When studying social psychology, one area of focus is examining how individuals perceive themselves and how various factors impact their behavior. Several processes and theories are pertinent to this field, such as impression management, social tuning, social comparisons, mindsets, and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. This essay will delve into the core principles of each process while also incorporating personal examples from the author’s own experiences. Impression management entails the deliberate or subconscious actions that individuals take in order to shape how others perceive them.
During adolescence, impression management plays a significant role in creating a positive self-image through techniques such as gift-giving and compliments. This becomes particularly influential because at this stage individuals are highly influenced by others’ opinions. I personally encountered this situation when my family relocated from inner city St. Louis to a small town in northeast Arkansas with only 2,000 residents during my twelfth year. The town had a strong elitist culture, which made it difficult for newcomers like me to feel accepted. At the junior high, most students had known each other since kindergarten and already formed social groups.
Laura Beth Williams, a kind girl with lovely long, curly, strawberry blonde hair and adorable outfits, made me feel welcome. Her dad owned a nearby nursery and she had four sisters. She invited me to join her at lunch, guided me during lunchtime, and shared information about teachers and classes. I was deeply grateful for her kindness and desired to reciprocate by doing something nice. Moreover, I aspired for other students to perceive me positively and potentially include me too.
One day at school, I brought a turquoise ring to give to Laura Beth as a token of my appreciation. I was extremely excited as I imagined how my classmates would react. However, this excitement led to my downfall. Instead of just giving Laura Beth the beautiful costume jewelry, my mind created an elaborate scenario that ended in disaster. During our first hour study hall, I made sure to show the ring to several people, making it a big deal.
I informed them that my maternal grandfather was a pure Native American, and that he had given me a beautiful piece of turquoise jewelry as a token of gratitude for Laura Beth’s help and welcoming attitude. The class was impressed, and I knew I had gained acceptance in this new social circle. However, everything took a turn when one of the boys requested to see the ring. I overheard a sinister chuckle as he examined it, and then he loudly exclaimed, “Hey, Gina, is your grandfather named Chief Avon?” I was ashamed and devastated, and I burst into tears, feeling remorseful for inventing the story.
From that day on, the students became more helpful and welcoming, which taught me a valuable lesson about lying and trying to impress others. According to Segev, Shoham, and Ruvio (2013), being self-conscious in adolescence can be positively correlated with gift giving. Adolescents value their peer relationships and may give gifts to maintain friendships. Additionally, social tuning refers to humans being more drawn to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of their own social group.
The development of culture involves a tendency towards similar knowledge, customs, and beliefs. My daughter, Nikki, is an average American young woman in her 20s who has enjoyed the privileges and luxuries that our country offers. Like many of us, she can be perceived as somewhat spoiled. However, at the age of 22, Nikki chose to serve as a teacher-missionary in an orphanage located in Honduras. To prepare for this venture, she attended language school in Nicaragua and spent two years teaching elementary students in the mountains near Tegucigalpa. After completing her mission, she came back to the United States.
Nikki used to frequently switch to Spanish, particularly when she felt anxious or enthusiastic, and she enjoyed visiting the Mexican eateries in the area. She claimed it made her “feel more at home”. However, since she returned two years ago, Nikki no longer spontaneously speaks in Spanish nor does she visit Mexican restaurants as often. Despite living in Honduras for over two years not turning Nikki into a Honduran, social tuning initiated an acculturation process. In fact, a study conducted in 2010 revealed that individuals tend to exhibit greater psychological and cognitive presence within their own social groups.
The study analyzed the impact of words, paintings, and time limits on individuals. It focused on participants with a shared cultural background to understand their responses to stimuli. The results showed that cognitive and psychological reactions were reduced when individuals perceived differences among themselves. Humans possess an innate tendency to compare themselves with others both personally and collectively, known as social comparison. This phenomenon can result in either favorable or unfavorable outcomes.
Comparing one’s driving history to others can impact their self-confidence. If someone has received three speeding tickets, they may feel reassured if they have fewer accidents or tickets than others. However, their self-perception might diminish when comparing themselves to an individual who has never had an accident or received a ticket. It is crucial to acknowledge that these comparisons do not alter the individual’s actual driving skills but solely influence how they perceive them. Recent research indicates that negative effects on mental health stem from the quality of social networking experiences rather than the number of interactions.
Research has not examined the reasons behind the correlation between comparing oneself unfavorably with others on Facebook and increased depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to investigate whether this type of comparison leads to heightened depressive symptoms and if rumination plays a role in this connection. To achieve this, a group of 268 college-aged individuals completed an initial online questionnaire and then participated in a follow-up survey after 3 weeks. Path analysis was used to test the proposed model, which hypothesized that engaging in negative social comparison on Facebook would lead to increased rumination, ultimately resulting in depressive symptoms.
The study examined the influence of social comparison on Facebook, taking into account general social comparison. The findings indicated a significant mediation effect. In conclusion, engaging in unfavorable self-comparisons with others on social networking sites can lead to increased rumination and ultimately contribute to depressive symptoms. These results improve our understanding of the association between negative mental health consequences and social media usage, highlighting the importance of investigating the particular mechanisms involved.
