Sociological

Perspective
Sociology
Sociology is a social science that
focuses on society, human social
behavior, patterns of social
relationships, social interaction,
and aspects of culture associated
with everyday life.
 The Self as a product of Modern
Society among other Constructions
Sociologists are concerned with
questions about the person in the
community. For example, they ask
questions, like:

• “How does society influence you?”

• “How do you affect society?”
• “Who are you as a person in the
community?”.
Modernization has significantly
changed society, and this has
affected how an individual
builds and develops his or her
self-identity.
Pre-modern society was centered on survival.
People behaved according
to social rules and traditions
while the family and the
immediate environment
supervision on how to get
through life (Hermannsottir,
2011).
 Social groups and social network
“Any collection of human beings
who are brought into social
relationships with one another”
Man is a social animal; no
man can live in isolation. In
fact, every aspect of man’s
life is influenced to a great
extent by the members of
the different groups of which
he/she is a part. Social group
is a collection of human
beings.
What are social groups?
There are groups of people
everywhere you go. As a person, you
may belong to many different types
of groups.
Social Groups
 religious group
 ethnic group
 your workplace colleague group
 your college class
 a sports team
 friends, etc.
These groups can also be called social groups. We have
something in common with others in the same group, we
identify with the group, and the group can create a sense
of belonging for us.
A group is different from an
aggregate, where people
are temporarily together in a
space, maybe even doing
the same things, but do not
identify them as belonging
together.
A group is also different from
a category. If you are in the
same category as a person,
you may share similar
characteristics— like age,
height, or you both wear
glasses, but you may not
interact or feel the sense of
belonging.
Characteristics of
social group
 Reciprocal relationships.
 Sense of unity and feeling of
sympathy towards each other.
 We- feeling: Members defend
their interests collectively.
 Common interests and ideals.
 Similar behavior: for achieving
the common goals and
interests.
Nelson Mandela
People learn to hate and if they
learn to hate then they can be
taught to love, for love comes more
naturally to the human heart than
it’s opposite.
What is SOCIAL NETWORKS?
SOCIAL NETWORKS?
Let’s think offline for a
moment though. In the offline
world, social networks refer to
the social ties that link us
together with other people.
These ties include your family,
friends, acquaintances,
classmates, colleagues,
neighbors, etc.
A social group is either
organic or rational.
Organic Group
It is naturally occurring and its
highly influenced by your
family.
Organic Group
Organic motivation - you joined these
groups because your family is also a part of
it.
What is the positive
effect and downside
of organic group?
The positive effect
of organic groups
is rootedness.
The downside of that
organic group is
simply less freedom
and greater social
conformity
Rational Group
It occur in modern societies. These
groups are formed as a matter of
shared self-interests; moreover,
people join these groups out of
their free will.
What is the positive
effect and downside
of rational group?
The positive effect of
rational groups greater
freedom, especially
the freedom of
movement.
The downside of the
rational group is that the
relationships between
them is tenuous, and the
person feels no
meaningful connection
with the others
Mead’s Assumptions:

• The self is not present at birth.

Mead’s Assumptions:
•It develops only with social
experience
Mead’s Assumptions:
•In which language, gestures, and
objects are used to communicate
meaningfully.
Mead’s Assumptions:
•In which language, gestures, and
objects are used to communicate
meaningfully.
Mead’s Assumptions:
•Since there is meaning in human actions, a person
infers people’s intention or direction of action, which
may lead him to understand world from other’s
point of view, known as role taking.
 THREE-STAGE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF

•Preparatory Stage
•Play Stage
•Game Stage
PREPARATORY STAGE (0-3 YEARS)

•Children imitate the people

around them

•Copy behavior without

understanding why

•They have no sense of self

PLAY STAGE (3-5 YEARS)
•Children start to
communicate with language
•Role taking is not view as
expected to them
•Pretend to take roles of
significant others.
•The self is developing.
 GAME STAGE (Begins in the early
school years; about 8-9 YEARS)
•Begin to understand other people’s
perspective–or the perspective of
the generalized other-viewpoints,
attitude, demands, expectations of
the society at large.

•The individual starts to respond

numerous members of social
environment. The self is present here.
The Social Self

Mead's work focuses

on the way in which
the self is developed.
 The Social Self
- Mead's theory of the social self is based on the
perspective that the self emerges from social
interactions, such as:
• observing and interacting with others
• responding to others' opinions about oneself
• and internalizing external opinions and
internal feelings about oneself
The social aspect of self is an important distinction
because other sociologists and psychologists felt
that the self was based on biological factors and
inherited traits. According to Mead, the self is not
there from birth, but it is developed over time from
social experiences and activities
According to Mead's theory,
the self has two sides or
phases: 'me' and 'I.'
• The 'me' is considered the socialized aspect of the
individual.
• The 'me' represents learned behaviors, attitudes,
and expectations of others and of society. This is
sometimes referred to as the generalized other.
• The 'me' is considered a phase of the self that is in
the past.
• The 'me' has been developed by the knowledge
of society and social interactions that the
individual has gained.
 I
• The 'I', therefore, can be considered the
present and future phase of the self.
• The 'I' represents the individual's identity based
on response to the 'me.'
• The 'I' says, 'Okay. Society says I should
behave and socially interact one way, and I
think I should act the same (or perhaps
different),' and that notion becomes self.
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Bioecological System
Theory
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Bioecological System Theory

Explain how the inherent

qualities of children and
their environments interact
to influence how they
grow and develop.
Microsystem
 The smallest and most
immediate environment in
which children live.
Comprises the daily home,
school or daycare, peer group
and community environment of
the children.
Mesosystem
 Encompasses the interaction of
the different microsystems
which children find themselves
in.

Involves linkages between home

and school, between peer group
and family, and between family
and community.
Ecosystem
> Pertains to the linkages that
may exist between two or more
settings, one of which may not
contain the developing children
but affect them indirectly,
nonetheless.
Macrosystem
The largest and most distant
collection of people and places to
the children that still have significant
influences on them.
> Composed of the children’s cultural
patterns and values, specifically their
dominant beliefs and ideas, as well as
political and economic systems.
Chronosystem

Considers how and when major

events occur and how the
timing of these events can
influence a person's life. These
major events ..
Chronosystem

Examples of chronosystem:
• The birth of a new sibling when the child is 8 years old.
•The separation and remarriage of the child's parents to
other people when the child is a teenager.
•The child being diagnosed with leukemia at age 4.
•Moving to a new state when the child is 10 years old
GLOBALIZING WORLD: IMPLICATIONS
TO SELF AND IDENTITY
• Are we what we are because of
who we are?
• Or there are forces and events
shaping who we are?
THE SELF IN A COMPRESSING WORLD
•There are clear discrimination between race and nationality.
•Individuals are separating from each other based on interest
and creating a demarcation line based on race and identity.
•Can we not dream of the world opening its borders from
different countries and communities.
 INTERNET TO SELF AND IDENTITY

•The use of internet has

become revolutionary in
the process of
globalization. It has the
capacity to broadens
one’s vision.