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The Golden Section and structure of self-concepts
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|December 1, 1977
Summary
This study found that perceived differences between oneself and a new acquaintance closely matched the predicted 0.368 proportion. These findings suggest self-perception is shaped by contrasting oneself against others.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Self-Perception
Background:
- Understanding self-perception is crucial in social psychology.
- Previous research suggests self-other comparisons influence impression formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that the mean proportion of perceived differences between self and a new acquaintance is approximately 0.368.
- To investigate the role of perceived differences in defining the self.
Main Methods:
- Undergraduate students (15 women, 15 men) interacted briefly with a new acquaintance.
- Participants rated themselves and the acquaintance on 22 self-elicited bipolar dimensions.
- Calculated the mean proportion of judgments of unlike-self for the acquaintance.
Main Results:
- The mean proportion of perceived differences was 0.364.
- This result closely approximated the hypothesized value of 0.368.
- Findings align with related experimental outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Perceived differences between self and others play a significant role in impression formation.
- These differences may delineate the self as a distinct entity against a backdrop of similarities.