Write to Discuss

1. Write to Discuss Recall and write about a teacher who showed you that you “mattered.” How did you know? How did he/she show you that?

2. PSYC 353: Adolescent Psychology June 20, 2008 Mattering Theory “To be of importance to others is to be alive.” – T. S. Eliot Kevin Moberg

3. Agenda • Review and discuss major concepts of Mattering Theory • Apply those concepts to your own experiences • Apply those concepts to your work as a teacher

4. Mattering Defined Mattering Theory ►Definition Assumptions Implications • Fundamental need that we have to feel important and significant to others • Extent to which we make a difference in the world around us • To whom and to what degree we perceive that we matter

5. Assumptions Mattering Theory Definition ►Assumptions Implications • Humans need to matter—it’s not merely a nice perk of social living but is instead a fundamental component of our self-identity. • Society, too, needs humans to matter—social bonding and interdependence depend on our wanting to matter to one another.

6. Discuss Mattering Theory Definition ►Assumptions Implications • Why does society depend on our feeling as though we matter? • Why would a school community depend on its members’ feeling as though they matter?

7. Not Mattering Mattering Theory Definition Assumptions ►Implications • If we don’t notice, believe, or receive indicators from others that we matter • Consequence  we must find or create ways to cope with the realization that we do not matter • Even negative attention is preferable to no attention whatsoever.

8. Not Mattering Mattering Theory Definition Assumptions ►Implications • “Shunning” in US military academies • Ignoring others of a lower social class • What are other examples? • What are potential reactions by those receiving no attention? • Internalized reactions • Outward reactions

9. Types of Mattering Types of Mattering Awareness Relationship Importance Reliance Authenticity • General (Awareness • mattering in a broad sense to society • Interpersonal (Relationship) • mattering to specific other people

10. Awareness Types of Mattering ►Awareness Relationship Importance Reliance Authenticity • We matter if others recognize, acknowledge, and pay attention to us. • Negative attention is better than no attention at all. • What are examples of ways to obtain others’ attention • in a positive way? • in a negative way?

11. Relationship—Importance Types of Mattering Awareness ►Relationship ►Importance Reliance Authenticity • We matter if others are interested in, concerned about, and invested in us. • We matter if we are someone’s “ego extension”—if they take pride in our accomplishments and feel shame over our shortcomings.

12. Relationship—Reliance Types of Mattering Awareness ►Relationship Importance ►Reliance Authenticity • We matter if others depend on us for resources for their needs or wants. • What are the benefits of this reliance for • the person being depended upon? • the person doing the depending?

13. Genuine Mattering Types of Mattering Awareness Relationship Importance Reliance ►Authenticity • When others attend to, care about, or rely on us as an end unto itself—not as a means to gain something for themselves • Insincerity: “I will pretend that you matter to me because [insert potential benefit to me].” • What examples from a school setting can you think of?

14. Positive Relationship Relating Other Constructs ►Positive relationship Negative relationship Connections Mattering and • Self-esteem—evaluation of our own attributes • Self-monitoring—control of self-representations that we put forth every day • Social support—resources that others provide us to aid us in our lives

15. Discuss Relating Other Constructs ►Positive relationship Negative relationship Connections Why might you expect a sense of mattering in someone who has • healthy self-esteem? • control of his/her self-representation? • strong social support?

16. Negative Relationship Relating Other Constructs Positive relationship ►Negative relationship Connections Mattering and • Self-consciousness—chronic tendency to be the object of our own attention • Alienation • Meaninglessness—thinking that there are no rules for life, so social interactions are unpredictable • Normlessness—thinking that social rules are ineffective and should be broken

17. Discuss Relating Other Constructs Positive relationship ►Negative relationship Connections Why might you expect a low sense of mattering in someone who has • high self-consciousness? • a sense of meaninglessness? • a sense of normlessness?

18. Connections Relating Other Constructs Positive relationship Negative relationship ►Connections Mattering to others  • High self-concept • High self-significance • Physical wellness • Psychosocial well-being • Social support • Job satisfaction

19. Connections Relating Other Constructs Positive relationship Negative relationship ►Connections Not mattering to others  • Depression • Loneliness • Academic stress • Job-related stress • Deviant behavior

20. Mattering as a Teacher Putting Mattering Theory into Practice ►With yourself With your students With this course • We feel we matter to those whom we help. • Sense of mattering brings meaning and satisfaction to our work. • How will you tend to your own sense of mattering when • selecting a teaching job? • interacting with colleagues? • teaching students?

21. Mattering as a Student Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself ►With your students With this course • Students whom we help feel they matter to us. • Sense of mattering leads to confidence, persistence, graduation, dedication, success, etc. • How will you tend to your students’ sense of mattering when • interacting with them • in the classroom? • outside the classroom? • responding to their behavior?

22. Expressing How Others Matter Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself ►With your students With this course • The perception of mattering—a sense of social support—is what’s important. • Others’ indicators that we matter won’t mean anything unless we notice those indicators.

23. Discuss Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself ►With your students With this course In your role as a teacher meaning to communicate to a student that he/she matters, how might you do so • verbally? • non-verbally? How can you check that he/she has noticed your verbal or non-verbal indicators?

24. Students’ Differing Needs Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself ►With your students With this course More study required: • Age • Sex • Ethnicity • Socioeconomic background • Sexual orientation • Family structure

25. Key Concepts in Mattering Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself With your students ►With this course • Attention—the sense that we are noticed • Importance—the belief that what we say or do has importance • Ego extension—the feeling that others will be proud or disappointed in us • Dependence—the sense that someone is counting on us • Appreciation—the view that our efforts are appreciated

26. Discuss Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself With your students ►With this course Return to your writing from the beginning of class. • How can you interpret your experience with that teacher through the “lens” of mattering theory?

27. Assignment Putting Mattering Theory into Practice With yourself With your students ►With this course See our course page on iMoberg.com for assignments: • On-line discussion • Reading • Writing