Mariano Marcos State University

College of Arts & Sciences

Department of Social Sciences

Girlie A. Obrero
Faculty
 CHAPTER I.
The Self From Various Perspectives
B. Sociology and Anthropology
What constitutes a Society?
Anthropology
a society connotes a group of people who
are linked together through sustained
interactions, a common culture or at least
a recognized set of norms, values and
symbolism that defines its members
(Kottak, 2015:31; Peoples and Bailey,
2016:22).
Sociology
a society is composed of a group of
people sharing a common territory, a
common culture and who are in
continuous interaction with one another.
Societies may be separated in terms of
geography, language, beliefs and
practices at the very least (Macionis,
2015:20).
The Self As Product Of
Modern Society Among
Other Construction
Socialization
Is the process through which people are
taught to be proficient members of the society. It
describes the ways that people come to understand
societal norms and expectations, to accept society’s
beliefs, and to be aware of societal values. Socialization
is not the same as socializing (interacting with others,
like family, friends, and co-workers); to be precise, it is
a sociological process that occurs through socializing.
Sociologists have long been fascinated by
circumstances in which a child receives no social
interaction because they highlight how much we
depend on social interaction to provide the information
and skills that we need to be part of society or even to
develop a “self”.
Why Socialization Matters?
Socialization is just as essential to us as
individuals. Social interaction provides the
means via which we gradually become able to
see ourselves through the eyes of others,
learning who we are and how we fit into the
world around us. Most importantly, we have to
learn language in order to communicate and to
think.
FUNCTIONS OF SOCIALIZATION
1. Transmission of values, customs, beliefs from one
generation to another.
2. Development of a person into a socially functioning
person.
3. Social control mechanism.
 Agents of Socialization
SOCIAL GROUP AGENTS: Social groups often provide the first experiences of socialization. Families and later peer groups,
communicate expectations and reinforce norms.

FAMILY PEER GROUPS

the first agent of socialization; influenced by race, social

made up of people who are similar in age and social status
class, religion and other factors.
and are sharing the same interests. Peer groups provide
their own opportunities for socialization since kids usually
engage in different types of activities with their peers than
they do with their families.
INSTITUTIONAL AGENTS: The social institutions of our culture also inform our socialization. Formal institutions—like schools,
workplaces, and the government—teach people how to behave in and navigate these systems. Other institutions, like the
media, contribute to socialization by inundating us with messages about norms and expectations.

SCHOOL RELIGION MASS MEDIA

It serves a latent function in society by
socializing children into behaviors like
teamwork, following a schedule and using
textbooks. School and classroom rituals
regularly reinforce what society expects from
children. Sociologists describe this aspect of
schools as the hidden curriculum, the
informal teaching done by schools.
It focuses on practices related to formal
institutions. From ceremonial rites of
passage that reinforce the family unit, to
power dynamics which reinforce gender
roles, religion fosters a shared set of
socialized values that are passed on through
society.
Refers to the distribution of impersonal
information to a wide audience. It greatly
influences social norms, people learn about
objects of material culture (technology
options), as well as non-material culture
(beliefs, values and norms).
Self-Construction As
Embedded In Culture
 The Different Facets of Culture

“that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art,

morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as a member of society.”
- Sir Edward B. Tylor

Hence, in simple words, culture is people’s way of life. It is

composed of behavioral patterns, which has been created by
human beings. As such, culture can be divided into:
1. Material Culture: refers to the objects or belongings of
a group of people.
2. Nonmaterial Culture: consists of the ideas, attitudes
and beliefs of a society.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
Because culture is an all-encompassing concept, we have to further
understand it in terms of its basic characteristics. Culture is universal;
there is no existing society that is devoid of culture and there is no living
individual or group of people with no acquired culture.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE

Culture is learned

Culture is not biologically inherited although much of what we know about our own cultures happen unconsciously. The process of
learning a culture is called enculturation. We get enculturated through our families, peers, the media and other social institutions.

Example:
Imagine a child growing up in a traditional Japanese family. In this cultural context, there
are specific customs and practices that are deeply ingrained. As the child grows, they
naturally begin to absorb and internalize these cultural elements:
• The child learns to speak Japanese,
• They observe and participate in customary rituals, such as bowing when
greeting others,
• The child learns about the hierarchical structure of Japanese society, including
the respect given to elders and authority figures. They understand concepts
like "senpai" (senior) and "kohai" (junior) in relationships.
• They develop a taste for Japanese cuisine, including dishes like sushi, and
other Japanese costums.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE

Culture is shared

We learn culture and become integrated in a society because we share it with other members of the society. By closely interacting
with specific groups of people, we learn to act in socially appropriate ways, make mental notes of what we should not do and
predict how others will act. Although culture is shared, it does not mean to say that everything within it is homogenous. There are
multiple cultural life worlds which exist simultaneously in one society with various cultural expressions.
Example:
• The Philippines is known for its vibrant and colorful festivals, many of which are
celebrated nationwide. One of the most famous is the "Sinulog Festival" in Cebu,
which honors the Santo Niño (Child Jesus). People from all over the country come to
Cebu to participate in the festivities, showcasing traditional dances, music, and
costumes. This shared celebration of culture promotes unity and cultural exchange
among Filipinos.
• Traditional Filipino music and dance, such as the tinikling (a bamboo dance) and the
kulintang (a traditional gong ensemble), are shared and performed during cultural
events, weddings, and festivals. These art forms help preserve and promote Filipino
heritage.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE

Culture is based on symbols

Symbols are arbitrary and the meanings attached to specific symbols vary cross-culturally. Art, belies, language and value
systems are all within the symbolic structure of cultures. The heterogeneity of cultures is based on their symbolic differences.
Example:
• Flag of the Philippines: The national flag, often referred to as the "Three Stars and a
Sun," consists of a horizontal bicolor of blue and red, with a white equilateral triangle
at the hoist containing a sun with three five-pointed golden stars. The flag's colors
and symbols represent different aspects of Filipino culture and history, including the
sun symbolizing independence and freedom.
• Barong Tagalog: The Barong Tagalog is a traditional Filipino formal attire for men. It
is a lightweight, embroidered shirt made of piña (pineapple) or jusi (banana) fibers
and often worn during special occasions. It represents Filipino elegance and
heritage.
• Bahay Kubo: The Bahay Kubo is a traditional Filipino nipa hut, which is a symbol of
Filipino rural life and architecture. It represents the simplicity and close connection to
nature that is valued in Filipino culture.
 Culture is an integrated whole

The different aspects of culture are all interconnected. To truly understand a culture, it is important that we acknowledge how all
parts relate to one another. To avoid cultural biases and prejudices toward one, all of its parts must be learned and understood.

Example:
Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu)
• The tea ceremony is not just about drinking tea but is a holistic cultural
experience. It integrates various elements, including aesthetics, philosophy, art,
and social interaction.
• It reflects deeply ingrained Japanese cultural values such as harmony (wa),
respect (kei), purity (sei), and tranquility (jaku).
• The tea ceremony is not only a personal practice but also a social and cultural
one. It serves as a means of social bonding, hospitality, and the exchange of
ideas.
• It is often used as a way to welcome guests and promote cultural exchange.
 Culture is dynamic

Although cultures are universal, they are not static. The various aspects of culture are in constant interaction with each other and
through this, cultural change is constant. When cultures come in contact with other cultures, ideological and symbolical exchange
happens. As such, if one part of culture changes, it is most likely that the entire cultural system must adjust to the change.

Example:
The evolution of Hip-Hop and culture
 hip-hop culture exemplifies the dynamic nature of culture. It has evolved and
adapted over time, absorbing new influences, responding to changing societal
issues, and reflecting the creativity and experiences of successive
generations. This evolution demonstrates that culture is not static but
continually responds to the evolving needs and expressions of its participants.
 Each generation of hip-hop artists brings its own experiences, perspectives,
and influences to the culture. As new artists emerge, they reshape and
redefine hip-hop's direction and sound.
 COMPONENTS OF CULTURE
We have mentioned that cultures have certain aspects/dimensions that are in
constant interaction with each other. Within these dimensions are specific
components that make a culture both an integrated whole and a by-product of
the relationship of its parts. In this section, we will cover the three components of
culture: the cognitive, the normative and the material.
 COMPONENTS OF CULTURE

Cognitive

 it includes ideas, knowledge, values, beliefs and various cultural accounts and narratives that are passed
down from one generation to the next.

Value Beliefs Symbols

the basis of our judgment of what is statements about reality or
good and what is bad depending on convictions that people hold to be
the situation and on how an individual true, and are divided between
make use of them. Primitive/Superstitious beliefs or
Scientific beliefs (beliefs with
Example:pakikisama, honesty, empirical basis)
cooperation
they represent things other than itself.
Symbols are composed of:
Paralanguage: extra linguistic noise
Objects: physical things
Gestures: actions and behaviors
Characteristics: colors, emblems, designs
and marks
Language: a complex system of written,
verbal and non-verbal cues that is
governed by grammar and syntax.
 Normative
 guidelines of behavior in our society that tells us what is wrong or tight, proper or improper in the
society. Any deviations from it is followed by sanctions.

Folkways Mores Laws

norms without moral underpinnings;
they direct appropriate behavior in the
everyday practices and expressions
of a culture.
Example: Table Manners, considered
polite to chew with your mouth closed,
use utensils appropriately, and not
speak with food in your mouth.
norms which have moral formal and written codes of conduct
significance; their source mainly is that have been formally integrated in
from the ten commandments. the constitutional laws established
and created by the state and the
Example: the universal incest taboo, sanction depends upon the degree of
monogamy/polygamy violation.
Example: Euthanasia, Anti-Abortion
 PATTERNS OF CULTURE
Culture exists in multiple levels and it is experienced variably in different cultural
patterns. To further understand the variability of culture, we need to know some
basic patterns of culture that we consciously and unconsciously live with.
 PATTERNS OF CULTURE

• High Culture. A term which describes the pattern of cultural experiences and attitudes that exist in the highest, class segments
of society.
• Popular Culture. Refers to the pattern of cultural experiences and attitudes that exist in mainstream society.
• Cultural Change: Culture is always evolving. Cultures change when something new opens up new ways of living and when
new ideas enter a culture. (Globalization, Innovation, Inventions)
• Cultural Lag: coined by William F. Ogburn. It refers to the time that elapses between when a new item of material culture is
introduced and when it becomes an accepted part of nonmaterial culture.
• Ethnocentrism. The practice of judging other’s culture by the standards of one’s own culture.
• Xenocentrism. Considering other’s culture as superior to one’s own.
• Cultural Relativism. The practice of judging a culture by its own standards; a particular pattern of behavior is right or wrong as it
is declared by the people who follow it.
 CLIFFORD GEERTZ:
THE IMPACT OF THE
CONCEPT OF CULTURE
ON THE CONCEPT OF
MAN
 “Culture is a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic form by means of
which people communicate, perpetuate and developed their knowledge about the attitude
toward life.”
- Clifford James Geertz

Concepts about Culture and Man:

 MAN AS AN UNFINISHED ANIMAL: man’s nature is very much the product of the society he lives in,
hence, man is an unfinished animal because society and culture evolves and changes.
 CULTURE: cultures are like texts and texts have meanings; meanings are also enacted and not just pure
Clifford James Geertz abstractions, thus, if cultures are texts and texts have meanings, cultures must be very material and
August 23, 1926 – October tangible because they are enacted.
30, 2006) was an American  THICK DESCRIPTION: a method of analysis which provides enough context so that a person outside the
anthropologist who is
culture can make meaning of the behavior of the people living there, helping a person transition from an
remembered mostly for his
strong support for and outsider to an insider.
influence on the practice
“Without men, no culture, certainly; but equally, and more
of symbolic anthropology
significantly, without culture, no man”
George Herbert Mead
And
Social self
 SOCIAL SELF THEORY
By George Herbert Mead

• the self is not initially there at birth; it arises

“An individual explains his
actions through the lens of out of one’s social interactions
his society, since he
• the self has two sides of phases
belongs to a social
structure, a social order” 1. I: represents the self as subject, and the
individual’s impulse
- George Herbert Mead,
1972 2. ME: the socialized component of the
individual that represents the learned
behaviors, expectations and attitude of
others organized into a social self; referred
as the "generalized other"
 Phases of Self Development

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

(0-1 year old) (2-7 year old) (8 years old onwards)

LANGUAGE PLAY GAME

children tend to imitate role playing/pretend play; allows the child to
the language used by a child is able to understand the rules of
people that are around internalize the view of the games which leads to
them; preparatory stage others the development of self
Charles Horton Cooley
And
The Looking Glass Self
 LOOKING GLASS THEORY
By Charles Horton Cooley

• a person’s self grows out of society’s

interpersonal interactions and the
perceptions of others.

• refers to people shaping themselves based

on other people’s perception, which leads
people to reinforce other people’s
perspectives on themselves.

• we see ourselves and we respond to

ourselves, not as we are and not as other
think we are, but as we imagine others
think we are.
 Three Stages

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3

The imagination of our The imagination of How we feel about

appearance of how we their judgment of how their judgment, i.e.,
look to others. we look or how we our feelings (self-
think others judge our feeling) about their
behavior. judgments.
 Erving Goffman
And The
Dramaturgical Theory
and Impression
Management
 DRAMATURGICAL THEORY AND
IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT
By Erving Goffman

• Dramaturgical Theory is a performance theory

that compares our everyday social interactions
to a performance taking place on a theater
stage.
Erving Goffman
Erving Goffman derived his dramaturgical theory
from Kenneth Burke's theory of dramatism. Many of
Goffman's ideas on dramaturgical theory were first “men are mere actors and actresses in a large stage
appeared in his 1959 book, "The Presentation of
called the society”.
Self in Everyday Life."
 Key Concepts
The key concepts of dramaturgical theory are the
dramaturgical model and frames, impression
management and the front stage vs. back stage.
These concepts help us to better understand how
individuals put on a performance according to the context
of the situation they are in. These concepts help the
individual know how to put on the best possible
performance.
 Dramaturgical Model and Frame
Dramaturgical Model

individual as the actor in the setting of the people we are interacting

the performance interaction is the stage with are the audience

Frames help us to interpret the meaning of a situation. They help us to determine

how to behave appropriately.
 Impression Management
Impression management is the process of how the individual
manages the overall performance, including the setting, what is
said, and the way he or she dresses - to create the best
possible persona and performance for a specific situation. We
manage the impression we project of ourselves to others to
reach a certain goal - whether it is to impress someone or to
simply fit into a certain role.

Example:
Dewey Finn, a wannabe rockstar, is impersonating his substitute teacher friend in
order to make money. He is giving off the impression that he is an real teacher by dressing
more professionally, speaking articulately, and engaging with the other teachers.
 Front Stage vs Back Stage

Front Stage Back Stage

The front stage is the performance
the audience can see, and it is only
what the actor allows to be seen. It
is where the actor utilizes their
costume and script as well as
when they engage in impression
management.
The back stage is where the
individual breaks from
performing. It is where the actor
can practice for their performance
and it allows for an individual to
decompress or behave in ways not
appropriate for the front stage.