THE SELF FROM THE

PERSPECTIVE OF
SOCIOLOGY AND
ANTHROPOLOGY
 “Not only is the self entwined
in society; it owes society its
SOCIOLOGICAL
existence in the most literal
SELF sense.”
-Theodor Adorno

The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

 Sociologists are concerned
THE SELF AS A with questions about the person
PRODUCT OF in the community.
MODERN 1. How does the society influence

SOCIETY AMONG you?

OTHER 2. How do you affect society?

CONSTRUCTIONS 3. Who are you as a person in the

community?

The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

 Sociology posits that socially
THE SELF AS A
formed norms, beliefs, and values
PRODUCT OF
come to exist within the person to a
MODERN SOCIETY
degree where these become natural
AMONG OTHER
CONSTRUCTIONS and normal (Elwell, 2003), thus ,
developing the person’s self identity.

The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

 SOME FILIPINO VALUES ACCORDING TO
S I KO LO H I YA N G P I L I P I N O

Hiya Utang na loob Pakikiramdam

Kagandahang Kapwa o
Pakikisama
loob pakikipagkapwa

The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

 The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERNITY

ACCORDING TO GIDDENS (1991)

1. Industrialism, the social relations implied in the extensive use of material power and
machinery in all processes of production;
2. Capitalism, a production system involving both competitive product markets and the
commodification of labor.
3. Institutions of surveillance, the massive increase of power and reach by institutions,
especially in government; and
4. Dynamism, the most evident characteristic of a modern society. Everything is
subject to change.
 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
SOCIAL GROUPS
group. An example of a social group is
AND SOCIAL your family, your barkada, your
NETWORK classmates.

Social network refers to the ties

or connections linked that you to your
social group.
The Self From the Perspective of Sociology
 The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

SOCIAL GROUPS AND SOCIAL NETWORK

Social group is either organic or rational.

• An organic group is naturally occurring, and it is highly influenced by your family. The
positive effect of organic groups is rootedness. This means the foundation of the
social network runs deep, thus, giving the person a sense of belongingness. The
downside , however, is that organic groups imply less freedom and greater social
conformity.
• Rational groups occur in modern societies. Rational groups are formed as a matter of
shared self interests; Moreover, people join these groups out of their own free will.
 The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

MEAD AND THE SOCIAL SELF

“A multiple personality is in a certain sense normal.” – George Herbert

Mead-
Questions to ponder:
• Have you ever watched someone do something?

• Why do we do that?

• Can you watch yourself as objectively as you do the others?

 MEAD AND THE SOCIAL SELF

The self is a product of

internalizing the views
of other people.

The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

 DEVELOPING THE SELF

Three stages of self-development according to Mead.

1. Language– allows us to express ourselves and to
comprehend what other’s express.
2. Play- Role-playing and assuming the role of others.

3. Game- taking into account the societal rules.

The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

 TWO SIDES OF SELF: “I” AND “ME”

“I”. How the “Me”. How

person sees others see
himself us

The Self From the Perspective of Sociology

THE SELF FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
ANTHROPOLOGY
 “Indeed, much of
THE SELF FROM the self is learned by
THE PERSPECTIVE making new memories
OF out of the old ones.”
ANTHROPOLOGY
-Joseph E. Ledouz
 THE SELF AND THE PERSON IN CONTEMPORARY
ANTHROPOLOGY

What is anthropology? What is its view about the concept of “self”?

Anthropology is the study of people, past and present. It focuses on
understanding the human condition and its cultural aspect.
A U N I T B U T U N I TA R Y

Anthropologist and professor, Katherine Ewing (1990),

described the self as encompassing the “physical organism,
possessing psychological functioning and social attributes.”
This definition portrays the self as implicitly and explicitly
existing in the mind comprised of psychological, biological, and
cultural processes.
A U N I T B U T U N I TA R Y

Neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux (2002) conceptualized

the implicit and explicit aspects of the self.
The aspect of the self that you are consciously aware
of is the explicit self.
The one that is not available to the consciousness is
he implicit aspects.
S E L F A S R E PR E S E N TAT I O N

Ewing (1989) asserted that a “self” is illusory. People

construct a series of self-representations that are based on selected
cultural concepts of person and selected chains of personal
memories.
By self representation, Ewing meant culturally shaped “self”
concepts that one applies to oneself; “it is the mental entities that are
supposed to represent the self”.
 T H E S E L F E M B E D D E D I N C U LT U R E

Cultural psychologists distinguished two ways of how the self is

constructed. These are the independent and interdependent constructs.
The independent construct is characteristic of individualistic culture, such
as North America and Europe. Individualistic culture represents the self as
separate, distinct, with emphasis on internal attributes or traits, skills, and values.
The interdependent construct is typical of the collectivist culture in East
Asia stressing the essential connection between the individual to other people.
 T H E S E L F E M B E D D E D I N C U LT U R E

Developmental psychologist Catherine Raeff (2010), believed that culture can

influence how you view: relationships, personality traits, achievement, and expressing
emotions.
• Relationships. Culture influences how you enter into and maintain relationships.

• Personality traits. Culture influences whether (and how) you value traits, like
humility, self-esteem, politeness, etc.
• Achievement. Culture influences how you define success

• Expressing emotions. Culture influences what will affect you emotionally.