The Self from the

perspective of Sociology
Sarah Kaye C. Visande
 Self-Check

My High School
My Elementary self My College self
self

Similar traits that I

Traits that were Reasons why you
have across the
changed or gone changed
three stages
Sociology
-the study of human social relationships and institutions.

-suggests that the socially-created norms, beliefs, practices

and values come to exist within the person to the point that
it becomes natural and normal, thus developing a person’s
self-identity (Elwell, 2003).
The Self as a product of
Modern Society
Modernization has significantly changed society,
and this had affected how an individual builds and develops
his/her self-identity. Modernization also improved people’s
living conditions. However, stability has also decreased as
traditions and traditional support systems (like the family)
have decreased in importance. In modern societies,
individualism is dominant, and developing one’s self-
identity is central (Giddens, 1991).
 4 Key Characteristics of Modernity

Industrialism Capitalism Institutions of Dynamism

The social relations implied
in the extensive use of
material power and
machinery in all processes of
production
A production system
surveillance The most evident
involving both competitive The massive increase of characteristic of society;
product markets and the power and reach by having vigorous activity and
commodification of labor institutions, especially in progress; a society full of
power government possibilities
What were the traits, characteristics,
beliefs, and practices that you have
acquired from society?

Social Groups- described as
having two or more people
interacting with one another,
sharing similar
characteristics.
Examples: Family, Barkada &
Classmates
Social Network- refers to the
ties or connections that link
you to your social group
The connection you have with your
family is your blood relation; the
connection you have with your
“barkada” is your friendship; the
connection you have with your
classmates is the common interest to
learn.
 Social Groups

Organic Group Rational Group

-naturally occuring and is highly influenced by your
family
-you join these groups because your family is also a
part of it in the first place (organic motivation)
-the positive effect of organic groups is rootedness;
the foundation of this group runs deep thus giving
the person a sense of belongingness
-the downside however is that organic groups imply
less freedom: you are expected to act and behave
according to their standards
-occur in modern societies
-made up of different people coming from different
places
-rational groups are formed as a matter of shared
self-interests and people join these groups out of
their own free will (rational motivation)
-rational groups imply greater freedom
-members don’t feel a meaningful connection with
the others
Do you have groups
that you consider
organic and
rational?
 George Herbert Mead
The Theory of the Social
Self
The self is a product of social interactions and
internalizing other people’s views along with
one’s personal view about oneself. The self is not
present at birth, rather it develops over time
through social experiences and activities.
 Development of Self According to Mead

Language
Language gives us the
capacity to express ourselves
and comprehend what the
other people are conveying
Play
We assume the role of others.
Role-playing enables us to
internalize other people’s
perspectives. Thus, we develop
an understanding of how other
people feel about themselves
Games
Not only do we internalize other
people’s perspectives, but we are
also able to take into account the
societal rules and follow it. The self
is developed by understanding the
rule and one must abide by it in
order to win the game, or be
successful.
Mead’s Two Sides of Self: “I” & “Me”

“I” “Me”

-Represents our drives and -Learned behaviors, attitudes, and

impulses society’s expectations comprise the
“me”
-It expresses our individualism
and creativity -It makes sure that rules are not
broken
-The unsocialized and
spontaneous -The conscious and the careful
 Which among the 2 sides of the Self
according to George Mead is more
dominant in you? Or are they balanced?
 Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory
A person's development was affected by everything in their
surrounding environment.
 Ecological Systems Theory

● Development is the result of the relationships between people and their

environments
○ Cannot evaluate a child’s development only in the immediate environment
○ Must also examine the interactions among the larger environments that a child develops in
● Five layers of relationships that influence a child’s development
○ Microsystem: Relationships with direct contact to the child
○ Mesosystem: Connection between relationships of child’s microsystem
○ Exosystem: Structures in which the child does not have direct contact
○ Macrosystem: Cultural context
○ Chronosystem: Changes over time
 Microsystem

● Microsystem: Variables that the child is directly exposed

to
○ Relationships: Family, school, religious institution, neighbors
■ Family: Most influential and durable influence on child
○ Environment: Geographic, Material structures
○ Child’s body
■ General health
■ Brain functioning – physiological and psychological
■ Emotions
■ Cognitive System
 Microsystem

● Most of the child’s behavior is learned in the microsystem.

● The microsystem consists of bi-directional influences
○ Parents actively shape the development of the child
○ Children actively shape their environment
■ More nurturing and more supportive interactions and relationships will
understandably foster the children’s improved development.
Microsystem
Friends

Family Environment

You
 Mesosystem

● Mesosystem: Interconnections between the microsystems

○ Examples
■ Interactions between the family and teachers
■ Relationship between the child’s peers and the family
Mesosystem
Friends

Family Environment

You
 Exosystem

● Exosystem: Institutions of society that indirectly affect a child’s

development
○ Examples
■ Parent’s workplace
■ Funding for education
● Impacts a child’s development by influencing structures in the microsystem
 Macrosystem

● Macrosystem: Cultural context

○ Provides the values, beliefs, customs, and laws of the culture in which a child grows up
■ Influences how parents, teachers, and others raise a child
■ May be conscious or unconscious
○ Influences the societal values, legislation, and financial resources provided by a society to
help families function
○ Influences the interactions of all other layers
 Chronosystem

● Chronosystem: the role of time; environmental events and transitions that

occur throughout a child's life,
○ Family structure
○ Address
○ Parents employment status
○ Societal changes (sociohistorical events)
 Ecological Systems Theory

● Properties of the five layers of relationships

○ Each layer of the environment is complex
○ Each layer has an effect on a child’s development
○ Conflict within any layer ripples throughout other layers
● As a child develops, interaction within environments becomes more
complex
○ Complexity is the result of the maturation of a child’s physical and cognitive structures
 Ecological Systems Theory

● Five propositions that describe how home and school relationships work
together for positive development
1. Child must have an ongoing, long-term mutual interaction with an adult characterized by
unconditional love and support
2. The child-adult relationship provides the pattern of interpersonal relationships with all of the
child’s other relationships. The confidence from this relationship allows a child to explore
and grow from other activities.
 Ecological Systems Theory

3. Interactions with other adults enables the child to develop a more positive relationship in the
primary child-adult relationship.
4. The primary child-adult relationship improves with repeated two-way interchanges and
mutual compromise.
5. Relationships between child and adults require the society to support the importance of these
roles.
■ Public policies must provide time and resources for child-adult relationships to be
nurtured.
 Ecological Systems Theory

● Instability and unpredictability in modern family life is the most destructive

force in child’s development
○ Because of demands within the workplace, children do not have constant mutual
interactions with important adults that are necessary for development
○ If relationships in the microsystem break down, the child will not have tools to explore
other parts of the environment
○ Children without a strong primary relationship will find affirmation in inappropriate places,
particularly in the adolescence years