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Self-Attention Theory: The Effects of Group Composition on the Individual

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Theories of Group Behavior

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Social Psychology ((SSSOC))

Abstract

Self-attention theory (Carver, 1979, 1984; Carver & Scheier, 1981; Duval & Wicklund, 1972; Mullen, 1983) is concerned with self-regulation processes that occur as a result of becoming the figure of one’s attentional focus. According to self-attention theory, there are three fundamental requirements for any self-regulation of behavior to occur. These requirements are: self-focused attention, a salient behavioral standard, and a sufficiently good outcome expectancy to warrent continued efforts. We will begin by delineating each of these three elements of self-attention theory.

The self is the Summum Genus of the psychologist, the theoretical concept which expresses the necessity he finds for a common reference in all the phenomena he considers

(MacDougall, 1916)

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  1. Brian Mullen
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, 13210, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Brian Mullen

  2. Department of Psychology, Williams College, 01267, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA

    George R. Goethals

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Mullen, B. (1987). Self-Attention Theory: The Effects of Group Composition on the Individual. In: Mullen, B., Goethals, G.R. (eds) Theories of Group Behavior. Springer Series in Social Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4634-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4634-3_7

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