10/1/2021

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE:
THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF SOCIETY

SOCIOLOGY
❑ study of social life, social change, and the social
causes and consequences of human behavior.

❑ being in a group changes “the self”

❑ offers theories to explain how “the self” emerges

as a product of social experience

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CHARLES HORTON COOLEY

❑ The self is built not in solitude,
but rather within social
settings.
❑ Individuals base their sense of
self on how they believe others
view them.
❑ The Looking Glass Self

CHARLES HORTON COOLEY

1. We imagine how we look
to the other person. (How
do other people see
me?)
THE 2. We imagine other
LOOKING person’s reaction to our
appearance. (How do
GLASS other people judge me?)

SELF 3. We respond with some

feeling (eg. pride or
shame) (What is my
sense of self according to
these perceptions?)

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GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

❑ A Philosopher, Sociologist and
Psychologist

❑ The self is social, it develops

through social experience.
➢ It is not there from birth, but it is developed over
time through social experiences and activities.

GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

Stages of self:
1. Preparatory stage (0-3 years)
➢ children imitate people around them
➢ No sense of self

2. Play stage (3-5 years)

➢ role taking – mentally assuming the perspective of another
➢ The self is developing and emerges through pretend play.

3. Game stage (5 and above)

➢ can consider tasks and relationships simultaneously
➢ The self has emerged.

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GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

3 activities that develop the self
• Responding to • Taking on • Understanding that
others through different roles there are rules in
(role-playing), which one must
symbols, abide by in order to
gestures, words, pretend & express
win the game or be
expectation of
and sounds others
successful at an
activity.

PREPARATORY
PLAY STAGE GAME STAGE
STAGE

GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

2 sides of the self:
❑ “me” = the socialized aspect of the self
➢ learned behaviors, attitudes & expectations of others and
of society = OBJECTIVE

❑ “I”= the present and future phase of the self

➢ the individual’s identity based on response to the “me” =
SUBJECTIVE

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GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

If the I is synonymous to the me, then

the full development of the self is
attained.

Media

Technology Peers

Self

School Religion

Sports

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THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF

MODERN AND POSTMODERN
SOCIETIES

Lanuza & Baudrillard

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GERRY LANUZA
❑ the Constitution of the Self
➢ Self-identity is freely chosen.
➢ No longer restricted by customs and traditions.

❑ Modern vs. postmodern society

➢ Modern = traditional values & communities no
longer part of the self
➢ Postmodern = self-identity continuously changes
due to demands of society (mid / late 20th century)

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JEAN BAUDRILLARD
❑ Sociologist, Philosopher and Cultural
theorist

❑ known for analyses of media,

contemporary culture, and
technological communication

❑ The self is a consequence of prestige/

status symbols.

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THE SELF IN HIS FAMILY

GOLDEN AGE POSTMODERN AGE

▪ Nuclear family ▪ Permeable family

➢ 2-parent family ▪ Single parent, etc.
➢ Romantic love ▪ Consensual love
➢ Maternal love ▪ Shared parenting

▪ Adolescents perceived ▪ Adolescents perceived

as immature as socially sophisticated
▪ Protective environment ▪ Exposure to many
destructive images

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SUMMARY
1. The looking glass self (Cooley) describes the development of the
self through interaction with others.

2. The self has two divisions (Mead): “I” (subjective) and “me”
(objective).

3. Self-identity continuously changes due to demands of society

(Lanuza).

4. Self-identity is sometimes achieved through prestige symbols one

consumes (Baudrillard).

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