LESSON 2

THE SELF, SOCIETY &

CULTURE
Prepared by: Ryan Romulo S. Fuentecilla
 INTRODUCTION
• Across time and history the self has been debated,
discussed and fruifully conceptualized by different
thinkers in philosophy.
• With the advent of social sciences, it became possible for
new ways and paradigms to re-examine the true nature of
self.
 INTRODUCTION
• Tired of the ideas of ancient philosophers regarding the
body and the mind, thinkers settled on the idea that
whatever relationship these two have is less important
than the fact that there is a self.
 WHAT IS SELF?
• In contemporary literature and in common sense, self is
equated to being separate, self contained, independent,
consistent, unitary, and private.
• This means that self is distinct from others, unique and
has own identity. Even twins have their own self identity
• Its distinctiveness allows its being self contained with own
thoughts, independence, characteristics and volition.
 WHAT IS SELF?
• By consistency, it means that a particular self’s traits,
characteristics, tendencies, and potentials are more or
less the same and can be studied, described, and
measureds.
• According to Psychology the purpose of studying
psychology is;
– Describe Behavior
– Predict Behavior
– Explain Behavior
– Control Behavior
 SELF IS UNITARY

• It is the center of all experiences and thoughts

that run through a certain person.
 Self is Being Private
• Suggests that self is isolated from the external world,
living within its own, however we see the clash between
the self and the external reality
• That one can see that the self is always at the mercy of
the external circumstances that bump and collide with it.
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISTS PERSPECTIVE
OF THE SELF
• Social constructivists argue that self not be sen as a static
entity but rather as something that is in uncreasing flux,
allowing external influences to take part in its shaping.
• The point is on udnerstandingthe vibrant relationship
between the self and the external reality.
• This points out the merged view of “the person” and their
“social context” where the bounderies of one cannot
easily be separated from the bounderies of the other.
 THE SELF & CULTURE
• Remaining the same person and turning into a chameleon
adopting to one’s context seems paradocixical
• According to Marcel Mauss every self has two faces:
– Moi - his sense of who he is, his body and his basic identity
– Personne - social concepts of what it means to be who he is
• Personne has much to do what it means to live in a particular institution,
particular family, particular religion, etc. One may personne from time to
time
 SAMPLE SHIFTS IN PERSONNE:
• Adjusting cultures in other countries
• Man courting a woman (tone and mood)
• When in church
• The use of language
• Other adjustments in cultural ways
 THE SELF & THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIAL WORLD
• How do children growing up become social beings?
• How do twins grow from the same mother turn out so
differently when given up for adoption?
 THE SELF & THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIAL WORLD
• More thab his giveness (personality, tendencies,
propensities, among others)
• One is believed to be active participation in the shaping of
the self
• The unending terrain of the metamorphosis of the self is
mediated by language.
• Language is both publicly shared and privately utilized
symbol system is where the individual and the social
make and each other.
 MEAD & VYGOTSKY
• Accordign to Mead and Vygotsky humans develop
through the use and acquisition of language and
interaction with others.
• The way information is processed is a way of internal
dialogue in our head
• “Manguyab na ba ko?, Pakaslan na ba nku siya?, Naa ba
siyay kabit?
• In this way cognitive and emotional mimicry of how things
are to be done in the social world is the external reality
where he is in.
 Social Development Theory
• a child's cognitive development and learning ability can
be guided and mediated by their social interactions.
• states that learning is a crucially social process as
opposed to an independent journey of discovery.
 THE SELF IN FAMILIES
• While every child is born with certain, giveness,
disposition coming from his/her parents’, genes and
general condition in life.
• The impact of one’s family is still crucial in understanding
the self.
 THE SELF IN FAMILIES
• The kind of family that we are born in, the resources
available to us (physiological, spiritual, and economic)
and the kind of development that we will have will
certainly affect the development of the self.
• Our potential of becoming human depends largely on the
family starting from birth and the nurturing times of child.
 THE SELF IN FAMILIES
• Human beings learn the ways of living and therefore
their selfhood by being in a family.
• How kids are reared by a kind of reflect of their
behavior and attitude.
• Some attitudes and behaviors may be indirectly taught
through rewards and punishmnts.
 THE SELF IN FAMILIES
• Others, such as sexual behavior or how to confront
emotions are learned through subtle means like the
tone of the voice or intonation of the models.
• Without a family, biologically and sociologically a
person may not even survive or becone a human
person
• One is who he is because of his family for the most
part.
 GENDER & THE SELF
• Gender is one of the loci of the self that is subject to
alteration, change and development.
• We have observed how some people fought hard to
express, validate and assert their gender rights.
 GENDER & THE SELF
• Conservatives frown upon this and insist on the
biological
• From the point of view of the social sciences and the self,
it is important to give one the leeway or find, express and
live his/her identity.
• This forms part of selfhood that one cannot just dismiss.
 GENDER & THE SELF
• One maneuvers into the society and identifies himself as
who he is by also taking note of gender identities
• As part of the culture, there are roles which are expected
from a particular person based from his sex or gender.
• However, slight changes have been observed on the
way due to feminism and LGBT Activism but for the most
part patiarchy has remained to be at work.
 LESSON 2: ACTIVITY 1
• GET 1 WHOLE SHEET OF PAPER - 700 words essay
• ESSAY:
– WHO IS THE SELF IN YOUR VARIOUS PERSPECTIVE:
• The self as an individual
• The self in his/her own culture
• The self in his development in the social world
• The self in his own family
• The self and his gender
 LESSON 2: ACTIVITY 2
• 1 WHOLE SHEET OF PAPER - 500 words essay
• ESSAY:
– ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
• How would you describe your self?
• What are the influences of family in your development as an individual?
• Think of a time when you felt you were you “true self.” What made you
think you were truly who you are during this time of your life?
• Can you provide when you felt you were not living your “true self”? Why
did you have to live a life like that? What did you do about it?
• What social pressure helps shape your self? Would you have wanted it
otherwise?
• What aspects of your self think may be changed or you would like to
change?