Transcript Self-Concept Self-Awareness Self-Esteem Self-Disclosure

Lecture 19
Self-Concept
Self-Awareness
Self-Esteem
Self-Disclosure
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l. Self-Concept

How you view yourself or your self image

A. Others’ Images of You

B. Social Comparisons

C. Cultural Teachings

D. Your Own Interpretations and Experiences
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II. Self-Awareness
 The
goal is to be as open of a
communicator as possible
 Johari
Window: a tool that represents
your communication behavior.
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Johari Window
Known to
Others
Not
Known
to Others
Known
to Self
Not Known
to Self
Open
Self
Blind
Self
Hidden Unknown
Self
Self
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III. Self-Esteem

Your own evaluation of worth

Attack your Self-Destructive Beliefs

Engage in Self-Affirmation

Seek Out Nourishing People

Work on Projects that will Result in Success
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IV. Self-Disclosure

Sharing previously unknown personal
information and experiences with another
person

A. Factors Influencing Self-Disclosure

Who You Are

Culture

Gender

Your Listeners

Topic
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IV. Self-Disclosure (con’t)

B. To be effective, self-disclosure
includes:
 feelings more than facts
 greater breadth and depth over time
 a focus on the present, not past
 reciprocity
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Guidelines for
Self-Disclosure




Discuss situations as they happen
Choose appropriate time and place
Choose appropriate level of disclosure
Share feelings and thoughts – move from
self description to self-disclosure as
appropriate
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Rewards of Self-Disclosure








Allows validation of one’s perception of
reality
Brings psychological relief through sharing
Creates better lines of communication
Increases physiological health
Helps reduce stress, tension, and adversity
Addresses intimacy needs
Increases one’s self-awareness and selfunderstanding
Strengthens relationships
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Dangers of Self-Disclosure

Personal risks

Relational risks

Professional risks
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V. Communication in
Developing Relationships

How does communication change as
people go from casual encounters to a
more committed relationship?
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A. Theory of Social Penetration

1. As relationship progresses communication increases in:



2. Self-disclosure: changes over time



Breadth: number of topics discussed
Depth: intimacy of topics discussed
Initially mostly superficial
Later more meaningful
3. “Quick encounters”:


Strangers on the bus: no continuation
Fast romances: may be vulnerable to fast
termination
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B. Self-disclosure Reciprocity

1. Greater among strangers than
established partners.

2. Once we feel close to someone, we do
not feel the need to reciprocate
immediately.

3. However, when we are trying to become
close to someone, immediate reciprocity in
self-disclosure may be crucial in helping
the relationship to grow.
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C. Privacy is important, too.

1. People need their privacy even within the
context of a close, intimate relationship.

2. The theory of social penetration
describes the way people develop the
capacity to share and disclose with one
another.

3. Social penetration theory does not imply
that we should always be making use of
the capability to self-disclose to others.
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VI. Gender Differences in
Communication


A. Self-disclosure:
 1. Females self-disclose more than
males, particularly in regard to personal
feelings.
 2. Males disclose personal facts.
B. Avoiding Self-disclosure
 1. Females are concerned about lack of
response.
 2. Males are concerned about lack of
practical assistance.
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
C. The roles people play: Expressive
versus Instrumental
 1. Women are more socially sensitive





Better at sending and receiving non-verbal
messages.
Better listeners.
More empathic.
More consoling to others in distress.
2. Men are more reliable


Young males: empathy leads to helping.
More reassuring, problem oriented, willing to
compromise during conflict.
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
C. The roles people play: Expressive
versus Instrumental
 3. Women are more hostile and
confusing



Express more negative emotion, are more coercive.
Use more double, contradictory messages.
4. Men are more emotionally constricted


Unresponsive to others.
Inexpressive of their own feelings.
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
D. Why can’t a man be more like a woman
(and vice versa)?
 1. Cultural stereotypes.
 2. Other people reward us for
conforming to the stereotypes.
 3. Parents may socialize us to conform
to the stereotypes.
 4. Possible “sex-linked biobehavioral
predispositions” (i.e. genetic
explanation)
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
E. Difficult does not mean impossible:
Improving male-female communication
 1. Androgyny: Both males and females
become both instrumental & expressive.
 2. Remember the good parts of the other
person’s communication style.
 3. Try to speak the other person’s
language.
 4. Get a “interpreter” if it’s necessary.
 5. Express your love; express that you’re
trying.
 6. Listen when your partner says these
things to you.
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