Social Psychology The Self

How is Social Psychology Different From Philosophy/Psychology? Defining Characteristic: Scientific Method –Refers to a set of techniques used to: Investigate specific psychological phenomena Acquire new knowledge Correct and/or integrate previous knowledge

Scientific Method This method of inquiry is based on: –Gathering observable, empirical, and measurable evidence –Collection of data through observation and/or experimentation –Formulation and testing of hypotheses Allows research to be replicated by other scientists (i.e., reliability)

Quantitative Research Methods in Psychology Quantitative Methods: –Experiments: used to demonstrates cause and effect relationships between variables –Questionnaires: used to describe relationships between variables (typically correlations)

Experiments Defining Features: –Independent variable: variable that is manipulated in order to cause some change in the dependent variable –Dependent variable: variable that is measured; is hypothesized to be affected by changes in the independent variable –Random assignment: procedure used to assign participants to experimental or control conditions Is used to minimize individual differences and help assure us that groups are similar prior to treatment

Questionnaires (Psychology) Defining features: –Use of closed and/or open ended questions –Use of Likert type scales (sometimes) Measure attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs in relationship to some social object or phenomena

Research Methods in Social Psychology Qualitative Methods –Naturalistic Observation –Interviews –Ethnography

Naturalistic Observation Defining features: –Systematically observing participants in their natural environment –Construction of “field notes” which are then subjected to analysis Advantages: allows researcher to observe actual behavior in an unobtrusive manner Disadvantages: is difficult to determine exact cause of behavior because there is lack of control over outside variables

Social Psychological Interviews Defining features: –Use of closed and/or open ended questions that the researcher asks participants directly –Can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured Advantages: Allows participants to answer questions on their own terms (no predefined response categories) and provide elaboration when responses are ambiguous Disadvantages: is time consuming and responses can be difficult to analyze

What is the Self? Self: A symbol using being who can reflect on their behavior (Franzoi, 2009) Symbols: refer to objects, pictures, words, sounds, or markings that represent something else by association –e.g., language, national flag, the cross (from Christianity), swastika

What is the Self? Different perspectives: –Symbolic Interactionism (Mead, 1934; Goffman, 1959) Emphasizes interactions between people Use of symbols in communication and interaction Interpretation as part of action (i.e., stimulus- interpretation-response) The self is constructed with others through communication and interaction

What is the Self? Different perspectives: –The Looking Glass Self (Cooley, 1902) –Three main components (Yeung et al, 2003): 1) We imagine how we appear to others 2) We imagine the judgement of that appearance 3) We develop our self through the judgement of others

Self Presentation Strategic self-presentation –The process of constructing and presenting the self in order to shape other people’s impressions and achieve ulterior goals (as cited in Franzoi, 2009) Also referred to as “impression management” (Goffman, 1959)

Self Presentation and Impression Management (Goffman, 1959) Dramaturgy: uses theatrical performance as a metaphor to describe self-presentation strategies –Assumes that the self is fluid and is (re)produced in every interaction –Manner in which self will be presented is dependent upon cultural values Norms and expectations definition of the situation

Definition of the Situation –Concept derived from symbolic interactionism (e.g., W.I. Thomas, Goffman) –Refers to a consensual agreement between individuals on the characteristics of a given situation –Agreement entails specific expectations about how to behave in that social context –Appropriate behavior predicated on the roles implied by the definition of the situation

Roles and Definition of the Situation Front stage behavior –Where both the actor and audience are present (i.e., is a performance) –Actions are visible to the audience –Goal is to convince audience of actor’s personal characteristics and intentions e.g., waiter in a restaurant acts differently in front of customers than when in the kitchen

Roles and Definition of the Situation Back stage behavior –No audience is present –Actor’s behavior is not visible (to the audience) –“Breaking Character”: when backstage performance is interrupted by someone not meant to see it e.g., servant is mocking employer while with other servants, and the employer’s husband enters the room and observes behavior

Self Schemas “Refers to a cognitive structure that represents how you think about yourself in a particular domain, and how you organize your experiences in that domain” (Franzoi, 2009, p. 68) Self schemas are culturally and historically specific (i.e., they will vary from one culture to another, and by historical period)

Self Schemas Social contexts affect which self schemas are activated at particular times Examples: –Self schemas regarding being a “good student” are likely to be activated in the classroom –Self schemas regarding being “sexy” are likely to be activated in singles bars –Self schemas regarding being a “musician” are likely to be activated when at a concert

“If you believe something to be real, it will be real in its consequences” -W.I. Thomas