Unit 1

THE SELF FROM VARIOUS

PERSPECTIVES
“Who Am I?”

Module 2

SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES
2: SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES

The social aspect of the self is explored in many ways, in which social situations
influence one’s view of the self. The self is not created in isolation, and people are not born
with perception of oneself as good in sports, make-up artistry, dancing or business. Such
perceptions are identified through observations, or interactions with other people. “Am I
beautiful?” “Do my eyebrows look like Liza Soberano na?” These questions can be answered
by looking at those people around. The self has meaning only within social context, and it
is not wrong to say that social situation defines our self-concept and our self-esteem. We
rely on others to provide a “social reality”-to help us determine what to think, feel and do
(Hardin & Higgins, 1996).

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. compare and contrast the different views of the self;

2. examine the two components of self;
3. describe the concept of the looking-glass self and how it affects self-concept; and,
4. explain the concept of social comparison and why it is important to human behavior.
The Self as Product of Modern Society Among Others

With modernization, the self becomes a “delocalized” self which is free to seek its own identity;
defining religion, theological tradition; free from customary constraints hence, deviating from the
traditional way of life. Stability of one’s self-identity is no longer based on pre-given traditional
brad definition of the self.

Clifford Geertz (1973) believes that the struggle from one’s individuality is only possible in
modern society where religio-theological traditions are gradually replaced by rational and scientific
calculations; and the personal affiliations are replaced by exceedingly impersonal associations
brought about by urbanized way of life. Modernization or the destruction of the traditional way of
life “delocalize” the self. This poses certain problems as:

1. The newfound freedom threatens the very authenticity of the self (e.g. love).
2. Alienation (Marx) – human beings haunted by the very images they have created
3. Objectification of the body (e.g. Medical Practice)
4. Dehumanization of Self

Solution: For the individual to discover the “true” and “authentic” part of himself/herself to
realize his/her potentials, there is a need to abolish repressive social constraints.

Self as Necessary Fiction

Self for Nietzsche, is the sum of individual’s action, thoughts and feelings. Self is nothing more
than a metaphor, a representation of something abstract; symbolic. It is possible for us to
remember, something even if we have not experienced it. Self has a continuity even if it is only a
memory. i.e, either heared or witnessed which did not happen to you. A true self is not what unites
these experiences , but it is the presumed unity of these experience that give rise to concept of the
self.

Post–Modern View of the Self

Self is a narrative, a text written and rewritten. Self is a story. It is dynamic. Self is a product
of modern discourse that is historically and socially imprisoned by what is acceptable by norms,
etc. Self in post modernity is complicated by electronic mediated by virtual interaction of cyber self
such as change in appearance (in the cyberspace). According to N. Green, self is “digitalized” in
cyberspace, a virtual version of who we are. The self is seen in websites or social media-facebook,
twitter, Instagram, etc.
The following are manifestations:
1. Information technology dislocates the self; thus, self is “digitalized” in cyberspace.
2. Global migration produces multicultural identities.
3. Post-modern selves are “pluralized” selves.

Social Construction of the Self

Self is not discovered; it is made through the socialization process, BUT, individuals are not
just hapless victims of socialization. The individual is an active, strategizing agent that negotiates
for the definition of himself (“ikaw ang gumagawa ng kung ano ka”). Self is acquired socially
through language, like symbols. We construct ourselves based on our social roles through
socialization agents-family, school, community etc.

Rewriting the Self as an Artistic Creation

Nietzsche states that the unity of the self is not pre-given but accomplished through conscious
effort-transform self through beautiful work of art. Individuals must fashion, care for and cultivate
themselves. We can recreate ourselves to get hold of the present, forgive the past and plan the
future.

Rorty: Contingencies of selfhood- conceal the “ugly” by reinterpreting the overall aesthetic
contours of the self. This does not mean that by rewriting the narrative of herself she will discover
something deep about herself… redescribing one’s self is just a way of reinterpreting and
redescribing one’s past.

Self Creation and Collective Identity

Memories (photographs, videos) play significant role in creating the self and identity. Memory
and forgetting are most important powers in recreating a person’s identity. Such memories
of the past include pain, triumph etc. Such experiences of the past can be linked with social
transformation.

Another important aspect of this view of the self is that self-creation is formed within “imagined
communities”. Selves obtain their nature from cultural traditions embodied in various social
interactions. These are preserved in a collective narrative which becomes the reservoir for the
project of self-creation. Self-creation along cultural lines must be done in maximum cultural
recognition of differences among and between individuals and cultural groups.

Self-Creation and the struggle for cultural recognition

This is a challenge of self-identity amidst recognition of racial and ethnic identities. Self-
creation is necessarily grounded on collective solidarities. We create ourselves by struggling with
cultural hassles then owning the created self. We hide the ugly part of cultural nature. We learn
to adjust.

Beyond the Self Creation

The quest or search for self-identity is a product of modern society but this is complicated by
the socio-cultural sensibilities of postmodernity, new information technology and globalization,
reconfiguring ourselves as to gender, sex, ethnicity, and creating one’s own style, signature.
 Yet the project of self-creation is embedded within imagined communities. The self constantly
lives in this paradox: to pursue self creation within pre-given, not willfully chosen social
circumstances.

LEARNING EXERCISE 2.1

Watch a video titled “Maskara” available in the Youtube platform and write a reflective
reaction based on what you have learned. Follow the usual format when doing a reaction
paper: there should be an introduction, body, and conclusion. The body should have AT
LEAST 250 words.

MASKARA: A Documentary About People’s Perception of

Attractiveness in the University of Eastern Philippines
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In case you’re having difficulty finding the video, here is the thumbnail and the Youtube channel name.
References:

Villafuerte, S.L., Quillope, Al, Tunac, Rudjane, Borja, Estela(2018), Understanding the
Self. NIEME Publishing House, Co. Ltd.,Cubao, Quezon City.
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Brunk, A.P., & Gibbons, F.X. (2007). Social Comparison : The end of a theory and the
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