder: Cover study strategies102. The Social Self2Who has read this chapter?3Outline1. The nature of the social self2. Origins of the sense of self3. Self-esteem4. Motives driving self-evaluation5. Self-regulation6. Self-presentation41. The nature of the social self•We like to believe that we have a consistent self, one that is clearly defined by stable personality and traits, and that we know this self•Social psych’s perspective on this? •Self is constructed, maintained, and negotiated in the social environment → malleable self!51. The nature of the social self6Individual Self: Beliefs about our unique personal traits, abilities, preferences, tastes, talents, etc.Collective self: Beliefs about our identities as members of social groupsRelational self: Beliefs about our identities in specific relationships.SELF•Schemas?Self-schema (Markus, 1977): Cognitive structure, derived from past experience, that represent a person’s beliefs and feelings about the self in particular domains•e.g., self-schema about how extraverted we are, based on situations where extraversion is relevant (parties, …)•High in extraversion•self-schema includes more instances of extraverted behavior•more elaborate beliefs about being extraverted•quicker retrieval of information about extraversion•quicker rejection of contradicting information•Being “schematic” for a certain domain71. Self-schemas•better memory for information related to ourselves (Rogers, Kuiper, & Kirker, 1977)81. Self-reference effect•Tendency to define the self in terms of multiple, relatively distinct, domains•Protective function when self-esteem is threatened91. Self-complexityMeGraduate studentSisterLoves comicsLikes languagesMeGraduate studentValues intelligenceSources of self-knowledge:•From within us•Introspection•Self-perception (in a later lecture)•From other people•Reflected self-appraisals•Family and other socialization agents•Social comparison•From social groups•Culture•Gender•From situations•Situationism102. Origins of the selfWork in pairs•What is the difference between random sampling and random assignment? Which benefits do you get from each of these?•What is the difference between internal and external validity?Is a) internal validity a requirement for external validity, b) external validity a requirement for internal validity, or c) can both occur independently?11•Narrated self: making sense of who we are and how we change (McAdams, 2008)•construal•Not necessarily accurate•Factors we don’t know about (Nisbett & Wilson, 1977)•Self-enhancement motivation•Others may predict our behavior just as well as we do (potentially independent influences) (Vazire & Mehl, 2008)122. Introspection•Beliefs about what others think of one’s self•Looking-glass self (Cooley, 1902)•People laugh at your jokes  You’re funny•People praise your academic work  You’re a good student•We aren’t actually very good at predicting what others think of us•Internalize + react to how we think others see us•Can be influenced by our own self-views132. Reflected self-appraisals•Parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers teach us attitudes and behaviors; encourage certain behaviors; create opportunities142. Family and other socialization agents•Birth Order (Sulloway, 1996, 2001)•Older siblings: tend to be more dominant, achievement-oriented, conscientious, want to maintain the status quo•Younger siblings: tend to be more agreeable, open to new experiences, rebellious, want to challenge the status quo•Diversification: Siblings may take on different roles to minimize conflicts•The Scientist vs. The Musician•Later-born siblings have to find their role more152. Family and other socialization agentsImage courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net•Social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954)•people compare themselves to others to evaluate their own opinions, abilities, and internal states•Likely to occur when…•there is no clear objective standard•you experience uncertainty about yourself in a particular domain•Compare with people who aren’t too far away from you•Mozart, me, and the 6-year old at my music school162. Social comparisonMotivated comparisons•Upward comparison (How far can I go?): when you want to improve something about yourself, you compare with people who are better•Downward comparison (It’s not that bad): when you want to feel good about yourself, you compare with people who are worse172. Social comparisonfriskytuna, CC-BY-2.0, https://www.flickr.com/photos/34128229@N06/326767975718•Continuum•Interdependent cultures quite common across both location and time192. Independent/interdependentIndependent cultures Interdependent culturesSelf = autonomous entity Self = connected to other peopleUniqueness, independence Find a place within community, familyInternal causes of behavior External causes of behavior (social context, situation)If you’ve got it, flaunt it The nail that stands up is pounded downMarkus & Kitayama (2001)202. Independent/interdependent•Who Am I? / Twenty Statements Test (Kuhn & McPartland, 1954)•(15 statements in this study)Ma & Schoeneman (1997)Examples•When given the choice among 5 pens, Americans take the unique pen (78%), but Asians do not