The self

History of self researchFestinger’s social comparison theory (1957)Mini-theory criticismMore recent: cultural, TMT

What is a self?Who am I? 20 statementsBaumeister definition

Reflexive consciousnessInterpersonal relationsMaking choices and exerting control

ComponentsIndividualRelationalCollective

ApproachesCognitiveMotivationalEmotional

How do we know our “self”?

Self-awareness theory (Duval & Wicklund, 1972)

Escape from self (Baumeister, 1991)Self-concept vs. self-schema

Self-reference effectSelf-perception theory (Bem , 1965)

Overjustification effectSelf-enhancement vs. self-verificationSelf-serving biases (incl. self-deception)Cultural differences

What is self esteem?What is it good for?Sociometer theory (Leary, 1995)Is high SE always good?

NarcissismNarcissistic Personality Inventory

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/narcissistic.htmAuthority, self-sufficiency, superiority, exhibitionism,

exploitativeness, vanity, entitlement3 parts (Campbell & Foster, 2007)

Positive selfRelative lack of interest in types of interpersonal relsSelf-regulatory strategies

2 parts (Miller & Campbell, 2008)GrandioseVulnerable

vs. NPD

Watts et al., 2015How did they assess narcissism?Presidential performance? What factors did they control for?What were the results? What about covariates? Table 4How does the N of Presidents compare to general

public? Why would GN of Presidents have increased over time? Why would GN be good? Would these results be similar in more collectivistic

cultures?

More self researchSelf-presentation

Self-handicappingSelf evaluation maintenance theory (Tesser,

1988)Reflect vs. compareCloseness, relevance, performance

Self-regulation (actual, ought, and ideal selves)Promotion vs. prevention focus –regulatory focus

theory (Higgins, 1997)Glucose and willpowerSelf-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1995)

What are fundamental needs? Self-determination theory Sociometer theoryTMTDeci & RyanFiskeOther approaches? Is desire for status a fundamental need?

Criteria for fundamental needs (Anderson et al., 2015)Reaching goals related to the need affects

well-being Must relate to many different behaviorsIt’s a goal in and of itselfObserved across cultures, ages, genders,

personalities, etc.

Status3 components:

Respect and admirationVoluntary deferencePerceived instrumental social value

Based on social exchangePerceived valuePerceived willingness to help

ContextualRelation to power, belonging, dominance,

SES

Is status a fundamental motive? In what ways and with whom do you have

status/not? Does it matter in what domain/group?Does status affect self-esteem? (relation to

sociometer, TMT)Are perceptions of status = status? How do we monitor status? Is status a motive in and of itself?Is self-monitoring = status? (p. 14)Is avoiding conformity about status? Impression

management?

Do we seek out groups where we are going to be higher status?

Do we just want more than others (self-categorization theory)?

Do we always want high status (system justification theory)?

Do people consistently respond with anger to disrespect?

What behaviors do we do to enhance status? How is need for status different from need for self-

esteem?Does everyone have a need for status?

Terror management theorywww.flightfromdeath.comExistential psychodynamic theory

(Greenberg, Pyszczynski, & Solomon, 1986)Evolutionary theoryBecker’s ideas

Humans unique in knowledge of own deathBuffered by CWV and SE. Examples? MS leads to proximal defenses to delay to

distal defensesSubliminal or DTA can go directly to distal

TMT research (Pyszczynski et al., 2015)Basic tenets?

Mortality salience hypothesisAnxiety buffering hypothesisDTA hypothesis

How does this integrate with status? Self-esteem? MS manipulations/controls and measures of DTAWhat is role of the delay? Proximal vs. distal effectsReplication of effects (milder works better)How long would these effects last? Why doesn’t thinking about death lead to negative

affect? How common is MS?

Research on TMTHow does this system develop?How does MS relate to bodily functions?

Why?How does it relate to the evolution of culture? To psychological disorders?

Critiques of TMTNot falsifiableHaven’t ruled out alternativesDoesn’t fit with evolutionary psychDoesn’t apply as well in other culturesMaybe it’s really

MeaningControlBelongingUncertaintyThreat

Ideas for further researchOther threatsOther ways of thinking about deathDeterminations of which structure people

choose?Not dying? Nonanxiety-related disordersCultural differences

How would TMT explainPhobiasDisgust with body functionsPeople doing unhealthy things to fit in (smoking)Why women, not men, wear makeupCreativityIncreases in birth rates after warsBush’s positivity ratings after 9/11Judgments of those who do immoral things even

though they don’t affect us (e.g., cheating on spouse)

Opposition to gay marriage

Next weekCultural differences, emotion, morality2 chapters (emotion, cultural)2 Science articlesAESP available through google scholarPB on disgust