Chapter 12 – Social Cognition

Self-Concept

• Distinguish self from world

- 1-2 months

• Self-recognition & knowledge

- 18-24 months

- refer to selves

• Cooley (1908)

- 4th mo. — pride in control

- 19th mo. — understands “I” and “you”

- 22nd mo. — imitates “I,” “me,” but no

understanding

Refers to self as “you” and “she”

- < 33rd mo. — correct use of “I,” “me,”& “mine”

• Self-referent words learned incorrectly, via imitation

• Gradual shift to correct terms with growing sense of self

Cooley’s theory of self

• “Looking glass self”

• Self-awareness depends on adopting perspective of others

• “Reflected appraisals”

Self-recognition

• Self as object of thoughts

• Before ability to describe & evaluate self

• Self-description & evaluation underlie moral development

Self-descriptions

• With maturity: complex, subtle, abstract, contradictory

With age, LESS likely to mention• Actions• Likes/dislikes• Physical characteristics• Body image• Sex• Possessions• Citizenship/territory

With age, MORE likely to mention

• Age category

• Role

• Interpersonal style

• Psychological style

• Ideology & personal beliefs

Self-evaluation (after description)

• Toddlers’ approval-seeking

- 13- to 39-month-olds

- observed toy demonstration & played with toy

Results:- 21+ mos, looked at experimenter after accomplishment- 21+ months, sought mothers’ recognition

• Older toddlers seeking feedback regarding success

• Social Referencing

Reactions to success/failure

• Aged 2-5

• Success/failure rigged

Results:

• All sought attention for success

• All avoided eye contact if failure

• Younger children slightly less affected by failure

Stages

1.< 22 months cannot anticipate others’ reactions

- can’t think about self having accomplished something

2.Then anticipate adult reactions

- seek approval for success

- avoid reaction to failure

3.Gradually internalize adults’ reactions & evaluate own performance

Self-esteem (after evaluation)

• Harter (1987)

• Components of self-esteem

In/competence in specific areas

• Cognition

• Social

• Athletics

• Behavior

• Appearance

• Global self-worth

Developmental differences:

• At 4-7 rate selves unrealistically high

• Age 7-8 ratings are realistic & variable

Global self-worth

• Not a sum of others

• Based on

a) discrepancy between self-perception &perception of what one SHOULD be

b) perception of others’ evaluations

Importance of internalized standards

• Self-esteem = meeting own (& others’) standards

To have positive self-worth

• Perform well

• Think the ability is important

• Live up to own standards

• Perceive others evaluate as competent

For child with low self-worth

• Respond to successes

• Provide success experiences

• Encourage after failure

• Give opportunities to improve skills in areas important to the child

Identity

Erikson’s Lifespan Development

• 8 Stages: infancy to old age

• Stages = specific crisis to resolve

• If not, maybe psychological problems

Adolescent stage = Identity vs. role confusion

• Crisis = define self

• Form values via:

Experimentation

Belongingness to group

Self-reflection

Outcomes

1.Successful coping with crisis

- new sense of self

- move to next stage

2.Or, confused

- withdraw

- lose identity in the crowd

Young Adult Stage

= Intimacy vs. Isolation

• Lasting romantic attachment

• Interdependence vs. isolation vs. dependence

Current Views of Identity

• Lifelong process

- begins with infant attachment

- emergence of independence

- continually revised throughout life

• Adolescence

- particularly important

(physical, social, cognitive changes)

• Identity Formation = commitment to:

- vocation

- sexual orientation

- ideological position

- pieces develop gradually

- ultimately form whole identity

Marcia’ 4 Identity Statuses

• Identity achievement

- have experimented

- have formed identity

- made commitment to beliefs

Search: Yes Commitment: Yes

• Moratorium

- currently in crisis

- no commitment made

Search: Yes Commitment: No

• Foreclosure

- no crisis experienced

- commitment already made

- based on others’ beliefs

Search: No Commitment: Yes

• Identity diffusion

- no crisis yet

- no commitment yet

Search: No Commitment: No

12

Identity 68%Diffusion

Foreclosure 32%

Moratorium ----

Identity ----

Achievement

12 18

Identity 68% 50%Diffusion

Foreclosure 32% 25%

Moratorium ---- 4%

Identity ---- 20%

Achievement

12 18 24

Identity 68% 50% 25%Diffusion

Foreclosure 32% 25% 9%

Moratorium ---- 4% 14%

Identity ---- 20% 60%Achievement

Cultural Identity: Minority cultures:

• Maintain own identity

• Blend into dominant culture

• Adolescence: confront own ethnicity& majority view

• Lack of successful role models

=> identify with majority

• But better adjustment if identify with own ethnic culture