SOP3004 – Exam 2 – Florida State University –
2026 | Self-Concept, Motivation & Mindset
Study Guide A+ Graded
Self-Concept
The overall set of beliefs that people have about their personal attributes
Independent View of the Self
A way of defining oneself in terms of one's own internal thoughts, feelings, and actions and not
in terms of the thoughts, feelings, and actions of other people
Interdependent View of the Self
A way of defining oneself in terms of one's relationships to other people, recognizing that one's
behavior is often determined by the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others
Introspection
The process whereby people look inward and examine their own thoughts, feelings, and
motives
Self-Awareness Theory
The idea that when people focus their attention on themselves, they evaluate and compare
their behavior to their internal standards and values
Causal Theories
Theories about the causes of one's own feelings and behaviors; often we learn such theories
from our culture (e.g., 'absence makes the heart grow fonder')
Self-Perception Theory
The theory that when our attitudes and feelings are uncertain or ambiguous, we infer these
states by observing our behavior and the situation in which it occurs
Two-Factor Theory of Emotion
The idea that emotional experience is the result of a two-step self-perception process in which
people first experience physiological arousal and then seek an appropriate explanation for it
Misattribution of Arousal
, The process whereby people make mistaken inferences about what is causing them to feel the
way they do
Intrinsic Motivation
The desire to engage in an activity because we enjoy it or find it interesting, not because of
external rewards or pressures
Extrinsic Motivation
The desire to engage in an activity because of external rewards or pressures, not because we
enjoy the task or find it interesting
Overjustification Effect
The tendency for people to view their behavior as caused by compelling extrinsic reasons,
making them underestimate the extent to which it was caused by intrinsic reasons
Task-Contingent Rewards
Rewards that are given for performing a task, regardless of how well the task is done
Performance-Contingent Rewards
Rewards that are based on how well we perform a task
Fixed Mindset
The idea that we have a set amount of an ability that cannot change
Growth Mindset
The idea that achievement is the result of working hard, trying new strategies, and seeking
input from others
Social Comparison Theory
The idea that we learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to other
people
Upward Social Comparison
Comparing ourselves to people who are better than we are with regard to a particular trait or
ability
Downward Social Comparison
Comparing ourselves to people who are worse than we are with regard to a particular trait or
ability
2026 | Self-Concept, Motivation & Mindset
Study Guide A+ Graded
Self-Concept
The overall set of beliefs that people have about their personal attributes
Independent View of the Self
A way of defining oneself in terms of one's own internal thoughts, feelings, and actions and not
in terms of the thoughts, feelings, and actions of other people
Interdependent View of the Self
A way of defining oneself in terms of one's relationships to other people, recognizing that one's
behavior is often determined by the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others
Introspection
The process whereby people look inward and examine their own thoughts, feelings, and
motives
Self-Awareness Theory
The idea that when people focus their attention on themselves, they evaluate and compare
their behavior to their internal standards and values
Causal Theories
Theories about the causes of one's own feelings and behaviors; often we learn such theories
from our culture (e.g., 'absence makes the heart grow fonder')
Self-Perception Theory
The theory that when our attitudes and feelings are uncertain or ambiguous, we infer these
states by observing our behavior and the situation in which it occurs
Two-Factor Theory of Emotion
The idea that emotional experience is the result of a two-step self-perception process in which
people first experience physiological arousal and then seek an appropriate explanation for it
Misattribution of Arousal
, The process whereby people make mistaken inferences about what is causing them to feel the
way they do
Intrinsic Motivation
The desire to engage in an activity because we enjoy it or find it interesting, not because of
external rewards or pressures
Extrinsic Motivation
The desire to engage in an activity because of external rewards or pressures, not because we
enjoy the task or find it interesting
Overjustification Effect
The tendency for people to view their behavior as caused by compelling extrinsic reasons,
making them underestimate the extent to which it was caused by intrinsic reasons
Task-Contingent Rewards
Rewards that are given for performing a task, regardless of how well the task is done
Performance-Contingent Rewards
Rewards that are based on how well we perform a task
Fixed Mindset
The idea that we have a set amount of an ability that cannot change
Growth Mindset
The idea that achievement is the result of working hard, trying new strategies, and seeking
input from others
Social Comparison Theory
The idea that we learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to other
people
Upward Social Comparison
Comparing ourselves to people who are better than we are with regard to a particular trait or
ability
Downward Social Comparison
Comparing ourselves to people who are worse than we are with regard to a particular trait or
ability
