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Course Code and Title: GE 101 – Understanding the Self

Lesson Number: Week 5 Lesson 4
Topic: The Anthropological Conceptualization of Self
This chapter is dealing with Anthropological scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and
the physical, social, and cultural development of humans.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
*Explain what field of anthropology can contribute to the understanding the self.
• Cite how culture and self are complementary concepts.
• Discuss the cultural construction of the self and social identity.
• Prepare some insights on how to achieve a sense of self, situated in multicultural and dynamic
situation
• Select the different cultural forces that shape the self.
Pre-Assessment: Read carefully the following statements/questions. (Write your
answers on the space provided) 2points each a total of 10 points
1. What is an Anthropology?
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2. What is Culture?
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3. What is the Identity?

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4. What is Ethnicity?
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5. What is Identity Crisis?

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Pre-Activity: Time limit 10 minutes ( 10 points )

What culture that affects your self?

(Write your answer on a ½ sheet crosswise of yellow pad paper)

Lesson Presentation:
Introduction
Anthropologists seek to understand what makes us human by studying human ancestors
through archaeological excavation and by observing living cultures throughout the world. In this
chapter, you will learn about different fields of anthropology and the major schools of thought,
important theories, perspectives, and research within anthropology, as well as the work of influential
anthropologists. You’ll also learn methods for conducting anthropological research and learn how to
formulate your own research questions and record information.
Anthropology is the study of mankind (anthropos). Etymologically, anthropology comes from the word
anthropos meaning man and logos meaning knowledge. Anthropology looks at humans as something
complex in terms of physical, emotional, social, and cultural complexity. Anthropology also refers to
the science of humans and their culture. Since anthropology is one of the social sciences, of course it
is a necessity, and undoubtedly very important considering humans as social creatures cannot
possibly loose interacting with each other. Studying anthropology will create tolerance and a peaceful
life. Being unable to understand each other has resulted in prejudice, quarrel, brawl, and even war.
Differences are often considered a threat, but when managed properly, they that could be a beauty,
like a variety of colorful flowers in a garden.
The Cultural Construction of Self and IdentityEgocentric Self
Suggest that each person is defined as a replica of all humanity but capable of acting
independently from each other; and that each person is seen to be a separate entity with
inherent characteristics which are seen to originate and reside within an individual.

The Cultural Construction of Self and Identity

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 Egocentric Self
*Having little or no regard for interests, beliefs, or attitudes other than one's own; self-centered: an
egocentric person; egocentric demands upon the time and patience of others.
Suggest that each person is defined as a replica of all humanity but capable of acting
independently from each other; and that each person is seen to be a separate entity with
inherent characteristics which are seen to originate and reside within an individual.

*Egocentric thinking is the normal tendency for a young child to see everything that happens as it
relates to him- or herself. ... For example, if a child wants very much for something to happen, and it
does, the child believes he or she caused it to happen.
Egocentrism is the inability to differentiate between self and other. ... Although egocentrism and
narcissism appear similar, they are not the same. A person who is egocentric believes they are the
center of attention, like a narcissist, but does not receive gratification by one's own admiration.
*Narcissism is egocentric behavior that occurs as a result of low self-esteem, or feeling inferior in
certain situations, caused by a gap between the ideal self (standards set by others, for example,
parents) and the real self. ... Research has found the diagnosis of narcissism to be significantly more
common among men.

*egocentrism - is the inability to differentiate between self and other. ... Sociocentrism is the opposite of
egocentrism, when a person puts his or her needs and concerns before all others.

*Whether it's you or a loved one you're trying to help, here are five pointers:
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1. Make an honest assessment of your egocentric behaviors. ...

2. Check out how other people feel. ...
3. Build up your inner sense of self. ...
4. Squelch your imaginary audience. ...
5. Practice counter-egocentrism

 Socio centric Self

*The self is viewed as dependent on the situation or social setting. This is the view of the self which is
context dependent; there is no intrinsic self that can possess enduring qualities. . : a tendency to
assume the superiority or rightness of one's own social group.
*sociocentrism - occurs when a person puts the needs and concerns of a social group ahead of his or
her own needs and concerns. The word is combined from socio and centric. ... Sociocentrism is the
opposite of egocentrism, when a person puts his or her needs and concerns before all others.
Social Identities

 From the similarities and differences in characteristics among individual,

people construct their social identity.
 The identity toolbox refers to the features of a person’s identity that he or she
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chooses to emphasize in constructing a social self.

 Self-identification may be attained by: kinship, gender, age, language, religion,
 ethnicity, personal appearance, socio-economic status and family membership.
 Some characteristics such as kinship, gender and age are almost
universally used to differentiate the people.
 Ethnicity, personal appearance, and socioeconomic status are not
always used in every society.
 Family membership could be the most significant feature to determine
the person’s social identity.
 Another important identity determinant that is often viewed as essential for the
maintenance of a group identity is language.
 In other societies, religious affiliation is as important marker of group identity.
*Egocentric thinking is a natural tendency to view everything in relation to oneself. This type of
thinking leads to the inability to sympathize with others or analyze and evaluate various perspectives.
... As young learners contemplate who they are and where they fit in, egocentric thinking may
become more apparent.

Personal naming - a universal practice with numerous cross-cultural variations,

establishes a child's birthright and social identity.
 Three-phased Rite of Passage
According to Arnold van Gennep, one's identity is not inborn but it is
something people continuously develop in life. Rites of Passage help a person
adjust from one social dimension of his or her life to others.
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The Self as Embedded in Culture

Clifford Geertz, an American anthropologist said that culture is a system of inherited
conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which people communicate, perpetuate and
develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life. Max Weber said that Man is an animal
suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun. Webs are perceived to be symbolic of
culture.
Image of man

 Human nature is interdependent with culture.

"Without men, no culture, certainly; but equally and more
significantly, without culture, no men" (Geertz, 1973)
 Culture should be perceived as set of control mechanism such as plans,
recipes, rules, instructions for the governing of behavior.
 Man is precisely the animal most desperately dependent upon such extra
genetics, outside-the-skin mechanisms, such cultural programs, for ordering
his behavior.
 Man as Cultural Animal
 Robbins considered human beings as cultural animals as they create the
meaning of objects, persons, behaviors, emotions and events and behave in
accordance with meanings they assume to be true. People assign different
meanings to different life events and things. Therefore, the self is
embedded/attached in culture.

Summary:
Cultural Differences exist when groups of people assign different meanings to different life events
and things. Therefore, the self is embedded/attached in culture. Without men, no culture, certainly;
but equally and more significantly, without culture, no men" (Geertz, 1973) Anthropology is providing
insights into the nature of self based on continuous understanding of the basic element of culture,
The Cultural Construction of Self and Identity.

Culture and self thus become complementary concepts that have to be understood in relation to one
another, We continuously reconstitute ourselves into new selves in response to internal and external
stimuli. Therefore, the continuity of self is only illusory.

The concept of identity was used mostly in the context of "ethnic identity", pointing out the sameness
of the self with others, that is, to a consciousness of sharing certain characteristics within a group. To
attain self-identification, individuals have to overcome many obstacles such as traditionally
established habits and externally imposed self-images
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An academic field of understanding the interconnection and interdependence of biological and

cultural aspects of the human experience at all times in all places,

Suggest that in order to maintain a relatively stable and coherent self, members of the multicultural
society have no choice internalize divergent culture and reject/suppress identifications that may
conflict with other self-presentations

Activity/Evaluation: A and B 2points each a total of 12 +8 points (Total 20 points )

A. Think-Pair-Share
How is self embedded in culture?
B. Seat work:Define the words in each item according to how you understand them.
1. Anthropology
2. Culture
3. Egocentric Self
4. Sociocentric Self
5. Social Identity
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C. Identity Collage: Each student will create their own identity collage. – 8 points
*Example of identity collage
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Reinforcement:
My Reflection
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_________________________________________________________________________
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References:
The Anthropological Conceptualization of the Self: The Self as Embedded in Culture
https://youtu.be/rOzWU_ATFBI
An Anthropological Conceptualization of Self
https://prezi.com/go6zixmolgw-/an-anthropological-conceptualization-of-self/
Egocentrism
https://www.slideshare.net/oscar12261/egocentrism-ok-present

Identify Collage

https://images.app.goo.gl/87PFAkB5hUqkL3Sv9
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