ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF

Understanding the Self (GEUTS01X)

NAME| BS Psychology | Prof. | Term 1

expressed in diverse cultural

ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE contexts.
OF THE SELF
-​ The anthropological perspective ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
on the concept of the self -​ While the concept of the self is
emphasizes its cultural, social, abstract and not directly
and contextual nature. observable in the
-​ Anthropologists study how archaeological record,
different societies and cultures archaeological anthropologists
shape individuals' can infer aspects of past
understanding of themselves societies' beliefs and practices
and their identities. related to self-identity through
material remains.
DIFFERENT SUBFIELDS OF -​ They study artifacts, burial
ANTHROPOLOGY AND THEIR VIEW
ABOUT THE SELF practices, and symbolic
-​ Anthropology and its subfields representations to understand
offer multidimensional insights how past cultures might have
into the concept of the self. conceptualized the self.
-​ Each subfield offers a unique
BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
perspective that collectively
enriches our understanding of -​ Biological anthropologists focus
this complex and multifaceted on the biological aspects of
concept. human evolution and variation.
-​ While their primary focus is not
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY the self, they contribute to
-​ Cultural anthropologists study understanding how aspects of
how different cultures shape genetics, physiology, and brain
and define the self. They explore development might influence
how cultural norms, values, behavior, cognition, and social
beliefs, and social practices interactions that contribute to
contribute to individuals' the formation of the self.
understanding of themselves
LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY
within their societies.
-​ Cultural anthropologists -​ Linguistic anthropologists
examine how identity is examine the role of language in
constructed, negotiated, and shaping the self.

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-​ They study how language -​ Anthropological theories, rooted
constructs identity, including the in cultural relativism, emphasize
ways people talk about that the self is culturally
themselves, the terms they use constructed.
for different aspects of identity, -​ Different cultures have diverse
and how language reflects norms, values, and practices
cultural understandings of self that influence how individuals
and personhood. understand and express their
identities. There is no universal
ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORIES or objective self; rather,
ABOUT THE SELF
self-identity is culturally
-​ Anthropological theories offer contingent.
diverse perspectives on the self,
emphasizing its cultural, social, STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
and contextual dimensions. -​ This theory, associated with
-​ These theories challenge the scholars like emile durkheim,
notion of a universal or fixed self focuses on the role of social
and highlight the dynamic and structures and institutions in
culturally contingent nature of shaping the self.
self-identity. -​ It argues that societal norms
and values provide individuals
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
with a sense of identity and
-​ This theory, associated with purpose. The self is viewed as a
george herbert mead, product of social integration
emphasizes the role of symbols, and cohesion.
language, and social
interactions in shaping the self. IDENTITY POLITICS
It argues that individuals -​ Contemporary anthropological
develop their self-concept theories often explore the
through interactions with others. concept of identity politics,
-​ The self is seen as a product of which emphasizes how
social processes, including the individuals form collective
"i" (individual's subjective self) identities based on shared
and the "me" (the self as seen characteristics such as ethnicity,
through others' eyes) gender, religion, or nationality.
-​ Identity politics underscores the
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
intersectionality of multiple
identities and the role of power

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 dynamics in shaping their experiences and
self-identity. self-concept.
-​ Intersectionality theory
POSTMODERNISM highlights the complexity of
-​ Postmodernist anthropology self-identity.
challenges the idea of a stable
and unified self. It argues that AGENCY AND STRUCTURE
the self is fragmented, fluid, and -​ Some anthropological theories,
contingent on various like anthony giddens'
discourses, power structures, structuration theory, emphasize
and contexts. the duality of agency and
-​ Postmodernist theorists like structure in shaping the self.
michel foucault and jean -​ Individuals have agency to
baudrillard emphasize the make choices and shape their
deconstruction of fixed identities, but they also operate
identities. within structural constraints
imposed by society.
NARRATIVE IDENTITY
-​ Anthropologists, influenced by
narrative theory, explore how
individuals construct their
self-identities through
storytelling.
-​ Narrative identity theory posits
that people make sense of their
lives by creating narratives that
link past experiences, present GLOBALIZATION AND HYBRIDITY
circumstances, and future -​ Anthropological theories
aspirations. address how globalization and
cultural hybridity impact
INTERSECTIONALITY
self-identity.
-​ Anthropological theories often -​ As individuals navigate multiple
incorporate the concept of cultural influences, their
intersectionality, recognizing self-concept may become more
that individuals have multiple hybrid and adaptive, reflecting a
intersecting identities (e.g., race, fusion of different cultural
gender, class) that influence elements.

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 EMBODIMENT AND MATERIALITY
CULTURAL ●​ Ruth benedict was a
staunch advocate of
-​ Anthropological theories RELATIVISM cultural relativism. She
increasingly explore the believed that the self,
including one's identity
embodied nature of and personality, is
self-identity. deeply influenced by the
culture in which an
-​ Scholars examine how the body, individual is raised.
including its appearance, ●​ Cultural relativism
means that we should
sensations, and experiences, not judge other cultures
plays a role in shaping how based on our own
cultural norms and
individuals perceive and express values but should strive
themselves. to understand and
appreciate them in their
own context.

RUTH FULTON ●​ Ruth Fulton Benedict

(1887-1948) was a
BENEDICT prominent American
anthropologist known for
her pioneering work in
cultural anthropology
and her influential
contributions to the
study of cultures and
societies.
●​ Ruth benedict received
numerous honors and
awards during her
lifetime, including the
presidential medal of
freedom in 1946 for her
contributions to
understanding cultural
diversity.
●​ Ruth benedict's view of
the self underscores the
profound influence of
culture on individual CULTURAL ●​ In her influential book
"patterns of culture"
identity and personality. PATTERNS (1934), benedict argued
●​ She argued that culture
that different cultures
provides the framework
have distinct patterns
within which individuals
that shape the behavior
construct their
and personalities of
self-concept, and she
individuals within those
championed the idea of
cultures.
cultural relativism as a
●​ She contended that
means of appreciating
these cultural patterns
and understanding the
are learned and
diversity of human
internalized by
experiences and
individuals, affecting
self-identities across
how they perceive
different societies.
themselves and others.

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CULTURE AND ●​ Benedict's research GRAHAM American social scientist,
suggested that cultural sociologist, and
PERSONALITY values, norms, and SUMNER professor at Yale
practices have a university. He made
profound impact on the significant contributions
development of an to the fields of sociology,
individual's personality anthropology, and
and self-identity. political science.
●​ She believed that culture ●​ Sumner's work reflects
molds individuals in the intellectual climate
terms of their emotions, of his era, characterized
values, and beliefs, by debates over
thereby influencing how individualism, social
they perceive and define responsibility, and the
themselves. role of government in
addressing societal
VARIABILITY ●​ Benedict's work issues.
highlighted the ●​ William Graham
OF THE SELF variability of the self Sumner's view of the self
across different cultures. was rooted in
She demonstrated that individualism,
what is considered competition, and the
normal or desirable in principles of Social
terms of self-identity can Darwinism.
vary greatly from one ●​ He believed that the self
culture to another. is primarily defined by
●​ For example, concepts of individual actions and
individualism and choices, and he
collectivism, as well as advocated for
gender roles and self-reliance, limited
expectations, can shape government intervention,
how individuals perceive and the natural order of
themselves within their competition in society.
cultural context.
INDIVIDUALIS ●​ Sumner was a strong
SOCIALIZATIO ●​ Benedict emphasized advocate of
the role of cultural
M individualism. He
N socialization in shaping believed that the self is
the self. She argued that primarily defined by the
individuals are socialized individual's actions,
into their culture's norms choices, and
and values from an early responsibilities.
age, which in turn ●​ In his view, individuals
influences their are responsible for their
self-concept and own well-being and
behavior. success, and they shape
●​ This process of their own destinies
socialization is crucial in through their efforts.
understanding how
individuals develop their SURVIVAL OF ●​ Sumner's ideas were
sense of self within a heavily influenced by the
specific cultural THE FITTEST concept of "survival of
framework. the fittest" from Charles
Darwin's theory of
evolution.
●​ He applied this concept
WILLIAM ●​ William Graham Sumner to human society and
(1840-1910) was an argued that competition

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 and struggle are natural ●​ He believed that the
and necessary aspects government should not
of life. According to interfere in the natural
Sumner, individuals processes of
compete for resources, competition and that
success, and social individuals should be
status, and those who free to pursue their own
are most fit and capable interests without
rise to the top. government
interference.
SOCIAL ●​ Sumner was a proponent

DARWINISM
of social Darwinism, a CRITIQUE OF ●​ Sumner was critical of
theory that applied social reform efforts that
Darwinian principles to SOCIAL aimed to address issues
human society. REFORM such as poverty and
●​ He believed that society inequality.
should be organized ●​ He argued that such
based on the principles reforms often interfered
of natural selection, with the natural order
where the strongest and and could lead to
most capable individuals negative consequences.
thrive and the weak are
left behind. This EMPHASIS ON ●​ Sumner valued
perspective influenced individual liberty and
his views on social LIBERTY saw it as essential to the
inequality and the role of self.
government in society. ●​ He believed that
individuals should have
the freedom to make
choices and live their
lives as they saw fit, as
long as they did not
harm others.

SELF-RELIANC ●​ Sumner placed a strong

emphasis on
E self-reliance and
self-responsibility.
●​ He believed that
individuals should take
care of themselves and
not rely on the
government or society
for assistance. He saw
self-reliance as a virtue
that led to personal
growth and success.

LIMITED ROLE ●​ Sumner advocated for

limited government
OF intervention in social and
GOVERNMENT economic affairs.