UTS Lesson 3

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

(PRELIMINARIES)

Chapter One: The Self from Various Perspectives

Lesson 3: Social and Cultural View of the Self Week 3-4

Objectives: At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Explain the concept of self according to the following sociologists:

2. George Herbert Mead;

3. Charles Cooley;

4. Leon Festinger;

5. Henri Tajfel and John Turner;

6. Erving Goffman; and

7. Geert Hofstede; and

8. Analyze self-understanding and behavior to cultural factors.

Sociology

• Is the science of society and institution.

The Self and the Society

Society

• Group of people who live in a defined geographical area, interact with one another, and share a common culture.

• People within society learn basic skills, values, beliefs, and behavior patterns through the process of socialization.

Agents of socialization that make up your identity:

1. Family

2. School

3. Peer group

4. Mass media

5. Religion

6. George Herbert Mead: The Social Self

• Mead was an American sociologist, philosopher, and psychologist, and the founder of social psychology.

• Self is not inborn rather it developed with social experience.

• No self interaction = no self

• It develops through time from social interactions and experiences.

• These experiences are possible through the aid of language and other symbols, that’s why Mead is considered to be the father of symbolic interactionism.

Symbolic Interactionism Theory

• This theory gives the importance of language and other symbols in human interactions.

3 stages of Self-Progress

1. Preparatory Stage

• At this stage, children mimic adult behavior.

1. The Play Stage

• Children role-play and experience independence in doing specific tasks.

1. The Game Stage

• Children learn to consider multiple roles simultaneously and how these roles interact.

2 types of “Others”

1. Significant Other

• Someone we know and who exercises a certain degree of influence on us.

• It may include your parents, teachers, girlfriend, friends, etc.

1. Generalized Others

• Refers to the idea of the expectations that others have about his/her actions and behaviors in a particular situation.

1. CHARLES HORTON COOLEY

• He developed the theory called “ the looking glass self”

• This theory states that a person’s self grows out of society’s interpersonal interactions and the perceptions of others.

• The looking glass self has three components

1. First, we imagine how we must appear to others.

2. Second, we imagine the judgement of that appearance

3. Finally, we develop our self through the judgement of others

3. LEON FESTINGER: SOCIAL COMPARISON THEORY

• Festinger was an American cognitive psychologist.

• He believed that our sense of self is influences and affected by comparing ourselves with others

• It takes place when you compare your skills, abilities, etc. to other people

2 CLASSIFICATIONS OF SOCIAL COMPARISON

1. Downward Social Comparison

• It happens when you try to compare yourself with others with whom you have an edge, making yourself feel better and competent.

1. Upward Social Comparison

• When you have compare yourself with others who have an edge over you.

4. HENRI TAJFEL AND JOHN TURNER

• Tajfel was a Polish-born social psychologist

• Turner was a British psychologist

• They believed that our membership influences our sense of self in certain groups. The feeling of in-group or outgroup affects our social identity.

3 PROCESSES INVOLVED IN SOCIAL IDENTITY

1. Social Categorization

• The process of deciding group membership

1. Social Identification

• The process of your identification with the group – your principles and behaviors are compatible with other members of the group.

1. Social Comparison

• The process you employ when you compare yourself with other members in terms of status and accomplishment.

5. ERVING GOFFMAN: SELF-PRESENTATION THEORY

• Goffman was a canadian-American sociologist

• Self-presentation states that your sense of self is influenced and affected by the kind of audience you have.

5 SELF-PRESENTATION STRATEGIES

1. Ingratiation

• The aim is to be liked by others by being friendly, use of flattery, and charm.

1. Intimidation

• The aim is to be feared by displaying aggrssive behavior.

1. Exemplification

• The aim to create shame by showing that you are far better than others

1. Supplication

• The aim to be petied by showing that you are hopeless, indigent, incompetent, etc.

1. Self-promotion

• The aim is to be respected by showing that you are competent, skilled, capable, etc.

1. GEERT HOFSTEDE: INDIVIDUALISM AND COLLECTIVISM

   • He is the one who developed the earliest frameworks of cultural differences globally.

   • Hofstede identifies the six categories that define culture

   • But we will only focus on the individualism vs collectivism.

1. Influences of Culture on Self-Concept

2. Culture Affects Perception

3. Culture influences behavior

4. Culture shapes personality

5. Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

6. Understanding Diversity and Inclusion

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