US 101

Understanding The Self

MODULE 3:
Understanding The Social Self

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism 2A

Group 2:
CONTORNO, John Michael M.
COLE, Alianie G.
GUINIT, Donna Mae M.
LAMOSTE, Kate Merylle C.
MILLOR, Almarie Joy T.
SAHIDAINI, Habiba Ayesha A.

Prof. Celso Pernia

US 101
CONTENTS:
Section 1: The Cultural Self
• This section discusses the social and environmental factors that
shape oneself. This includes environmental systems, cultural
orientations, and other social factors that play a crucial role to one's
social self.
Section 2: The Socio-Digital Self
• This section examines the role of technology and the internet in
shaping an individual's social self, with emphasis on the use of social
media platform and membership in virtual communities. This section
highlights the crucial role of the internet in forming the self and identity
of millennial learners.
Section 3: The Material/Economic Self
• This section focuses on how people maintain extensions of
themselves Calls through material possessions and maintenance of
particular lifestyles. In the context of what the society values as needs
and wants, this section discusses how an individual acquires goods,
the factors that shape his or her economic decisions, and what these
things say about one's sense self.

Section 1: The Cultural Self

What is social self?
• Based on perspective that the self emerges from social interactions,
such as observing and interacting with others, responding to others
opinion about oneself, internalizing external opinions and internal
feelings about oneself. (Hurst, 2020)

The Self and its agencies

• Human Development is largely influenced by membership in crucial
social groups that shape various aspects of the self, from belief system,
values orientation and behaviors.
The social groups are the following:
1. Family– the most pervading influential social group that impacts the
self in the entire course of development.
2. Schools and General Academic Environment- an agent of
socialization; knowledge and social skills gained from mentors ,
relatives and peers contribute to how social self is harnessed.
3. Community- religion , politics, media, education and the government
are social institutions that affect the social self.
Culture
• According to Edward Tylor (1871), “Culture is the complex whole
which includes knowledge, belief, law, art, moral customs, and other
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.

How is a child’s development affected by their social relationship?

• According to Bronfenbrenner (1935), who formulated this theory, a
person’s development is affected by everything in their surrounding
environment. He divided the person’s systems or environment into 5
different levels:
Microsystem:
• Institution or social group an individual has direct contact or
interaction with.
Mesosystem:
• Interactions between two microsystem affecting the individual.
Exosystem:
• Includes elements of the microsystem which do not affect the
individual directly but indirectly.
Macrosystem
• Encompasses the larger cultural context in which the individual
resides in.
• A cultural context may include the country's socioeconomic status,
issue of ethnicity, social values embraced by society , cultural beliefs
and practices.
Chronosystem
• Is a system that is made up of environment events , major life
transitions and historical events that occur throughout child's life
( Lumen, 2019 ).

Individualism-Collectivism Model
• Proposed by Hazel Rose Marks and Shinobu Kitayama (1991 )
• Individualism- as an orientation , focuses on ones individual attributes
and personal distinctiveness. It stresses individual goals and the right
of the individual person.
• Collectivism- focuses on group goals, which is best for the collective
group and personal relationships.

I VS ME
• According to Herbert Mead (1934 ) in his theory of the social self,
The self is divided into two part;
— ME- is the awareness of how others expect one to behave. Also
known as the social self.
— I – is who an individuals really is. Herself as a whole. Also known
as the Unsocial self.

Section 2: The Socio-Digital Self

Social Media – Defined as the websites and applications that make it
easier to create and share information, ideas, and interests.

Online Disembodiment
 - This is the idea that once the user is online. The need for the
body is no longer required and the user can participates
separately from it ( IGI , Global , 1988-2020).

Digital Identify
• defined as the identity a person claims in cyberspace.
Online Disinhibition Effect
• describes the loosening of social interactions and inhibitions that are
normally present in face-to-face interactions that takes place in
interactions on the internet. (Suler, 2020)

Two Main Categories;

1. Basic Disinhibition
• occurs when people tend to self-disclose more on the internet
that they would in real life.
2. Toxic Disinhibition
• when people use rude language, bully or threaten others on
online platforms and go to websites with contents of violence,
crime, and pornography.

Managing Responsible Online Behavior

 Do not post or send anything that will embarrass you.
 Avoid posting statements when experiencing strong emotions.
 Do not hang out with the “wrong crowd” online.
 Do not hang out with the “wrong crowd” offline.
 Be careful with oversharing. Especially confidential information
that may be used irresponsibly.
 Respect other people in the online community.

Section 3: The Material/Economic Self

Material possessions signify some aspects of one’s sense of self and
identity. One’s sense of self and identity is influential on how an
individual chooses to purchase his or her wants and he or she makes
economic decisions that will address his or her personal and social
needs.

There are two subclasses of material self;

Bodily Self — Bodily Position
Extracorporeal Self — The Extended Self
FACTORS IN PURCHASING ITEMS AND SERVICES;
 Financial constraints
 Needs are those important for survival. Such as foods, clothes
and shelter.
 Wants are synonymous with luxuries. People buy them for reason
that do not warrant necessity.
 Influence of family and friends; most important factor is to
determine whether these items and services fall under “wants” or
“needs”.

In the process of acquiring material goods, people generally consider

two things;
Utility
• Is concerned with how things serve a practical purpose.
Significance
• Is concerned with the meaning to the object.

The possession of material things indicates one’s status in the society.

Thus, the personal choices of a person build one’s material and
economic self which is an extension to his or her social identity.