The Self II & Self-Regulation Lecture 4

Lecture Overview Self Part II Multiple Selves Self-esteem The Self in the Brain Self-regulation

Multiple Selves Do we have just one view of the Self? No How many Selves in the Self? Hazel Markus Independent & Interdependent Selves Possible Selves Tory Higgins Self-Discrepancy Theory

Independent & Interdependent Selves Independent Self View of Self as distinct from others Interdependent Self Self as inherently linked with others Includes other people in one’s view of self

Possible Selves Type of self-knowledge that pertains to how we think about our potential and our future Ideal selves we want to become Neutral selves we could become Selves we are afraid of becoming

Self-Discrepancy Theory Ideal Self Who you would ideally like to be Depression Actual Self Who you are now Ought Self Who other people think you should be Anxiety

Self-Esteem Self-evaluative component of the Self-Concept Global Self-Esteem State Self-Esteem Implicit Self-Esteem

Global Self-Esteem Typical level of self-esteem Some example items: On the whole, I am satisfied with myself. I feel that I am a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others. I wish I could have more respect for myself (reverse) I feel that I have a number of good qualities. All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failure (reverse).

State Self-Esteem Self-esteem that fluctuates based on situation/context Some example items: I feel good about myself right now I feel inferior to others at this moment (reverse)

Sociometer Theory The need to belong is evolutionarily adaptive and self-esteem monitors the likelihood of social exclusion Sociometer An internal monitor of social acceptance/rejection

Perceived Regard How we believe we are viewed by others Tend to underestimate how much close others like us

Perceived Regard Method: Participants bring a friend with them to the lab Participant and friend fill out a personality survey 3 times: How you view yourself (Self View) How you see your friend (Other View) How you think your friend sees you (Perceived Regard)

Perceived Regard Results: Friend’s Other View significantly more positive than Participant’s Self View Participant’s Perceived Regard significantly more positive than Self View Participant’s Perceived Regard significantly lower than Friend’s Other View

Self-Serving Biases Self-Enhancement Positive Illusions Social Comparisons

Self-Enhancement Tendency to see oneself as better-than-average on favourable characteristics Some examples: 90% of US adults classify themselves as above average drivers 1,000,000 High School seniors applying to college were asked to assess their leadership abilities: 70% said they were above average 94% of University Professors think they are better at their jobs than their colleagues

Social Comparisons Evaluation of oneself by comparing the Self to others Upward Comparison Comparison of the Self to someone who is better off than oneself Downward Comparison Comparison of the Self to someone who is worse off tan oneself

Where Does the Self Reside? The Brain has it Prefrontal Cortex Medial Prefrontal Lobes Self-referential information processing Right Prefrontal Lobe Self-recognition

Right Prefrontal Cortex & Self-Recognition

Self-Regulation

Self-Regulation: Overview Delay of Gratification Self-regulatory Strategies Cost of Self-control

Self-Regulation The strategies used to control (regulate) your behaviour Pursuit of a long-term goal Monitor your response to environmental stimuli

Delay of Gratification The ability to forgo an immediate reward for a larger, future reward

Delay of Gratification Mischel (1966), aka “The Bing Study” Method:

Delay of Gratification

Delay of Gratification Later in life, those who can delay gratification: Higher verbal and math SAT scores Parents: Better able to concentrate Better able to cope with frustration and stress Parents and teachers: Greater cognitive and social competence ratings

Self-Regulatory Strategies Self-Distancing Emotion Regulation

Self-Distancing iClicker A B How do you recall negative emotional events? Self-immersed perspective Recall event in the first-person (i.e., from the perspective of your own eyes) Self-distanced perspective Recall event in the third-person (i.e., from the perspective of an observer) iClicker A B

Self-Distancing Ayduk & Kross (2008) Method: 90 participants 1: Baseline Blood Pressure 2: Anger Manipulation 3: Regulation Strategy 4: Reactivity BP & Emotion Survey

Self-Distancing Ayduk & Kross (2008) Results: Emotional Intensity

Self-Distancing Ayduk & Kross (2008) Results: Blood Pressure

Emotion Regulation Self-regulation specific to the control of emotional experience

How Do You Control Your Emotions? Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 I control my emotions by changing the way I think about the situation I’m in. I control my emotion by not expressing them. When I want to feel less negative emotion, I change the way I’m thinking about the situation. When I am feeling negative emotions, I make sure not to express them. When I want to feel more positive emotion, I change what I’m thinking about. I keep my emotions to myself.

How Do You Control Your Emotions? Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 I control my emotions by changing the way I think about the situation I’m in. I control my emotion by not expressing them. When I want to feel less negative emotion, I change the way I’m thinking about the situation. When I am feeling negative emotions, I make sure not to express them. When I want to feel more positive emotion, I change what I’m thinking about. I keep my emotions to myself.

Iclicker: Self-Regulation A = Higher Score to Odd-Numbered Items B = Higher Score to Even-Numbered Items C = Essentially equal (within 2 points of each other)

Emotion Regulation Response-focused Antecedent-focused 3 Primary Strategies: Suppression Reappraisal Situation Selection Response-focused Antecedent-focused

Suppression Inhibiting emotion- expressive behaviour while emotionally aroused

Reappraisal Interpreting potentially emotion-relevant stimuli in unemotional terms

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Method: 120 participants 1: Physio Baseline 2: Neutral Video 3: Emotional Video 4: Regulation Strategy 5: Emotional Video

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Results: Observer-rated disgust

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Results: Blood to peripheries (Finger Pulse Amp.)

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Results: Finger temperature

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Results: Skin conductance level

Emotion Regulation Requires a Lot of Effort 3 Primary Strategies: Suppression Reappraisal Situation Selection Requires a Lot of Effort Requires Relatively Little Effort

Cost of Self-Regulation Inzlicht & Gutsell (2007) Method: 40 UTSC students 1: Apply EEG Cap 2: Regulation Strategy 3: Emotional Video 4: Attentional Control Task

Cost of Self-Regulation Inzlicht & Gutsell (2007) Results: Stroop Effect

Cost of Self-Regulation Inzlicht & Gutsell (2007) Results: Error-related Negativity

Scope of Self-Regulatory Costs Self-regulation in one domain affects ability to exert control on subsequent tasks in another domain

Scope of Self-Regulatory Costs 1: Eating Task With Differing Self-regulatory Demands Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice (1998) Methods: 2: Impossible Puzzles 3: How Long Will Participants Keep Trying? 1: Eating Task With Differing Self-regulatory Demands

Scope of Self-Regulatory Costs Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice (1998) Results:

4 Oreos Are Better than 2 Next Lecture: Stress and Health Related Websites: PSYBlog - Improve your self-control: http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/09/how-to-improve-your-self-control.php O Magazine - Self-distancing: http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200810_omag_distance