PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach The Power of the Self Theme and Variation on Topic 10. Dynamics of Self-Control This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any image; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach The Lecture and the Book… Chapter 10: Dynamics of Self-Control 1.What Are Dynamics of Self-Control? 2.How Does Self-Control Occur? 3.Is Self-Control Always Conscious? 4.How Do We Deal with the Pain of Falling Short? 5.How is Self-Control (or its Absence) Expressed? Lecture 10: The Power of Self 1.The Totalitarian Ego 2.Self-Control 3.Conscious vs. Unconscious Control 4.Falling short (Defense)

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach The Egotistical Ego Theory by Anthony Greenwald The ego is like a dictator, and behaves in three ways similar to dictators –Egocentrism –Beneffectance –Conservatism

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach The Real, Total, College Campus Students: Dormitories Dining halls Sports facilities Professors: Colleagues offices Grants offices Personnel offices Maintenance People: Pool Heating Plant Roofs Egocentrism: The person is the center of all he/she learns. Some part is unique. Example: Different people learn about different parts of campus.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach The Egotistical Ego Egocentrism Ultimately, your mental model is unique: –A year in Stoke Hall –Now live in the Gables –Spend a lot of time in Paul Arts –My locker at the field house –Breaking New Grounds –Seeing my friend in Portsmouth

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach The Egotistical Ego Beneffectance A person takes responsibility for: – desired outcomes – not undesired, outcomes Ex. Accident reports to insurance companies –As I approached the intersection, a sign suddenly appeared in a place where a stop sign had never appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid an accident. –A telephone pole was approaching. I was attempting to swerve out of its way when it struck my front end.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach The Egotistical Ego Confirmation Bias Once one makes up ones mind, one looks for confirming rather than disconfirming evidence.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Feedback Loops Feedback loops come in different forms The concept originated with cybernetics and the work of Norbert Weiner We are mostly interested in a negative feedback loop –Negative because it eliminates (negates) discrepancies –The loop involves four parts (shown to right). 2. Feedback 3. Compare Actions To Standard 4. Potential Modification of Action 1. Action

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Feedback Loops Substantial Discrepancy Goal: Present self in appealing light

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Feedback Loops Little Discrepancy Goal: Present self in appealing light

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Dynamics of the Self Focus on Non-Conscious Control This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any image; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Standard Control and Dissociation Mental Control: Standard Condition (No Dissociation) Activity is Guided Consciously Ex. Driving a car; watching the road Standard Mental Control: –Consciousness and action are joined Dissociation: The splitting of conscious cognitive activity –Originally thought due to trauma and repression Neo-Dissociationism (Ernest Hilgard) –Cognitive barriers can be established so as to isolate or modularize some part of the mind

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Mental Dissociation Example: –Highway Hypnosis (to right) –When you are thinking, who is driving? Second Example: –Talking to yourself –When you are talking…who is listening? Mental Control: Dissociative Condition Consciousness of Activity Ex. Thinking about a Relationship. Non-Conscious Guiding of Activity Ex: Driving

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach The Classic Suggestion Effect… In the classic suggestion effect: – the psychologists (or others) instructions are for the participant to imagine a movement or idea. –Some people will then make the movement or imagine the idea vividly –The experience may be felt as outside of their control Although the 'classic suggestion effect' is not hypnosis, it predicts ability at hypnosis.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Characteristics of Hypnotic Trance 1.Suppression of Planning –Loss of initiative –Lack of desire to carry out action –Hilgard Party study

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Characteristics of Hypnotic Trance 2.Redistribution of Attention –Attention is sluggish, unfocussed –Selective inattention –Ex. (from James) Make a stroke on paper or blackboard, and tell the subject it is not there,and he will see nothing but the clean paper or the board. Next, he not looking, surround the original stroke with other strokes exactly like it and ask him what he sees. He will point out one by one all the new strokes and omit the original one every time…Obviously, then, he is not blind to the kind of stroke in the least. He is blind only to one particular stroke…and he must distinguish it with great accuracy…in order to remain blind to it…

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Characteristics of Hypnotic Trance 3.Increased Availability of Emotional and Visual Memories –Hypnotic mood inductions –Peter Barach depth experiment

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Characteristics of Hypnotic Trance 4.Reduction in Reality Testing and Tolerance for Reality Distortion –Falsified personal memories Ex. Can suggest memories which simply arent true –Trance Logic: Problem solving within the logic of the trance Ex. …determining which person is real and which is hallucinated…

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Characteristics of Hypnotic Trance 5.Increased Suggestibility 6.Enhanced Role Behavior –Ex. On a hypnotically suggested magic carpet ride, a participant may complain that she forgot her sweater and is cold 7.Amnesia for hypnosis –Uncertain characteristic: Too many motives

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Post-Hypnotic Suggestions Participant instructed to perform an act (e.g., cross the room and open an umbrella) at a cue… Instructed to forget the hypnotic instruction after awakening from hypnosis Asked why they did it: Incorrectly explained the reason as wanting to test the umbrella upon seeing the cloudy day through the window.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Dynamics of the Self Focus on Mental Defense This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any image; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Defense Mechanisms Deal with the pain of falling short Defense mechanisms protect the conscious executive from mental pain, e.g., humiliation, shame, fear… –Original descriptions: Sigmund Freud –Systematized by: Anna Freud

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Suppression Suppression means consciously not thinking about something Example: Not thinking about an upcoming exam Consciousness Something safe to think about Something unsafe or painful to think about Self command: Dont think about it!

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Repression Repression involves the forgetting (forcing out of consciousness) of material that is threatening or unpleasant. Example: Forgetting a worrisome dental appointment. Consciousness Something safe to think about Something unsafe or painful to think about Forgotten matter

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Suppression… and…Repression Consciousness Something safe to think about Something unsafe or painful to think about Consciousness Something safe to think about Something unsafe or painful to think about Dont think about it Forgotten matter self command

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Suppression: Research Example Experimental Studies by Dan Wegner: –Instructions: In a moment I want you to not think of something for three minutes (I will tell you what it is) –If you happen to think of it, make a mark on a page and then continue not to think of it. –Ready? Dont think about…a white bear Findings: –People can suppress ideas –The ability to do so varies considerably –People who are successful suppressing may find, later, that they cant stop thinking about what they first pushed away from consciousness

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Repression: Research Example Experimental Condition Control (Neutral) Condition Experimental (Threat) Condition Participants were played sentences below their threshhold of hearing (masked by white noise) Carson City is the capitol of Nevada You father will no longer support you Outcome (indicating unconscious defense) White noise is judged moderate in this condition White noise is judged far louder in this condition

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Denial The statement that something that is true is false (or something that is false is true) –Example: Cigarettes dont cause cancer This is the least mature of all defenses. It is common, and normal, among children. –Example: I didnt take those cookies from the cookie jar.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Projection Seeing a problem that one has oneself, in someone else. Example: Im not angry, youre angry.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Rationalization Definition: Rationalization involves coming up with a plausible reason for doing something which does not, however, reflect the real reason. Examples (from alcoholics): –I dont drink every day…I dont have a problem… (minimizing) –I dont drink half of what Sam does…(justifying) –I started drinking because of the problem I had; if you had the same problem I had, you would drink this much too. (analyzing) –It will get better later. (postponing)

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach Sublimation Definition: Sublimation involves seeking a socially- approved outlet for a socially problematic motivation Example: To express aggression, a person may become a butcher or a surgeon –Job description: Butchers in meat packing plants slaughter animals and slice the carcasses into large wholesale cuts. Grocery store butchers, also called meat cutters, separate the wholesale cuts of meat into retail cuts or individual size servings. –Quotes from a surgeon: We are going to wage a war on that cancer I am going to try to cut every last part of it out until there is nothing left of the cancer. It makes me very angry it (the cancer) is in there.

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach ~ end ~

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach ~ end ~

PART 3: PERSONALITY ORGANIZATIONCHAPTER 10: DYNAMICS OF SELF… The Power of the Self Copyright © 2007 Allyn & Bacon Mayers Personality: A Systems Approach ~ end ~