Sociological Perspective of the Self PDF

Sociological Perspective of the Self Sociologists they are interested in understanding the nature of society, social structure, its form, pattern and the way in which it developed and transformed. Now with regards with THE SELF? They interpret it as a relatively stable set of p...

Sociological Perspective of the Self Sociologists they are interested in understanding the nature of society, social structure, its form, pattern and the way in which it developed and transformed. Now with regards with THE SELF? They interpret it as a relatively stable set of perception of who we are in relation to ourselves , others and the social system. Application: How do I see/ perceive myself? I / Me into this world????? Self is socially constructed in the sense that it is shaped through interaction. Self is not present at birth rather it develops while going through social experiences. Reciprocal approach relationship between self and the society. How? The Process goes this way : Self is influence by the society through the action of individuals by creating groups, organization, network and institution. Whereas: Society influences the self through its shared language and meaning that enable a person to take the role of the other, language in social interaction and reflect upon oneself as an object. Therefore: To understand the self we must also understand society in which the self is acting. Personal Concern: How do we understand society in the context of forming and developing the concept of the Self? … Role of society accdg., to Styker 1980 Society is stable as reflected in the patterned, regularities that characterized most human action. Individuals act, but those action exists within the context of the full set of patterns of action. How individual acts is to verify the conception of who we are. According to him; We / Individual act between those actions exists within the context of the full set of pattern of action and interaction and resources which benefits all the people which constitute a structure of society. Application: Example A symbol of our own national flag can entirely deliver several messages that would somehow affect the way how we think and act as a person. The meaning of it, and the way how messages are being shared would give us an understanding of what kind of person we are? My self in this society? Uuuuum? Let me think> I am Filipino, I have freedom , I am _______ So many things that we can learn from our society , coming from the symbols, messages or meaning that would affect our understanding of who we are.The self emerge. Sociological theories of the Self A. Symbolic Interaction theory 1. George Mead (1934) Self as emerging out of the mind. The mind as arising and developed out of social interaction, pattern of social interaction from the basis of social structure. Application: The mind is the thinking part of the self. The use of language which encapsulates meaning in the form of symbols to which we respond. As the self respond to any other symbols the self emerge. Question : How do we respond??? Response of self as an object to itself comes from the view of others, by taking the role of other seeing themselves from others perspective, the self emerges as a distinct object and at the same time merge of other, becomes one through social interaction. That’s why Language is very vital. We use language when we communicate , shared the same meaning to themselves and to others. Therefore: The Self is both Individual and Social in characters. The meaning of Self are shared from the basis of social interaction with others. Self concept is evolve. B. Structural Functionalism 1. Styker 1980 View of Society: Stable as reflected in the pattern and regularities that characterized most human action. Individuals act between those actions exist within the context of full set of pattern of action , interaction and resources which benefits all the people and which constitutes a structure of society. Application: We act but according to the standard/ pattern of human action governed and dictated by the society social cultural context (Culture). How we act / behave verify the conception of who we are (Self). (Social structure)- individual selves producing action. Other Sociological theories: 1. Self Development (Charles Cooley ) Looking Glass Self Theory Self understanding is constructed by the perception how others perceive/view them. 2. Process of Socialization (Symbolic Interaction Theory) George H. Mead Individual is not passive participant in this process and have a powerful influence over how this process and its consequence developed. Social process (Socialization) influence the development of the self.  References George H Mead , The Social Self Journal of Psychology and Scientific method ,University of Chicago Press, p. 173-174 www.thoughtco.com /self