Sociological-and-Anthropological-Perspective-of-the-Self (1).pptx

Sociological Perspective The Self as Product of Society Sociology - scientific study of social groups and human relationships, generates new insights into the interconnectedness between the self and other people How the self emerges as a product of social experience Charles Horton Cooley Sociolo...

Sociological Perspective The Self as Product of Society Sociology - scientific study of social groups and human relationships, generates new insights into the interconnectedness between the self and other people How the self emerges as a product of social experience Charles Horton Cooley Sociologist who introduced the LOOKING GLASS SELF Individuals base then sense of self Three-fold event: on how they believe others view 1. -You 1st imagine an conceiving how youofappear idea how a to them people person presents themselves to others 2. You 2nd imaginehow - analyzes howothers othersperceive judge them you 3. -The 3rd image creates ancreated onthemselves image of yourself based on the two George Herbert Mead THEORY OF THE SOCIAL SELF A person develops a sense of self through social interaction, not the biological preconditions of that According to Mead, the self has two divisions: The “I”: the subjective element and the active side of the self. It represents the spontaneous and unique traits of an individual. The “me”: the objective element of the self that represents the internalized attitudes and demands of other people “I” is the one who knows how something feels “Me” is that feeling itself. EX: I know I am hurt when I am cheated. The “Me” gets hurt because I have learned (from society) that when cheated, one must feel hurt Mead’s Development of the Self: The self only develops with social experience in which language, gestures, and objects are used to communicate meaningfully Role-Taking = a person infers people’s intentions of actions, which leads them to understand the world from others’ Mead’s Development of the Self: 1st: Preparatory Stage (0 to 3 years old): children imitate behavior without understanding underlying intentions 2nd: Play Stage (3 to 5 years old): role taking is exhibited; children start to view themselves in relation to others as they learn to communicate through language and other symbols. Mead’s Development of the Self: 3rd: Game Stage (begins in the early school years): children start to understand their own social position and those of others around them. They take into account cultural norms, expectations, and attitudes of other people. THE SELF IN POSTMODERN SOCIETY Jean Baudrillard Individuals achieve self-identity through prestige symbols that they consume. Cultural practices of advertising and mass media influence individuals to consume goods for the feeling of goodness and power when compared to others Anthropological Conceptualizatio n of the Self The Self as Embedded in Culture Anthropology - concerned with how cultural and biological processes interact to shape human experience. Considers human experience as an interplay of nature and nurture The cultural construction of the self and identity British Anthropologist Edward Tylor defines culture as: “...that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” Culture is not the behavior itself but the shared How people make sense of their experiences and behave according to socially shared ideas, values, and perceptions. Ex: Filipino - using “po” and “opo”. Comes from the shared understanding of respecting the elderly. Sari-sari store; tambayan Japanese - bowing, using suffixes (sama, senpai, sensei). Comes from shared understanding to show Social Anthropology Identity - a disposition of basic personality features, acquired mostly during childhood. In Social Anthropology, identity is used on the context of “ethnic identity”, pointing out the sameness of the self with others. 2 ways the concept of self is viewed in different societies: EGOCENTRIC and SOCIOCENTRIC. Egocentric and Sociocentric Egocentric - Self is seen as autonomous and distinct individual. Independence is more valued than interdependence EX: Western Cultures - assertive, independent, personal perspective Sociocentric - Self is contingent on a situation or social setting. Interdependence between groups is more valued EX: Eastern Cultures - family oriented, Identity Toolbox Features of a person’s identity that he or she chooses to emphasize in constructing a social self. Ethnicity, personal appearance, socioeconomic status, language, religion. EX: Bisaya in Mindanao. Being a Christian or Muslim in Mindanao. Personal Naming Establishes a child’s birthright and social identity. What is a name? Legitimize him/her as a member of a social group (family) Intimate markers of a person, differentiates him/her from others Symbolically represent his/her cultural self Personal Naming Iceland: Paternal culture.Receives father’s name as last name. If it’s a boy son. If it’s a girl dottir Personal Naming Philippines: Religious culture. Naming children after saints so that they may be blessed and protected. Family oriented culture. Naming children after ancestors. Paternal Culture. Last name from father. I, II, III. Jr Rite of Passage Changes in one’s status and identity are marked by three-phased rite of passage 1. Separation - people detach from their former identity to another 2. Liminality - person transitions from one identity to another 3. Incorporation - change in one’s status is officially incorporated Ex: Going to college, Wedding Rite of Passage Separation - bride is “given” away by the parents to the groom implies separation from one’s family to become part of a new one Liminality - wedding ceremony itself is the process of transition of the bride/groom from singlehood to married life Incorporation - wedding reception serve as the mark that officially recognize towards being husband and wife. Sometimes individuals disagree on their respective identities… Identity struggles - interaction in which there is a discrepancy between the identity a person claims to possess and the identity attributed to that person by others. There is a clash between self-identification and cultural norms and values. Ex: How genders should be. LGBTQIA+. “Self-identification may be attained by overcoming traditional practices and externally imposed self- images”