1. Self-Awareness Identity and Meaning

2. The “SELF” is Central to Social Psychology Thoughts Feelings Behavior

3. The Self A symbol-using social being who can reflect on his or her own behavior The Self As... Knowledge Through Awareness Social Social An Active Agent An Active Agent

4. Four Categories of T-S-T Physical Self-Descriptions Physical Self-Descriptions – “I am tall.” or “I am skinny.” Social Self-Descriptions Social Self-Descriptions – “I am a son.” or “I am a student.” Attributive Self Descriptions Attributive Self Descriptions – “I am bored.” or “I am athletic.” Global Self-Descriptions Global Self-Descriptions – “I am human.” or “I am alive.”

5. Self as Knowledge Self-Schema – Many beliefs people have about themselves Spontaneous Self-Concept Spontaneous Self-Concept Self Occupation Stubborn Uncle Family Friend Significant Other Short Cautious Religion/ Values

6. Self as Knowledge Self-Concept The sum total of a person’s thoughts and feelings defining the self as an object Self Stubborn Uncle Family Friend Sig. Other Short Cautious Religion/ Values Job

7. Self-Awareness A psychological state in which you take yourself as an object of attention.

8. William James I “I” = Perceiver – Active Agent ME “ME” = Perceived – Object of Attention Emotional Identification

9. Types Types of Self-Awareness Private Self-Awareness (Consciousness) Private Self-Awareness (Consciousness) (trait) The temporary state (trait) of being aware of hidden, private self-aspects Public Self-Awareness (Consciousness) Public Self-Awareness (Consciousness) (trait) The temporary state (trait) of being aware of public self-aspects

10. Levels Levels of Self-Awareness Subjective Self-Awareness Subjective Self-Awareness The recognition that the self is separate from other objects in one’s physical environment Objective Self-Awareness Objective Self-Awareness The organism’s capacity to be the object of its own attention Symbolic Self-Awareness Symbolic Self-Awareness Uniquely human capacity to form an abstract representation of the self through language and time

11. Terror Management Theory Meta-Theory of human behavior Humans (like all animals) have a self- preservation motive symbolic self-awareness Humans have a unique level of self- awareness (symbolic self-awareness) Mortality Awareness The capacity of representing selves in time leaves humans uniquely aware of our corporeal nature (Mortality Awareness) Existential Terror This awareness creates the capacity to create anxiety (Existential Terror)

12. Terror Management Theory Proximal Defense Proximal Defense – Suppress thoughts of death when reminded of mortality Distal Defense Distal Defense culture – An investment in a symbolic conception of reality (culture) constructs meaning out of meaninglessness self-esteem – We desire to be valuable contributors to this conception (self-esteem) symbolic literal – Culture promises symbolic and literal immortality

13. Terror Management Theory Why are people so concerned with self- esteem? Why do people have such a difficult time co- existing with others from different from themselves?