Chapter 3: The Self and Self Presentation

The Self http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGv1Nay2z-U What is the Self? Email The Self http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGv1Nay2z-U What is the Self?

Who Am I? Our answers reflect: Self-schema Self-concept Thoughts about ourselves

The Nature & Origin of Self Symbolic Interaction Theory Self is active Self is passive William I. James & George H. Mead: Active aspect of the self is the I. Object of self-action is the me.

Steps in the Origin of Self Self-Differentiation 2. Role Taking

Self-Differentiation Distinguish our faces and bodies from others Not born with this ability Acquire very quickly 18 to 24 months Baby in bath http://vimeo.com/2654937

Role Taking Imagine self from position of another person View self and situation from that person’s perspective

The Looking Glass Self Significant others Charles Horton Cooley As child interacts with others, the number of significant others increases

Stages in the Development of Self Mead (1934) identified two sequential stages Play Stage Game Stage

Stages in Developing the Self #1 Play Stage- Young children imitate other people Father Mail carrier Doctor…

#1 Play Stage

Stages in Developing the Self #2 Game Stage– Complex activities Playing house or school Team sports Imagine viewpoints of several others at the same time

#2 Game Stage

The Game Stage: Baseball

The Generalized Other View of attitudes & expectations held by members of organized groups We imagine what a group expects of us Taking role of generalized other

The Self We Know 1. Specific identities 2. Reactions of others 3. Varies with situation Example: Communicate over internet Create identity May have multiple identities

Identities Meanings attached to self Linked to social roles Membership in groups

Role Identities Self in specific roles Develop a different view of who we are an identity

Adoption of a Social Identity Involves socialization into the group of which the role is a part Agents of socialization Anticipatory socialization

Social Identities in Groups

Situated Self Self-concepts distinctive to the setting and Relevant to activities

Situated Self

Identities: The Self We Enact Enact behaviors that Evoke responses to Confirm particular identities

Hierarchy of Identities Importance of an identity varies from situation to situation Organize identities into a hierarchy According to their salience Importance of identity (salience) More situations as opportunities to enact identity

Effects of Self-awareness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA2cDV4K9jg Focusing on our own: Appearance Actions Thoughts

Effects of Self-awareness Things that increase self-awareness Mirrors Pictures Voice recording Video clip

Assessing Self-Esteem Overall self-esteem All identities Role Specific self-esteem Individual identities

Self-esteem

Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale Have student assess their own self esteem using Rosenberg’s scale

Sources of Self-Esteem Three sources: Family Experiences: Acceptance Discipline Performance Feedback: Effectiveness of our actions Social Comparison: Successes and failures with those of others

Self Presentation Varies situation to situation: (Examples) To parents, as good son or daughter To friends, as “cool“ and “with it” At a bar, as old enough to be served drinks

Sharing our identity (s) with another Self-Disclosure Sharing our identity (s) with another Usually bilateral or reciprocal The “norm of reciprocity” Sharing too much intimate information often weakens the relationship May lead to disliking

Tactical Impression Management Conscious, goal-directed activity to control information To influence impressions Expression of emotions may be appropriate or inappropriate. For example: Service workers must conceal anger or fear Surgeon expressing fear before operating on your child

Managing Appearances Impression an individual makes depends not only on clothes, makeup, and grooming But also on props in the environment

Managing Appearances Irving Goffman draws parallel between theater’s front and back stages & the regions we use in managing appearances. Front Region – Accessible to outsiders Normative expectations Back Region – Settings inaccessible to outsiders where one violates front region performances.

Ineffective Self-Presentations & Spoiled Identities Some recover when their identity is challenged Others have a permanently spoiled identity Ex President Richard Nixon Designer Martha Stewart

Cooling-Out and Saving Face Gently persuading a person whose performance is unsuitable to accept a less desirable, though still reasonable, alternative identity. Example: Switching from pre-med to psychology Often causes identity degradation Offender becomes a non-person; One who can not be trusted to perform in the original role