PYC3701
CHAPTER 4 – THE SELF
Key Concepts Definitions Pg.
Self-verification The processes we use to lead others to 128
perspective agree with our own self-views
Self-deprecating Imply that we aren’t as good as the other 129
person, by communicating admiration or by
simply lowering an audience’s expectations
of our abilities
Introspection Privately thinking about factors that made us 130
who we are
Intragroup comparison Involving comparisons with other individuals 134
who share our group membership
Intergroup comparison Contrasts between groups 134
Role models Other people we wish to imitate or be like 141
Ego depletion The diminished capacity to exert subsequent 142
self-control after previously doing so
Downward social Where your own performance is compared 144
comparison with someone who is less capable than
yourself
Social comparison theory Suggests that we compare ourselves to 144
others because for many domains and
attributes
Above average effect We think we are better than the average 146
person on almost every dimension
imaginable
Self-esteem The overall attitude people hold toward 147
themselves
Self-efficacy The sense that one is capable of getting 150
things done
Social support Both from those at home and positive 150
interactions with peers
Stereotype threat Particular kind of social identity threat 157
, Self-Presentation: Managing the Self in Different Social Contexts
Self-Other Accuracy in Predicting Our Behaviour:
Having access to our intentions, which observers don’t have, is one reason
why we are sometimes inaccurate about ourselves
Part of the problem in determining who is more accurate – ourselves or others
who are close to us – has been due to people reporting both their own
perceptions and behaviours
o Behavioural self-reports are not objective criterion
When people’s own self-perceptions were correlated with those of their peers’
perceptions of them, little correspondence was found
Self-Presentation Tactics:
People try to ensure that others form impressions of them based on their most
favourable self-aspects – engage in self-promotion
Self-verification perspective – the processes we use to lead others to agree
with our own self-views
o Suggests that negotiation occurred in attempts to get others to agree
with our self-claims
o We still wish to have others see us as we see ourselves even if it
means receiving info that is negative about ourselves
Can also choose to create a favourable self-presentation by conveying our
positive regard for others
o We like to feel that others respect us, and we really like those who
convey this to us
When we want to make a good impression on others, it can be useful to
employ ingratiation tactics
Can be self-deprecating
Not always completely honest
Self-Knowledge: Determining Who We Are
Introspection – definition in table
Introspection is not always the most useful way to learn about self
o We don’t always know or have conscious access to the reasons for our
actions
o Affective forecasting may be wrong
The Self from the Observer’s Standpoint
Sometimes other people are more accurate in predicting our behaviour than
we are
One way we can attempt to learn about ourselves is by taking an “observer”
perspective on own past
Observers are less likely to be swayed by knowing our intentions and so forth,
they could potentially have greater insight into when we will behave as we
have done in the past
Actors – we direct our attention outwardly and tend to attribute behaviour
more to situational causes
CHAPTER 4 – THE SELF
Key Concepts Definitions Pg.
Self-verification The processes we use to lead others to 128
perspective agree with our own self-views
Self-deprecating Imply that we aren’t as good as the other 129
person, by communicating admiration or by
simply lowering an audience’s expectations
of our abilities
Introspection Privately thinking about factors that made us 130
who we are
Intragroup comparison Involving comparisons with other individuals 134
who share our group membership
Intergroup comparison Contrasts between groups 134
Role models Other people we wish to imitate or be like 141
Ego depletion The diminished capacity to exert subsequent 142
self-control after previously doing so
Downward social Where your own performance is compared 144
comparison with someone who is less capable than
yourself
Social comparison theory Suggests that we compare ourselves to 144
others because for many domains and
attributes
Above average effect We think we are better than the average 146
person on almost every dimension
imaginable
Self-esteem The overall attitude people hold toward 147
themselves
Self-efficacy The sense that one is capable of getting 150
things done
Social support Both from those at home and positive 150
interactions with peers
Stereotype threat Particular kind of social identity threat 157
, Self-Presentation: Managing the Self in Different Social Contexts
Self-Other Accuracy in Predicting Our Behaviour:
Having access to our intentions, which observers don’t have, is one reason
why we are sometimes inaccurate about ourselves
Part of the problem in determining who is more accurate – ourselves or others
who are close to us – has been due to people reporting both their own
perceptions and behaviours
o Behavioural self-reports are not objective criterion
When people’s own self-perceptions were correlated with those of their peers’
perceptions of them, little correspondence was found
Self-Presentation Tactics:
People try to ensure that others form impressions of them based on their most
favourable self-aspects – engage in self-promotion
Self-verification perspective – the processes we use to lead others to agree
with our own self-views
o Suggests that negotiation occurred in attempts to get others to agree
with our self-claims
o We still wish to have others see us as we see ourselves even if it
means receiving info that is negative about ourselves
Can also choose to create a favourable self-presentation by conveying our
positive regard for others
o We like to feel that others respect us, and we really like those who
convey this to us
When we want to make a good impression on others, it can be useful to
employ ingratiation tactics
Can be self-deprecating
Not always completely honest
Self-Knowledge: Determining Who We Are
Introspection – definition in table
Introspection is not always the most useful way to learn about self
o We don’t always know or have conscious access to the reasons for our
actions
o Affective forecasting may be wrong
The Self from the Observer’s Standpoint
Sometimes other people are more accurate in predicting our behaviour than
we are
One way we can attempt to learn about ourselves is by taking an “observer”
perspective on own past
Observers are less likely to be swayed by knowing our intentions and so forth,
they could potentially have greater insight into when we will behave as we
have done in the past
Actors – we direct our attention outwardly and tend to attribute behaviour
more to situational causes
