Psy 352AB Social Psychology

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Psy 352A/BSocial Psychology
.the self.(cont.d.)
principles TO live by!!
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what motivates the self into action?

• Self-concept --
• Self-esteem --

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aspects of the self
tear out a sheet of paper
do not put your name on the paper
Describe
your ought self 10 characteristics that
describe how you think you ought to be (to
meet your obligations and responsibilities)
your ideal self 10 characteristics that you
would ideally like to possess
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role of self in action (in general)

• Self-concept many self representations
• Possible selves
• the content of ones self-concept can lead to
  specific goal-directed behaviors
• different theories of how it works

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role of self in action (in general)

• Self-concept many self representations
• Possible selves
• specific
• reflecting specific
• the content of ones self-concept can lead to
  specific goal-directed behaviors
• different theories of how it works

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theory of self-motivated behavior

• Self-discrepancy theory
• affective states that motivate behavior due to
• differences between current and possible selves
  (Higgins, 1987, 1996)
• ideal selves -- what you want to be
• discrepancy leads to depression, anger
• people focus on reaching positive goals
• ought selves -- what you should be
• discrepancy leads to anxiety, guilt
• people focus on avoiding negative occurrences

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theory of self-motivated behavior
Self-discrepancy theory
ACTUAL Self
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theory of self-motivated behavior
Carver, Lawrence, Scheier, 1999 similar idea
to Self-Discrepancy Theory somewhat analogous
to magnets

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A Purgatory Poll (1997)How likely are these
people to enter Heaven?

• Mother Teresa
• Princess Diana
• Oprah Winfrey
• Bill Clinton
• Michael Jordan
• Dennis Rodman
• O.J. Simpson
• Yourself

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Self-serving Biases

• Self-serving bias --
• seen (to an extent)
• seen in
• Seen when judgments are more
• Seen more when judgments are
• Seen more when topic is

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Faces of self-serving bias

• Social comparison
• Unrealistic optimism --
• Affirmation of rightness/goodness
• false-consensus --
• false-uniqueness --
• Self-serving attributions --

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Attributing the world our way

• 3 demonstrations of self-serving attributions
• Self-enhancing --
• Self-effacing
• Counter-defensive --

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Why do we have Self-serving biases?

• See ourselves positively to
• Avoid
• Avoid
• Motivates toward
• Maintain
• But could lead to

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Self-in-Action relating to others

• Self-presentation --
• Impression management
• Refers to

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WHY SELF-PRESENT?

• To
• Smooth
• To manage

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Instances of Self-presentation

• Goal
• Why
• How

• to belong (gain goods/status)
• to manage self-image

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Instances of Self-presentation

• Goal
• Why
• How

• to gain goods/status
• to attract others (form ties/gain mates)

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Instances of Self-presentation

• Goal
• Why
• How

• to gain goods/status
• to manage self-image
• to belong to groups

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When you screw it up
good self-presentation bad impression
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After your failure

• Account giving
• Identity repair