Introduction to Sociology: The Self

Introduction to Sociology

• How do you see yourself in the social world?
• Do you need to just observe or interact to define yourself?
• These questions are answered through different sociological perspectives on the self.

George Herbert Mead

• Sociologist from the University of Chicago
• Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
• Theory of the Self:
  • Self-awareness and self-image
  • The self develops through social interaction, reflecting on interactions with others, and how others perceive you.
  • Self-image is developed by recognizing how others perceive you
  • Imitation and internalizing cultural norms, helping you become self-aware

The "I" and "Me" of the Self

• "I" - acting, spontaneous, doing things in the world
• "Me" - the combined image of yourself from interactions with society

Henri de Saint-Simon

• Founder of French Socialism (1760-1825)
• Origin of many ideas in Comtism
• Reconstruction of society:
  • Conditioned by the French Revolution and feudal/military systems
  • Necessity of a new and positive reorganization.
  • Industrial chiefs should control society
  • Science should guide society, with universal association suppressing war

Herbert Spencer

• Synthetic Philosophy: physical, psychological, biological, sociological, and ethical
• Moral Philosophy
• Importance of Social Statistics: Achieving happiness through fulfilling needs and desires without infringing on others' rights and taking pleasure in the pleasure of others

David Emile Durkheim

• French sociologist (1858-1917)
• Principal architect of modern social sciences
• How societies maintain their integrity in modern times.
• Traditional social ties are no longer assumed and new social institutions are emerging.
• Acceptance of sociology as a legitimate science

Sociology of Knowledge

• How concepts and categories of thought arise from social life.
• Certain aspects of logical thought exist, but they are not universal a priori.
• The content of categories differs from society to society.

Collective Representations

• Symbols and images that represent ideas, beliefs, and values of a group.
• Created through intense social interaction.
• Controlled by society yet influenced by individuals.
• Contain accumulated knowledge and experience.

Albert Bandura (Social Learning Theory)

• Theory explaining socialization's effect on self-development.
• Learning process, self-formation, social influence
• One's identity isn't unconscious but a learned response to social stimuli.

Self-Efficacy

• People's belief in their ability to perform tasks.
• Influence on feelings, thinking, motivation, and behavior.
• High self-efficacy leads to challenging goals and strong commitment.

Karl Marx (Theory of Self-Alienation)

• Alienation of one's essence leads to loss of objectivity and lack of realness.
• Alienation from others and society
• Alienation from work (lack of meaning).

Max Weber

• German sociologist and political economist (1864-1920)
• Capitalism developing from a Protestant ethic, becoming separated from its roots, and establishing itself as dominant.
• "Iron cage."

Lewis Morgan

• Presented the complexity of Iroquois society in his ethnography.
• Model for future anthropologists who support the idea of common origins for all humans.
• Study of the structure of the family and social institutions and their relation to technological progress.

Explore the concept of the self through various sociological perspectives, particularly focusing on the theories of George Herbert Mead. Understand how interactions shape self-awareness and self-image, and learn about the distinctions between the 'I' and 'Me'. This quiz dives into key ideas from symbolic interactionism and French socialism.