Chapter 2 Perceiving the Self and Others 49Similarly, comparing your life to the (supposedly) exciting lives presented by
others on Facebook can have negative effects on your self-esteem (Chou & Edge,
2012). In contrast, becoming more “self-aware” by updating and giving thought
to a positive presentation of your own Facebook profile appears to enhance self-
esteem rather than diminish it (Gonzalez & Hancock, 2011; Toma, 2013).
Self-Efficacy: Assessing Your Own Abilities
Actor Peter Dinklage won a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of the
complex Tyrion Lannister in HBO’s popular original series, Game of Thrones
(Kois, 2012); he received an Emmy nomination for the same role. But there
THINK
ABOUT
THIS❶ Consider the different
elements that make up
both your self-concept
and your partner’s. What
do you each value? What
are your goals and ideals?
What are your thoughts
and beliefs about work,
relationships, and other
important matters?
❷ How might your self-
concept have affected the
way that you perceived
Peyton’s message about
the promotion? How might
the message have affected
your self-esteem?
❸ Now take Peyton’s
perspective. How might
your partner’s self-concept
have affected the way that
the news of the promo-
tion was shared with you?
How might your reaction
have affected Peyton’s
self- esteem?Ethics and the Self-Concept
You and your romantic partner, Peyton, have been together for three years
and have supported each other through many ups and downs, particularly in
your professional lives. Both of you have successful careers and have made
sacrifices to help each other achieve personal and professional goals. Most
recently, the two of you moved to Washington, D.C., from Saint Louis so that
Peyton could accept a promotion with a large financial investment firm. Since
you were thrilled for Peyton’s career opportunity and since you are able to
work from a home office, you consented to the move. But it has been difficult
because Peyton works long hours and your entire family and most of your
close friends are still in Saint Louis.
Peyton comes home early one afternoon to announce that the investment
firm has offered another promotion to a position that would require travel from
Monday to Friday two weeks out of the month. Peyton talks excitedly about
the increase in status and in pay and the new opportunities that the position
would afford you both. Your immediate reaction is one of anger. How could
Peyton consider taking a position that required so much travel, especially
since this would leave you alone in a city where you know few people and
where you work alone out of your home? Hadn’t you sacrificed enough by
moving halfway across the country for Peyton’s career?
You confront Peyton, who is first surprised and then angry. “I thought we
were working for the same thing—a better opportunity for our future,” Peyton
says. “I am good to you, and I give you everything you want. I thought I could
count on you to support me in this. It is not like it will be much different from
the way it is now since I work so late. After all, I’ll be home every weekend.”
You are hurt. You value harmony in your home and your relationships,
and you value time spent with your partner. You believe that you are a flexible,
reasonable person who appreciates joint decision-making. You feel that you
have been supportive and that you have made Peyton’s career a priority in
your home. Peyton’s reaction, however, sends a much different message that
makes you uneasy. You are upset by the different ways that you and Peyton
perceive the situation and the ensuing communication difficulties.EVALUATINGCOMMUNICATIONETHICS