SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF SOCIETY

SOCIOLOGY
 study of social life, social change, and the social causes
and consequences of human behavior.

 being in a group changes “the self”

 offers theories to explain how “the self” emerges as a

product of social experience
CHARLES HORTON COOLEY
 The self is built not in solitude, but
rather within social settings.
 Individuals base their sense of self
on how they believe others view
them.
 The Looking Glass Self
CHARLES HORTON COOLEY
1. We imagine how we look to
the other person. (How do
other people see me?)

THE 2. We imagine other person’s

reaction to our appearance.
LOOKIN (How do other people judge
me?)
G GLASS 3. We respond with some
feeling (eg. pride or shame)
SELF (What is my sense of self
according to these
perceptions?)
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD
 A Philosopher, Sociologist and
Psychologist

 The self is social, it develops through

social experience.
 It is not there from birth, but it is developed over time
through social experiences and activities.
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD
Stages of self:
1. Preparatory stage (0-3 years)
 children imitate people around them
 No sense of self

2. Play stage (3-5 years)

 role taking – mentally assuming the perspective of another
 The self is developing and emerges through pretend play.

3. Game stage (5 and above)

 can consider tasks and relationships simultaneously
 The self has emerged.
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD
3 activities that develop the self
• Responding to • Taking on different • Understanding that there
others through roles (role-playing), are rules in which one
pretend & express must abide by in order
symbols, gestures, to win the game or be
words, and sounds expectation of others successful at an activity.

PREPARATORY
PLAY STAGE GAME STAGE
STAGE
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD
2 sides of the self:
 “me” = the socialized aspect of the self
 learned behaviors, attitudes & expectations of others and of society
= OBJECTIVE

 “I”= the present and future phase of the self

 the individual’s identity based on response to the “me” =
SUBJECTIVE
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

If the I is synonymous to the me, then the

full development of the self is attained.
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION: FACTORS AFFECTING THE SELF

Media

Technology Peers

Self

School Religion

Sports
THE SELF AS A PRODUCT
OF MODERN AND
POSTMODERN SOCIETIES

Lanuza & Baudrillard

GERRY LANUZA
 the Constitution of the Self
 Self-identity is freely chosen.
 No longer restricted by customs and traditions.

 Modern vs. postmodern society

 Modern = traditional values & communities no longer part
of the self
 Postmodern = self-identity continuously changes due to
demands of society (mid / late 20th century)
JEAN BAUDRILLARD
 Sociologist, Philosopher and Cultural theorist

 known for analyses of media, contemporary

culture, and technological communication

 The self is a consequence of prestige/ status

symbols.
THE SELF IN HIS FAMILY
GOLDEN AGE POSTMODERN AGE
 Nuclear family  Permeable family
 2-parent family  Single parent, etc.
 Romantic love  Consensual love
 Maternal love  Shared parenting

 Adolescents perceived as  Adolescents perceived as

immature socially sophisticated
 Protective environment  Exposure to many
destructive images
SUMMARY
1. The looking glass self (Cooley) describes the development of the self through
interaction with others.

2. The self has two divisions (Mead): “I” (subjective) and “me” (objective).

3. Self-identity continuously changes due to demands of society (Lanuza).

4. Self-identity is sometimes achieved through prestige symbols one consumes

(Baudrillard).