Topic 3 - THE SELF AND THE PERSON IN CONTEMPORARY ANTHROPOLOGY

• Anthropos meaning “man” as in “human being”

• logos meaning “study”.

ANTHROPOLOGY originates from two Greek words:

ANTHROPOLOGY

The study of mankind, humanity, evolution and adaptation;

ANTHROPOLOGY

Study of human behavior, culture, interaction, and relationship between humans and the environment

human condition in its cultural aspect.

ANTHROPOLOGY focuses on understanding the

ANTHROPOLOGY

It is also concerned with understanding how humans evolved and how they differ from one another.

KATHERINE EWING (1990)

described the self as encompassing the “physical organism, possessing psychological functioning and social attributes”.

JOSEPH LEDOUX (2002)

conceptualized implicit and explicit aspects of the self.

JOSEPH LEDOUX (2002)

the self is not static, it is added to and subtracted from by genetic maturation, learning, forgetting, stress, aging and disease.

explicit self.

The aspect of self that you are consciously aware is the

implicit self

The aspect of the self that is not immediately available to consciousness.

dynamic

According to LeDoux, is the self static or dynamic?

Genetic maturation, learning, forgetting, stress, aging, and disease.

What factors can change the self according to LeDoux?

self-representation according to Ewing (1990)

Culturally shaped self-concepts that individuals apply to themselves.

Culture

shapes how individuals see themselves, relate to others, and interact with the environment.

product of society

development of the self is bound to cultural differences.

self-construals

Ways the self is constructed and understood within a culture.

Independent and interdependent.

What are the two types of self-construals?

construal

Interpretation or meaning of something—in this case, the self.

Collectivist cultures, especially in East Asia.

Which culture typically shows an interdependent self-construal?

interdependent self

Emphasis on connection and relationships with others.

Catherine Raeff (2010).

Who emphasized the role of culture in development?

Relationship

– culture influence you to enter into or maintain

Personality Traits

Culture influence whether and how you value traits, like

humility, self-esteem, politeness, assertiveness and so on, as well as how you

perceive hardship or how you feel about relying on others

Achievement

Culture influences how you define success and whether you value

certain types of individual and group achievements.

Expressing Emotions

Culture influences what will affect you emotionally as well

as how you express yourself, such as showing your feelings in public or keeping

it private.