The Self from Various Perspectives

SOCIOLOGY

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 The Self as a Product of Modern Society Among other
constructions
 Sociologists are concerned with questions about the person in the community.
 Sociology posits that socially formed norms, beliefs and values come to exist within the
person to a degree where these become natural and normal, thus, developing person's
self-identity.
 Pre-modern society was centered on survival.
 People behaved according to social rules and traditions while the family and the
immediate environment provided supervision on how to get through life.
 Modernization has significantly changed society and this has affected how an inidvidual
builds and develops his or her self-identity.
 In modern societies, individualism is dominant, and developing one's self identity is
central.
Key characteristics of modernity 1

1. Industrialism
the social relations implied in the extensive use of material power and
machinery in all processes of production. 2
2. Capitalism
a production system involving both competitive product markets and the
commodification of labor power.

3. Institutions of Surveillance 3
the massive increase of power and reach by institutions, especially in
government

4. Dynamism
the most evident characteristic of a modern society. It is characterized
as having vigorous activity and progress. 4
 Sociologist George Simmel expressed that people create social networks by
joining social groups.

 A social group is described as having two or more people interacting with one
another, sharing similar characteristics and whose members identify
themselves as part of the group.

 A social network refers to the ties or connections that link you to your social
group.

 A social group is either organic or rational.

 Organic group is naturally occurring and it is highly influenced by your family.

 Rational groups occur in modern societies.

 MEAD & THE SOCIAL SELF

 George Herbert Mead was a sociologist from the late 1800s. He is

well known for his “theory of the Social Self”.

 His theory is based on the perspective that the self is a product of

social interactions and internalizing the external views along with
one's personal view about oneself.

 Mead believed that the “self” is not present at birth; rather it

develop over time through social experiences and activities.
 DEVELOPING THE SELF
 Mead developed a concept that proposed different stages
of self-development. These stages are language, play and
game.

 According to Mead, self-development and language are

intimately tied.

 Through shared understanding of symbols, gestures, and

sound, language gives the individual the capacity to
express himslef while at the same time comprehending
what other people are conveying.

 Language sets the stage for self-development.

 DEVELOPING THE SELF

 The second stage for development is play.

 At this level, individuals role-play or assume the perspective

of others.

 Game stage is the level where the individual not only

internalizes the other people's persepctives, he or she is also
able to take into account societal rules and adheres to it.

 According to Mead, the self is developed by understanding the

rule and one must abide by it to win the game or be
successful at an activity.
 The “me” and the “I” have a didactic relationship, which is
like a system of checks and balance.
 “Me” is the product of what the person has learned while
interacting with others and with the environement.
 It exercises social control over the self.
 “I” is the part of the self that is unsocialized spontaneous.
 It is the individual's response to the community's attitude
toward the person.
 It presents impulses and drives. It understands when to
possibly bend or stretch the rules that govern social
interactions.