Question 1

________ is an individual's perception of his or her abilities, personality, and other attributes and consists of one's overall thoughts and feelings about his/her characteristics.

Accepted Answer

Self-concept is the term that best describes an individual's perception of his or her abilities, personality, and other attributes, encompassing overall thoughts and feelings about one's characteristics.

Question 2

One's self-concept depends on:

Accepted Answer

Self-concept is influenced by subjective experiences, personal reflections, and the sociocultural contexts in which one lives, making all of these factors integral to its development.

Question 3

According to Rogers, adjustment is most likely to occur when there is congruence between the ______ and _____ selves.

Accepted Answer

Rogers posited that adjustment is most likely when there is congruence between the ideal self (how we would like to be) and the real self (how we actually are), leading to a more harmonious psychological state.

Question 4

Molly says that she enjoys being around other people. She describes herself as being sensitive and compassionate. According to Higgins, Molly is describing her:

Accepted Answer

Molly is describing her actual self, which refers to how she currently sees herself, including her traits and behaviors.

Question 5

, You recall your third grade teacher asking you what type of person you would like to become. According to Higgins, the teacher wanted you to describe your:

Accepted Answer

According to Higgins' self-discrepancy theory, the "ideal self" represents the attributes that someone would ideally like to possess, which aligns with the teacher's question about the type of person you would like to become.

Question 6

Larry believes that in order to be a good citizen he must vote in all elections, pay his taxes, and serve his community when asked. According to Higgins, Larry is describing his:

Accepted Answer

Larry is describing his ought self, which according to Higgins, refers to the attributes someone believes they should or ought to possess, often related to duties, obligations, and responsibilities, such as voting, paying taxes, and serving the community.

Question 7

Ideal self is to hopes as ______ is to ______.

Accepted Answer

The ideal self is a concept in psychology that represents how we would like to be, often based on our hopes and aspirations. Similarly, the ought self is related to the duties, responsibilities, or obligations we believe we should fulfill. Both pairs involve a concept of self (ideal and ought) and a guiding principle or motivation (hopes and obligations).

Question 8

Jaimel has experienced much shame and disappointment because he recently failed to reach the state wrestling finals. Since he was a child, he has always set winning an athletic title as his goal. According to Higgins, Jaimel is dejected, sad, and disappointed because of a discrepancy between his:

Accepted Answer

Jaimel's feelings of shame and disappointment stem from a gap between his actual self (his current state, including his recent failure) and his ideal self (his aspirations or goals, in this case, winning an athletic title). Higgins' theory suggests that such discrepancies can lead to emotions like dejection and sadness.

Question 9

Even though her husband forgave her for her affair with a co-worker, Mary is still experiencing guilt and anxiety for betraying her husband's trust. According to Higgins, Mary is experiencing these agitated emotions because of a discrepancy between her:

Accepted Answer

Mary is experiencing guilt and anxiety because of a discrepancy between her actual self (her actions and behaviors) and her ought self (her sense of duty or obligation), which aligns with Higgins' theory on self-discrepancy.

Question 10

According to Higgins' ___________ theory, problems occur when representations from different viewpoints or from different domains are inconsistent.

Accepted Answer

Higgins' self-discrepancy theory posits that psychological distress or problems arise when there is a discrepancy between an individual's actual self (attributes one believes one actually possesses), ideal self (attributes one would ideally like to possess), and ought self (attributes one believes one should possess). This theory emphasizes the discomfort and issues that emerge from inconsistencies among these self-representations.

Question 11

Higgins had college students to list their traits in each of his three domains. Then the matches and mismatches in traits across the three domains were coded. He found that discrepancies between the ______ and ______ were associated with depression.

Accepted Answer

Higgins' research on self-discrepancy theory suggests that discrepancies between the actual self (how we see ourselves) and the ideal self (how we wish to be) are associated with feelings of dejection-related emotions, such as depression.

Question 12

Higgins had college students to list their traits in each of his three domains. Then the matches and mismatches in traits across the three domains were coded. He found that discrepancies between the ______ and ______ were associated with anxiety.

Accepted Answer

Discrepancies between the actual and ought selves are associated with anxiety, according to Higgins' self-discrepancy theory.

Question 13

Self-discrepancies are most likely to lead to the expected emotional outcomes when:

Accepted Answer

Self-discrepancies are most likely to lead to the expected emotional outcomes when the discrepancy is important to the individual. This is because the significance of the discrepancy to one's self-concept or goals amplifies the emotional response to it.

Question 14

"What would you like to become? What are you afraid of becoming?" As you think about these questions, Markus and Nurius would say that you are contemplating your:

Accepted Answer

Markus and Nurius introduced the concept of "possible selves" to describe the aspects of the self-concept that individuals could potentially become, hope to become, or are afraid of becoming. This encompasses both positive aspirations (what you would like to become) and fears (what you are afraid of becoming).

Question 15

Justin has a dream of becoming a famous musician, playing before large audiences of adoring fans. He also has a painfully clear image of being a destitute street musician playing his tunes for the spare change of a passerby. These two images of his future represent his:

Accepted Answer

Justin's two images represent his possible selves, which are the various identities someone might imagine for themselves in the future, including both hopeful aspirations and feared outcomes.

Question 16

Justin has both a hoped-for self of becoming a rich and famous musician and a dreaded self of becoming a destitute street musician. Markus and Nurius consider the presence of both of these selves to be:

Accepted Answer

Markus and Nurius introduced the concept of possible selves, which includes both hoped-for selves and feared selves. They consider the presence of both types as psychologically healthy and balanced because it reflects a comprehensive self-concept that motivates individuals towards their goals while being aware of potential negative outcomes.

Question 17

Hector has a dream of becoming a successful business owner with numerous franchises. He also has a fear of starting a business and then going bankrupt. Hector's two views of his future can be considered:

Accepted Answer

Hector's views represent a psychologically healthy and balanced perspective because they show he is aware of both the potential for success and the risks involved in starting a business. This balance of optimism and caution is beneficial for realistic planning and risk management.

Question 18

Possible selves serve the important function of:

Accepted Answer

Possible selves serve the important function of self-evaluation by allowing individuals to envision and assess their future potential and goals, which helps in guiding their current behavior and decision-making.

Question 19

A person from China or Japan would tend to revere possible selves that:

Accepted Answer

In both Chinese and Japanese cultures, there is a strong emphasis on collectivism rather than individualism. This means that individuals often value and strive for qualities that benefit and strengthen the group or community to which they belong, rather than focusing on personal distinctiveness or individualism.

Question 20

Western culture is to ________ as non-Western culture is to ________.

Accepted Answer

Western culture is often characterized by individualism, which emphasizes personal independence and the importance of individual self-expression. Non-Western cultures, on the other hand, are frequently described as more collective or communal, focusing on the group and interdependence among its members.

Quiz 3: The Self, Identity, and Values