Sociological Perspective - The Self (Student's Copy)

THE SELF, SOCIETY, & CULTURE CHAPTER 2: SOCIOLOGY THE SOCIOLOGICAL VIEW OF THE SELF The self, as a social being, is influenced by one’s culture. As products of it, we mirror the values, traditions, and beliefs that out society holds dear. THE SELF AND CULTURE How influential is cult...

THE SELF, SOCIETY, & CULTURE CHAPTER 2: SOCIOLOGY THE SOCIOLOGICAL VIEW OF THE SELF The self, as a social being, is influenced by one’s culture. As products of it, we mirror the values, traditions, and beliefs that out society holds dear. THE SELF AND CULTURE How influential is culture to your self-understanding? The Self as Embedded in Culture EDWARD B. TAYLOR Founder of cultural anthropology Classically defined culture as “that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [a human] as a member of society ANTHROPOLOGY SOCIOLOGY Is the inclusive study of the human race, its Scientific study of human life, social culture and society, and its physical groups, whole societies and the development human world whose subject matter is The physical development of man is our own behavior as social beings in a significant in humanity’s self-understanding. relationship with many other people. As we grow up, we adjust ourselves and our Digs into understanding the self in culture to where it could be beneficial to us. reference to the behavior of the Man created culture on his own, altered it, society. and will always have the power to change it as he deems it fit. Understanding man in light of its cultural context. NORMS are what dictate our behavior in the society. Culture is the meeting point of anthropology and sociology in our self-understanding, digging deep into how we see ourselves, in light of the diverse cultural influences. In the early stages of our socialization, primarily with our immediate family, we were familiarized with the ‘ought and ought not’ of our very small world then. As we get older, and as we discover much of the world around us, we realize the complexities of our culture, as our decisions should mirror the very foundations of our culture. Culture has become an integral and an inescapable part of our humanity. CULTURE Made up of all the ideas, beliefs, behaviors, and products common to, and defining a group’s way of life. Group’s way of living, our actions then as part of the group are supposed to be understood based on our cultural context. 2 COMPONENTS Material Culture Non-material Culture MATERIAL CULTURE Consists of human technology—all the things that people make and use. Everything that we see, from clocks, kitchen utensils, nipa huts, to gym equipment, and clothes are part of our material culture. The physical manifestation of the culture itself. The goods we buy, and the products we use. Pinoy Material Culture What material culture has influenced you so much? NON-MATERIAL CULTURE Inclusive of intangible human creations that include beliefs, values, norms and symbols. Help shapes our perspective of the society, of ourselves, and even of the material world. Components: Gestures, Language, Values, Norms, Sanctions, Folkways Take note: The more we get to know our culture, the more we become aware of how we were influenced by it. Similarly, the more we get to know people from other cultures, the more we are surprised at how different they are, not only in the way they look, or in their language, but more so, in how they view themselves as individuals and members of the social group. Our social self can be traced from how we were raised in our society, inclusive of its beliefs, traditions, ideas, perspective, and the changes that comes with it. We can never understand the self apart from the culture since it is the very personality of the society. In fact, our social personality is a reflection of culture itself.  What is the SELF? According to Marcel Mauss, every self has two faces: 1. MOI refers to a person’s sense of who he is, his body, and his basic identity, his biological givenness. 2. PERSONNE is composed of the social concepts of what is means to be who he is. It has much to do with what it means to live in a particular institution, a particular family, a particular religion, a particular nationality, and how to behave given expectations and influences from others. If a self is born into a particular society or culture, the self will have to adjust according to its exposure. Case of Jon Consider a boy named Jon. Jon is a math professor at a Catholic university for more than a decade now. Jon has a beautiful wife whom he met in college, Joan. Joan was Jon’s first and last girlfriend. Apart from being a husband, Jon is also blessed with two kids, a son and a daughter. He also sometimes serves in the church too as a lector and a commentator. As a man of different roles, one can expect Jon to change and adjust his behaviors, ways and even language depending on his social situation. When Jon is in the university, he conducts himself in a matter that benefits his title as a professor. As a husband, Jon can be intimate and touchy. Joan considers him sweet, something that his students will never conceive him to be. His kids fear him. As a father, Jon can be very serious. As a lector and commentator, on the other hand, his church mates knew him as a guy who is calm, all-smiles, and always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Insights about the case of Jon: We play different roles, act in different ways depending on our circumstances. Are we being hypocrital in doing so? Are we even conscious of our shifting selves? According to what we have so far, this is not only normal but it also is acceptable and expected. The self is capable of morphing and fitting itself into any circumstances it finds itself in.  What is the SELF? In contemporary literature, self is commonly defined by the ff. characteristics: SEPARATE - means that self is distinct UNITARY - means that it is the center of from other selves. The self is always all experiences and thoughts that run unique and has its own identity. through a certain person. SELF-CONTAINED & INDEPENDENT - PRIVATE - means that each person sorts it can exist in itself. Its distinctness out information, feelings, and emotions, allows it to be self-contained with its and thought processes within the self. own thoughts, characteristics, and This whole process is never accessible to volition. It does not require any other anyone but the self. self for it to exist. CONSISTENCY - means that particular self’s traits, characteristics, tendencies, and potentialities are more or less the same. SELF in FAMILIES FAMILY The basic unit of society. It serves important functions that are integral in the development of humankind. How you were cared for by your family makes a significant mark in your self. It affects how you function, behave, and relate with other people. FUNCTIONS: 1. Procreation 2. Economic Provision 3. Love 4. Socialization 5. Sense of Security FAMILY While adolescent like you is kept busy discovering the self, growing, being independent, and expanding your own world, you will still need a “secure-base”, a safe place where you can draw support, comfort and reassurance especially when life becomes challenging. A family is expected to be able to provide that kind of emotional environment. FAMILY The kind of family that we are born in, the sources available to us (human, spiritual, economic), and the kind of development that we will have will certainly affect us. Human beings are born virtually helpless and the dependency period of a human baby to its parents for nurturing is relatively longer than the most other animals. In trying to achieve the goal of becoming a fully realized human, a child enters a system of relationships, most important of which is the family. Human persons learn the ways of living and therefore their selfhood by being in a family. It is what a family initiates a person to become that serves as the basis for this person’s progress. STRUCTURES NUCLEAR FAMILY - This is the traditional type. Two parents and their children are living together as one. EXTENDED FAMILY - Aside from the two parents and children, the family is joined in by relatives who live with them, like grandparents, cousins or aunties/uncles. FAMILY W/ WORKING PARENTS SINGLE PARENT FAMILY BLENDED FAMILY CHILDLESS FAMILY SPECIAL FAMILY PARENTING STYLES 1. AUTHORITARIAN 1. Impose rules and expect obedience “Don’t interrupt.” “Keep your room clean.” “Don’t stay out late or you’ll be grounded.” “Why? Because I said so.” Their children are more likely to have less social skills and low self- esteem. PARENTING STYLES 2. PERMISSIVE Submit to their children’s desire. They make few demands and use little punishment. Their children tend to be more aggressive and more immature. PARENTING STYLES 3. AUTHORITATIVE Both demanding and responsive. They exert control by setting rules and enforcing them, but they also explain the reasons for rules. Especially with older children, they encourage open discussion when making the rules and allow exceptions. Their children tend to have highest self esteem, self reliance and social competence. GENDER AND THE SELF Gender is one of those loci of the self that is subject to alteration, change, and development. The sense of self that is being taught makes sure that an individual fits in a particular environment, is dangerous and detrimental in the goal of truly finding one’s self, self-determination, and growth of the self. It is important to give one the freedom to find, express, and live his identity. Gender has to be personally discovered and asserted and not dictated by culture and society.  TO SUM UP... Our selves are truly products of our interaction with the external reality. How much of you are essential? How much of you are now a product of your society, culture, community, and family? Has your choice of school affected yourself now?