Understanding the Self
Dumaguing, RPm
Comprehensive Reviewer
PART 1: The Self from Various Perspectives
CHAPTER 2:
THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
The Self as a Product of Society
- The sociological perspective of the self is
based on the assumption that human
behavior is influenced by group life
- Understanding the self is attained
through interactions with other people,
groups, or societal institutions
Sociology – the study of social groups and
human relationships.
- Sociologists offer theories on how the
self emerges as a product of social
experience.
CHARLES HORTON COOLEY
- The Looking-glass Self: the people
whom a person interacts with become a
mirror in which he or she views him or
herself.
- Understanding the self is achieved
through conceiving an idea of how
others perceive him or her, and how she
creates an image of himself or herself.
o Since these perceptions are
subjective, an individual might
have wrong interpretations
about how other people
evaluate him/her
GEORGE HERBET MEAD
- The person develops a sense of self
through social interaction rather than
biological preconditions.
- Theory of The Social Self – the self is
divided into two divisions.
1. The I – subjective element, and the
active side of the self. It represents the
spontaneous and unique traits of an
individual.
2. The Me – the objective element of the
self that represents internalized
awareness of the demands of “I”
- True fulfillment of understanding the
self is attained when the I and Me are
united.
- The Self is not present at birth. It
develops only with social experience in
which language, gestures, and objects
are used to communicate meaningfully.
- The self continues to change along with
his or her social experiences. No matter
how much the world shapes a person,
the person will always remain to be a
creative being – able to react to the
world around him.
Mead details the development of the self in a
three-stage process
1. The Preparatory Age
2. The Play Age
3. The Game Stage
Understanding the Self
Comprehensive Reviewer
Sophia Kathleen M.
1. The Preparatory Stage (0-3 Years Old)
- Children imitate the people around
them (family members, primary
caregivers, or anyone with whom they
have daily interaction)
- The mimicking is not rooted on
understanding the underlying
intentions of the behavior copied
- THERE IS NO SENSE OF SELF, children
are only preparing themselves for role
taking.
2. The Play Age (3-5 Years Old)
- Children begin to view themselves in
relation to others as they learn to
communicate through language and
symbols
- Role-taking is exhibited, and the self is
quite understood, but the children do
not perceive role-taking as something
expected of them
- The self emerges as children start to take
the roles of people or significant others;
the self is developing.
3. The Game Age (begins in early school
years – about 8-9 years old)
- Children understand not only their
social position but also those of others
around them
- Children become concerned about their
behaviors, attitudes, viewpoints,
demands and expectations.
- The self is now fully present
- The self understands the role we play,
and the role others play.
THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF MODERN
AND POST-MODERN SOCIETIES
GERRY LANUZA
- “The Constitution of the self” –
discusses the relationship between the
society and the individual
- Self-identity and self-stability are freely
chosen. It is no longer restricted by
customs and traditions.
- While this newfound freedom offers
endless possibilities for self-cultivation
or self-development, problems
involving alienation and
dehumanization of the self arise.
- Self-identity continuously changes due
to the demands of multitude of social
contexts, new information technologies,
and globalization
JEAN BAUDRILLARD
- French Sociologist
- Exposes the negative consequences of
post-modernity to individuals in the
society
- Consumption structures the modern
society. We achieve self-understanding
through prestige symbols that we can
consume.
- The cultural practices of advertising and
mass media greatly influence
individuals into thinking that the more
prestige I consumer, the more I am
Sophia Kathleen M. Dumaguing, RPm
Understanding the Self Sophia Kathleen M. Dumaguing, RPm
Comprehensive Reviewer

above others. This is why some people

never seem to be satisfied with
themselves and their lives, because as
the world continues to evolve and
progress, they too feel the need to
consume more and hoard more.

- The self is a never ending search for

prestige in the postmodern society.

Understanding the Self Sophia Kathleen M. Dumaguing, RPm

Comprehensive Reviewer