GEC 11: Understanding the Self

ANTHROPOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE
OF THE SELF:
The Self as Embedded in
Culture
At the end of this chapter, the students are
expected to have:
1. understand the basic concepts in Anthropology and
other related topics;

2. discussed the similarities and differences on the

anthropological conceptualizations of the self; and

3. recognized cultural variations and diversities on culture

and self-formation.
ANTHROPOLOGY
The word anthropology comes from the Greek words
“anthropos” which means “man” and “logos”
meaning study of
holds a holistic view of human nature
It is concerned with how cultural and biological
processes interact to shape human experience
THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF
SELF AND IDENTITY
WHO
AM I ?
 CULTURE
“… complex whole which includes knowledge, belief,
art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities
and habits acquired by man as a member of society.”
(Edward Tylor)

Anthropologists have emphasized that

culture is not behavior itself but the
shared understandings that guide
behavior and are expressed in behavior.

Culture provides patterns of “ways of

life”
ETHNIC IDENTITY
sameness of the self with
others, that is, to a
consciousness of sharing
certain characteristics (e.g.,
language, culture, etc.)
within a group

This identity makes a

human being a person and
an acting individual.
James L. Peacock (1986)
There are 2 sides of identity
found in every person in every
culture:

EGOCENTRIC SELF

&
SOCIOCENTRIC SELF
EGOCENTRIC SELF
❑ the self is viewed as
autonomous and distinct
individual
❑ Defines each person as a
replica of all humanity but
capable of acting
independently from others
❑ each person is seen as a
separate entity with
characteristics which reside
within an individual
❑ the self is viewed as contingent on a situation
or social setting
❑ view of the self that is context dependent.;
there is no intrinsic self that can possess
enduring qualities
❑ focuses on one’s own social group; socially
oriented

SOCIOCENTRIC SELF
Christie Kiefer - Anthropologist
THE JAPANESE POSSESS A SOCIOCENTRIC VIEW OF THE SELF.
INTERDEPENDENCE BETWEEN THE PERSON AND THE GROUP IS
MORE VALUED THAN INDEPENDENCE.

Francis Hsu- Chinese American anthropologist

A SOCIOCENTRIC VIEW OF THE SELF TO THE CHINESE.
CHINESE PRIORITIZE KIN TIES AND COOPERATION.

AMERICANS TEND TO BE EGOCENTRIC. THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY

SHOULD BE ASSERTIVE AND INDEPENDENT.
IDENTITY TOOLBOX- refers to the “FEATURES OF
A PERSON’S IDENTITY that he or she chooses to
emphasize in constructing a social self”

One of the components of the self is identity.

There are two types of identity:

1. Independent- defined by individual traits and goals

2. Interdependent- means connections with others, it is social

not personal

Identity can also be represented in many ways which includes

language, religion, beliefs, traditions, arts and even their ways of
making a living.
❑ a universal practice with numerous cross-
cultural variations establishes a child’s
birthright and social identity.

❑ a NAME is an important device to

individualize a person and at the same time
becomes legitimate member of the group.

❑ There is no self if the individual is without

name.

PERSONAL NAMING
GENNEP’S THREE-PHASED RITE OF PASSAGE:

1. Sep ar ation – p eop le d etach fr om their for mer

id e ntity to another

2. L iminal – o ne h as le ft o ne id e ntity bu t h as
not yet enter ed or j oined the next.

3. Incor p or ation – the changes ar e incor p or ated into a new

id e ntity to elabor ate r itu als and cer emonies like chu r ch
we d d ings, d ebu tant balls, and college gr ad u ations.
 IDENTITY
❑ Individuals acquire their identities through rites of passage or initiation
ceremonies.

❑ Initiation rituals make a person readily accept new wars of looking at

him/herself and others.

❑ Anthony Wallace and Raymond Fogelson

IDENTITY STRUGGLES
“characterized interaction in which there is a discrepancy between the
identity a person claims to possess and the identity attributed to that
person by others.”
 IDENTITY
❑ Individuals acquire their identities through rites of passage or initiation
ceremonies.

❑ Initiation rituals make a person readily accept new wars of looking at

him/herself and others.

❑ Anthony Wallace and Raymond Fogelson

IDENTITY STRUGGLES
“characterized interaction in which there is a discrepancy between the
identity a person claims to possess and the identity attributed to that
person by others.”
Golubovic suggests that in order to
attain self-identification, individuals
have to overcome many obstacles such
as traditionally established habits and
parental imposed self-image.
“ME AND MY CULTURE”
Thank you!