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.