Sociological Perspectives on the Self

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on the self in sociological theory.

Self as a social construct

The self is shaped by society; it arises from social construction and shared symbols in interaction.

Language and symbols in self formation

Through language, people privately and publicly share symbols; these interactions create patterns that shape who they are, how they behave and think.

Sociological imagination

A lens that places individuals within the wider social context; society creates opportunities and also limits thoughts and actions.

Self and society

The self cannot be understood apart from the social context; sociology argues humans are understood through their social experiences.

Looking Glass Self

Cooley's idea that self-concept comes from imagining others' perceptions, imagining their judgments, and feeling pride or shame that leads to action.

Charles Cooley

Sociologist who proposed the Looking Glass Self.

Self-awareness (Mead)

Ability to understand oneself by viewing from the perspective of others; without social interaction, seeing oneself as others see is difficult.

Preparatory Stage

Mead's stage where children imitate those they interact with; they cannot yet imagine how others see things.

Play Stage

Mead's stage where children take on roles of others by acting out or emulating adult behaviors.

Game Stage

Mead's stage where children understand how different roles interact and coordinate within a complex social setting.

Generalized Other

Mead's concept of the common behavioral expectations of the general society; helps the self imagine how it is viewed.

Self and Culture

The self is not static; it is malleable and made/remade through ongoing social interaction as society changes.

Moi

One face of the self; the bodily, private sense of who one is and one’s basic identity.

Personne

The social facet of the self; external identity shaped by institutions, culture, language, territory, and social expectations.

I and Me

Mead's distinction: I is the spontaneous, acting self; Me is the socialized set of attitudes of others; the I acts in response to the Me.

Language and development (Vygotsky)

Mind is constituted through language; development arises from social interaction and language acquisition.

Self in Families

The family is the primary provider of needs and the main agent of socialization, teaching selfhood and gender roles.

Gender socialization

Process by which gender roles are taught within the family and society, shaping how individuals see themselves.