Give an academic definition of “self concept” and explain its socializing influences according to theorists. (What is your personal self-concept; meaning how do you identify yourself? What things about your self concept do you wish you could change and how would you change them if you could? ) Do any of Wood’s guidelines for improving one’s self concept apply to you? (If so, how? If not, why not? Why do you feel you have been unable to change those perceptions of yourself?)
2. What is a “particular” (or significant) other according to communication researchers? ( Who are the significant others in your life? Why are each of these people significant? What have they taught you about yourself?)
3. How have your race, socio-economic class, sexual orientation, and/or gender identify affected your self concept (minimum of 2)? Are those effects consistent with what we have learned through research about how these specific cultural experiences impact self concept?
4. We rely on four interpersonal schemata to make sense of interpersonal phenomena-prototypes, personal constructs, stereotypes, and scripts. Summarize one schemata on which you rely the most heavily. (Discuss a time when your use of this schemata has lead to you perceive someone [context of interpersonal relationship] and/or something they have done unfairly. What would you do differently now?