Write to Discuss Recall and write about a
Write to Discuss Recall and write about a teacher who showed you that you “mattered. ” How did you know? How did he/she show you that?
PSYC 353: Adolescent Psychology June 20, 2008 Mattering Theory “To be of importance to others is to be alive. ” – T. S. Eliot Kevin Moberg
Agenda • Review and discuss major concepts of Mattering Theory • Apply those concepts to your own experiences • Apply those concepts to your work as a teacher
Mattering Defined • Fundamental need that we have to feel important and significant to others • Extent to which we make a difference in the world around us • To whom and to what degree we perceive that we matter Mattering Theory ►Definition Assumptions Implications
Assumptions • Humans need to matter—it’s not merely a nice perk of social living but is instead a fundamental component of our self-identity. • Society, too, needs humans to matter—social bonding and interdependence depend on our wanting to matter to one another. Mattering Theory Definition ►Assumptions Implications
Discuss • Why does society depend on our feeling as though we matter? • Why would a school community depend on its members’ feeling as though they matter? Mattering Theory Definition ►Assumptions Implications
Not Mattering • If we don’t notice, believe, or receive indicators from others that we matter • Consequence we must find or create ways to cope with the realization that we do not matter • Even negative attention is preferable to no attention whatsoever. Mattering Theory Definition Assumptions ►Implications
Not Mattering • “Shunning” in US military academies • Ignoring others of a lower social class • What are other examples? • What are potential reactions by those receiving no attention? – Internalized reactions – Outward reactions Mattering Theory Definition Assumptions ►Implications
Types of Mattering • General (Awareness Mattering – mattering in a broad sense to society • Interpersonal (Relationship) – mattering to specific other people Awareness Relationship Importance Relationship Awareness Reliance Authenticity Importance Reliance
Awareness • We matter if others recognize, acknowledge, and pay attention to us. • Negative attention is better than no attention at all. Types of Mattering ►Awareness Relationship Importance • What are examples of ways to obtain others’ attention – in a positive way? – in a negative way? Reliance Authenticity
Relationship—Importance • We matter if others are interested in, concerned about, and invested in us. • We matter if we are someone’s “ego extension”—if they take pride in our accomplishments and feel shame over our shortcomings. Types of Mattering Awareness ►Relationship ►Importance Reliance Authenticity
Relationship—Reliance • We matter if others depend on us for resources for their needs or wants. • What are the benefits of this reliance for – the person being depended upon? – the person doing the depending? Types of Mattering Awareness ►Relationship Importance ►Reliance Authenticity
Genuine Mattering • When others attend to, care about, or rely on us as an end unto itself—not as a means to gain something for themselves • Insincerity: “I will pretend that you matter to me because [insert potential benefit to me]. ” • What examples from a school setting can you think of? Types of Mattering Awareness Relationship Importance Reliance ►Authenticity
Positive Relationship Mattering and • Self-esteem—evaluation of our own attributes • Self-monitoring—control of selfrepresentations that we put forth every day • Social support—resources that others provide us to aid us in our lives Relating Other Constructs ►Positive relationship Negative relationship Connections
Discuss Why might you expect a sense of mattering in someone who has • healthy self-esteem? • control of his/her selfrepresentation? • strong social support? Relating Other Constructs ►Positive relationship Negative relationship Connections
Negative Relationship Mattering and • Self-consciousness—chronic tendency to be the object of our own attention • Alienation – Meaninglessness—thinking that there are no rules for life, so social interactions are unpredictable – Normlessness—thinking that social rules are ineffective and should be broken Relating Other Constructs Positive relationship ►Negative relationship Connections
Discuss Why might you expect a low sense of mattering in someone who has • high self-consciousness? • a sense of meaninglessness? • a sense of normlessness? Relating Other Constructs Positive relationship ►Negative relationship Connections
Connections Mattering to others • High self-concept • High self-significance • Physical wellness • Psychosocial well-being • Social support • Job satisfaction Relating Other Constructs Positive relationship Negative relationship ►Connections
Connections Not mattering to others • Depression • Loneliness • Academic stress • Job-related stress • Deviant behavior Relating Other Constructs Positive relationship Negative relationship ►Connections
Mattering as a Teacher • We feel we matter to those whom we help. – Sense of mattering brings meaning and satisfaction to our work. • How will you tend to your own sense of mattering when – selecting a teaching job? – interacting with colleagues? – teaching students? Putting Mattering Theory into Practice ►With yourself With your students With this course
Mattering as a Student • Students whom we help feel they matter to us. – Sense of mattering leads to confidence, persistence, graduation, dedication, success, etc. • How will you tend to your students’ sense of mattering when – interacting with them • in the classroom? • outside the classroom? – responding to their behavior? Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself ►With your students With this course
Expressing How Others Matter • The perception of mattering—a sense of social support—is what’s important. • Others’ indicators that we matter won’t mean anything unless we notice those indicators. Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself ►With your students With this course
Discuss In your role as a teacher meaning to communicate to a student that he/she matters, how might you do so – verbally? – non-verbally? How can you check that he/she has noticed your verbal or non-verbal indicators? Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself ►With your students With this course
Students’ Differing Needs More study required: • Age • Sex • Ethnicity • Socioeconomic background • Sexual orientation • Family structure Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself ►With your students With this course
Key Concepts in Mattering • Attention—the sense that we are noticed • Importance—the belief that we say or do has importance • Ego extension—the feeling that others will be proud or disappointed in us • Dependence—the sense that someone is counting on us • Appreciation—the view that our efforts are appreciated Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself With your students ►With this course
Discuss Return to your writing from the beginning of class. • How can you interpret your experience with that teacher through the “lens” of mattering theory? Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself With your students ►With this course
Assignment See our course page on i. Moberg. com for assignments: – On-line discussion – Reading – Writing Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself With your students ►With this course
- Slides: 27