SOCIO SELF

Sociology of Self
(From the Latin word SOCIUS that means companion/society)
-is the study of human social relationships and institutions. Sociology’s subject matter is diverse,
ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and social
class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in
whole societies. Unifying the study of these diverse subjects of study is sociology’s purpose of
understanding how human action and consciousness both shape and are shaped by surrounding
cultural and social structures.

WHAT IS SELF? (REMEMBER S.I.S.C.U.P.)

1. Separate
It is meant that the self is distinct from other selves. The self is always unique and has its own
identity.
2. Independent and Self-Contained
Its distinctness allows it to be self-contained with its own thoughts, characteristics and volition. It
does not require any other self for it to exist.
3. Consistent
It is consistent because it has a personality that is enduring and therefore can be expected to
persist for quite some time. Consistency also means that a particular self’s traits, characteristics,
tendencies and potentialities are more or less the same.
4.Unitary
It is the center of all experience and thoughts that run through a certain person. It is a like a chief
command post where all processes, emotions, and thoughts converge.
5. 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 .

 The social aspect of the self is an important distinction because other sociologists and
psychologists felt that the self was based on biological factors and inherited traits.

WHAT IS SELF?
GEORGE HERBERT MEARD- Mead ‘s theory of the social self is based on the perspective
that the self emerges from social interaction, such as: a. observing and interacting with others; b.
responding to others’ opinions about oneself; c. and internalizing external opinions and internal feelings
about oneself.

 The social concept of the self-entails that individual selves are the products of social interaction.
The self is not initially there at birth but arises in the process of social experience and activity.

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

 Symbols are the basis of social life

 Individuals and societies develop through people’s interaction through symbols.
 Individuals develop a sense of themselves as they learn to use symbols.
 Individuals develop a sense of themselves as they learn to see themselves the way they believe
others see them
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE
-Symbolic interactions occurs when people communicate through symbols
SYMBOL-anything that meaningfully represents something else for example-signs, gestures,
written language, and shared values (eg, saluting to our nation’s flag is a sign of patriotism or
loyalty, whereas burning the same flag may show contempt)

THEORIES OF SOCIALIZATION

ROLE TAKING
 See ourselves through the eyes of others and take on the roles we believe others expect of us.
 As an individual gets older, the expectations of the society take on greater importance.

LEV VYGOTSKY- Vygotsky’s theories stress the fundamental role of social interaction in the
development of cognition (Vygotsky, 1978), as he believed strongly that community plays a central role
in the process of "making meaning."
For example, memory in young children this is limited by biological factors. However, culture
determines the type of memory strategy we develop. E.G, in our culture, we learn notetaking to aid
memory, but in pre-literate societies, other strategies must be developed, such as tying knots in a string to
remember, or carrying pebbles, or repetition of the names of ancestors until large numbers can be
repeated.
“What a child can do today with assistance, she will be able to do by herself tomorrow.”

THE SELF AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL WORLD

SOCIALIZATION- Is the lifelong process by which people learn the ways of the society in which they
live. It is the process by which humans acquire a sense of self or a social identity, develop their human
capacities, learn the culture(s) of the society in which they live and learn expectations for behaviors.
SOCIAL CULTURE- A largely invisible system that coordinates human activities in broadly predictable
ways. Patterned social arrangements in society that are both emergent from and determinant of action of
individuals The purpose of social structure are.
1)It shapes relationships and opportunities to connect to others.
2)gives people an identity
3) and puts up barriers to accessing resources and people.

THEORIES OF SOCIALIZATION
TABULA RASA-

•Developed by John Locke

•All children are blank slates, born without personality
•Thus, infants can be molded into any type of individual.

LOOKING GLASS SELF

•Developed personality through interactive process with those around you-Charles Horton Cooley
•Others act as a mirror, reflecting back the person we show to everyone else

3 steps in looking glass self

 1.You imagine how you appear to the other person
2.You imagine the judgement of other person
3.You feel some sense of pride, happiness, guilt, or shame
AGENT OF SOCIALIZATION
groups, individuals and institutions that allow socialization to happen

FAMILY
•Considered the most important agent
•Teach you how to take care for yourself.
•Teach you how close relationships work.
•Teach you their values, beliefs and norms.
PEER GROUP
•Helps develop our social behavior.
•Sometimes contradict with the values of your families.
•Can influence you whether its right or wrong.
SCHOOL
•Teaching about knowledge like science, math, reading and writing, etc.
•Teach life skills.
•Teach how to interact with others.
CHURCH
•Teaching about religion and doctrines (e.g.Holy Bible and Qur’an
•Teach life skills.
•Teach how to interact with others.
MASS MEDIA
•Include things like television, books, radio, & internet.
•It can be the biggest influencer among the other agents.

GENDER AND THE SELF

•It can be subjected to alterations, changes, and development.
•It's how we see ourselves in the world.
•It must be personally discovered and asserted and not dictated by culture and the society.