Chapter 2

Self in Interpersonal Communication

Self-Concept = how you view yourself or your self image

How the self-concept is developed:

Reflected Appraisal- we match the way we believe others see us.

Communication and the Self-Concept

• Significant Others-messages from people we value impact our self-concept

• Social Comparison-evaluating ourselves in terms of how we compare with others (Reference groups)

Characteristics of the self-concept

• The self-concept is subjective

• Distorted feedback- negative

feedback

• Obsolete information-Past failures

effect present circumstances

Cont’d.

• Self Verification-Seeking

Confirmation

• Perfection

• Social Expectations

The Self Concept…• Resists Change

– Cognitive Conservatism-to seek and attend to information that conforms to an existing self concept. (obsolete information)

• Influences Identity– Culture– Ethnicity– Sex & Gender

A stable set of perceptions that you hold of yourself

• Others’ Images of You• Social Comparisons• Cultural Teachings• Your Own Interpretations &

Experiences

Self-Esteem = own evaluation of worth A. Attack Your Self-

Destructive Beliefs

B. Engage in Self-Affirmation

C. Seek Out Nourishing People

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

• Self-fulfilling prophecy- occurs when a persons expectations of an event make the event more likely to occur

• Self-imposed

• Imposed by others

Presenting the Self• Identity Management- the communication

strategies that people use to influence how other view them.

• Perceived self- the person you believe yourself to be in moments of honest reflection

• Presenting self-the way you want others to view you

• Ideal self- the person you desire to be

Identity Management• We Strive to construct multiple identities

• Identity Management is Collaborative

• Can be deliberate or unconscious

• Varies by situation

• People differ in their degree of identity

management