UNIT 1: THE SELF FROM THE VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES

SOURCE: https://libraryguides.mdc.edu/sociology

Lesson 2: SOCIOLOGY

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from the sociological
perspective.
2. Examine the different environmental and social factors that shape the self.

Sociological Perspective
THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF MODERN SOCIETY AMONG OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS:
LET’S REFLECT:
1. How does society influence you?
2. How do you affect the society?
3. Who are you as a person in the community?

▪ SOCIOLOGY is the study of formed norms, beliefs, and values that come to exist within
the person to a degree where these become natural and normal, thus, developing
the person’s identity (Elwell, 2003).
- is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences
of human behavior.
▪ MODERNIZATION has significantly changed society and this has affected how
individual builds and develops his/her “identity”.
- PREMODERN SOCIETY- centered on survival, people behaved according to social
rules and traditions
- MODERNIZATION- has improved people’s living conditions; a person in the modern
society is free to choose where to live, what to do, and who to be with. In modern
societies, individualism is dominant and developing one’s self- identity is central.
- MODERNIZATION is also called the destruction of the traditional way of life
“delocalized” the self (Mannheim, 1950). The self is dislocated and deracinated
from its traditional attachment to the community.

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 DELOCALIZATION- the self is released from time- honored traditions and communal
attachments and faces infinites possibilities (i.e. free to seek its own identity).
Note: The self as a product of modern society is free to seek its own identity and free from
customary constraints.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERNITY:

1. Industrialism- the social relations implied in the extensive use of material power and
machinery in all processes of production. (ex. people are more and more dependent
on machines)
2. Capitalism- a production system involving both competitive product markets and the
commodification of labor power.
3. Institutions of surveillance- the massive increase of power and reach by institutions,
especially in government.
4. Dynamism- the most evident characteristic of modern society. Dynamism is
characterized as having vigorous activity and progress. In modern society, it is a
society that is full of possibilities, everything is subject to change. (Ex. Liquid Society-
nothing is permanent; living in times of uncertainty!)

WHAT IS A SOCIAL GROUP?

• This is described as having two or more people interacting with one another, sharing
similar characteristics, and whose members identify themselves as part of the group.
(ex. family, barkada, classmates)

TWO TYPES OF SOCIAL GROUP:

A. ORGANIC GROUPS- it is naturally occurring, and it is highly influenced by your family.

This is usually formed in traditional societies. You joined these groups because your
family is also a part of it (organic motivation).

B. RATIONAL GROUPS- it occurs in modern societies. Modern societies are made up of

different people coming from different places. Rational groups are formed as a
matter of shared self-interests; people join these groups out of their own free will
(rational motivation)

WHAT IS A SOCIAL NETWORK?

- refers to the ties or connections that link you to your social group. (ex. The connection you
have with your family is your blood relation, the connection you have with your barkada is
your friendship)

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The SOCIAL SELF according to George Herbert Mead:

• Mead was a sociologist from the late 1800s. He is well known for his “theory of the
Social Self”
• Mead’s work focused on how the “self” is developed. His theory is based on the
perspective that the self is a product of social interactions and internalizing the
external (i.e., other people’s) views along with one’s personal view about oneself.
• Mead believed the “self” is not present at birth; rather it developed over time through
social experiences and activities.

Developing the SELF:

Mead developed a concept that proposed different stages of self-development. These
stages are:
Language- through shared understanding of symbols, gestures and sound, language gives
the individual the capacity to express himself or herself while at the same time
comprehending what other people are conveying. Language sets the stage for self-
development.
Play- at this level, individuals role-play or assume the perspective of others. Role-playing
enables the person to internalize some other people’s perspectives.
Game- is the level where the individual not only internalize the other people’s perspectives,
he/she is also able to take into account societal rules and adheres to it. According to Mead,
the self is developed by understanding the rule, and one must abide by it to win the game
or be successful at an activity.

TWO SIDES OF SELF: “I” and “Me”:

• The “I” and “Me” have a didactic relationship, which is like a system of checks and
balance.
• “Me” is the product of what the person has learned while interacting with others and
with the environment. Learned behaviors, attitudes and expectations comprises the
“me”. The ‘me’ exercises control over the self, it sees to it that rules are not broken.
- The “I” is that part of the self that is unsocialized and spontaneous. It is the individual’s
response to the community’s attitude toward the person. The ‘I’ presents impulses
and drives.
- The ‘I’ enables the person to express individualism and creativity and it does not
blindly follow rules.

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BRONFENBRENNER’S ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THEORY:
- the ecological theory focuses on the impact that environment plays on the growth and
development of an individual.

The MICROSYSTEM - The microsystem refers to the environment in which an individual lives.
This system includes family members, peers, religious communities, neighborhoods and
others whom the individual has regular interaction and direct contact with.

The MESOSYSTEM - The mesosystem is described as the interactions between the

microsystems. The mesosystem could include experiences at home related to experiences
at school, or experiences at school related to experiences at church.

The EXOSYSTEM - The exosystem is a system in which the individual plays no role in the
construction of experiences, but these experiences have a direct impact on the
microsystems the individual is part of. An example of an exosystem could include a husband
being laid off and this lack of employment having a direct impact on the family's financial
state that could affect their day-to-day lifestyle and the stress level in the home.

The MACROSYSTEM - The macrosystem is influenced greatly by the culture and society in
which a person lives. The belief systems and ideology of the individual's culture influence
the person directly, however, the individual does not necessarily have as much freedom in
determining his or her surroundings
The CHRONOSYSTEM - The chronosystem reflects the cumulative experiences a person has
over the course of their lifetime. These experiences include environmental events, as well as
major transitions in life. Some notable transitions include divorce, marriage or the birth of a
baby. These transitions are major experiences in an individual's lifetime.

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 source: www.frontpagenews.us

Sources:
Santrock, John W. (2011). Life-span development. 13th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Shultz & Shultz. (2011). A History of Modern Psychology
https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Herbert-Mead
http://www.sociologygroup.com/george-herbert-mead-biography-theories/

LET US REFLECT:
How is the self influenced by society?
How is behavior shaped by various groups?

SOURCE: google sites

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