Chapter 3: The Self and
Self Presentation
•Email
The Self
What is the Self?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGv1Nay2z-U
Who Am I?

Our answers reflect:
– Self-schema
– Self-concept
– Thoughts about ourselves
3
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.
4
Steps in the Origin of Self
1. Self-Differentiation
2. Role Taking
5
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
6
Role Taking

Imagine self from position of
another person

View self and situation from
that person’s perspective
7
The Looking Glass Self
• Charles Horton Cooley
-Significant others
- As child interacts with others, the
number of significant others increases
8
Stages in the Development of Self

Mead (1934) identified
two sequential stages
1.Play Stage
2.Game Stage
9
Stages in Developing the Self

#1 Play Stage–Young children imitate
other people
–Father
–Mail carrier
–Doctor…
10
#1 Play Stage
11
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
12
#2 Game Stage
13
The Game Stage: Baseball
14
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
15
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
16
Identities

Meanings attached to self
–Linked to social roles
–Membership in groups
17
Role Identities

Self in specific roles

Develop a different view of
who we are
–an identity
18
Adoption of a Social Identity

Involves socialization into the
group of which the role is a
part
–Agents of socialization
–Anticipatory socialization
19
Social Identities in Groups
20
Situated Self

Self-concepts distinctive to
the setting and

Relevant to activities
21
Situated Self
22
Identities:
The Self We Enact

Enact behaviors that

Evoke responses to

Confirm particular identities
23
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
24
Effects of Self-awareness


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA2cDV4K9jg
Focusing on our own:
–Appearance
–Actions
–Thoughts
25
Effects of Self-awareness

Things that increase selfawareness
–Mirrors
–Pictures
–Voice recording
–Video clip
26
Assessing Self-Esteem

Overall self-esteem
–All identities

Role Specific self-esteem
–Individual identities
27
Self-esteem
28
Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem
Scale
29
Sources of Self-Esteem

Three sources:
1. Family Experiences:
–
–
Acceptance
Discipline
2. Performance Feedback:
–
Effectiveness of our actions
3. Social Comparison:
–
Successes and failures with those of
others
30
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
31
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
32
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
33
Managing Appearances

Impression an individual
makes depends not only on
clothes, makeup, and
grooming

But also on props in the
environment
34
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.
35
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
36
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
37