UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Topic 2: The Sociological Perspective

Clariza C. Franco, Ph.D.

What Sociology says about the self?
Tell me your company, and
I will tell you what you are.
 Parts of the lesson:
1. 2. 3. 4.
What is The Self,
Opening Society and Enrichment
Activity Sociology? Culture Activity
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the relationship between and among self,
society and culture;
2. Describe and discuss the different ways by which society
and culture shape the self;
3. Compare and contrast how the self can be influenced by
the different institutions in the society; and
4. Examine one’s self against the different views of self that
were discussed in the class.
Clariza C. Franco
 Essential Questions:
1. How do I see myself with others?
2. How much influence do social groups have on your
life?
3. Why it is important to examine human behavior on a
group level?
4. How does society affect the development of
humans?
5. How does culture influence groups in a society?
Clariza C. Franco
What is sociology?
From the Latin: socius, meaning "companion"; and the suffix -
ology, meaning "the study of", from the Greek lógos,
"knowledge“

From the French word, sociologie, a hybrid coined in 1830 by

French philosopher Isidore Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary http://www.etymonline.com/ accessed August 30, 2008.

Clariza C. Franco
What is sociology?
● It is a scientific study of social groups and human
relationships that generates new insights into the
interconnectedness between the self and soul.
● This particular view of oneself is formed through
interactions with other people.

Clariza C. Franco
The Self
Separate Consistent

Self-contained Unitary

Independent Private

Clariza C. Franco
 MARCEL MAUSS:
“Every Self has two faces”
1.Moi – basic identity; biological endowment
Who man is?
2. Personne – composed of basic concepts of
who or what you are
What it means to be human?

• Father of Ethnology
 Nature vs Nurture
Genetic factors Environmental Influence
The Self and the Society
Dynamic Malleable in dealing
with the society

Increasing flux Play different roles

Constant struggle Act in different ways

with reality
 CHARLES COOLEY:
“Looking-glass Self”
 CHARLES COOLEY:
“Looking-glass Self”

It is an imaginary mirror created

by a person based from the
views and opinions of the
people he/she interacts with.
 CHARLES COOLEY:
“Looking-glass Self”
Self-identity or self-image is achieved through a
threefold event :
1. How a person presents oneself to others
2. How a person analyzes others’ perception of
him or her
3. How a person creates an image of one’s self
The Self, Society and Culture
What is culture?
It is the way of life.
From family,
school and
Acquired through community
enculturation

Clariza C. Franco
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD:
“Theory of Social Self”
• A person develops a sense
of self through social
interaction and not the
biological preconditions.
 GEORGE HERBERT MEAD:
“Theory of Social Self”
I Me Social
Subjective Objective Self
Spontaneous Aware of other’s
perceptions

Active
Unique traits Internalized attitudes

• The self has two dimensions

 GEORGE HERBERT MEAD:
“Theory of Social Self”
•Since these perceptions are subjective, a person
might have wrong interpretations of how other
people evaluate him or her. It would be critical if
he or she thinks that others judge him or her
unfavorably because he could develop a negative
self-image.
 Development of the self in a three-stage process:
Stage
Preparatory Play Game

begins in the early school

Age 0-3 years old 3-5 years old
years about 8 or 9 years old
View of the Self No sense of self The self is developing The self is now present
Assimilation Process Imitation Role-playing Societal awareness
Overt behaviors Children mimic or • They learn to • Children understand the
impersonate others. communicate through social position
language and other • Children become
symbols concerned about
• Role-taking is exhibited attitudes, viewpoints,
demands, and
expectations of society
ERVIN GOFFMAN:
“Dramaturgy”
• He used the metaphor of theater to describe how
people construct and present themselves in social
situations

• Front Stage: This is where the "performance" happens.

People present themselves in a certain way depending on the
audience, aiming to control the impression others form of
them.
• Back Stage: This is where people can be themselves, away
from the audience, preparing for their front-stage
performance. It’s where individuals let their guard down.
ERVIN GOFFMAN:
“Dramaturgy”
• People engage in impression management, carefully
controlling information and behaviors to influence how
others perceive them. They adjust their appearance, speech,
and actions to fit the expectations of the situation,
constructing a specific “definition of the situation.”

• Social interactions require a shared understanding or

definition of the situation. Individuals collaborate, often
implicitly, to agree on what kind of social interaction is
taking place (e.g., formal meeting, casual conversation).
 Practice
1. Reflect on the several aspects of your sociological self.
2. Identify the various teachings/knowledge, skills, values or beliefs that each aspect has contributed in the
development of yourself.

Peer Large Society

Family School
Group/Friends and Community
Remember Always be kind even when Be brave to share your Once you step
that your family will other are not. thoughts when you out of school, the
always be your are in an argument. outside world is a
number 1 supporter complicated way
in every aspect of
your life.
 Practice
3. From among the four aspects of your sociological self, which
has contributed the most in your development? How or in what
ways?
4. Which has contributed the least in your development? How or
in what ways
 CRITERIA
• Excellent/8 points: The essay is clear and focused. The work holds the
reader’s attention. Besides, the relevant details and quotes enrich the
thesis statement.
• Very Good/6 points: The essay is mostly focused and contains a few useful
details and quotes. How or in what ways
• Average/4 points: The student begins the work by defining the topic.
However, the development of ideas appears general.
• Needs Improvement/2 points: The student fails to define the topic well,
or the writer focuses on several issues.
• Unacceptable/0 points: The essay lacks a clear sense of a purpose or
thesis statement. The teacher has to make suggestions based on sketchy or
missing ideas to understand the intended meaning. Essay rubric
requirements are missed.
Clariza C. Franco
 QUICK CHECK
It is a social science that seeks to discover how
human behavior and interactions affect society
as a whole (study of the origin, development,
structure, interaction, functioning, collective
behavior of human society).

Sociology Clariza C. Franco

 QUICK CHECK
The self is viewed as a set of perceptions of
who we are in relation to ourselves, others,
and social systems.

Sociological Perspective Clariza C. Franco

 QUICK CHECK
He proposed Looking Glass Self Theory (it is a
process wherein individual base their sense of
self on how they believe others view them).

Charles Cooley Clariza C. Franco

 QUICK CHECK
He proposed the Social Self Theory whereas
the self is not there from birth, but it is
develop over time from social experiences.

George Herbert Mead Clariza C. Franco

 QUICK CHECK
He proposed the Social Self Theory whereas
the self is not there from birth, but it is
develop over time from social experiences.

George Herbert Mead Clariza C. Franco

 QUICK CHECK
Dimensions of the self

I & Me Clariza C. Franco

 Essential Questions:
1. How do I see myself with others?
2. How much influence to social groups have on your
life?
3. Why it is important to examine human behavior on a
group level?
4. How does society affect the development of
humans?
5. How does culture influence groups in a society?
Clariza C. Franco
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the relationship between and among self,
society and culture;
2. Describe and discuss the different ways by which society
and culture shape the self;
3. Compare and contrast how the self can be influenced by
the different institutions in the society; and
4. Examine one’s self against the different views of self that
were discussed in the class.
Clariza C. Franco
References
Alata, E.J.P., et. al. (2021). Understanding the Self. Manila,
Philippines: Rex Book Store.
Rohall, D. E., Milkie, M. A., & Lucas, J. W. (2021). Social psychology:
Sociological perspectives. Waveland Press.
Schaefer, R. T. (2006). Sociology: A brief introduction (6th Edition).
McGraw-Hill.
Stevens, R. (Ed.). (1996). Understanding the self (Vol. 1). Sage.

Clariza C. Franco