UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
LP02: Sociological Self
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
1 GEORGE HERBERT MEAD (1863-
1931)
THE SOCIAL SELF
- He believes that the self is born of
society and builds on social
experience.
- Self cannot be separated from
society and communication plays a
vital role.
- Self is reflective and reflexive
- This process started by the time
children begins to learn language,
they develop a sense of the self
1.1 STAGES IN MEAD’S THEORY
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE SELF
a) PREPATORY STAGE (0-2) –
children mimic or imitate others
b) PLAY STAGE (2-6) – children
pretend to play the role of a
particular other perspective. (ex.
Bahay-bahayan)
c) GAME STAGE (7+) – children
play organized games and takes on
the perspective of the generalized
other (represents learned
behaviors, attitudes, expectations
of the society).
1.2 TWO SIDES OF THE SELF
I ME
Subject Object
Existential Socialized
Natural Cultured
Concerned about Concerned beyond
the self the self (society)
The person’s Generalized other
individuality
2 CHARLES COOLEY (1864-1929)
- “I am not what I think I am, I am not
what you think I am; I am what I
think you think I am.”
LOOKING-GLASS SELF
- Refers to the notion that the self
develops through pur perceptions of
others’ evaluation and appraisal of
us.
- The image people have themselves is
based on how the society perceives
them.
a. First, an individual must
imagine how he/she appears
to others, be it family,
friends, or any random
person being encountered.
b. Second, one imagines how
he/she must be evaluated
based on the way one is
observed by others. For
instance, a person might be
evaluated as being humorous,
or clever, or maybe wise.
c. Lastly, one develops a self-
basis on one’s impressions of
these evaluations or
judgments of others.
3 ERVING GOFFMAN
- Social interaction may be compared
to a theater and people to actors on a
stage where each plays a variety of
roles.
- This model on social life assumes
that personalities are not static
because they change to suit the
situation.
DRAMATURGICAL MODEL
(DRAMATURGY)
- Focuses on how individuals take on
role and act them out to present a
favorable impression to their
audience
Impression management
- a process in which people regulate
and control information in social
interaction.