Chapter 3
The Self
1st Topic
Introduction
People have a strong concern with how they are perceived by others
Concerned with making a good impression on others.
What is the self?
Difficult to define.
Some say it is an illusion due to the fact that no specific spot in the brain seems to correspond to the
self.
it is composed of our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves (The self is composed of our self-concept
and self-awareness)
The self consists out of 3 main parts:
Self-knowledge (Self-concept): A set of beliefs about oneself.
Interpersonal Self (Public-self): An Image of the self, conveyed by others.
Agent Self (Executive-self): Part of the self, involved in control including control over other people
and self-control.
, Who makes the self?
The self: Is an interaction between inner biological processes and sociocultural network to which the person
belongs.
A true/ real self?
o How a person behaves in public (actions) vs how a person feels on the inside (thoughts)
Culture and interdependence
Selves differ across cultures.
Independent self-construal: Self-concept that emphasises what makes the self-different from others.
Inter-dependent self-construal: Self-concept that emphasises what connects the self to other people
and groups.
Social roles
Social systems create and define roles
Individuals seek and adopt them
The different roles a person plays.
o (Female, daughter, wife, mother, student, employee etc.)
Self-awareness
Attention directed at the self.
Private self-awareness: looking inward on the private aspects of the self; emotions, thoughts, desires, traits
etc.
Public Self-awareness: looking outward on the public aspects of the self; others can see and evaluate.
Self-awareness can make other people behave better by comparing themselves to standards,
morals or ideals.
People seek to escape self-awareness when it feels bad; for example when people act against their
own moral code or values.
Self-awareness is vital for self-regulation.
Self-regulation: process people use to control and change their behaviour, thoughts or feelings.
Self-awareness helps with social acceptance, perspective taking and goal reaching.
The looking-glass self
Learn about the self from others.
Imagine how you appear to others.
How others judge you.
Develop and emotional response as a result of imagining how others will judge you.
Generalised Other: A combination of other people’s views that tells you who and what you are.
The Self
1st Topic
Introduction
People have a strong concern with how they are perceived by others
Concerned with making a good impression on others.
What is the self?
Difficult to define.
Some say it is an illusion due to the fact that no specific spot in the brain seems to correspond to the
self.
it is composed of our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves (The self is composed of our self-concept
and self-awareness)
The self consists out of 3 main parts:
Self-knowledge (Self-concept): A set of beliefs about oneself.
Interpersonal Self (Public-self): An Image of the self, conveyed by others.
Agent Self (Executive-self): Part of the self, involved in control including control over other people
and self-control.
, Who makes the self?
The self: Is an interaction between inner biological processes and sociocultural network to which the person
belongs.
A true/ real self?
o How a person behaves in public (actions) vs how a person feels on the inside (thoughts)
Culture and interdependence
Selves differ across cultures.
Independent self-construal: Self-concept that emphasises what makes the self-different from others.
Inter-dependent self-construal: Self-concept that emphasises what connects the self to other people
and groups.
Social roles
Social systems create and define roles
Individuals seek and adopt them
The different roles a person plays.
o (Female, daughter, wife, mother, student, employee etc.)
Self-awareness
Attention directed at the self.
Private self-awareness: looking inward on the private aspects of the self; emotions, thoughts, desires, traits
etc.
Public Self-awareness: looking outward on the public aspects of the self; others can see and evaluate.
Self-awareness can make other people behave better by comparing themselves to standards,
morals or ideals.
People seek to escape self-awareness when it feels bad; for example when people act against their
own moral code or values.
Self-awareness is vital for self-regulation.
Self-regulation: process people use to control and change their behaviour, thoughts or feelings.
Self-awareness helps with social acceptance, perspective taking and goal reaching.
The looking-glass self
Learn about the self from others.
Imagine how you appear to others.
How others judge you.
Develop and emotional response as a result of imagining how others will judge you.
Generalised Other: A combination of other people’s views that tells you who and what you are.
