SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE: THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF SOCIETY

• Sociological perspective of the self is based on the assumption that human behavior is influenced
by group life.
• A particular view of oneself is formed through interactions with other people, groups or social
institutions
• The self does not depend on biological predispositions, rather it is a product of social interaction

• Sociology as a scientific study of social groups and human relationships generates new insights
into the interconnectedness between the self and other people.

SOCIOLOGISTS:

1. CHARLES HORTON COOLEY

• Introduced the “Looking-glass self” to highlight that the people whom a person interacts
with become a mirror in which he or she views himself or herself
• Self – identity or self – image is achieved through a threefold event which begins by
conceiving an idea
a. How a person presents himself or herself to others
b. Hoe he or she analyzes how other perceive him or her
c. How he or she creates an image of himself or herself

2. GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

• Supports the view that a person develops a sense of self through social interaction and not
the biological preconditions of that interaction  The self has 2 divisions:
a. “I” – is the subjective element and the active side of the self; represents the
spontaneous unique traits of the individual
b. “Me” – the objective element of the self that represents the internalized attitudes and
demands of other people and the individual’s awareness of those demands
• The self is not present at birth, it develops only with social experience in which language,
gestures and objects are used to communicate meaningfully
• Role Taking: there is meaning in human actions, a person infers people’s intention or
direction of action, which may lead him or her to understand the world of other’s point of
view
• Mead details the development of the self in a three stage process:
a. Preparatory stage (0 to 3 yrs old)
• Children imitate the people around them, especially family members with
whom they have daily interaction.
• Have no sense of self
 • Children are just preparing for role taking

b. Play stage (3 to 5 yrs old)

• Children start to view themselves in relation to others as they learn to
communicate through language and other symbols
• Role taking is exhibited
• The self is developing

3. JEAN BAUDRILLARD
• Exposes the negative consequences of postmodernity to individuals in the society
• The postmodern individuals achieve self – identity through prestige symbols that they
consume
• Individuals seek for a position in society through the quality of prestige symbols that they
can afford to consume
• The self may be in a never – ending search for prestige in the postmodern society 
Children understand not only their own social position but also those of others around
them
• Children become concerned about and take into account in their behavior the generalized
others which refer to the attitudes, viewpoints, demands and expectations of the society
which include cultural norms and values that served as references in evaluating oneself.
 The self is now present

4. GERRY LANUZA
 “The Constitution of the Self” – discusses the relationship between society and the
individual.
 In modern societies, the attainment and stability of self – identity are freely
chosen
 Problems such as alienation and dehumanization of the self also appear which
hinder the full development of human potentials

5. JEAN BAUDRILLARD
• Exposes the negative consequences of postmodernity to individuals in the society
• The postmodern individuals achieve self – identity through prestige symbols that they
consume
• Individuals seek for a position in society through the quality of prestige symbols that they
can afford to consume
• The self may be in a never – ending search for prestige in the postmodern society