Refers to whether our attention is directed toward the self (self-awareness) or towards external factors. In self-awareness, we tend to judge our behavior against an internalized standard and adjust behavior to fit that standard.

Alma College

Self-regulations are conscious and unconscious motivations and controlling actions that guide us towards achieving our personal goals. Some examples of these motivations include the need for consistent and accurate self, the desire to improve the self, and self-enhancement.

Motivations and Self-Regulation

Fiske, S. T., & Taylor, S. E. (2017). Social cognition: From brains to culture. London: Sage Publications. 

 Social Cognition: From Brains to Culture 3rd Edition

People compare their current self to internalized standards or the “ideal/ought self.” Inconsistencies among these different selves are associated with emotional discomforts that motivate us to take actions to help meet our ideal self.

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Proposed by Albert Bandura, self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their own ability to successfully complete a specific task. This belief, which can be influenced by past successes in similar tasks, is considered a key factor in determining a person's motivation, emotional state, and subsequent behavior.

Self-Efficacy

A sense of mastery that gives people the necessary resources to be able to plan to achieve their goals, deal with problems that thwart their progress, and pursue self-regulatory activities.

Sense of Personal Control

Self-Focus

Situations of Events That Impairs Our Ability To Self-Regulate:
- Social Exclusion
- High Cognitive Load

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