PSYC 223 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Cognitive Dissonance, Confirmation Bias
5 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
A self-concept is an individual"s mental representation of themselves. It is constructed from past experiences and on reflections of those experiences. Once ss are formed, they direct behavior in ways that elicit feedback consistent with the established ss. We desire to preserve the ways we see ourselves. If we see ourselves as healthy, we will work out and eat well to protect this view we have of ourselves. Secondly, ss motivate us to move our present selves towards a desired future self. Ideal possible selves initiate goal directed behavior because it makes us want to achieve something. Ss push us to want to obtain that view of ourselves that we have. There are three ways we unconsciously act to preserve our existing self-schemas. One way is by actively approaching information and engaging in behaviors that confirm our self-schemas. (confirmation bias) we avoid and ignore information that is inconsistent with how we see ourselves.
