SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWS

OF THE SELF

Prepared by: Jasper Ann StaMaria, RPm

 INTENDED LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Compare and contrast the different
views of the self
 Examine the components of self
 Describe the concept of the looking-
glass self and how it affects self-
concept
 Explain the concept of social
comparison and why it is important
to human behavior
 THE SELF AS PRODUCT OF
MODERN SOCIETY AMONG OTHERS

Clifford Geertz (1973) believes that

the struggle for one’s individuality is
only possible in modern society
where religio-theological traditions
are gradually replaced by rational
and scientific calculations; and the
intimate personal affiliations are
replaced by exceedingly impersonal
associations brought about by
urbanized way of life.
 Modernization or the destruction of the
traditional way of life “delocalizes” the self.
This poses certain problems as:
1. The newfound freedom threatens the very
authenticity of the self (e.g. love)
2. Alienation (Marx) – human beings haunted
by the very images they have created
3. Objectification of the body (e.g. medical
practice)
4. Dehumanization of self
SOLUTION:

For the individual to discover the

“true” and “authentic” part of
him/herself to realize his/her
potentials, there is a need to abolish
repressive social constraints.
SELF AS NECESSARY FICTION

SELF for NIETZSCHE, is the

sum of individual’s action,
thoughts and feelings. Self is
nothing more than a
metaphor, a representation of
something abstract, symbolic.
 POST –MODERN VIEW OF THE
SELF
Self in post modernity is complicated
with electronic mediated virtual
interaction of cyber self such as
change in appearance (in the
cyberspace). According to N. Green,
self is “digitalized” in cyberspace, a
virtual version of who we are. The
self is seen in websites or social
media – fb, twitter, instagram, etc.
The following are the
manifestations:
1. Information technology dislocates
the self, thus, self is “digitalized” in
cyberspace.
2. Global migration produces
multicultural identities.
3. Post-modern selves are “pluralized”
selves.
 SELF CONSTRUCTION OF THE
SELF
Self is not discovered; it is made thru
the socialization process. BUT,
individuals are not just hapless
victims of socialization. (Ikaw ang
gumagawa ng kung ano ka). Self is
aquired socially thru language. We
construct ourselves based on our
social roles thru socialization agents –
family, school, community, etc.
 REWRITING THE SELF AS AN
ARTISTIC CREATION
Nietzsche states that the unity of the
self is not pre-given but
accomplished thru conscious effort –
transform self thru beautiful work of
art. Individuals must fashion care for
and cultivate themselves. We can
recreate ourselves to get hold of the
present, forgive the past and plan the
future.
 SELF CREATION AND THE
STRUGGLE FOR CULTURAL
RECOGNITION
This is a challenge of self-identity
amidst recognition of racial and
ethnic identities. Self-creation is
necessarily grounded on collective
solidarities. We create ourselves by
struggling with cultural hassles then
owning the creates self. We hide the
ugly part of our cultural nature. We
learn to adjust.
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD (1863-
1931)
An American Sociologist best known
as founder of American Pragmatism,
a pioneer of symbolic interaction
theory, and as one of the founders of
social psychology.
 MEAD’S THEORY OF
SELF
Mead’s theory of the self maintains
that the conception of a person
holds himself/herself in his/her mind
emerges from social interaction with
others. The self is neither initially
there at birth nor necessarily at the
beginning of the social interaction,
but is constructed and re-constructed
in the process of social experience
and activity.
 2 COMPONENTS OF
SELF
1. “ME”
- represents the expectations and
attitudes of others organized into
social self.
- self as object
- is the organized set of attitudes of
others which an individual
assumes.
2. “I”
- response to the “me” or the
person’s individuality.
- self as subject
- is the response of an individual to
the attitudes of others
 MEAD’S STAGES OF
DEVELOPMENT OF SELF
1. PREPARATORY STAGE
Starts from the time we are born until we are
about age two. In this stage, children mimic
those around them.

2. PLAY STAGE
From about 2-6, children are in the play
stage. During the play stage, children play
pretend and do not adhere to the rules in
organized games like patintero or basketball.
3. GAME STAGE
From about age 7 onwards. In this
stage, children can begin to
understand and adhere to the rules
of games. They can begin to play
more formalized games because the
begin to understand other people’s
perspective – or the perspective of
the generalized others.
LOOKING-GLASS SELF: OUR SENSE
OF
“Part of how we see ourselves comes
from our perceptions of how others
sees us.” – Charles Horton Cooley
(1902)

Labeling bias occurs when we are

labeled , and others views and
expectations of us are affected by
that labeling.
Self-labeling occurs when we adopt
other’s labels explicitly into our self-
concept.

Internalize prejudice occurs when

individuals turn prejudice directed
toward them by others onto
themselves
SOCIAL COMPARISON THEORY: OUR SENSE
OF SELF IS INFLUENCED BY COMPARISONS
WITH OTHERS
Social comparison occurs when we
learn about our abilities and skills,
about the appropriateness and
validity of our behaviors with those of
others.
“I am not what I think
I am, and I am not
what you think I am.I
am what I think you
think I am.”
- Charles Cooley