MODULE II

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE: THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF SOCIETY

I. MODULE OVERVIEW

Human behaviors can be influenced and formed by a certain group of life. The
sociological perspective is grounded in the thought that people around you can mold the way
you think and act. It gives importance to interaction with people, groups, or social institutions.
For sociologists like Mead and Cooley, the self does not depend on biological
predispositions; rather, it is a product of social interactions.
The sense of self emerges as the individual takes part in society. In modern society,
people seek stable and consistent self-identity. On the other hand, the postmodern society
would avoid stagnant life and avoids fixation, and keeps options for self-improvement.

II. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this topic, the students should be able to:
1. Understand what is sociological perspective is in understanding the self and
others.
2. Discuss George Herbert Mead’s Theory of the social self.
3. Explain how individuals view the self as a product of socialization
4. Appreciate their own social experiences that have been particularly helpful in
understanding the self.

III. TAKE OFF/MOTIVATION

“The task for sociology is to come to the help of the individual. We have to be in
service of freedom. It is something we have lost sight of”
- Zygmunt Bauman

IV. CONTENT FOCUS

Definition of terms:

Sociology- A scientific study of social groups and human relationships that opens
new insight into the interconnectedness between the self and other people. The Looking-
glass self- A concept introduced by Charles Horton Cooley that explains the developments
of one’s self and identity through interaction with others.
 Theory of Social Self. The theory explained by George Herbert Mead supports the
view of a person developing a sense of self through social interactions. Mead believes that
the self passes through three stages of development: preparatory, play, and game.

LOOKING GLASS SELF (Charles Horton Cooley, 1902)

Cooley theorized that people view themselves not only from the way they think about
who they are but also from the perception of how other people perceive them. He realized
that this process can happen through three steps.

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First, a person will imagine how they appear to other people. To their friends,
families, and whoever around their circle of influence.

Second, a person will imagine how other people will evaluate or judge him/her based
on their observation of that person. They may describe that person as friendly, noisy, funny,
quiet, and other qualities that they can see.

Third, that person will develop feelings about himself/herself based on the way they
appear to others and their actual observations.

One important point in this theory is that people are not influenced by the opinion of
others, but instead they are influenced by what they imagine the opinions would be. So this
theory ultimately states, that we can develop identities based on the correct or incorrect
perceptions of how other people may see us. It would be critical if a person would think that
others judge him or her unfavorably because that could lead to a negative self-image.
THEORY OF SOCIAL SELF (George Herbert Mead)

Preparatory Stage (0 to 3 years old). Children try to copy people around them,
especially close family members that have daily interactions with them. They imitate their
behaviors but do not understand the meaning behind those behaviors. They do not have a
sense of self yet at this stage.

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Play Stage (3 to 5 years old). At this stage, children start to view themselves
concerning others as they learn to communicate through language and other gestures.
Children exhibit role-taking but they do not realize or perceive that role-taking is something
expected for them. The self gradually emerges as the children pretend to take roles of
specific people and those individuals who are important in socialization.

The self is still developing at this stage.

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 Game Stage (begins in early school years; about 8 to 9 years old). Children at
this stage can recognize their social position as well as the social positions of the people
around them. They become concerned about and take into consideration their behavior
based on the attitudes, viewpoints, demands, and expectations of the society which include
cultural norms and values that serve as a reference in evaluating oneself. This stage of their
development allows them to be mindful of the people around them and respond to numerous
members of the social environment. Self is now present during this stage.

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THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF MODERN AND POSTMODERN SOCIETIES.

In modern societies, the attainment and consistency of self-identity are freely chosen
(Lanuza, 2004). It is no longer restricted by customs and traditions. This freedom offers
infinite possibilities for self-cultivation and improvement. However, in the rise of these
possibilities, problems such as alienation and dehumanization of the self also emerge which
hinder the full development of human potentials. With this in mind, it is important to discover
the “authentic core” of the self so that the individual can work towards self-realization.

Post-modern societies on the other hand continuously offer changes in self-identity due
to the demands of a multitude of social contexts, new information technologies, and
globalization. French sociologist Jean Baudrillard reveals the negative consequence of
postmodernity to society (Demeterio, 2013). According to him, to consume is what
postmodern society is all about. These individuals achieve self-identity by consuming
prestige symbols. They seek a position in society through the quality of prestige symbols that
they can afford to consume.
The practice we are living in right now where advertising, mass media, and even social
media can greatly influence the individuals to consume goods, not because of the primary
purpose it can give, but because they can give feelings of power and goodness when
compared to others. Hence, a postmodern person cannot be satisfied in his or her life and
will continue to consume.
For example, when a person buys an expensive cellphone, not because of its usefulness
for communication but for the brand and popularity it gives, and another upgrade of that
phone will appear, he or she will desire to buy another upgraded phone because it will give
the more prestigious feeling. Therefore, we can say that the self in post-modern society is on
a neverending quest for prestige and power.

V. ACTIVITY

Fill in the table below the attitudes or behavior you have acquired through a loved
one or a person in your sphere of influence.

TITLE OF THE PERSON

POSITIVE NEGATIVE
(Example Father, Mother, Brother,
Attitudes acquired Attitudes acquired
Sister, Friend 1, Friend 2, Teacher)

VI. SELF-REFLECT

Write an essay on the theories and concepts of Mead, Cooley, Baudrillard, and Lanuza.
Consider the following questions in writing your essay. Write your answers in the space
provided.

NOTE: There are no right and wrong answers about getting to know more about yourself.
Just be confident and honest as you answer these guide questions
1. Give three things that you have discovered in your social
self?
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2. How are you going to apply your insights in understanding your social self?
____________________________________________________________________
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3. If there is one lesson you learned in knowing about social self, what is that lesson?
And why?
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VII. REFERENCES

Demeterio, F. (2013). Understanding the postmodern culture and philosophy. In Garcia, L.

(Ed.), Exploring the Philosophical Terrain. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.

Kendall, D. (2013). Sociology in our times (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage
Learning.

Lanuza, G. (2004). The Constitution of the self. In David, R (Ed.), Nation, Self, and
Citizenship: An Invitation to Philippine sociology. Mandaluyong: Anvil Publishing

Understanding the Self pdf retrieved on August 29, 2020, at

https://ched.gov.ph/wpcontent/uploads/2017/10/Understanding-the-Self.pdf

“Understanding the Self” by Ma. Joycelyn A. Go-Monilla & Normaliza C. Ramirez

Compiled and edited by

Dr. Ulysis L. Ferreras

Assistant Professor I

Rubric for Assessment

Criteria Exemplary Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

(91 - 100%) (81 - 90%) (71 - 80%) (70 - 61%)

(Self- • Accomplished • Accomplished • Accomplished • Accomplished

Checks between 91- between 81 - 90% between 71 - 80% between 71 -
and Self- 100% of the of the required of the required 80% of the
Reflections) required output output output required output
• Output • Output submitted • Output submitted • Output submitted
submitted is is delivered on or is delivered on the is delivered a
delivered on or before the next meeting after week or more
before the deadline but the deadline and after the deadline
deadline and some of the some of the and submission
followed submission • submission guidelines were
properly the guidelines were guidelines were not followed.
submission not followed. not followed.
guidelines.