1. The Self, Identity, and Values
Human Adjustment John W. Santrock
Chapter 3:
The Self, Identity,
and Values
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2. Chapter Outline The Self Identity Values Religion McGraw-Hill
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3. Learning Goals 1. Discuss self-concept and self-esteem.
2. Describe what identity is and how it is formed.
3. Summarize important aspects of values.
4. Characterize the role of religion in people’s lives.
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4. THE SELF Self-Concept Self-Esteem McGraw-Hill
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5. Self-Concept
Self-concept consists of our thoughts and feelings about our own characteristics
Rogers argues that congruence between real self and ideal self results in adjustment
Self-concept = individual’s perception of his or her abilities, personality, and other attributes
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6. Self-Discrepancy E. Tory Higgins identified 3 domains of self:
Actual self - your representation of attributes you believe or you actually possess
Ideal self - your representation of attributes that ideally you would like to possess
Ought self - your representation of attributes you believe you should possess
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7. Self-Discrepancy Theory
Self-discrepancy theory - problems occur when representations from different viewpoints or from different domains are inconsistent, or discrepant
Discrepancies between actual and ideal selves create dejection-relation emotions (depression)
Discrepancies between actual self and ought self create agitated emotions (anxiety)
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8. Figure 3.1 The Relation of Discrepancies in Actual, Ideal, and Ought Selves to Depression and Anxiety
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9. Possible Selves
Possible selves - conceptions of what we might become, including what we would like to become and what we are afraid of becoming
Include hoped-for and dreaded selves
Serve role in self-evaluation
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10. Possible Selves
Individualistic cultures - possible selves that reflect distinctiveness of individual
Collectivist cultures - possible selves that strengthen the groups to which they belong
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11. Self-Esteem
People have both a general level of self-esteem and fluctuating degrees of self-esteem related to specific domains of life
Self-esteem = overall evaluation of one’s self-worth or self-image
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12. Examples of Domains of Life
academic competence
work competence
social or relationship competence
sexuality
athletic competence
physical attractiveness
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13. Self-Esteem
There is controversy about whether self-esteem varies according to the age of the individual
Correlations between self-esteem and:
school performance
job performance
initiative
happiness
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14. Adjustment Strategies for Increasing Self-Esteem
1. Identify your sources of self-esteem and what is causing low self-esteem
2. Face a problem and try to cope with it
3. Seek emotional support
4. Take responsibility for your self-esteem
5. Look for opportunities to achieve
6. Explore resources to improve your self-understanding
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15. Narcissism
Narcissism - self-centered and self-concerned approach when dealing with others
Narcissists are:
excessively self-centered and self-congratulatory
unaware of their actual selves and how others perceive them
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16. Review - Learning Goal 1
What is self-concept? What are some important components of self-concept?
What is self-esteem? What are some characteristics of self-esteem?
What are some good strategies for enhancing self-esteem
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17. IDENTITY Erikson’s View The Four Statuses of Identity
Developmental Changes
Ethnic Identity
Gender and Identity
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18. Erikson's View
Identity versus identity confusion - stage during adolescence and emerging adulthood when individuals are faced with deciding who they are and where they are going in life
Identity = a sense of integration of self in which different parts come together in a unified whole
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19. Erikson’s View
Youths enter a psychosocial moratorium during which they experiment with personalities and roles as they search for an identity
Psychological moratorium - gap between childhood security and adult autonomy
In the United States, vocational identity is especially important
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20. Four Statuses of Identity
James Marcia’s classification based on extent of their crisis and commitment
Crisis - period of identity development during which individual is choosing among meaningful alternatives
Commitment - personal investment in an identity
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21. Four Statuses of Identity
Marcia proposed four identity statuses:
identity diffusion - has not yet experienced identity crisis and has not made any commitment
identity foreclosure - has made a commitment but has not experienced an identity crisis
identity moratorium - experiencing identity crisis but has not made commitment to an identity
identity achievement - has undergone identity crisis and made a commitment
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22. Figure 3.3 Marcia’s Four Statuses of Identity
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23. Developmental Changes
Some experts believe the main identity changes take place in late adolescence or emerging adulthood, rather than in early adolescence
College upperclassmen are more likely to be identity achieved than are freshmen or high school students, although many college students are still wrestling with ideological commitments
Individuals often follow “moratorium-achievement-moratorium-achievement” cycles
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24. Ethnic Identity
Ethnic identity - enduring aspect of self that includes:
sense of membership in ethnic group
attitudes and feelings related to membership
During adolescence and emerging adulthood ethnic minority individuals consciously confront their ethnic identity
Many ethnic minority individuals have a bicultural identity
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25. Ethnic Identity Helms’ model of ethnic identity development:
Stage 1 - pre-encounter (prefer dominant society’s values)
Stage 2 - encounter (realize they will never belong to mainstream)
Stage 3 - immersion/emersion (immerse themselves in minority culture / experience discontent)
Stage 4 - internalization/commitment (integrate personal and culture identity / enact identity)
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26. Gender and Identity
Erikson believed that males have a stronger vocational identity, females a stronger social identity
Gender differences appear to be disappearing
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27. Review - Learning Goal 2 What is Erikson’s view of identity?
What are the four statuses of identity?
What are some developmental changes in identity?
What is ethnic identity? What are some important aspects of ethnic identity?
What role does gender play in identity?
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28. VALUES Exploring Values College Students’ Values Meaning in Life
Sociocultural Perspectives on Values
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29. Exploring Values
Value conflict - clash between values that encourage opposing actions
Ethnic minority individuals can have value conflict between their values and values of mainstream culture
Values = standards we apply to determine the worth of things, ideas, or events
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30. Adjustment Strategies for Clarifying Your Values
1. Imagine your own funeral - what will people say?
2. If you had unlimited time and resources, what would you do?
3. Review your most important values.
4. How do your values relate to physical, social, mental, and spiritual needs?
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31. College Students’ Values
Over the past two decades, U.S. college students have shown an increased concern for personal well-being and a decreased concern for the well-being of others
An increasing number of students are showing an interest in volunteer or community service work
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32. College Students’ Values
Service learning - form of education that promotes social responsibility and service to the community
Participation in service learning is related to:
higher grades
increased goal setting
higher self-esteem
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33. Meaning in Life
Viktor Frankl believes that examining the finiteness of our existence leads to exploration of meaning in life
Baumeister argues that a quest for a meaningful life involves four main needs:
need for purpose
need for values
need for sense of efficacy
need for self-worth
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34. Sociocultural Perspectives on Values
Some critics argue that Americans are too concerned with self-fulfillment and personal identity
Zen Buddhism emphasizes living in the present moment by focusing on the task at hand
Morita therapy = Zen Buddhist therapy emphasizing accepting feelings, knowing one’s purposes, and doing what needs to be done
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35. Review - Learning Goal 3
What are values? Why is it important to clarify your values?
What are college students’ values? What is service learning and how does it influence people?
What are some guidelines in searching for meaning in life?
What are some sociocultural perspectives on values?
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36. RELIGION The Scope of Religion in People’s Lives Religion and Health
Religious Coping
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37. The Scope of Religion in People’s Lives
Religion plays important role in the lives of many people around the world
Majority of Americans say they are religious
Females show a stronger interest in religion than males
Americans are becoming less committed to a particular religious denomination and show a declining faith in mainstream religious organizations
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38. Figure 3.5 Level of Spirituality
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39. Religion and Health
Individuals in religious mainstream generally enjoy a positive or neutral link between religion and physical health
Religious thoughts can play role in maintaining hope and stimulating motivation in recovery from an illness or disease
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40. Religious Coping
Religion helps some people cope more effectively with stress
Positive religious coping strategies include:
expression of a sense of spirituality
secure relationship with God
belief that there is meaning to be found in life
sense of spiritual connectedness with others
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41. Review - Learning Goal 4
What is the scope of religion in people’s lives?
How is religion linked to health?
What are some important aspects of religious coping?
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