Lesson 3: Anthropology and the Self - PDF

**lesson 3** **I. Anthropology** Culture is traditionally defined as systems of human behavior and thoughts. In other words, cultures are those complex structure of knowledge, beliefs, arts, religion, law and all other aspects needed by humans to function in society. It is learned and is very much...

**lesson 3** **I. Anthropology** Culture is traditionally defined as systems of human behavior and thoughts. In other words, cultures are those complex structure of knowledge, beliefs, arts, religion, law and all other aspects needed by humans to function in society. It is learned and is very much integrated in one\'s customs and beliefs. Broadly defined, enculturation is the transmission of culture from one generation to the next. Unlike biological hereditary transmission, cultural transmission is done through observation, use of language, adaption to environment, rituals, and formal and informal education. **Four Subfields of Anthropology** **1. Archaeology** - Study of artifacts in order to discover how people lived their lives Archaeologists\' focus is the past and how they contributed to the present ways of how people conduct their daily lives. **2. Biological Anthropology** - study on how human body adapts to the different earth environments. Biological anthropologists focuses primarily on how human body adapts to the different earth environments. They look at the probable cause of disease, physical mutation and death. They also want to know how human beings might have evolved from their early forms. **3. Linguistic Anthropology**- study of man\'a ability to communicate. Language identify a group of people The words, sounds, symbols, writings and signs that are used are reflections of a group\'s culture. Linguistic anthropologists\' interest focuses on using language as a means to discover a group\'s manner of social interaction and his worldview. **4. Cultural Anthropology** - study on the cultural factors that affect people\'s way of life. Cultural anthropologists are interested in knowing what makes one group\'s manner of living particular to that group and forms the essential part of the members\' personal and social identity -Ways in which culture may manifest itself in people: a\. Symbols: words, gestures, pictures, objects that have recognized/ accepted meaning in particular culture. b\. Heroes: persons from the past or present who have characteristics that are important to culture. They may be real or fictitious c\. Rituals: activities participated in by group of people for the fulfillment of desired objectives and are considered to be socially essential. d\. Values: the core of every culture. Values are unconscious and can neither be discussed nor be directly observed but can only be inferred from the way people act and react to circumatances and situations. **II. The Self and Person in Contemporary Anthropology** The anthropological self takes a holistic dimension of the individual person. Anthropologists even suggest that the genes of the person living in a particular community are already a necessary component for the enculturation of the person. The growing years of a child is very crucial in anthropological perspective since this is the time when the child develops the psychological construct of dependency or independency. In most parts of Asia and Africa, children are reared in close contact with their parents, thus developing the sense of dependence on significant others. **ANTHROPOLOGY** \- physical/ biological characteristics \- Social relationships \- Cultural influences **2.1. Self - awareness** Anthropology defines self awareness as \"that which permits one to assume responsibility for one\'s own conduct, to learn how to react to others, and to assume a variety of roles.\" It has been observed that a child starts to conceptualize self-awareness at the age of two. Following the faster process of enculturation and self awareness is the importance of attachment of positive values to one\'s self. The child must be able to get culturally correct values for adult life. What the child observes from what the adults are doing will more likely be adapted and imitated by the child. **2.2. Self and Behavioral Environment** In order to strengthen the identity of the self, one must be able to grasp the different behavioral orientations. - **Object orientation** It positions the self in relation to surrounding objects. The self should be able to act responsively. to the cultural objects around. - **Spatial orientation** Provides the self with personal space in relation to other people. **Temporal orientation** - endows the self with the sense of time. Time is truly relevant to cultural communities. In Filipino philosophy, time is seen as apherical, where life events are related but may not be necessarily the same. Routinary activities are not considered a repetition of previous activity because these activities will be done at the \"feel of time\". **normative orientation** - provides the self with with the grasp of accepted norms in the community. Being on time is generally accepted norm in communal activities. Normative orientation is at the same time providing the self an idea of behaviors which are not acceptable in the community. **3. The Self Embedded in Culture** When the self is able to distinguish what is acceptable behavior and what is not, it follows that the self is already able to recognize the differences of one\'s self and the other. Psychological anthropologists recognize the thin line that separates the cultural self and the \"actual self\". Cultural degradation or more horribly cultural genocide means the loss of a particular culture due to assimilation or loss of interest. Assimilation happens when a dominant culture is overshadowing the inferior culture, meaning the inferior culture will lose its identity. A very obvious example of cultural degradation is that brought by excessive exposure to media. Television for instance influences language, traditions, beliefs etc. **LESSON 4** **PSYCHOLOGY** 1\. What are the different psychological perspectives of self? 2\. What is self as a cognitive construction? 3\. What is self as proactive and agentic? **PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF** **[THE SELF AS A COGNITIVE CONSTRUCTION]** \* Explained the concepts of self through cognitive approaches: Mental processes rather than observable behaviors. \* Me-Self, I-Self \* Global, State and Domain Specific Self-esteem \* Real and Ideal Self \* Multiple and Unified Self \* True and False Self **WILLIAM JAMES & THE ME-SELF, I-SELF** **I-SELF** \* Pure Ego, the object \* The consciousness of self \* It is the self as \'knower\', the thinking self \* The existence of the self \* \"Alam mo kung sino ka!\" **ME-SELF** \* Empirical Self, the subject \* One of the many things that the \'I\' may be conscious of \* It is the self as \'known\', the experience of the self **COMPONENTS OF ME-SELF** **\* Material Self** - consists of things that belong to us or that we belong to **\* Social Self** - who we are in a given social situation **\* Spiritual Self** - who we are at our core. It is more concrete or more permanent than the two other selves. \"A man\'s SELF is the sum total of all that he can call his, not only his body, his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house.\" -William James **GLOBAL VS. DIFFERENTIATED MODELS** **\* Global self-esteem** (Trait self-esteem) represents the way people generally feel about themselves. Relatively enduring across time and situations, it is a decision people make about their worth as a person. **\* State Self-esteem** (Feelings of Self-Worth) the temporary feelings of momentary emotional reactions to positive and negative events where we feel good or bad about ourselves. **\* Domain Specific Self-esteem** (Self-evaluations) focused on how people evaluate their various abilities and attributes. This is where one creates differentiate how good or bad people are in specific physical attributes, abilities and personal characteristies: **KAREN HORNEY: SELF IS WITH BASIC ANXIETY** People develop a number of strategies to cope with basic anxiety due to experienced conflict and tensions. **\* Idealized Self-Image** - imaginary picture of self as the possessor of unlimited powers and superlative qualities **\* Actual Self** - one in everyday life, frustrated, anxious, disappointed for not living up to the idealized self **\* Real Self** - will only be realized if the person begins to internalize that impossibility of idealized self and embracing the failures of the actual self **CARL ROGERS: PERSON-CENTERED** **\* Real self** (self-concept) all aspects of one\'s being and one\'s experiences that are perceived in awareness by the individual. It is the part of ourselves where we feel, think, look and act involving our self-image. **\* Ideal self** revolves around goals and ambitions in life, is dynamic and the idealized image that we have developed over time. This is what our parents have taught us considering: what we admire in others, what our society promotes, what we think are in our best interest **REAL AND IDEAL SELF** **\* The real self** is who we actually are. It is how we think, how we feel, look, and act. \* It can be seen by others, but because we have no way of truly knowing how others view us, the real self becomes our self-image. **\* The ideal self** is how we want to be. It is an idealized image that we have developed over time, based on what we have learned and experienced. \* May include components of what our parents have taught us, what we admire in others, what our society promotes, and what we think is in our best interest Real self X ideal self = incongruence ---\> unhealthy behavior **TRUE VS. FALSE SELVES** (Donald Winnicott) **True self**-sense of being in the experiencing body, has a sense of integrity, of connected wholeness that listens to the early stage. From infancy the true self is creative, spontaneous, and real. ** False self**-used when the person has to comply with external rules or following social codes. Necessary defensive organization, a survival kit. Can be healthy or unhealthy. **MULTIPLE VERSUS UNIFIED SELVES** (David Lester) Man has an identity that shifts and morphs in different social situations and in response to different stimuli. Having a flexible sense of self in different context is more socially adaptable than force oneself to stick to one self-concept. ** Multiple selves**-capacities we carry within us from multiple relationships. These are not \'discovered\' but \'created\' in our relationships with other people. A person can undergo several transitions in his life and create multiple versions of himself. ** Unified Selves**- well-being comes when our personality is congruent, cohesive, consistent. It is the composite persona, essentially connected with self-hood and identity. \"The multiplicity of self-hood is a metaphor. The unity of self-hood is a defining fact.\" MOST OF THE PROBLEWS THAT PLAGUE OUR SOCIETY - ADDICTION. OVEREATING, CRIME, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PREJUDICE, DEBT, UNWANTED PREGNANCY, EDUCATIONAL FALURE, UNDERPER ORMIANCE AT SCHOOL. AND WCRK, LACX OF SAVINGS, FALLURE TO EXERCISE - ARE IN SOME DEGREE A FAILURE OF SELF-CONTROL **IMPORTANCE OF ALIGNMENT OF SELF** If the way that I am (the real/actual self) is aligned with the way that I want to be (the ideal self, then I will feel a sense of mental well-being or peace of mind. \* If the way that I am is not aligned with how I want to be, the incongruence, or lack of alignment, will result in mental distress or anxiety. \* The greater the level of incongruence between the ideal self and real self, the greater the level of resulting distress. **PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF** **[THE SELF AS PROACTIVE AND AGENTIC]** Social learning theories take an agentic view of self: Having the capacity to exercise control over lives and a proactive self: Having the capacity to accomplish, achieve and complete life goals. \* Agent Self \* Efficient Self **SELF AS PROACTIVE AND AGENTIC (GORDON ALPORT)** **Agent self-** known for actions, making choices, utilizing our control in situations. The self is agentic because it makes decisions, produce desired outcomes and consequences. This is our proactive personality, growth towards psychological health. **(ALBERT BANDURA) Self-Efficacy (Efficient Self)-** the measure of one\'s ability to complete goals. Ability to accept challenges, competition, taking risks and gaining accomplishment. This is the belief that we are capable of performing actions that will produce a desired effect