This journal entry discusses the key concepts of self-concept, self-serving bias, and self-efficacy that the author learned about from lectures. For self-concept, the author notes how one's sense of self is shaped by daily life experiences and differs between individualistic Western cultures and more collectivist Eastern cultures. For self-serving bias, the author explains how people tend to accept success but defend failure by blaming external factors. For self-efficacy, having a belief in one's abilities to complete tasks is important, as losing confidence can cause giving up. The author found learning about these psychological concepts useful for gaining self-knowledge to lead healthy, successful lives.

1. Journal 1
Self-concept
After several lectures given by lecturer, I have known myself better, especially
through the self-concept, self-serving bias, and self-efficacy. For the self-concept, it
has been proven that our sense of self affected by our daily lives. For an example,
those who are poor would not describe them as rich guys when come to the time to
define themselves. Besides, we tend to care ourselves more than others due to the
spotlight effect.However, what about those benevolence people such as mother
Teresa? Well, there’re some exceptions as no all people put themselves at the first
place while they really selfless. Therefore, I found myself not much agree with the
spotlight effect.
Western and Eastern countries haves different opinion on the self-concept. Western
people are more to Individualism and Asian and the third world are more to
collectivism. Western people care more about themselves than to others. It can be
seen very obvious while happened such calamities like earthquake or Tsunami.
Western people will fight or even kill among themselves in order to survive. On the
other hand, Asian country such as Japan was dealing with Tsunami and nuclear
explosion in a gentle reaction. They didn’t fight among themselves while still lining
up to collect food from the authorities.
We tend to wrongly predicting our response toward certain accident. We thought we
might be calm while dealing with difficulties but what happened to the reality is
totally different. Another example that happened to me, before exam I feel like I am
well prepared, however I felt nervous while dealing with unfamiliar question written
on the paper. In contrast, when I feel I am not well prepared, I’ll be more confident
while dealing with those questions.

2. Self –serving Bias
For the self-serving bias lecture, I found it interesting to explore the common
personalities that all of us will have. We would accept when we succeed while
defense for our failure. We would blame other external factors for our failure and
without doing any self-reflection. Therefore, children whose parents have wrong
attitude would not changed their attitude although being pointed out by friends as
their parents reassure them are doing the right things.
For the false consensus and false uniqueness effect, I have learnt that we will find
support for our position by overestimating others’ level of acceptance. It is caused by
the self-serving bias. For the false uniqueness effect, we tend to underestimate others’
abilities, which are same as us due to the reluctance of sharing the ‘spotlight’.

3. Self-efficacy
What I found it most interesting is the last part, self-efficacy. It happened to me as
well. If I have the belief of doing some works especially artworks that need a lot of
self-efficacy, I would do until finish it. However, if I suddenly lose confidence of
continuing my work, I would give up half the way. As in the lecture, I have learnt to
be optimistic, think positive just like those babies in the video. First, it lost his job, it
then pack things back home, however the box dropped, it then happily go home
without carrying anything. After that, its car got clamped, it then enjoying walking
home. Last, it dropped its key; it then went out to play! Therefore, enjoy everything in
life no matter is good or bad.
Know more about us will lead to healthy and successful lives. Therefore, this lecture
is useful for me. Thank you.
Written by
Chan Pin Qi
0314676