Anthropological_Conceptualization_of_Self
Page 1: Title and Introduction
Anthropological conceptualization of the self emphasizes the role of culture in forming individual identity.
Instructor: Ms. Janine Paula B. Oñate.
Page 2: What is Anthropology?
Anthropology studies how cultural and biological processes shape human experiences.
Distinction between nature (genetic inheritance) and nurture (sociocultural environment).
Both biological and cultural factors influence self-development significantly.
Page 3: Edward Tylor and Culture
Edward Tylor defined culture as a complex whole, including knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, and habits acquired by individuals in society.
Culture is not defined as behavior, but rather as the shared understandings that shape and guide behavior.
Page 4: Understanding Culture
Culture allows individuals to make sense of experiences and behaviors based on social ideas and values.
Provides patterns for ways of life.
Cultural diversity results in varying meanings of self and identity across different cultures.
Page 5: Martin Sokefeld on Self
Sokefeld suggests that the concept of self is essential alongside culture, viewing both as complementary and universal concepts in anthropology.
Page 6: Identity in Social Anthropology
Identity frequently discussed in terms of ethnic identity, highlighting the similarities shared within a group.
Defined as a disposition of personality features that are primarily acquired in childhood and tend to become fixed.
Page 7: James Peacock's Perspective
James Peacock describes individuals as cultural entities, influenced by societal molds while retaining personal freedom.
Page 8: Views of Self: Egocentric vs. Sociocentric
Egocentric View: Self as autonomous, distinct, replicating humanity while acting independently.
Sociocentric View: Self as dependent on social context, with identity shaped by social interactions.
Page 9: Sociocentric Views in Different Cultures
The Japanese prioritize social group membership, defining self through social connections.
In contrast, the Chinese emphasize kin ties and cooperation, valuing compliance and subordination to family authority.
Page 10: Egocentric Views in Western Context
In egocentric societies like America, individuals focus on autonomy and uniqueness, valuing assertiveness and independence.
Page 11: Christie Kiefer's Insights
Kiefer notes that Japanese self-concept is sociocentric, prioritizing interdependence over independence within social groups.
Page 12: Francis Hsu on Chinese Self
Hsu's view highlights mutual dependence in interpersonal relations, where compliance to family authority overshadows self-reliance.
Page 13: Identity Toolbox Concept
The identity toolbox refers to features people choose to highlight in building their social self, including kinship, gender, and age.
Family membership is a crucial determinant of social identity.
Page 14: The Role of Language and Naming
Language is a critical marker of group identity, along with religion in some cultures.
Personal naming establishes social identity and membership within a group, being inseparable from self-concept.
Page 15: Importance of Personal Names
Personal names are vital identifiers and cultural markers, differentiating individuals within their communities.
The absence of a name equates to the absence of self.
Page 16: Change and Identity
Arnold van Gennep outlines a three-phase rite of passage: separation, liminality, and incorporation, marking identity transitions.
Separation: Detachment from old identity.
Liminality: Transition between identities.
Incorporation: Official acknowledgment of the new identity.
Page 17: Identity Struggles
Anthony Wallace and Raymond Fogelson discuss "identity struggles," where discrepancies exist between claimed identities and those ascribed by others.
Page 18: Confusion of Identity in Postmodern Society
Clash between self-identification and collective identities can lead to confusion, exacerbated by cultural changes and conflicting norms.
Sociopolitical factors can complicate identity and moral principles.
Page 19: Golubovic on Self-identification
Golubovic emphasizes overcoming societal norms for personal self-identification.
Cognitive anthropologists point to the need for multicultural individuals to internalize conflicting cultural models.
Page 20: Katherine Ewing's Illusion of Wholeness
Ewing illustrates that individual selves are continuously reconstituted by internal and external factors, suggesting continuity of self is an illusion.
Page 21: Postmodern Philosophy of Self
The postmodern individual seeks to understand and define themselves, resonating with the Socratic principle of "know thyself."
Page 22: Clifford Geertz and Culture as Symbolic
Geertz reformulated culture as a symbolic system, where inherited conceptions are expressed through symbols to communicate and understand life.
Page 23: Humans as Cultural Animals
Humans create meanings from their experiences and act based on shared meanings, leading to cultural distinctions.
Page 24: The Nature of Culture
Geertz argues that culture should be seen beyond behavior patterns, as a set of mechanisms controlling behavior.
Page 25: Dependency on Culture
Humans require cultural frameworks for behavior guidance, highlighting interdependence of human nature and culture – no culture, no humanity.