Sociology

The Self as a Product of Modern Society Among

Other Constructions
Sociologists are concerned with questions about the person in
the community.

Questions like?

“How does society influence you?

“How do you affect society?”
“Who are you as a person in the community?

Sociology posits that socially formed norms,

beliefs, and values come to exist within the
person to a degree where these become
natural and normal, thus, developing
the person’s self-identity.
Modernization has significantly changed society, this has
affected how an individual builds and develops his or her self-
identity.
Pre- modern society has centered

On survival. People behaved according to

Rules and traditions while the family and the
Immediate environment provided supervision
on how to get through life.

choosing where to live, what line of

work, who to marry.
Modernization, however, has improved people’s living conditions. A
person in modern society is
• free to choose where to live,
• what to do, and who to be with.
However, stability has also decreased as traditions and traditional
support system, such as family have decreased in importance. In
modern societies, individualism is dominant, and developing one’s self-
identity is central.
Key Characteristics of Modernity
According to Giddens (1991), the most patent, major characteristics of
modernity are:
1. Industrialism – the social relations implied in the
Extensive use of material power and machinery in all
Processes of productions.

2. Capitalism – a production system involving both

Competitive product markets and commodification
(putting a price tag) of labor power.
3. Institution of Surveillance – the massive increase
Of power and reach by institutions, especially in
Government.

4. Dynamism – the most evident characteristics of a modern

Society. Dynamism is characterized as having vigorous
Activity and progress. Everything is subject to change
Social Groups and Social Network

Sociologist Simmel expressed that people create social networks by

joining social groups. A social group 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. Example: family, barkada, classmates
Meanwhile, social network refers to the ties or connection that link you
to your social group. The connection you have with your family is your
blood relation; the connection you have with your barkada is your
friendship; and the connection you have with your classmates is the
common interest to learn.

A Social Group is either organic or rational. An Organic

group is naturally occurring and is highly Influenced by
your family.

You joined this groups because your family is also part of it,
George Simmel called it, organic motivation and its positive
effect is rootedness; giving the person the sense of belongingness.

Downside, less freedom and greater social conformity. You are

expected to act and behave according to your community’s standards.
Rational groups occur in modern societies.

Modern societies are made up of different people

Coming from different places. The family is modern
Societies is not the main motivation when joining
rational groups.

Rational groups are formed as a matter of shared

self-interests; moreover people join these groups
out of their own free will. Simmel call this
Rational motivation. Rational groups imply greater
Freedom especially the freedom of movement.

Interests change and when they do, group members

change
Mead and the Self

George Herbert Mead was a sociologist from the late 1800s. He is well
known for his “theory of the social self”. Mead’s work focus 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 are:

Language – self- development and language

Are intimately tied. Language sets the stage
For self-development

Play- child develops an understanding of how

The other people feel about themselves

Game – take into account societal rules and

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”
Mead sees the person as an active process, not just a mere reflection
of society. He further proposed two interactive facets of the self: the “I”
and the “me”.
The “me” and the “I” have a didactic relationship, which is like a
system of checks and balances.
 Anthropology
The Self and the Person in Contemporary
Anthropology
Anthropology – is the study of people, past and present. It focuses
on understanding the human condition in its cultural aspect.

In a general sense, anthropology is

concerned with understanding how
humans evolved and how they differ
from one another.
A unit but unitary

Anthropologist and professor, Katherine Ewing (1990), described the self as

encompassing the “physical organism, possessing psychological functioning and
social attributes”. This definition portrays the “self” as implicitly and explicitly
existing in the mind comprised of psychological, biological, and cultural
processes.

Neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux (2002) conceptualized the

Implicit and explicit aspects of the self; Explicit – aspect
of the self that you are consciously aware of.
Implicit – not immediately available to the consciousness

- “the self is not static; it is added to and subtracted from

By genetic maturation, learning, forgetting, stress, ageing,
And diseases. This is true of both the implicit and explicit
Aspect of the self.
Self as representation

Self representation may refer to: Self image. Self-portrait. ... Self-

representation(politics), A movement to encourage people in
minorities to represent their own interests. Self-
representation (culture), the way we represent ourselves to others
within a particular culture.

According to Ewing, people from all cultures have been observed to be

able to rapidly project different self-representations, depending on the
context of the situations. The person is unaware of these shifts;
however, he/she will experience wholeness and continuity despite this
shifts.
The Self Embedded in Culture

Cultural anthropologist distinguished two ways of how the self is

constructed. There are:
- Independent and interdependent constructs

These self- construals are also embedded in culture.

Construals is an interpretation of the meaning of
something hence, in this sense, the meaning of “self”.

The independent construct is characteristic of

Individualistic culture. Example North America &
Europe. Represents the self as: separate, distinct
With emphasis on internal attributes or traits, skills &
values.
The interdependent construct is typical of the
Collectivist culture in East Asia stressing the
Essentials connection between the individual
to other people. Developmental psychologist Catherine
(2010), believed that culture can influence how you view:

Relationship- culture influences how you enter into and

Maintain relationships. For example, relationship may be
Seen as voluntary or as duty-based.

In Western societies, it is essential for a person to choose

whom to marry while some Eastern societies still
practice arranged marriage.
Personality traits – culture influences whether (and how)
You value traits like humility, self-esteem, politeness,
And so on, as well as how you perceive hardships or
How you feel about relying on others.

Achievement – Culture influences how you define success

And whether you value certain types of individual and group
achievements

Expressing emotions – culture influences what will affect you

emotionally,
As well