Lesson 2:

The Self, Society,

and Culture
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 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, the student must be able to:

1. Explain the relationship between and among the self, society, and
culture;
2. Describe and discuss the different ways by which society and culture
shape the self;
3. Compare and contrast how the self can be influenced by the
different institutions in the society ; and
4. Examine one’s self against the different views of self that were
discussed in the class.
 WHAT IS SELF?

The self , in contemporary literature is

commonly defined by the following
characteristics:

1. Separate
2. Self-contained and Independent
3. Consistent
4. Unitary
5. Private
 SEPARATE
The self is distinct from the others
selves.

The self is always unique and has its

own identity.
SELF-CONTAINED AND
INDEPENDENT
In itself it can exist

Does not require any other self to exist

Self continued with its own thoughts,

characteristics and volition
 CONSISTENT
A particular self-traits,
characteristics, tendencies, and
potentialities are more less the same

Has enduring personality

 UNITARY

It is the center of all experiences and

thoughts that run through a certain
person
 PRIVATE
Each person sorts out information,
feelings and emotions, and thought
processes within the self

The whole process is never accessible to

anyone but the self
 Social constructivists argue that the self
SELF IN should not be seen as a static entity that
stays constant through and through.
THE
The self has to be seen as something that is in
SOCIETY increasing flux, in a constant struggle with
external reality and is malleable in its dealings
with society.

We ourselves play different roles, act in

different ways depending on our
circumstance.
SELF IN According to Mauss, every self has
two faces:
THE
SOCIETY Moi- person’s basic identity

Perssone- composed of the social

concepts of what it means to be who
he is
 Nature refers to all of the genes and
Nature hereditary factors that influence who we
Nurture are—from our physical appearance to our
Debate in personality characteristics.

Psychology Nurture refers to all the environmental

variables that impact who we are,
including our early childhood experiences,
how we were raised, our social
relationships, and our surrounding
culture.
 Nature
Nature
Nurture
Debate in A few examples of biologically determined
characteristics (nature) include certain genetic
Psychology diseases, eye color, hair color, and skin color.
Other things like life expectancy and height
have a strong biological component, but they
are also influenced by environmental factors
and lifestyle.
 Nature
Nurture
Nurture
Debate in
For example, a child might learn through
Psychology observation and reinforcement to say 'please'
and 'thank you.' Another child might learn to
behave aggressively by observing older
children engage in violent behavior on the
playground.
CULTURE AND THE SELF

Culture

Refers to the arts, social institutions,

and achievements of a particular
nation, people, or other social group.
CULTURE AND THE SELF

It is necessary to state that culture is

learned and it is not inborn. We learn
what the symbols stand for and are not
born with cultures. We learn it from our
parents, surroundings and friends
through enculturation.
Filipino
Culture: At the beginning of life, one already
belongs to a social group: his/her
Family family. It is the most pervading
influential social groups that impacts
the self in its entire course of
development .
Filipino
Culture: Schools and the general academic
environment form a significant part
Schools of the social self. Worldviews expand
as one gets exposed to more people
in different social learning
environment.
 Filipino Also shapes one’s social self to a
Culture: large extent. The social self inevitably
changes as one accommodates and
Community eventually assimilates beliefs
promoted by the society as he/she
thinks, appreciates and behaves
according to standards set by micro
and macro systems.
 CULTURE

Culture has a such greater influence on an individual’s life

contributing majorly to the self-concept of an individual.
The influence might either be negative or positive
depending on the type of culture that one has been
brought up in.
SELF, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE