Self-monitoring is how a person maintains their appearance. Self-monitoring is the image a person creates for himself and the difference in their public and private identities. Most people fall under one of two levels of self-monitoring: high and low self-monitoring. Mark Snyder is a professor of the Psychology department at the University of Minnesota where he conducted research on the two different levels.
High self-monitors and low self-monitors have different ideas of self. High self-monitors control themselves around others in social settings. These monitors are more interested in fitting in at the cost of losing their sense of self. When in strange groups they tend to "create, encourage, and maintain a smooth flow of conversation" (Snyder 40). They are generally leaders and organizers or their social circles. They are attracted to brand names that will attract the respect of others. The drawback that high self-monitors usually suffer from is losing their sense of ideas, beliefs, and intentions. This creates "...contradictions between their attitudes and their actions" (Snyder 41).
Other researchers found similar results. Bill Swann and Mike Snyder had students serve on a mock jury that was trying a case on sexual discrimination. The jurors read reasons on why a university chose a man, not a woman, for a high status position. The overall reaction of all the jurors was modest for affirmative action. The difference came in when the verdicts came in from the different levels of self-monitoring. Low self-monitors verdicts matched their feelings on affirmative action. High self-monitors did not necessarily choose a verdict that matched their beliefs on affirmative action. This proves the point that low self-monitors "manifest...greater consistency between attitudes and behavior" than do high self monitors. (Snyder 41)
Mark Snyder, the author and Tom Monson attempted to research high and low self-monitors through demonstrations. For one demonstration, they brought a group of college students together for discussions. Two video cameras were set up with the intention of later showing the tape to a psychology class. A microphone, monitor, table, and chairs was also set up in the room. Another demonstration also brought a group of students togeth
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