SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM is the theory that people develop knowledge of the world in a social context

and much of what we perceive as reality depends on shared assumptions. It asserts that all meaning is
socially created.

SOCIAL CONSTRUCT are often created within specific institutions and cultures and come to prominence
in certain historical periods. They reflect shared ideas and perceptions that exist only because people in
a group or society accept that they do.

SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF THE SELF

 THE LOOKING-GLASS SELF THEORY

 Charles Horton Cooley – was an American sociologist who used a sociopsychological approach to
the understanding of society.
- He pioneered one of the most prominent Sociological perspectives
of the self.
- He wanted to understand why human beings behave the way that
they do.
 The “looking-glass self” is the process by which people evaluate themselves based on how
others see them. It involves the following steps:
1. People imagine how they appear to others
2. People imagine how others judge them based on that appearance
3. People have an emotional reaction to that imagined judgment, such as pride or
embarrassment
 The theory suggests that we come to know ourselves by reflecting on how others see us.

 THEORY OF THE SELF-DEVELOPMENT

 George Herbert Mead – was an American philosopher, sociologist and psychologist.
- He is well-known for his theory of the self, which includes concept
of ‘self’, ‘me’ and ‘I’
- Similar to Charles Cooley’s theory of self, he also gave emphasis to
other’s perspective in view of the one’s self.
 In order to understand the self, one has to develop SELF-AWARENESS, and this can be derived
from looking at ourselves from the perspective of others.
 The THEORY OF THE SOCIAL SELF is based on the perspective that the self emerges from social
interactions, such as:
a. Observing and interacting with others
b. Responding to other’s opinions about oneself
c. Internalizing external opinions and internal feelings about oneself
 According to Mead, the self is not there from birth, but it is developed overtime from social
experiences and activities:
 There are three (3) activities that develop the self:
1. Language – develops self by allowing individuals to respond to each other from social
experiences through SYMBOLS, GESTURES, WORDS, and SOUNDS.
 2. Play – develops self by allowing individuals to take on different ROLES, PRETEND, and
EXPRESS EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS.
3. Games – develops self by allowing individuals to understand and adhere to the rules of the
activity.
 SOCIAL INTERACTION and GROUP AFFLIATION are vital factors in creating self-concept especially
in the aspects of providing us with our social identity or our perception of who we are based on
our membership to certain groups.
 Awareness of self-concept is having a clear perception of your PERSONALITY, including
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, THOUGHTS, BELIEFS, MOTIVATION and EMOTION.

 THE “I” AND THE “ME” SELF

 THE “I”
 Subjective element and the active side of the self
 Represents the spontaneous and unique traits of the individuals
 Response of the individual to the “me”
 THE “ME”
 Objective element of the self
 Represents the “internalized” ATTITUDES, EXPECTATIONS and DEMANDS OF OTHER
PEOPLE
 What is learned in interaction with others and with the environment

 THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF MODERN SOCIETY

 The self should not be seen as a static entity which remains constant through time
 It persistently struggles with its external reality and is malleable in dealing with it
 Being active participant in its social world, the self, through interaction, is made and remade.

 CORE AND SATELLITE NEEDS OF THE SELF

 SELF-LOVE as well as loving others and being loved by others, are important- they are
interdependent.
 It is difficult to have a loving relationship with yourself without experiencing the love of others.
 The ability to give love to others is hampered without the love of self.
 Self-love is not the same as NARCISSISM or an unhealthy preoccupation with oneself.
 Rather, it is more about accepting who you are and taking responsibility for what you do; it is
about having integrity, taking care of yourself and being self-protective when it is required.
 APPROVAL OF SELF AND OTHERS
 There is a close link between SELF-APPROVAL and APPROVAL OF OTHERS.
 APPROVAL (in all forms) is essential for love and loving relationships.
 Approval implies TOLERANCE (and acceptance) of differences in PERSONALITY…??
o The search for approval has its own challenges:
 In the formative years of childhood (0-8 years), child seeks approval of its caretakers as means of
securing their love.
 During adulthood, it persists where there is a general need for the approval of others, especially
loved ones, or those who are admired or looked-upon to because they have particular qualities
or skills.
 However, uncertainty about one’s own independence, rights and effectiveness (ability to
influence things) can lead to unhealthy, excessive need for approval.
 Continuous search for approval based on the fear that other’s love will disappear and that the
person will be left helpless and unloved.

 ANTROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
 ANTROPOLOGY is the study of people throughout the world, their EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY,
HOW THEY BEHAVE, ADAPT TO DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS, COMMUNICATE and SOCIALIZE
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
 It is concerned both with the biological features that make us human and with social aspects.
 It is the science of humanity.
 TWO ANTROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF
 EGOCENTRIC – concept of the self which suggests that each person is defined as a
replica of all humanity but capable of acting independently from others.
 SOCIOCENTRIC – concept of the self that is viewed as dependent on the situation or
social setting.

 HOW CULTURE AFFECTS THE SELF

 Edward B. Tylor – was an English anthropologist considered as the founder of culture
anthropology
 He defined CULTURE as “that complex whole which includes KNOWLEDGE, BELIEFS, ARTS,
MORALS, LAW, CUSTOMS, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member
of society.
 Culture help define how individuals see themselves and how they relate to others
 Individuals differ in many ways: LANGUAGE DIVERSITY, CULTURAL DIVERSITY, GENDER
DIVERSITY, RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY, and ECONOMIC DIVERSITY
 All of these aspects of diversity work together to form your sense of self.
 MATERIAL AND NON-MATERIAL CULTURE
 MATERIAL CULTURE
 Refers to the physical object, resources and spaces that people use to define culture.
 These includes homes, neighborhoods, cities, schools, churches, synagogoues, temples,
mosques, offices, factories and plants, tools, means of production, goods, products, stores and
so forth.
 NON-MATERIAL CULTURE
 Refers to the non-physical ideas that people have about their culture, including beliefs, values,
rules, norms, morals, language, organizations, and institutions.

 INTRODUCTION TO THE FILIPINO CULTURE

 The Filipino culture is an exuberant story that tells of the nation’s journey through the centuries.
 Customs reflect the people’s faith, their oneness with others, their affinity with nature, and their
celebration of life.
 The Filipino charm lies in their smiles, in the numerous religious festivals that venerate nature,
the Divine and the cycles of life and in the virtue of PAKIKIPAGKAPWA-TAO that treasures
relationships, with friends and strangers alike.
 The concept of KAPWA (others) is the core of the Filipino soul.
 The nation’s charm is in the diversity in ways of life across the archipelago, the splendid colors of
its folk arts and the cacophony of foreign influences that have found roots in the Filipino
languages, customs and traditions.
 Another writer observes that the Filipinos tendency towards passionate profusion and
unrestrained exuberance in his art stems from his exposure to nature’s lush, magnificent
landscapes around him the whole year through.
 Filipinos worship devoutly in their cathedrals and mosques (the busy urban dwellers attend
religious services inside shopping malls and al fresco, in parks and plazas)
 They can sing and recognize good singing when they hear it
 They smile at strangers and babies, and through queues, rain showers and traffic
 They socialize in parties and discotheques, as well as in markets and community dances
 They make and keep friendships over food, over lambanog (coconut wine), over mobile phone
text messaging
 They are sentimental and devoted to their families
 They have profound respect for elders and show self-effacing hospitality for guests
 They speak over 100 local languages and dialects, of which the tagalog-based filipino is the
lingua franca as well as English with an accent
 They are basketball fans
 They love Hollywood films and television dramas
 They are pedestrians who chat while walking and they are passengers in the ubiquitous
jeepneys
 They love laughing at themselves, their politics and their game shows
 They are cosmopolitan in their views but their values are rooted in their faith, their family and
their community
 The filipino’s temperament is as warm and constant as their sunshine
 Their way of life is rich, diverse and rooted
 They are in harmony with others and face the world with an engagingly courageous spirit

 FILIPINO IDENTITY: THE HAUNTING QUESTION

 Through centuries of colonization, there is a loss or a confusion regarding Filipino’s sense of
belonging, as well as the use of the colonial language has pervaded every aspect of our lives
 The problem of a Filipino identity has often times been regarded as linked to post-colonial
legacies and predicaments following American rule of the islands.
 While people in modern societies now have the benefit of defining ad choosing their identity
based on reflexive understanding of one’s biography, many are still left out of this whole
project.