The Dynamic Self-Concept: A Social Psychological Perspective
Abstract
incorporating first behaviors (e.g. good at doing sums), then traits (smart), then single abstractions (scientific), then higher order abstrac tions (intellectual). Within each of the phases, there is an alternating sequence of first overgeneralizing self-conceptions and then differentiating
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Personal advice queries often concern self- and social perception, making them particularly vulnerable to harms of uncritical affirmation, with sycophancy potentially reinforcing maladaptive beliefs and behaviors.
“Because such queries often concern self-and social perception, they are particularly vulnerable to the harms of uncritical affirmation, with sycophancy potentially reinforcing maladaptive beliefs and behaviors by validating less constructive interpretations of self and social dynamics (Markus and Wurf, 1987;Dweck and Leggett, 1988;Walton and Wilson, 2018).”
From Sycophantic AI decreases prosocial intentions and promotes dependence (2026) · cites this paper as Markus and Wurf, 1987
People value streaks and seek to preserve them.
“Findings from several literatures support the notion that people value streaks and seek to preserve them.”
From On or Off Track: How (Broken) Streaks Affect Consumer Decisions (2023) · cites this paper as Markus and Wurf 1987
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“Here, the person’s self-concept comes into play, which is closely linked to identity (Markus and Wurf, 1987) and is therefore also captured in the JOPI.”
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“At any one time, only a subset of self-schema are accessed and invoked, depending on both the self-motives being served and the particular demands and affordances of the immediate social situation (Markus and Wurf, 1987).”
BackgroundResultInfluential
- Authors
- Markus, H., & Wurf, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- ORCID
- Markus, H
- Venue
- Annual Review of Psychology
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 1987-01
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 299-337
- ISSN
- 0066-4308 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-2085
- OpenAlex
- W2119572666
- Cited by
- 3,089
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 71 · 2025: 84 · 2024: 113 · 2023: 101 · 2022: 90 · 2021: 86 · 2020: 203 · 2019: 145 · 2018: 116 · 2017: 99 · 2016: 117 · 2015: 116 · 2014: 136 · 2013: 106 · 2012: 137
- FWCI
- 34.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Keywords
- self-concept, self-concept development, self-concept change
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