Post #6: Helping Ourselves to a Better Self-Image
As We Look Forward to Essay Two, This Discussion Post Will Help Us Start Our Thinking
Background:
Chapter 6 (“Cheating Ourselves”) of The Honest Truth About Dishonesty gets at the heart of the problem of cheating sometimes just that little bit, as Ariely proves this is something we humans do. Chapter 6 makes the connection between cheating just a little bit and self-image, with the point being that self-image and self-identity are never truly authentic. In our effort to create a healthy and productive sense of self (through which we survive, gain confidence, and relate to others in the world), we “cheat just a little bit.” Such cheating, when it comes to identity, can be EITHER a help or a counter-force to creating what we really want, which is a “true” and authentic identity. In other words, we catch ourselves in a loop of “cheating just a little bit” that, in turn, shapes identity. Sometime the cheating we do in this sense (as in “helping ourselves to a higher MENSA score”) feeds back positively into our identity (“Hey, maybe I really am super-smart!”), or it can backfire (as when we realize that our fake sunglasses are turning us into selves we do not admire).
Chapter 6 demonstrates this push-and-pull factor of self-signaling behaviors with its starting episode of the little blue crab. Ariely explains the connection: the blue crab puffs itself up to appear bigger (and “believes” it IS in fact bigger). The chapter continues with a fascinating (and comical) story of Ariely actually convincing himself, for a time, that he cannot walk and that he needs a wheelchair, as a way to be more comfortable at the airport and on the plane—in spite of the fact that he knew starting out at the airport that he and his friend were only “acting out” a disability for their advantage. As well, he demonstrates the effect on the self when people receive honors for accomplishments that they did not fully earn. All these examples show individuals puffing themselves up in various ways. Not surprisingly, the results may increase confidence OR they may ultimately backfire.
Certainly, Instagram and Facebook are ways we “cheat a little bit” when we look to help ourselves to a better self-image.
I hope you find that these thoughts, and this last discussion board post of the semester, inspire writing and independent research as we move toward Essay Two.
May2024StepsForDiscussion Post 6 Helping Ourselves to a Better Self-Image (3).docx
Please open the attached handout for directions to this Discussion Post #6, due Wednesday, May 22.
Discussion Post #5:
Chapter 6 of Ariely: Helping Ourselves to a Better Self-Image (The official title of the chapter is “Cheating Ourselves”)
First read the background paragraph I wrote as an introduction to this Discussion Post assignment in the Week Eight page. Then do the following:
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Directions for Discussion Post #5:
As we prepare to think about our third and final essay, Independent Research, please do the following post:
Think of a type of posting that goes on in social media that seems to fall into the category of “posting for a better self-image.” To do this, think of a group of people who post on basically the same theme. For example, there are some people who typically post about their achievements in a certain sport or their remarkable physical activity; there are people who post about positive body image. Others post about their children, while others may post about yoga poses, their fashion nails, high-style lifestyle, or their super-juicing.
Again, this is a type of posting you regularly notice and have comments and observations about, whether positive or negative.
Write ONE paragraph:
1. Tell about and describe this type of posting and who is doing it. Perhaps we have never heard of it before, so let us see what you see. (You could start off, “The type of posting for better self-image that I want to comment on is ____”)
2. Characterize the posts (by repeating some of the phrases, words, messages, memes) from your perspective. How would someone new to social media recognize this type of post?? (Again, take a stance: it could be positive, negative, or “I just find this interesting!”)
3. Say—as if you were a psychologist or sociologist—whatyou think is the motivation or social “source” for this kind of posting? Get psychological! Get some back-up from PsychologyToday.com or Verywellmind.com if you have to.
4. Overall, decide: Would you want to explore this kind of posting in a bigger way? Explain.
5. Last but not least, please include an interesting link that will serve as an example of this kind of posting.
Please write a 250-word post to take care of all these questions (250 words in total, though you could write more). This will be sooo interesting for all of us!
