The Self

1
The Self

• Repeat after me I believe that I am better and
  more important than anyone else

2
What is the Self?

• How do you answer the question who am I? This
  is your self-concept.
• Self-schema Beliefs about the self that guide
  and organize the processing of self-relevant
  information.
• Self-reference effect We are the center of our
  world. We efficiently process and remember
  information related to ourselves.

3
The Self is Complex

• Although most of us have a unified sense of self,
  we still inhabit many roles that provide us with
  multiple selves.
• Further, many theorists have proposed the idea of
  future or alternative selves.
• Rogers real vs. ideal self
• Markus and Nurius possible selves
• Higgins actual, ideal, and ought

4
Where does the self come from?

• Roles we play pretense can become reality
• Social Identity particular if you are a minority
• Social Comparisons I am not on MTV Cribs!
• Successes and failures
• Judgments by other people

5
Self-Awareness

• We frequently delude ourselves
• When influences on behavior are subtle we are
  frequently incorrect concerning predictions of
  our future behavior and feelings.
• Further, we often are incorrect in our
  explanations for prior behavior!!
• Thus, research based upon self-reports needs to
  be carefully considered.

6
Dual Attitude System

• Dual Attitude System (Wilson, 2000)
• Implicit vs. explicit attitudes
• Automatic vs. controlled attitudes
• Automaticity of stereotypes
• Banaji and Greenwald research

7
Perceptions of Control

• Self-efficacy
• Perceptions of competence
• Locus of control (Rotter) internal vs. external
• Internals are more likely to quit smoking, wear
  seatbelts, use birth control, do well in school,
  and delay instant gratification in order to
  achieve long term goals.
• Learned Helplessness (Seligman)
• Perception of lack of control over repeated bad
  events

8
Self-serving biases

• The tendency to perceive ourselves favorably.
• For example, explanations for positive and
  negative events, allocations of chores in house.
• False consensus bias on matters of opinion we
  believe that many/most others share our ideas.
• False uniqueness on matters of ability we
  underestimate the commonality.
• Self-serving biases are largely adaptive although
  they may lead to unrealistic optimism (Weinstein)

9
Self-esteem

• The degree to which we are comfortable with
  ourselves.
• Low self-esteem typified by feelings of
  resentment, alienation and unhappiness. More
  like to experience insomnia and psychosomatic
  symptoms.
• Interesting chicken and egg debate does
  self-esteem lead to good performance or
  vice-versa?

10
Inferiority Complex 7 Signs

• Sensitivity to criticism
• Inappropriate responses to flattery (e.g.,
  fishing for compliments or ignoring)
• Hypercritical attitude
• Blame others for failures
• Feelings of persecution (see others as actively
  trying to ruin you).
• Negative feelings about competition
• Tendency to seclusiveness and timidity

11
Self-presentation

• Acting in ways to create a favorable impression
  of ones self.
• Self-monitoring individuals show a wide range of
  need and ability to alter their behavior to fit
  the situation.
• Low self-monitors are much more consistent in
  their behavior
• Self-handicapping (Snyder) acting in ways that
  minimize ones chance of success.
• Can include claims of shyness, illness, and
  anxiety.
• Creates an external vs. internal explanation for
  ones potential failure.