Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

Key Ideas #3 (Self Concept (Self-concept refers to the overall idea of who…

- - - - Self-serving self-presentation entails behaviors that present a person as highly skilled, willing to challenge others, and someone not to be messed with. EX: a supervisor may publicly take credit for the accomplishments of others or publicly critique an employee who failed to meet a particular standard.
        
        prosocial strategies are aimed at benefiting others, while self-serving strategies benefit the self at the expense of others.
      - Self-enhancement can be productive and achieved competently, or it can be used inappropriately. Using self-enhancement behaviors just to gain the approval of others or out of self-centeredness may lead people to communicate in ways that are perceived as phony or overbearing and end up making an unfavorable impression.
- - - - Intrinsic motivation is more substantial and long-lasting than extrinsic motivation and can lead to the development of a work ethic and sense of pride in one's abilities. Intrinsic motivation can move people to do great things over long periods of time and be happy despite the effort and sacrifices made. Extrinsic motivation dies when the reward stops.
        
        Example from the text: If you put effort into completing a short documentary for a class because you love filmmaking and editing, you have been largely motivated by intrinsic forces. If you complete the documentary because you want an “A” and know that if you fail your parents will not give you money for your spring break trip, then you are motivated by extrinsic factors. Both can effectively motivate us.
- - - - Self-discrepancy theory states that people have beliefs about and expectations for their actual and potential selves that do not always match up with what they actually experience.
        
        The actual self consists of the attributes that you or someone else believes you actually possess.
      - The ideal self consists of the attributes that you or someone else would like you to possess.
        
        The ought self consists of the attributes you or someone else believes you should possess.
      - When we compare the actual self to the expectations of ourselves and others, we can see particular patterns of emotional and behavioral effects.
        
        When our actual self doesn't match up with our own ideals of self, we are not obtaining our own desires and hopes, which can lead to feelings of disappointment, dissatisfaction, and frustration. EX: if your ideal self has no credit card debt and your actual self does, you may be frustrated with your lack of financial discipline and be motivated to stick to your budget and pay off your credit card bills.
        
        When our actual self doesn't match up with other people's ideals for us, we may not be obtaining significant others' desires and hopes, which can lead to feelings of shame, embarrassment, and concern for losing the affection or approval of others. EX: if your significant other sees you as an "A" student, you may be embarrassed to share that you got a 2.8 GPA your first year of college.
        
        When our actual self doesn't match up with what we think other people think we should obtain, we are not living up to the ought self that we think others have constructed for us. This leads to feelings of agitation, feeling threatened, and fearing potential punishment. EX: if your parents think you should follow in their footsteps and take over the family business, but your actual self wants to go into the military, then you may be unsure of what to do and fear being isolated from the family.
      - Actual vs. own ideals We have an overall feeling that we are not obtaining our desires and hopes, which leads to feelings of disappointment, dissatisfaction, and frustration.
        Actual vs. others' ideals We have an overall feeling that we are not obtaining significant others' desires and hopes for us, which leads to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
        Actual vs. other's ought We have an overall feeling that we are not meeting what others see as our duties and obligations, which leads to feelings of agitation including fear of potential punishment.
        Actual vs. own ought We have an overall feeling that we are not meeting our duties and obligations, which can lead to a feeling that we have fallen short of our own moral standards.
- - - - In terms of self-concept, media representations offer us guidance on what is acceptable or unacceptable and valued or not valued in our society. Mediated messages, in general, reinforce cultural stereotypes related to race, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, and class.
        
        Movies, magazines, and television shows are filled with beautiful people, and less attractive actors, when they are present in the media, are typically portrayed as the butt of jokes, villains, or only as background extras
        
        Now messages tell us to fear becoming old or unattractive, selling products to keep our skin tight and clear, which will in turn make us happy and popular.
      - Aside from overall attractiveness, the media also offers narrow representations of acceptable body weight.
      - As a critical thinker, it is important to question media messages and to examine who is included and who is excluded.