What is mediation in psychology?
It explains why or how a causal relationship occurs: X → M → Y.
What makes a variable a true mediator?
It must be causally predicted by the independent variable and must causally predict the dependent variable.
• First, the independent variable (IV) has to cause a change in the mediator. • Then, the mediator has to cause a change in the dependent variable (DV).
What is positive mediation?
t explains a positive relationship (e.g., ↑ heart rate → ↑ blood pressure → ↑ heart attack risk).
What is negative mediation?
It explains a negative relationship (e.g., ↑ contact → ↑ empathy → ↓ prejudice).
What is a self-concept?
It’s how we describe ourselves to ourselves and others—a collection of self-aspects or identities.
Is the self-concept fixed or flexible?
It’s adaptive, multifaceted, and changes across time, situations, and cultures.
What does “power of the situation” mean?
Situations influence which self-aspects we activate to suit the moment.
How does the self-concept evolve?
We add or discard self-aspects as we grow and learn what serves us.
What makes a self-aspect salient?
Its relevance to the current context, goals, or motivations.
Can multiple self-aspects be salient at once?
Yes—especially when different goals are activated.
Are salient self-aspects always consciously chosen?
No—many are activated unconsciously.
What defines a central self-aspect?
It’s emotionally intense, frequently activated, and guides behavior across many situations.
What defines a peripheral self-aspect?
It’s less important, more context-dependent, and easier to discard.
What are signs of centrality?
- Default across situations
- Strong pride or shame
- Guides behavior unconsciously
- Hard to discard
- Consistent over time
Why are central self-aspects harder to change?
They’re deeply tied to identity and often linked to traits we can’t change (e.g., race, gender).
Why is the self considered multifaceted and adaptive?
Because we shift identities across contexts to meet different demands.
Why might someone feel inadequate in a situation?
If none of their self-aspects feel relevant or useful in that moment.
Is the coherence of self real or imagined?
Partly imagined—we change over time and across contexts.
Definition: The sense that your identity is stable, consistent, and integrated across time and situations.
• High Coherence: Clear narrative about who you are; beliefs and values align.
• Low Coherence: Fragmented or unstable sense of self; acting inconsistently in different contexts.
• Example: Feeling like the “same person” at work, with friends, and alone versus feeling like you have to be completely different depending on the group.
How often are identities activated unconsciously?
Most of the time—though they can be consciously activated for strategic reasons.
What are the three levels of identity?
- Personal: What makes me unique
- Relational: Who I am in relationships
- Collective: What I share with a group
Can personal identity exist without collective identity?
No—personal traits derive meaning from comparison to others.
How can “animal lover” be expressed at different levels?
- Personal: “I am an animal lover”
- Relational: Loving specific animals
- Collective: Protecting animals as a group
When do intergroup relations occur?
When people think, feel, and act as group members (“us” vs. “them”).
What is the interpersonal–intergroup continuum?
A spectrum showing how identity shifts between personal and collective depending on context. Social identity theory
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Week 133
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Week 231
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Wright & Taylor42
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week 351
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Week 4 Prejudice and Moderation17
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Bullock 2008 Justifying Inequality37
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Guest Lecture20
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Ambivalent Sexism42
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Collective Action through Social Change (Wright 2010)41
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Lecture 9 Stereotype content model22
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Lecture 10 Sexisim22
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uncertain self in a changing world26
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Lecture 11 Social Identity23
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Uncertainty Identity Theory65
