The Self

• Own behavior (Self-Percepion Theory, Actor observer Bias)

• Remembering/Imagining Behavior

• Introspection

• Others

  • Responses (Attatchment Theory/ The looking Glass Self )

  • Comparisons (Social Comparison Theory)

  • Group Identity (depersonalisation)

§  Preferably distinguishing information

§  Tendency/Focus towards Social comparisons even, when objective scales are available 

§  Helps to motivate

Interpreted reactions, imagined perceptions&judgement

§  Self observation ->Self infereces  

§Only/Primarily works without prior knowledge or when ambigiuous (?)

§  Intrinsically motivated behavior ->higher diagnostic value

§  extrinsic ->not so much, can reduce (future) intrinsic motivation

·       rewards only effective if unexpected or seen as a bonus because they can prevent or even diminish existing intrinsic motivation (overjustification effect)

o   -> Selves get triggered by social situations/ relationships/ roles

§  Self- construction is on the spot and always biased (working Self concept)  <- only the currently relevant subsets are activated (Limited accessibility)

·       Especially subsets that distinct the self from others (distinctiveness theory)

o   Provides Identity

o   Organizes (self-relevant) Info

o   Directs attention

o   Partner choice

o   Self expression

o   Self Regulation

o   Selective attention filters all irrelevant information and focuses on current

o   Attention always towards selfrelevant info – even if initially ignored

a mental structure of the self concept, (Point in network, eg. Independence)

o   Self- related Information is processed more thoroughly , the self as “home-base and comparison standard”

§  People react faster (processing advantage) to keys that align with a schema in their self concept and reject non conforming keys quicker

§  They can recall past behaviors that align with their schema quicker

§  Ascematics take longer

helps to confirm /validate stable self

o   -> helps to understand self as accuratly as possible  (self assessment motive)

§  Studies wether we are equally motivated to learn about our strengths and weaknesses vary

o   If unachieved/ threatened (accomplishments are not enough to make me a cycler) to get reassurance; compensate ( the Bottle )

§  Titles/Lables

§  Talking about

§  Demonstrating behavior

§  Status objects

Relatively Stabel

Situational and based on experiences concerning selfworth contingencies (domains we feel are important and ueauseas measurement for self worth)

• Internal domains more stable & healthy than external

genuine high selfesteem

•   Interdependent Selves ( selfconcept/esteem highly linked with connectedness and social roles -> more context related but still consistent over ime

§  East Asia, (females, less strong) , collectivist cultures

§  Score lower on self- esteem (even when anonymous)

§  Equally positive self feelings and competence

•   Independent Selves (Selfconcept/esteem less linked to social roles and focused on distinctiveness

§  Western world

§  Score higher on selfesteem tests

•    People with connection to multiple cultures can switch self concepts when cued (cultural frame switching)

o   Selfesteem as indicator for social inclusion , helps to navigate social situation

o   Social inclusion-> regulates selfesteem -> therefore behavior modification to get included

o   Social status (hierarchy) -> selfesteem -> ggf modification

Accuracy of self judgement

o   Below average tend to overestimate, 3rd Quartile correct, top Quartiles tend to underestimate

General desire to enhance positive View and negate negative wiew of self

• Actor-Observer bias

• self serving informationprocessing

  • Attention & higher weight-> positive

  • bigger part in joint success

• Self-presentation

• situation selection

• attribution stiles by Weiner

  • stable, controllable, locus

§  Upward or downward social comparison

·       Determined by closeness of compared person

·       Importance of topic to self (wanna be good in things we like)

o   Ingratiation; likable

o   Self-promotion ; competent ( others sould feel respect)

o   Exemplification; as worthy(er than others), dedicaded  (others should feel ashamed/guilty)

o   Intimidation; dangerous

o   Supplication; helpless

o   Self-Handycapping; disturb own performance as justification for failure or in case of success higher valuation ( I managed despite the handicap)

§   -> Women less less likely to use effort withdrawal as handicap

o   Self transformation; testing different selves

o    Collectivists show less self- enhancement (critical bias)

§  Not on IAT (implicit self esteem) -> may because of modesty Norm

o   -> selfenhance less on individualistic traits, more on social traits (loyal, compliant)

o   Subjective selfawareness ; acting as subject

o   Objective selfawareness; thinking about oneself

§  Triggered by situations; eg. Mirror, public attention

§  Can reveal discrepancys -> inclines to self regulate (change) or withdraw from self awareness (escape)

-        self-regulation as an exhaustible muscle

o   May simply be decreasing motivation or attention

o   Even opposite affects ->initial self-regulation helps following self-regulation

o   Self-determination theory (Deci u Ryan), how draining self-regulation is depends on whether reasons are external or internal

o   Actual Self

o   Ideal Self: internal expectation of self

o   Ought Self: external expectation of self

§  Different Dircrepancys ;

·       Actual-Ideal -> Focus on reaching gains(Promotion Focus) -> happiness/ Sadness

·       Actual-Ought -> Focus on avoiding failure (Prevention Focus) -> relief/ anxious

o   Obsessing over Step by Step can disrupt proceduralized skills

o   May lead to negative emotions if Goal is not reached

§  Can be fixed with self- distancing (not stop lookin at self just take a step back)

-        process to form self through give- and take interactions with others, start each time there is a new social context or person

o   domains we feel are important and use as measurement for self worth)

§  Change of behavior

§  Different response from others

§  Personal belief in new self views