Chapter 4 of Aronson's "The Social Animal", titled "Social Cognition", discusses the ways in which our own biases and self-perceptions can affect our social cognition. It begins with a discussion of the actor-observer bias and how it can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. The Storms experiment is cited as a way to change perspectives and prevent conflict. The chapter then transitions to the ways in which self-perception can influence social cognition. Egocentric thought is discussed, which is the tendency to perceive oneself as more central to events than is actually the case. The self-serving bias is also explored, which refers to the tendency to make dispositional attributions for successes and situational attributions for failures. Both egocentric thought and the self-serving bias can be motivated by a desire to maintain high self-esteem and protect our self-concept.
Aronson also acknowledges that self-biases can serve important purposes. For example, the belief that one is the cause of good things can lead to increased effort and persistence to achieve difficult goals. However, Aronson also notes that these biases can have a distorted picture of the self and the world in general. The self-serving bias can lead to denial and excuses for failure, while egocentric thought can lead to a sense of being the center of the universe, which can be detrimental in areas such as international relations.
Despite the potential negative consequences, self-biases can also have positive consequences. For example, the belief that a defeat is due to bad luck and can be overcome by effort and ability can lead to more achievement, better health, and an improved mental outlook. Additionally, engaging in egocentric thought and self-serving attributions can have an array of benefits.
In summary, Chapter 4 of Aronson's "The Social Animal" highlights the complex ways in which our own biases and self-perceptions can affect our social cognition. It acknowledges that while self-biases can have positive consequences, they can also lead to distorted perceptions of the self and the world.