1. Social Psychology, 3rd Edition GILOVICH  KELTNER  CHEN  NISBETT
CLICKER QUESTIONS
3.6 Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
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2. Self-Discrepancy Theory
Key definitions:
Actual self: The self that people believe they are
Ideal self: The self that embodies people’s wishes and aspirations as held by themselves and by other people for them
Ought self: The self that is concerned with the duties, obligations, and external demands people feel they are compelled to honor
Questions 1-6
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves
Instructions: Remind students of the following definitions: Actual self: The self that people believe they are. Ideal self: The self that embodies people’s wishes and aspirations as held by themselves and by other people for them. Ought self: The self that is concerned with the duties, obligations, and external demands people feel they are compelled to honor. Then ask them to identify the correct self-discrepancy theory “self” in the examples provided in the next six sets of question and answer slides.
Rationale: The above example asks students to think of the different ways that people can believe they actually are, that aspirations can be placed on them, and demands/injunctions can be specified.

3. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“I am captain of the school’s soccer team.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 1
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves

4. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“I am captain of the school’s soccer team.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 1
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves
Answer: actual

5. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“People think I’m charming.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 2
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves

6. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“People think I’m charming.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 2
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves
Answer: actual

7. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“I dream of becoming a pop music singer after college.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 3
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves

8. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“I dream of becoming a pop music singer after college.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 3
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves
Answer: ideal (your own aspiration)

9. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“My parents want me to become a lawyer.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 4
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves

10. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“My parents want me to become a lawyer.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 4
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves
Answer: ideal (aspirations of others)

11. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“I feel I have a responsibility to do volunteer work for their community.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 5
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves

12. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“I feel I have a responsibility to do volunteer work for their community.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 5
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves
Answer: ought: duty

13. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“The judge tells me I have to do community service.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 6
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves

14. Which self-discrepancy theory “self” is best described in the this statement?
“The judge tells me I have to do community service.”
actual self
ideal self
ought self
Question 6
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
Title: Actual vs. Ideal vs. Ought selves
Answer: ought (external demand)

15. Which of the statements below describes you better?
“I study hard because I want to get the highest possible grade.”
“I study hard because I don’t want to get a bad grade.”
Question 7
A-Head: Self-Regulation: Motivation and Controlling the Self
B-Head: Self-Discrepancy Theory
To introduce self-discrepancy theory, ask students with the above question. Provide students with the following clarifying note: This example is similar to the glass being half full vs. half empty. Although the objective facts (or outcome) may be the same, what differs is how you construe those facts (or outcomes).
Answer: Students will typically be roughly split between these responses.
Rationale: This allows students to identify whether they tend to adopt a promotion or prevention focus when pursuing (academic) goals. Students tend to like this example because it is a mundane example that is easily relatable and it also concerns a personal belief they probably have not carefully scrutinized before.