Cognitive Processes and Personality Cognitive Processes and Personality

Cognitive Processes and Personality

Cognitive Processes and Personality • How thoughts influence our personality • Perceptual processes • Self processes • Strategic and motivational processes

Perceptual Processes Exposure to negative words External World Priming “negative network” “network” is activated See others as negative Perceptions of World

Questionnaire

Questionnaire • To score: • Each question multiply The “concern” answer The reverse of the “expect” answer 1=6 2=5 3=4 4=3 5=2 6=1 • Thus, high scores = you are concerned and don’t expect something to happen

Rejection Sensitivity • Why are some people always jealous? • How they see the world!

Rejection Sensitivity • For some people cues about rejection are more “accessible” than for others • They are “primed” for rejection cues – Face – Small disagreement – Accidents • Can be a self-fulfilling prophecy

Perceptual Processes Exposure to jealous stimuli External World Priming “jealous network” “network” is activated See others as cheaters Perceptions of World

Group Activity

What do you do at Mc. Donalds?

What do you do on a first date?

What do you do on the first day of class?

• How do you know? • Schema – Organizes knowledge – “Script” • “Who are you? ” • Self Schema – The cognitive structure that is made up of ideas about the self.

Group Activity • Who are you? – Nice, extraverted, etc. ? • Why do you think this? • Memories of past occasions? • What if you lost your memory? How would you perceive your personality?

Case Study • W. J. • Female college student • Head injury caused her to lose all memories of her past behavior

Case Study • When asked to report her personality – Agreed with • Friends reports • Parents reports • She could even describe how her personality had changed since the accident • Conclusion: Your self knowledge exists independently of your behavioral memories!

Measuring Self-Schema • • • • _____1. I regularly tells jokes and funny stories when in a group. _____2. People usually laugh when I tell a joke or story. _____3. I have a good memory for jokes or funny stories. _____4. I can be funny without having to rehearse a joke. _____5. Being funny is a natural communication style for me. _____6. I can tell a joke well. _____7. People always ask me to tell stories. _____8. Friends would say that I am a funny person. _____9. People pay close attention when I tell a joke. _____10. Even unfunny jokes seem entertaining when I tell them. _____11. I can easily remember jokes and stories. _____12. I always tell jokes and stories when asked to. _____13. I can tell stories and jokes very well. _____14. Of all the people I know, I am the funniest. _____15. I use humor to communicate in a variety of situations.

Measuring Self-Schema • Humor Schema • High scores = schematic on this dimension • Low scores = aschematic on this dimension • Results • Schematic individuals – Tend to behave in a humor manor / tell jokes better – Judge others in terms of humor

Self-Schema • Schematic individuals are “experts” on the dimension • Experts (in any area) tend to – Remember relevant information about domain – See world in terms of the domain – Can automatically respond to issues related to the domain

Schema • Three types of schemas • “Actual” self – How you see yourself

Schema • Three types of schemas • “Ideal” self – What is your “best” self • Represents the state where all the rewards you could get are attained

Schema • Three types of schemas • “Ought” self – What self should you be • Represents the state where no punishments or other bad events will occur

Rarely are either “ideal self” or “ought self” The further you are from the ideal The self further you are from the ought self Ideal Self Actual Self Depression! Depression caused by disappointment Anxiety caused by fear Ought Self Anxiety!

More selves • How many “actual” selves do you have? • The actual self you have in working memory depends on – Who you are with – What you are doing

Working Self-Concept What is your self like when you are. . With your family With romantic partner At work At school

Working Self-Concept • Problem! Romantic Dependable No “true” self / No identity Angry Hard Worker

Working Self-Concept What “self” determines which “self” to use?

Problem What “self” determines which “self” to use?

Working Self-Concept • Problem! Where does it stop? Self as student Self as psychology student Self as personality psychology student studying Self as personality psychology student in lecture Self as personality psychology student taking test

Working Self-Concept • Problem! • People tend to behave the same across situations!

Schema vs. Traits • Two names for the same underlying construct • Schema researchers vs. Trait researchers