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Outline. How does the self help us understand emotion? How do emotions help us understand ourselves Self-perception theory How else do we gain self-knowledge? Role of Self awareness Role of Introspection Role of Others Role of culture. Self Observation & Emotion.
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Outline • How does the self help us understand emotion? • How do emotions help us understand ourselves • Self-perception theory • How else do we gain self-knowledge? • Role of Self awareness • Role of Introspection • Role of Others • Role of culture
Self Observation & Emotion How might emotions be created? • Schacter & Singer 2 factor theory of emotion – know Study • Experience arousal • I’m feeling something – what is it? • Seek attribution for it, attribution determines emotion • The context suggests that I should be experiencing _____.
Implications of 2 factor theory • Can misattribute arousal to wrong source • Bridge study • View arousal from bridge as signal that one is attracted to a woman.
Can reduce emotional reaction • Reduce emotional reaction by attributing arousal to nonemotional source • In Schacter & Singer if told effects of drug, study did not work • If reminded of bridge, study should not work
Self Observation and emotion • Facial feedback hypothesis – facial expressions can trigger corresponding changes in emotional experience • Why works • Physiological explanation – • Smiling decreases brain temp = pleasant • Frowning increases it = unpleasant • Self perception theory – ‘I’m smiling, I must like the cartoons”
Self-Perception theory Bem’s Self-perception theory: when own attitudes are uncertain and ambiguous, we observe out own behavior and infer our attitudes from it. • Behavior -> self knowledge • In essence, making an attribution for our own behavior
Self Focus • Time spent thinking about one’s self has increased • Archival analysis of song lyrics • Use of first person singular pronouns
How do we come to know ourselves: The role of Self Awareness Figure 5.3Self-Awareness Theory: The Consequences of Self-Focused AttentionWhen people focus on themselves, they compare their behavior to their internal standards.(Adapted from Carver & Scheier, 1981) Note: Self awareness can be positive if one experienced a success and think about accomplishments
How do we come to know ourselves: Role of Introspection • Introspection: looking inward to examine your own thoughts, feelings, and motives • Surprisingly, this process can lead us astray • Often do not know why we do the things we do. • Ex 1: nylon demo • Ex 2: art study
Nylon demo Top 2 choices 14 picked 1 or 2 28 (twice as much) picked 3 or 4 Might conclude: 3 and 4 better than 1 and 2 Why? – when asked said silky, smooth, etc Reality – introspective reasoning was incorrect, picked not b/c more silky but b/c last.
Is listing pros and cons helpful? • Art appreciation Study • Time1: • List reasons or not for picking Art or animal poster • Time2: Do you still like poster? • Those who listed reasons liked poster less than those who did not • Reason generated attitude change
Why could listing reasons be harmful? • Due to introspection sometimes leading us astray: Why? • Often don’t know what thinking • Only get subset of knowledge • based on causal theories • could be incorrect • Noise and film study – theory about noise incorrect • Factual knowledge is weighted too heavily relative to affective info and misguides decisions. • Thus, listing pro/cons most likely to lead to incorrect affective judgments
How do we come to know ourselves: Role of other • Social comparison theory • When do you compare? • When no objective standard, uncertain about performance • With whom do you compare? • Automatically – with anyone around • Not all equal – pick appropriate depending on goals • Similar to self – most informative • Accuracy motive • Upward comparison – compare to better person • Improvement motive • Downward comparison – compare to worse others • Enhancement motive
How do we come to know ourselves: Role of culture • Independent: defining self in terms of one’s own thoughts, feelings, and actions • I am: honest, tall, shy • Interdependent: defining self in terms of one’s relationships to other people; • I am: a Smith, a sister,
Self Self Mom Mom Dad Dad Friend Friend Interdependent Collectivistic Independent Individualistic