2. Cognitive Processes and Personality

3. Cognitive Processes and Personality
How thoughts influence our personality
Perceptual processes
Self processes
Strategic and motivational processes

4. “network” is activated
Perceptual Processes
Exposure to negative words
External World
Priming
“negative network”
“network” is activated
See others as negative
Perceptions of World

5. Questionnaire

6. Questionnaire To score: Each question multiply
The “concern” answer
The reverse of the “expect” answer
1=6
2=5
3=4
4=3
5=2
6=1
Thus, high scores = you are concerned and don’t expect something to happen

7. Rejection Sensitivity
Why are some people always jealous?
How they see the world!

8. Rejection Sensitivity
For some people cues about rejection are more “accessible” than for others
They are “primed” for rejection cues
Face
Small disagreement
Accidents
Can be a self-fulfilling prophecy

9. “network” is activated
Perceptual Processes
Exposure to jealous stimuli
External World
Priming
“jealous network”
“network” is activated
See others as cheaters
Perceptions of World

11. Group Activity

12. What do you do at McDonalds?

13. What do you do on a first date?

14. What do you do on the first day of class?

15. How do you know? Schema “Who are you?” Self Schema Organizes knowledge
“Script”
“Who are you?”
Self Schema
The cognitive structure that is made up of ideas about the self.

16. Group Activity Who are you? Why do you think this?
Nice, extraverted, etc.?
Why do you think this?
Memories of past occasions?
What if you lost your memory? How would you perceive your personality?

17. Case Study W.J. Female college student
Head injury caused her to lose all memories of her past behavior

18. Case Study When asked to report her personality
Agreed with
Friends reports
Parents reports
She could even describe how her personality had changed since the accident
Conclusion: Your self knowledge exists independently of your behavioral memories!

19. Measuring Self-Schema
_____1. I regularly tells jokes and funny stories when in a group.
_____2. People usually laugh when I tell a joke or story.
_____3. I have a good memory for jokes or funny stories.
_____4. I can be funny without having to rehearse a joke.
_____5. Being funny is a natural communication style for me.
_____6. I can tell a joke well.
_____7. People always ask me to tell stories.
_____8. Friends would say that I am a funny person.
_____9. People pay close attention when I tell a joke.
_____10. Even unfunny jokes seem entertaining when I tell them.
_____11. I can easily remember jokes and stories.
_____12. I always tell jokes and stories when asked to.
_____13. I can tell stories and jokes very well.
_____14. Of all the people I know, I am the funniest.
_____15. I use humor to communicate in a variety of situations.

20. 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

21. Self-Schema Schematic individuals are “experts” on the dimension
Experts (in any area) tend to
Remember relevant information about domain
See world in terms of the domain
Can automatically respond to issues related to the domain

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

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

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

26. 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

27. 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

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

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

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

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

32. 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

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

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