Outline

I. How does the self help us understand emotion?

II. How do emotions help us understand ourselves1. Self-perception theory

III. How else do we gain self-knowledge?A. Role of Self awarenessB. Role of IntrospectionC. Role of OthersD. Role of culture

Self Observation & EmotionHow might emotions be created?I. Schacter & Singer 2 factor

theory of emotion – know Study1. Experience arousal

a. I’m feeling something – what is it?2. Seek attribution for it,

attribution determines emotiona.The context suggests that I

should be experiencing _____.

Implications of 2 factor theoryA. Can misattribute arousal to

wrong source1. Bridge study

a. View arousal from bridge as signal that one is attracted to a woman.

Can reduce emotional reaction

A. Reduce emotional reaction by attributing arousal to nonemotional source1. In Schacter & Singer if told effects of drug, study did not

work2. If reminded of bridge, study

should not work

Emotions as means to understand the self

Self Observation and emotionI. Facial feedback hypothesis – facial

expressions can trigger corresponding changes in emotional experienceA. Why works

1. Physiological explanation – a) Smiling decreases brain temp = pleasantb) Frowning increases it = unpleasant

2. 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.

1. Behavior -> self knowledge

2. In essence, making an attribution for our own behavior

Self FocusI. Time spent thinking about one’s self has

increasedII. Archival analysis of song lyrics

A. 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

I. Introspection: looking inward to examine your own thoughts, feelings, and motives

II. Surprisingly, this process can lead us astray

A. Often do not know why we do the things we do.

1. Ex 1: nylon demo2. Ex 2: art study

Nylon demoTop 2 choices14 picked 1 or 228 (twice as much) picked 3 or 4Might conclude: 3 and 4 better than 1 and 2Why? – when asked said silky, smooth, etcReality – introspective reasoning was incorrect, picked not b/c more silky but b/c last.

Art study: Is listing pro/cons helpful?

Is listing pros and cons helpful?

I. Art appreciation StudyA. Time1:

1. List reasons or not for picking Art or animal poster

B. Time2: Do you still like poster?C. Those who listed reasons liked

poster less than those who did not

1. Reason generated attitude change

Why could listing reasons be harmful?

I. Due to introspection sometimes leading us astray: Why?

A. Often don’t know what thinkingB. Only get subset of knowledge

1. based on causal theories a. could be incorrect

i. Noise and film study – theory about noise incorrectC. Factual knowledge is weighted too heavily relative

to affective info and misguides decisions.1. Thus, listing pro/cons most likely to lead to incorrect

affective judgments

How do we come to know ourselves: Role of otherI. Social comparison theory

A. When do you compare?1. When no objective standard, uncertain

about performanceB. With whom do you compare?

1. Automatically – with anyone around2. Not all equal – pick appropriate

depending on goalsa. Similar to self – most informative

i. Accuracy motiveb. Upward comparison – compare to better person

i. Improvement motivec. Downward comparison – compare to worse

othersi. Enhancement motive

How do we come to know ourselves: Role of culture

I. Independent: defining self in terms of one’s own thoughts, feelings, and actions

A. I am: honest, tall, shyII. Interdependent: defining self in

terms of one’s relationships to other people;

A. I am: a Smith, a sister,

Self Self

MomMom

Dad DadFriend

Friend

Independent

Individualistic

Interdependent

Collectivistic