Chapter 3 The Self and Self Presentation

Chapter 3: The Self and Self Presentation

• Email The Self What is the Self? http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=z. Gv 1 Nay 2 z-U

Who Am I? § Our answers reflect: – Self-schema – Self-concept – Thoughts about ourselves 3

The Nature & Origin of Self § Symbolic Interaction Theory – Self is active – Self is passive § William I. James & George H. Mead: – Active aspect of the self is the I. – Object of self-action is the me. 4

Steps in the Origin of Self 1. Self-Differentiation 2. Role Taking 5

Self-Differentiation § Distinguish our faces and bodies from others –Not born with this ability –Acquire very quickly • 18 to 24 months • Baby in bath – http: //vimeo. com/2654937 6

Role Taking § Imagine self from position of another person § View self and situation from that person’s perspective 7

The Looking Glass Self • Charles Horton Cooley -Significant others - As child interacts with others, the number of significant others increases 8

Stages in the Development of Self § Mead (1934) identified two sequential stages 1. Play Stage 2. Game Stage 9

Stages in Developing the Self § #1 Play Stage–Young children imitate other people –Father –Mail carrier –Doctor… 10

#1 Play Stage 11

Stages in Developing the Self § #2 Game Stage– – Complex activities – Playing house or school – Team sports –Imagine viewpoints of several others at the same time 12

#2 Game Stage 13

The Game Stage: Baseball 14

The Generalized Other - View of attitudes & expectations held by members of organized groups § We imagine what a group expects of us – Taking role of generalized other 15

The Self We Know 1. Specific identities 2. Reactions of others 3. Varies with situation Example: § Communicate over internet - Create identity - May have multiple identities § 16

Identities § Meanings attached to self –Linked to social roles –Membership in groups 17

Role Identities § Self in specific roles § Develop a different view of who we are –an identity 18

Adoption of a Social Identity § Involves socialization into the group of which the role is a part –Agents of socialization –Anticipatory socialization 19

Social Identities in Groups 20

Situated Self § Self-concepts distinctive to the setting and § Relevant to activities 21

Situated Self 22

Identities: The Self We Enact § Enact behaviors that § Evoke responses to § Confirm particular identities 23

Hierarchy of Identities § Importance of an identity varies from situation to situation – Organize identities into a hierarchy – According to their salience § Importance of identity (salience) – More situations as opportunities to enact identity 24

Effects of Self-awareness § § http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v. A 2 c. DV 4 K 9 jg Focusing on our own: –Appearance –Actions –Thoughts 25

Effects of Self-awareness § Things that increase selfawareness –Mirrors –Pictures –Voice recording –Video clip 26

Assessing Self-Esteem § Overall self-esteem –All identities § Role Specific self-esteem –Individual identities 27

Self-esteem 28

Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale 29

Sources of Self-Esteem § Three sources: 1. Family Experiences: – – Acceptance Discipline 2. Performance Feedback: – Effectiveness of our actions 3. Social Comparison: – Successes and failures with those of others 30

Self Presentation Varies situation to situation: § (Examples) § – To parents, as good son or daughter – To friends, as “cool“ and “with it” – At a bar, as old enough to be served drinks 31

Self-Disclosure § Sharing our identity (s) with another Usually bilateral or reciprocal § The “norm of reciprocity” § – Sharing too much intimate information often weakens the relationship – May lead to disliking 32

Tactical Impression Management Conscious, goal-directed activity to control information § To influence impressions § § Expression of emotions may be appropriate or inappropriate. – For example: – Service workers must conceal anger or fear – Surgeon expressing fear before operating on your child 33

Managing Appearances § Impression an individual makes depends not only on clothes, makeup, and grooming § But also on props in the environment 34

Managing Appearances Irving Goffman draws parallel between § theater’s front and back stages & the § regions we use in managing appearances. § – Front Region – – Accessible to outsiders – Normative expectations – Back Region – – Settings inaccessible to outsiders where – one violates front region performances. 35

Ineffective Self-Presentations & Spoiled Identities § Some recover when their identity is challenged § Others have a permanently spoiled identity – Ex President Richard Nixon – Designer Martha Stewart 36

Cooling-Out and Saving Face § Gently persuading a person whose performance is unsuitable to accept a less desirable, though still reasonable, alternative identity. – Example: Switching from pre-med to psychology Often causes identity degradation § Offender becomes a non-person; § One who can not be trusted to perform in the original role § 37