The Self, Society and Culture - Understanding The Self

Chapter 1
Lesson 2:
The Self, Society &
Culture
Understanding the Self

Introduction
Across time and history the self has been debated, discusssed
and fruitfully conceptualized by different thinkers and philosophers
in philosophy. With the advent of social sciences, it became possible
for new ways and paradigms to re-examine the true nature of self.
Tired of the ideas of ancient philosophers regarding the body and the
mind, thinkers settled on the idea that whatever relationship these
two have is less important than the fact that there is a self.
What is self?
In contemporary literature and in common sense,

self is equated to being separate, self contained,
independent, consistent, unitary, and private.
✓ This means that self is distinct from others,

unique and has own identity.
✓Its distinctiveness allows it’s being self contained

with own thoughts, independence, characteristics
and volition.
✓By consistency, it means that a particular set of traits,
characteristics, tendencies and potentials are more or less the
same and can be studied, described and measured.
✓Self is unitary - it is the center of all experiences and thoughts

that run through a certain person.
✓Being private – suggests that self is isolated from the external

world, living with its own, however we see the clash between the
self and the external reality that one can see that the self is
always at the mercy of the external circumstances that bump and
collide with it.
Social Constructivists
Perspective of the Self
Social constructivists argue that self cannot be
seen as a static entity but rather as something
that is in unceasing flux, allowing external
influences to take part in its shaping. The point
is on understanding the vibrant relationship
between the self and the external reality. This
points out the merged view of “the person”
and their “social context” where the
boundaries of one cannot be easily be
separated from the boundaries of the other.
The self and Culture
What does this mean?(Remaining the same person and
turning into a chameleon adopting to one’s context
seems paradoxical)
According to a French anthropologist Marcel Mauss every

self has two faces: personne and moi.
Moi – refers to his sense of who he is, his body and his
basic identity and
personne – social concepts of what it means to be who he
is. Personne has much to do what it means to live in a
particular institution, particular family , particular
religion, etc. One may personne from time to time.
Sample shifts in
personne:
● adjusting cultures in other countries

● man courting a woman (tone and mood)
● when in church
● the use of language
● other adjustments in cultural ways
The Self and the Development of Social
World
How do children growing up become social beings:
How do twins grow from the same mother turn out so
differently when given up for adoption?
More than his givenness (personality, tendencies,

propensities, among others) one is believed to be
active participation in the shaping of the self. The
unending terrain of the metamorphosis of the self is
mediatated by language. Language is both publicly
shared and privately utilized symbol system is the
where the individual and the social make and each
other (Schwartz, White and Luke 1993).
MEAD and VYGOTSKY
For Mead and Vygotsky humans develop through the
use and acquisition of language and interaction with
others with others. The way information is processed is
a way of internal dialogue in our head. “Should I do
this or if I do this…Do I have other options?” In this
way cognitive and emotional mimicry of how things
are to be done in the social world is the external
reality where he is in.
The Self in Families
While every child is born with certain givenness,

disposition coming from his parents' genes and
general condition in life, the impact of one's
family is still deemed as a given in
understanding the self. The kind of family that
we are born in, the resources available to us
(human, spiritual, economic) and the kind of
development that we will certainly affect the
development of the self. Our potential of
becoming human depends largely on the family
starting from birth and the nurturing times of
child.
Gender and the Self
Gender is one of the loci of the self that
is subject to atleration, change and we
have observed how some people fought
hard to express, validate and assert
their gender rights. Conservatives frown
upon this and insist on the biological.
From the point of view of the social
sciences and the self, it is important to
give one the leeway or find, express
and live his destiny. This forms part of
selfhood that one cannot just dismiss.
One maneuvers into the society a
identifies himself as who he is by also
taking note of gender identities. As
part of the culture, there are roles
which are expected from a particular
person based from his sex or gender,
however slight changes have been
observed on the way due to feminism
and lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender(LGBT) activism but for the
most part patriarchy has remained to
be at work.

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Chapter 1

Understanding the Self

In contemporary literature and in common sense,

✓ This means that self is distinct from others,

✓Its distinctiveness allows it’s being self contained

✓Self is unitary - it is the center of all experiences and thoughts

✓Being private – suggests that self is isolated from the external

According to a French anthropologist Marcel Mauss every

● adjusting cultures in other countries

More than his givenness (personality, tendencies,

While every child is born with certain givenness,

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