According to the self-discrepancy theory, individuals have ________ kind(s) of desired self(ves).

An object that can be observed and described; statements about the self (I am friendly, I have brown hair); the main topic of this chapter because it can be more easily studied; also known as the epistemological self

• What you see when you look in a mirror: you (me) your body
  

The knower, agent, or observer. Somewhat mysterious entity that does the observing and describing; experiences life and makes decisions; people differ in level of self-awareness; also known as the ontological self

• The one who evaluates what you see in the mirror
  

Our sense of our abilities and personalities; the central aspect of the self

• Organized knowledge
• Influences behavior

Ability to restrain impulses and keep focused on long-term goals

Reminds us where we fit in our relations with others (position in the family and community)

Information Processing Filter

Helps us focus on, remember, and organize the information that matters to us

The facts and impressions that we consciously know and can describe

Knowledge expressed through actions rather than words

Patterns of social skills and styles of relating to others; extraverted people are more likely to seek out social interaction and start conversations

Unconscious self-knowledge; we are not aware of these characteristics, but they influence our behavior

All of your conscious knowledge or opinions about your own personality traits

• includes an overall opinion and a more detailed opinion about your traits and abilities
  

Your overall opinion about whether you are good or bad, worthy or unworthy, or somewhere in between

One’s beliefs about the degree to which one will be able to accomplish a goal, if one tries

All of one’s ideas about the self, organized into a coherent system

• Declarative self resides here
• Can be assessed w/ S + B data
• Not dependent on memory - we know who we are with or without them

The enhancement of long-term memory that comes from thinking of how information relates to the self

• Explains why most meaningful memories stay with us the longest

The images we have, or can construct, of the other possible ways we might be

• Possible future selves may affect goals you set

• Aspirations/hopes (Ideals) - what you could be at best - Depressed - Reward based
• Obligations/duties (Ought) - what you should be - Anxious - Punishment based
• Fears (Dreads)

People have two kinds of desired selves, and the difference between these and one’s actual self determines how people feel about life

A Hallmark of Mental Health

Accurate Self- Knowledge

People who are healthy, secure, and wise enough to see the world as it is tend to see themselves more accurately too

• Gaining accurate self-knowledge; RAM - Relevance, Availability, Detection, Utilization

How to Improve Self-Knowledge

• Observe your own behavior
• Seek feedback
• Introspection and evaluation of the self

Typically we are not aware/conscious of all of the self-aspects that affect our behavior; These can be especially hard to change

Depends on where you are and who you are with; means the experience of the self may change across situations!

The view that the self is continuously changing; strongly influenced by who a person is with.

• Complex, fully elaborated and well-integrated psychological world
  
• Positive, volitional, and adaptive self-concept
• Regulated emotional life

Characteristics of Maturity; Allport

1. Specific, enduring extensions of self
2. Techniques for warm relating to others
3. Emotional security/self acceptance
4. Habits of realistic perceptions
5. Problem-centeredness; Problem solving skills
6. Self-objectification; Insight, humility
7. Unifying philosophy of life

Important, broad perspective on adaptive functioning of the self that is relevant to ideas of personality disorders

3 Dimensions Related to the self

1. Identity
2. Evaluation (self-concept)
3. Agency (self-directedness)

3 Interpersonal Aspects of Self

• Empathy
• Intimacy
• Mature and useful representations

The subjective + selective construction of ones life story

• Reconstructed past episodes
• Perceived present
• Imagined future

Permanent memory storage

• Best way to get this is to really think about it (Elaboration)

Based on past experiences that direct how we relate with each important person in our lives

• Patterns of how you interact with people

Implicit Association Test (IAT)

• Used to test relational and implicit selves that can be unconscious
• Measures reaction time

P = Can only be changed through practice and feedback D = Can be taught by reading or listening

What is a key difference between the declarative self and the procedural self quizlet?

What is a key difference between the ideal self and the ought self?

What emotion arises from discrepancies between ideal and actual selves?

What is common criticism of the working self