The Evaluative Organization of Self-Knowledge

Abstract

Imagine two individuals, both of whom would describe their “social” selves with the same set of attributes: shy, loyal, awkward, lonely, cheerful, kind, energetic, respectful, nervous, and bored. Let’s say that these two persons both find themselves talking to strangers at a formal reception, an experience that activates their perceptions of themselves as shy. Yet one of our characters, when he feels shy, thinks to himself, “Not only am I shy, I’m also often lonely and sometimes awkward.” The second person, although she too knows that she is often lonely and sometimes awkward, may not necessarily bring these attributes to mind in this context. Instead, she might think to herself, “I may be shy, but I’m also a loyal friend.” Presumably, the latter thought moderates negative feelings about being shy by linking shyness to a positive belief about the self. In contrast, the first individual’s stream of thought—shy, lonely, awkward—probably contributes to a very strong negative reaction in this situation.