Self Concept= “Who am I?” 1. a set of labels you apply to yourself 1. a set of labels you apply to yourself 2. labels that are relatively stable 2. labels that are relatively stable 3. labels that are subjective (perception) 3. labels that are subjective (perception)

Theories of self concept 1. Reflected Appraisal Theory 1. Reflected Appraisal Theory What you think others think of you 2. Social Comparison Theory 2. Social Comparison Theory Based on comparisons with others 3. Individual Selectivity Theory 3. Individual Selectivity Theory You choose opinions and comparisons you believe valuable

Perception-the process of assigning meaning to sensory data 1.We select cues to interpret. 2.We organize cues we’ve selected. 3.We interpret cues we’ve selected and organized.

Interpretation is based on: -our knowledge -our past experiences -our expectations -our assumptions about human behavior -our personal moods

Self fulfilling prophecy- beginning with a preconceived idea of the world and looking for data to support that idea

Language  Language is a symbol system

 A word is not an object. It is simply a representation of an object.  Denotation -the dictionary definition of a word-the dictionary definition of a word

How many do you know? 1. triskaidekaphobia 1. triskaidekaphobia 2. spondulicks 2. spondulicks 3. octothorpe 3. octothorpe 4. copacetic 4. copacetic 5. sennight 5. sennight 6. halcyon 6. halcyon 7. lollapaloosa 7. lollapaloosa

1. triskaidekaphobia 1. triskaidekaphobia  fear of the number spondulicks 2. spondulicks  money, cash 3. octothorpe 3. octothorpe  The pound or # sign on the telephone

4. copacetic 4. copacetic  fine, excellent, going just right 5. sennight 5. sennight  one week 6. halcyon 6. halcyon  Calm or peaceful; happy or carefree

7. lollapaloosa 7. lollapaloosa  Something outstandingly good of its kind  (a lollapaloosa of a game) And yet another interesting word: floccinaucinihilipilification the action or habit of judging something to be worthless

And the longest word in the dictionary… Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis  A lung disease caused by the inhalation of silica dust of silica dust

Connotation Connotation  -the personal meaning of a word based on our experience of the word.  dog  home

Bypassing Bypassing  -a communication breakdown caused when a word means more than one thing or two words mean the same thing.  entrée/on tray  red/read  slang-dog/fox/cat/cool/hot

Language is governed by rules. Language is governed by rules.  Syntax  -the rules governing a language’s grammar system  (Ie. In English, an adjective usually comes before a noun.)

 Semantics  -the study of the denotative meaning of a language (Each word has shades of meaning.)  female/woman/lady  house/home/hovel/dump/  Politicians and lawyers sometimes play semantic games. Sometimes we refer to these kinds of games as “splitting hairs.”

 Regulative Rules  -how language is used in particular situations  Regulative rules are usually unspoken.  Regulative rules are usually unspoken. –(Ie. We speak more formally to superiors such as our bosses. We speak differently at home than at school.)