Measuring Self-Schema Humor Schema High scores = schematic on this dimension Low scores = aschematic on this dimension Results Schematic individuals Tend to behave in a humor manor / tell jokes better Judge others in terms of humor

Schema Three types of schemas “Actual” self How you see yourself

Schema Three types of schemas “Ideal” self What is your “best” self Represents the state where all the rewards you could get are attained

Schema Three types of schemas “Ought” self What self should you be Represents the state where no punishments or other bad events will occur

Rarely are either “ideal self” or “ought self” The further you are from the ideal self The further you are from the ought self Ideal Self Actual Self Ought Self Anxiety! Depression! Depression caused by disappointment Anxiety caused by fear

More selves How many “actual” selves do you have? The actual self you have in working memory depends on Who you are with What you are doing

Working Self-Concept What is your self like when you are. . . . With your family With romantic partner At work At school

Working Self-Concept Problem! Romantic Dependable No “true” self / No identity Angry Hard Worker

Working Self-Concept What “self” determines which “self” to use?

Problem What “self” determines which “self” to use?

Working Self-Concept Problem! Where does it stop? Self as student Self as psychology student Self as personality psychology student Self as personality psychology student in lecture Self as personality psychology student studying Self as personality psychology student taking test

Working Self-Concept Problem! People tend to behave the same across situations!

Schema vs. Traits Two names for the same underlying construct Schema researchers vs. Trait researchers

Remember

Schemas Can be thought of as a strategy Sequence of activities to attain a goal

Questionnaire 1. In uncertain times, I usually expect the best. 2. It’s easy for me to relax. 3. If something can go wrong for me, it will. 4. I always look on the bright side of things. 5. I’m always optimistic about my future. 6. I enjoy my friends a lot. 7. It’s important for me to keep busy. 8. I hardly ever expect things to go my way. 9. Things never work out the way I want them to. 10. I don’t get upset too easily. 11. I’m a believer in the idea that “every cloud has a silver lining”. 12. I rarely count on good happening to me.

Questionnaire 1. In uncertain times, I usually expect the best. 2. It’s easy for me to relax. 3. If something can go wrong for me, it will. 4. I always look on the bright side of things. 5. I’m always optimistic about my future. 6. I enjoy my friends a lot. 7. It’s important for me to keep busy. 8. I hardly ever expect things to go my way. 9. Things never work out the way I want them to. 10. I don’t get upset too easily. 11. I’m a believer in the idea that “every cloud has a silver lining”. 12. I rarely count on good happening to me.

Strategies Broad Strategies Exist across situations (like traits!) “Characteristic adaptations” Optimistic strategy Always assume the best will happen Pessimistic strategy Assume that the worst is likely to happen

Strategies Optimistic strategy vs. Pessimistic strategy How do you deal with a stressful test?

Strategies Optimistic strategy Expect to do the best Pessimistic strategy Expect the worst (then be happy when it doesn’t happen) “Defensive pessimists” Both work just as well! Different patch to reach the same goal

Goals

Questionnaire Think about goals that are currently important to you and the specific things you will do to attain these goals. Write down 10 of your goals.

Goals Goals influence. . . . . what you attend to what you think about what you do Idiographic Goals that are unique to an individual “Get a date with Bob” Nomothetic Goals that are common in almost everyone “Be loved by others”

Goals Hierarchal Long-Term Nomothetic Experience love Want a balance focused on goal types Find romantic partner Go to a party Buy nice clothes Short-Term Idiographic Get a job Call friends Take a shower

Goals Are there “basic” nomothetic goals? Much research in this area is trying to reduce idographic goals into broader nomothetic goals Like the Big-Five did with traits!

Video

Goals 1) Provide a “plan of action” 2) Motivate our behavior 3) Focus our attention What we attend to What we think about This can be good or bad! Flexibility and balance are key!

Putting it all together

Judgment and Development goals Judgment Goals Goals that seek to judge or validate an attribute in oneself e.g., “Make others know that I am the smartest one in the class” Development Goals Goals that attempt to improve once e.g., “Become the smartest person in the class”

Judgment and Development goals Help determine how a person will react to failure F

Judgment and Development goals Judgment Goals “Helpless pattern” pattern Will not try harder….just conclude “I can’t do it” Development Goals “Mastery-oriented” pattern Tries harder next time

Judgment and Development goals What caused these different goals to be set? A stable characteristic (i.e., a trait)

Questionnaire You have a certain amount of intelligence and you really can’t do much to change it Your intelligence is something about you that you can’t change very much You can learn new things but you can’t really change your basic intelligence

Entity and Incremental Theories Entity Theory Personal qualities are fixed an unchangeable e.g., IQ, happiness, etc. Incremental Theories Personal qualities can change over time and with experience

Mastery-Oriented Pattern Putting it together Failure Helpless Pattern Judgment Goals Entity theory Developmental Goals Mastery-Oriented Pattern Incremental theory