CHAPTER 2
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE
SELF
Sociological views of the self
The self as product of modern society:
WHAT TO DO?
WHO TO BE?
HOW TO ACT?
The Self as a necessary fiction
-Belief that cannot be proven to be true
but necessary to sustain life since people
need some sense of certainty in a world of
constant change
Post modern view of the self
(DIGITALIZED SELF)
No authentic Self
Your self identity keeps on changing and
being redefined by the kind of society you
are associated with
WALTER TRUETT ANDERSON
-Multiphrenia
-Protean
-Decentered Self
-Self in Relation
a.)Multiphrenia
- Many voices in different cultures that tell
who and what a person is. The idea of
“Authentic Self” with knowable
characteristics recedes from view because
of the many roles that a person needs to
do in conformity with the kind of society
he/she is into.
There is no authentic self but a
multidimensional self.
b.)Protean
- The popular notion “walang forever” may
best describe this post modern view of the
self because this means that the self is
capable of changing constantly to conform
with the present circumstances. It may
include changing political opinions and
sexual behavior, changing of ideas and
ways of expressing them.
There is no true and stable self.
C.) Decentered self
- A belief that there is no self at all
because the self is constantly redefined
and constantly undergoing change.
TWO SIDES OF THE SELF
Self is not fixed and has no enduring
meaning.
D.) Self in Relation
- A person’s life is not lived of
himself/herself but in relation to people
and to certain cultural contexts.
For others to understand themselves, they
must understand the context of their lives.
The Self as an Artistic creation
-If you are going to write a book about
yourself, what would be the title and its
major content?
MEN AND THE SOCIAL SELF
IDIOT
- Greek word originally meant someone
who lived by himself and considered
mentally incompetent. A nonsocial self
therefore is an idiot.
The attainment of the self can only be
achieved through the process of
socialization
Antisocial
-No man is an island
Symbolic Interactionism
-It is through constant communication that
one can assert his or her right toward
meaningful existence.
Role Taking
-As part of society, you must participate,
adapt and absorb the value system.
Beliefs and traditions in your community.
Imagining or placing yourself in the
position of the other person you are
interacting with.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF IN
CHILDHOOD
(George Herbert Mead)
Language Stage
Symbols, actions, sound; Communication
Play Stage
Pretends to be someone else; role
playing; Self Consciousness
Game Stage
Rules to obey; self awareness
(George Herbert Mead)
I
-Represents your identity based on your
responses to “me”
The knower
Me
-Socialized aspect of an individual that is
referred to as the “generalized other”
The known