I. How does the self help us understand emotion? II. How do emotions help us understand ourselves 1.Self-perception theory III. How else do we gain self-knowledge? A. Role of Self awareness B. Role of Introspection C. Role of Others D. Role of culture

How might emotions be created? I. Schacter & Singer 2 factor theory of emotion – know Study 1.Experience arousal a.I’m feeling something – what is it? 2.Seek attribution for it, attribution determines emotion a.The context suggests that I should be experiencing _____.

A. Can misattribute arousal to wrong source 1.Bridge study a.View arousal from bridge as signal that one is attracted to a woman.

A. Reduce emotional reaction by attributing arousal to nonemotional source 1.In Schacter & Singer if told effects of drug, study did not work 1.If reminded of bridge, study should not work

I. Facial feedback hypothesis – facial expressions can trigger corresponding changes in emotional experience A. Why works 1.Physiological explanation – a)Smiling decreases brain temp = pleasant b)Frowning increases it = unpleasant 2.Self perception theory – ‘I’m smiling, I must like the cartoons”

Bem’s Self-perception theory: when own attitudes are uncertain and ambiguous, we observe out own behavior and infer our attitudes from it. 1.Behavior -> self knowledge 2.In essence, making an attribution for our own behavior

I. Time spent thinking about one’s self has increased II. Archival analysis of song lyrics A. Use of first person singular pronouns

I. Introspection: looking inward to examine your own thoughts, feelings, and motives II. Surprisingly, this process can lead us astray A. Often do not know why we do the things we do. 1.Ex 1: nylon demo 2.Ex 2: art study

Nylon demo Top 2 choices 14 picked 1 or 2 28 (twice as much) picked 3 or 4 Might conclude: 3 and 4 better than 1 and 2 Why? – when asked said silky, smooth, etc Reality – introspective reasoning was incorrect, picked not b/c more silky but b/c last.

I. Art appreciation Study A. Time1: 1.List reasons or not for picking Art or animal poster B. Time2: Do you still like poster? C. Those who listed reasons liked poster less than those who did not 1.Reason generated attitude change

I. Due to introspection sometimes leading us astray: Why? A. Often don’t know what thinking B. Only get subset of knowledge 1.based on causal theories a.could be incorrect i.Noise and film study – theory about noise incorrect C. Factual knowledge is weighted too heavily relative to affective info and misguides decisions. 1.Thus, listing pro/cons most likely to lead to incorrect affective judgments

I. Social comparison theory A. When do you compare? 1.When no objective standard, uncertain about performance B. With whom do you compare? 1.Automatically – with anyone around 2.Not all equal – pick appropriate depending on goals a.Similar to self – most informative i.Accuracy motive b.Upward comparison – compare to better person i.Improvement motive c.Downward comparison – compare to worse others i.Enhancement motive

I. Independent: defining self in terms of one’s own thoughts, feelings, and actions A. I am: honest, tall, shy II. Interdependent: defining self in terms of one’s relationships to other people; A. I am: a Smith, a sister,

Self Mom Dad Friend Independent Individualistic Interdependent Collectivistic