Post on 18-Dec-2015
William JamesI – self as knower, experiencer, present tense, story teller
Vs.Me – self as known, experienced, past tense, story
Basic Concepts
Components of Me:Physical – awareness of appearance Social – awareness of others’ perceptionsSpiritual – awareness of qualities, attributes
Me – Self Concept
Organized set of constructs pertaining to ones self◦Research emphasis is on processing
information
Self-schema
FredAthletic
masculine
Jogs
Tennisbeer
No quiche
Pizza
Republicans
Effects◦Perceptions of others Use central traits in perceiving others
◦Self memory Recall schema-consistent behaviors
Self schema
Different from self-concept?
Evaluation
Rosenberg Self-Esteem ScaleMean = 29.2; Quartiles = 25/34
Self-Esteem
Does high self esteem have positive benefits?◦California self esteem funding
Academic?
Self Esteem Issues
Why SE – Depression relationship?
Self esteem as buffer
Self-discrepancy theory (Higgins); relationship due to real-ideal discrepancy
Real SelfIdeal SelfOught self
Self Esteem and Depression
Major Cultural Dimension (transmitted):
Individualism – Individuals’ goals have priority
Vs.
Collectivism – Groups’ goals have priority
Self and Culture
Individualism = Independent self
Collectivism = interdependent self
Self and Culture
Self
FriendFriend
Mother
Self
FriendFriend
Mother
Cultural Differences in Self Reflected in Language:◦ Independent/individualist:
1st person singular pronoun Non pro-drop (pronouns usually required) Family name last
◦ Interdependent/collectivist: Pronouns marked for relationship Pro-drop (pronouns optional) Family name first
Self and Culture
Selected Manifestations of Cultural Differences in Self:
◦Fundamental Attribution Error
◦Cognitive Dissonance
◦Locus of Control
Self and Culture
How and When does Self-Concept Develop?◦ Awareness of Physical Self at 18-24 mos.
Development as Social Process (Mead)◦Reciprocal Role-Taking
Imagine how perceived by others (social me) Some feedback but misinterpretations possible
Generalized Other: Me = sense of how perceived by people in general
◦Self concept dependent on others
Development of Self (Me)
Evidence for Self as Social Construct◦ Humans/chimps raised in isolation
◦ Myamoto & Dornbush Collect ratings of:
Beliefs about how perceived by specific others (e.g. other frat. members)
Beliefs about how perceived by people in general How one is actually perceived by others (other frat.
members) Self ratings
Development of Self (Me)
Evidence for Self as Social Construct◦ Mere presence (Morse & Gergen):◦ Male Ps apply for job◦ Complete application forms including self esteem
measure◦ Another job applicant (confederate) enters
Mr. Clean
Mr. Dirty
◦ Social comparison and Instability
Development of Self (Me)
Entirely Dependent on Others? Strategies for Lessening Influence of Others:
◦ Choose with whom to interact Prefer self-consistent or positive feedback?
◦ Choose with whom to compare Downward social comparison
◦ Behavioral Confirmation Swan study:
Dominant and submissive Ps given contradictory feedback
Act to confirm self view
Development of Self
Ervin Goffman (self-presentation/impression management)
Act so as to convey desired image (Behavioral Confirmation)
Personality = performance (no internal traits)◦ “All the worlds a stage,◦ And all the men and women merely players”
Self influenced by others’ perceptions; but actively strive to influence others’ perceptions
Self Presentation
1. Everything we do carries identity implications (can be used in impression formation)◦ Choices regarding personal appearance, room
appearance, consumer products, etc. Gosling and Music choices:
Blues, jazz, classical and folk: "reflective and complex" Heavy metal and alternative: "intense and rebellious“ rap/hip-hop, soul/funk: "energetic and rhythmic”
◦ Cannot not communicate
Goffman’s Theory of Self Presentation
2. People take implications into account in order to convey a particular image
◦ Habitual/automatic and Conscious/deliberate
◦ Always self presenting? Exceptions?
◦ Positive images only? Braginsky, Braginsky, & Ring
Schizophrenia and self-presentation Interview for release or backward
Goffman’s Theory of Self Presentation