SELF FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIOLOGY

- Based from the stages of self-formation mentioned earlier, Mead then presented his Theory Of Self.
- This Theory of Self maintains the idea that the self stems from social interaction with others.
*Now idefine natin kung ano ng aba yung social interaction*
- One definition of social interaction is --- it is the process by which we act and react to those around us.
- It is a relationship among at least two persons. In which they have a meaningful contact with each other.
- In a nutshell, social interaction includes those acts people perform toward each other and the responses na
binibigay nila in return.
- It means observing, interacting with others, sharing your opinions and responding to other's opinions and
internalizing feelings about oneself.
- It is a process na nagsisimula from childhood.
- Share ko lang to, may two types daw ng social interaction according to Young and Mack.
1. Direct or Physical Interaction
– may body contact and involves may physical action among individuals. *us2 mo yown may aksyon*
For example, beating, pushing, boxing, wrestling, kissing etc.
2. Symbolic Interaction
- It involves the use of symbols, meaning language. It means communication through social language.
This is the most common method of interacting in human societies.
- So, for Mead, ang self daw is the social product rising from relations with other people.

- According to Mead, the self does not exist at birth and may not be present in the beginning of a social
interaction, but it is constructed and reconstructed in the process of social experiences and activity.
- Pumapasok din dito yung term na ‘tabula rasa’ from John Locke, kasi Mead also believes na at birth, hindi pa
nag-eexist yung self natin.
- Parang ganito yung paniniwala nya, at first, for babies or siguro for 1-4 years old, ang focus lang nung bata
ay yung sarili niya. They see themselves as the center of their universe at dun at dun lang nagrerevolve ang
lahat --- sa sarili nila. Hindi pa nila naiinterpret yung meaning behind other people’s behavior or yung roles nila
kasi bata nga, walang pang alam, and it is hard for them to understand the perspectives of other people.
- But then, as we grow and mature, nagkakaroon ng change sa self. Narerealize natin na ‘ayy hindi lang pala
sakin umiikot ang mundo’ and with that unti-unti nating nagegets yung roles ng other individuals sa buhay
natin. With that, nagsisimula na sa atin magmatter or maging concern nating yung opinions, reactions,
expectations nila, ng ibang tao about us.
- Therefore, they begin to gain a sense of self.
- There are certain individuals who play a major role in the self-formation.
- Sila yung tinatawag na – significant others
- Significant others, hindi lang nakaconfine yung definition nito sa as in romantic partner
- But, significant others they are individuals, our family, friends, teachers or mentors who strongly influence
how we behave and help us mold ourselves.

- By taking the role of other people, people become self aware. Thus, implying that the self is composed of two
parts: the I self and me self.
- First, in terms of English grammar, what is the difference between I and Me?
- Both ‘I’ and ‘Me’ are first-person singular pronouns, pero nagkakatalo lang sila sa way kung paano ginamit
malamang.
- ‘I’ is used as a subjective pronoun, while ‘me’ is an objective pronoun.
- So sa ‘I’ subject pronoun, which means yun ang subject ng sentence -- the person who is performing an
action or being something.
Example:
1. I will go on a date
I will cook dinner tonight.
-Dun sa example, ‘I’ is the subject, the person na pupunta sa date or magluluto ng dinner.

-Sa ‘Me’ naman, subject pronoun which means it is the direct or indirect of an action or of a preposition.
Example:
1. Vaughn tutored me.
- ‘Me’ is the direct object of the verb ‘tutored’, me is not the one tutoring but rather the one being tutored.

- Moving forward, as phases of the self, ano nga ba yung ‘I’ self and ‘Me’ self
- ‘Me’ self is our socialized self. It is developed through the process of socialization. Ito yung combined image
of yourself that has been given to you from interacting with society. ‘Me’ functions as an object as tayo yung
dinedefine ng society. Therefore, ‘Me’ is the society’s view of us. How others perceive us.
- The ‘I’ self naman basically, it is our opinion of ourselves as a whole. It is what you would commonly think
about yourself. I represent the individual’s identity. It is the individual’s impulses, freedom, creativity; basically
everything that is unique and uncertain like being spontaneous. I function as subject. As tayo ang nagiinitiate
ng action. I is also our response to me.

- For clarity,
Me = society’s view
I = individual’s identity stepping in, or our personal responses to what society thinks
-example nagdagasa

*Though these 2 r conflicting, mead explained that who we are as a whole, is the balanced of i self and me
self.