Class notes
Psy 103 The Self Lecture Notes
- Course
- PSY 103
- Institution
- University Of Rhode Island
This is a comprehensive and detailed note the self for Psy 103. *Essential Study Material!!
[Show more]
Content preview
Chapter 6: The SelfSelf-Concept
● The nature of self-concept
○ Self-concept
■ An organized collection of beliefs about the self
○ These beliefs are also called self-schemas and include personality traits, abilities,
physical features, values, goals, and social roles
○ Possible selves
■ Refers to one’s conceptions about the kind of person one might become
in the future
○ Individuals have the following self-perceptions:
■ An actual self - qualities people think they actually possess
■ An ideals self - qualities people would like to have
■ An ought self - qualities people think they should possess
● Self-discrepancies
○ Mismatches between the actual, ideal, and/or ought selves
○ These can cause various effects:
■ When the “actual self” falls short of the “ideal self,” we feel dejected and
sad
■ When the “actual self” falls short of the “ought self,” we feel irritable and
guilty
○ People cope with self-discrepancies by:
■ Changing their behavior to bring it more in line with the ideal, or ought
selves
■ Blunting self-awareness by
● Avoiding situations that increase self-awareness, or
● By using alcohol
○
● Factors shaping self-concept
○ Festinger’s (1954) social comparison theory states that we compare ourselves
with others in order to assess and/or improve our abilities
○ A reference group is “a set of people who are used as a gauge in making social
comparisons”
■ If we want to improve, we choose reference groups of superior quality,
“upward social comparison,” but
■ If we want to bolster self-esteem, we choose inferior groups, “downward
social comparison”
, ○ Observations of our own behavior are subjective and distorted in a positive
direction
○ Feedback from others is important in balancing our own observations
■ Early in life, parents and family members are primary influences
■ As children age, teachers, coaches, and peers become progressively
more important
■ Later in life, close friends and marriage partners play dominant roles
○ Social context also affects our self-concept
■ We may view ourselves more, or less, critically, depending on the
situation
○ Cultural values and self-concept
■ In cultures that value individualism - “putting personal goals ahead of
group goals” - identity is defined more in terms of personal attributes
■ In cultures that value collectivism - “putting group goals ahead of personal
goals” - identity is defined more in terms of the groups one belongs to
Self-Esteem
● Self-esteem refers to one’s overall assessment of one’s worth as a person
● It is a global evaluation of many aspects of the self
● Self esteem can be construed two ways:
○ Trait self-esteem, or an enduring sense of confidence in a person
○ State self-esteem, or dynamic feelings about the self that change with the
situation
●
● The importance of self-esteem
○ Self-esteem and adjustment
■ Self-esteem is strongly and consistently connected to happiness
■ People with high self-esteem also feel more likeable and attractive, have
better relationships, and make better impressions on others
■ People with high self-esteem persist longer in the face of failure and cope
better with setbacks
■ Self-esteem has not been linked to achievement, however
○ High self-esteem versus narcissism
■ Feeling too good about oneself is not desirable
■ Narcissism - “the tendency to regard oneself as grandiosely self-
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anyiamgeorge19. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
67096 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now