UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

MODULE 7: THE SOCIAL SELF

Section 1: The Social Self

This section discusses the social and environmental factors that shape oneself. This included environmental
systems, cultural orientations, and other social factors that play a crucial role to one’s self.

• The Self and Its Social Agency

• Human development is largely influenced by membership in crucial social groups that shape
various aspects of the self; from belief systems, values orientation, and behavior.
• At the beginning of life, one already belongs to a social group: his/her family. It is the most
pervading influential social group that impacts the self in its entire course of development.
The views one holds about the world, values upheld in making choices ane decisions, and
the habits and persistent behavior one carries have been formed in the context of one’s
family and home environment.
• Next to family, schools and the general academic environment form a significant part of the
social self. Worldviews expand as one gets exposed to more people in different social
learning environment. Knowledge and social skills gained from mentors, relatives, and peers
contribute to how the social self is harnessed.
• Aside from one’s family and school environments, communities also shape one’s social self
to a large extent.
• The social self inevitably changes as one accommodates and eventually assimilates beliefs
promoted by the society as he/she thinks, appreciates, and behaves according to standards
set by micro and macrosystems.

Section 2: The Socio-Digital Self

This section examines the role of technology and the internet in shapong an individual’s social self, with emphasis
on the use of social media platforma and membership in virtual communities. This section highlights the crucial
role of the internet in forming the self and identity of millenial learners.

The Self in the Age of Technology

• Social media is defined as the websites and applications that make it easier to create and share information,
ideas, and interests. It also allows people to create other forms of self-expression via virtual communities and
networks.
• Through the use of social media, people may act differently since interaction in social media do not happen
face-to-face and there is no physical presence required. This is called online disembodiment. With this,
people are less likely to display their real “selves” to others, especially to strangers.

Digital Identity

• People generally have role identities. These are the characters and roles an individual creates as a
member of a particular social group. Following this definition, “self” is composed of identities ranked
by importance. The greater the commitment of an individual to a particular identity, the greater the
importance of this identity.
• In an online environment, one’s role identity is vitally important in order for him/her to project
himself/herself in the said environment. Amidst the technological tools and channels surrounding
 individuals and online activities that people engage in, one’s online identity enables him/her to
participate in a virtual society.
• However, participation in virtual environments may entail changes that may affect a person’s sense of
self. In some cases, people present themselves differently in online interactions as compared to the
face-to-face interactions they engage in.

Online Disinhibition Effect

• When people afopt fake identities, they are likely to engage in behaviors that they would not do in real
life interactions, known as online disinhibition.
• There are 2 main categories of behaviors that fall under online disinhibition:
1. Benign disinhibition. It occurs when people tend to self-disclose more on the internet than
they would in real life or go out of their way to help someone or show kindness.
2. Toxic disinhibition. People take part of this when they use rude language, bully or threaten
others on online platforms, and go to websites with contents of violence, crime, and
pronography.
• Managing Responsible Online Behavior
• How can one behave responsibly online? The following are some suggestions:
1. Do not post or send anything that will embarass you.
2. Avoid posting statements when experiencing strong emotions.
3. Do not hang out with the “wrong crowd” online.
4. Be careful witg oversharing, especially confidential information that may be used
irresponsibly.
5. Respect other people in the online community.

Section 3: The Material/Economic Self

This section focuses on how people maintain extensions of themselves 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/her economic decisions, and what these
things say about one’s sense of self.

• People are likely to purchase products that can relate to their personality. Material possessions signify
some aspects of one’s sense of self and identity.
• Possessions, tell a lot about their owners. Thus, one’s sense of self and identity is influential on how
an individual chooses to purchase his/her wants and how he/she makes economic decisions that will
address his/her personal and social needs
• The decisions that go into the purchase of items and certain services is dependent on a number of
factors, including financial constraints, availability of items and services, and the influence of family
and friends.
• However, the most important factor is determining whether these items and services fall under:
• Wants. Synonymous with luxuries. People buy them for reasons that do not warrant
necessity.
• Needs. These are importantsl for survival. Food, clothing, and shelther are basic needs so
people purchase them out of necessity.
• In the process of acquiring material goods, people generally consider 2 things:
• Utility. Concerned with how things serve a practical purpose.
• Significance. Concerned with the meaning assigned ro the object. It is also concerned with
how objects become powerful symbols or icons of habit and ritual which can be quite
separate from their primary function.

• To further understand the term significance, Roland Barthes studied the concept of semiology or the
study of signs. According to him, it is through objects that people assert their identities. This idea
suggests that objects, aside from contributing to how an individual identities himself/herself, also
signify relationships of people with others based on what they possess.
• The possession of material things also indicates one’s status in the society. These personal choices
build one’s material and economic self which is an extension of his/her social identity.