Chapter 2:

Sociological Perspective
of the Self
Presented by: Prof. Jeric James E. Landicho, RPm
Learning Outcomes
• Describe and differentiate the views of different
sociologists about the self;
• Explain the significance of understanding the self from
the sociological point of view;
• Compare and contrast the sociological perspectives on
the self; and
• Analyze and examine one's sense of self through the
lens of sociological perspectives.
What is Sociology?
Etymology
•Derived from two Greek words:
•“socius” – companion, associate, or society.
•“logos” – study or science.
•Therefore, sociology can be translated as
the "study of companionship" or the
"science of society."
Definition of Sociology
•Sociology is a systematic study of human
society, focusing on social interactions,
relationships, and institutions.
•It examines how individuals, groups, and
societies are shaped by social structures
and cultural norms.
Famous Contributors
• Charles Horton Cooley
• George Herbert Mead
• Erving Goffman
Charles Horton Cooley
(1864-1929)
Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929)

•He was a prominent American sociologist

who made significant contributions to the
field of sociology, particularly in the areas
of social psychology and symbolic
interactionism.
Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929)
•Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on August 17,
1864, Cooley grew up in a family of
intellectual and legal prominence.
•Cooley's early exposure to intellectual
pursuits and his family's emphasis on social
responsibility undoubtedly influenced his
later career.
Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929)

•He received his PhD at the University of

Michigan and worked as a sociology
professor till the end of his life (died of
cancer on May 08, 1929).
Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929)

•Cooley's most influential work was Human

Nature and the Social Order, published in
1902. In this book, he introduced the
concept of the "looking-glass self".
Let’s have an activity…
•First find a partner.
•Then get a piece of paper (each).
Ask your partner the following
questions…
•What qualities do you think define me?
•What do you think is my most noticeable trait?
•In what ways do you think I stand out?
•How would you describe my personality?
•What is one thing you think others notice about
me first?
Ask yourself the following questions…

•Does the feedbacks of your partner

matches your own self-view?
•How did you feel about the way others saw
you?
•Any surprising feedback that made you
rethink your self-perception?
Looking-Glass Self
• It is a sociological concept, that explains how
individuals' self-concepts are largely shaped by
their perceptions of how others see them.
•It suggests that people imagine how they
appear to others, imagine the judgment of
those others, and develop their self-feelings
based on these imagined judgments.
Looking-
Glass Self
Looking-Glass Self
•In essence, Cooley argued that we see
ourselves through the eyes of others, and
our self-perception is influenced by the
social interactions we have.
•This process can be broken down into three
main steps: imagination, judgment, and
self-feeling.
Looking-Glass Self
•Imagination: We imagine how we appear
to others.
•Judgment: We imagine how others judge
our appearance.
•Self-feelings: We develop our self-feelings
based on these imagined judgments.
Looking-Glass Self (Example)
•Imagination: You imagine how your new outfit
looks to your classmates.
•Judgment: You believe that your classmates will
think the outfit is stylish and cool.
•Self-feelings: Based on your imagined
judgment, you feel confident and happy about
your appearance.
Looking-Glass Self (Example)
•Imagination: You imagine how your acne looks
to your classmates.
•Judgment: You believe your classmates will find
your acne unattractive and embarrassing.
•Self-feelings: Based on your imagined
judgment, you feel insecure and ashamed of
your appearance.
Looking-Glass Self
•Cooley used the term "imagine" to emphasize
the subjective nature of the looking-glass self.
•He understood that our perception of how
others see us is not always accurate or based
on reality.
•Instead, it is often based on our interpretations
and assumptions.
Cooley’s Perspective on Self
•The main point of his perspective on self is
that our self-concept is largely shaped by
our interactions with others.
•He argued that we see ourselves through
the eyes of others, and our self-perception
is influenced by the social judgments we
imagine others make about us.
Cooley’s Perspective on Self
•In other words, he believed that our self is
not a fixed or innate entity, but rather a
social construction that develops through
our interactions with others.
•This perspective emphasizes the
importance of social relationships and the
influence of society on individual identity.
George Herbert Mead
(1863-1931)
George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)

•He was a prominent American philosopher,

sociologist, and psychologist.
•He is widely regarded as one of the key
figures in the development of pragmatism
and symbolic interactionism.
George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)
• Born in South Hadley, Massachusetts, on February 27,
1863. Mead grew up in a family of academics. His father
was a professor at Oberlin Theological Seminary, and his
mother served as president of Mount Holyoke College.
• Mead attended Oberlin College and Harvard University,
where he studied philosophy and psychology.
• George Herbert Mead died of heart disease on April 26,
1931.
George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)

•Mead's most significant contributions were

in the fields of social psychology and
philosophy.
•He is considered the father of symbolic
interactionism.
Symbolic Interactionism
•It is a sociological theory that emphasizes
the importance of symbols and shared
meanings in human interaction.
•It argues that individuals create and
interpret meaning through their interactions
with others and that these meanings shape
their behavior and sense of self.
Symbolic
Interactionism
Social Self
•It is a core concept in his theory of symbolic
interactionism.
•It refers to the part of an individual's self
that is developed through social interaction
and is shaped by the meanings and
symbols that individuals attach to their
experiences.
Development of the Self
•Mead proposed a series of stages that a
person goes through as they develop a
sense of self.
•These stages are:
•Preparatory Stage (Imitation)
•Play Stage (Role-Taking)
•Game Stage (Generalized Other)
Preparatory Stage (Imitation)
• This is the earliest stage, typically occurring before
the age of 3.
• Children primarily imitate the gestures and sounds
of others without understanding their meaning.
• They are learning to interact with their
environment and developing basic social skills.
Play Stage (Role-Taking)
• Around the age of 3-6, children begin to take on
the roles of specific others, such as parents,
teachers, or fictional characters.
• They learn to understand the perspectives of these
individuals and how they might respond in
different situations.
• This stage helps children develop a sense of self
and the ability to anticipate the reactions of
others.
Game Stage (Generalized Other)
• In this stage, children begin to take on the roles of
multiple others simultaneously and understand the
expectations of society as a whole.
• They develop a sense of the "generalized other,"
which is the internalized attitudes and beliefs of
society.
• This stage is crucial for the development of a fully
developed self and the ability to function
effectively in society.
The "I" and "Me"
•Two key concepts introduced by George
Herbert Mead in his theory of symbolic
interactionism to explain the development
and structure of the self.
The "I"
• This represents the impulsive, creative, and
spontaneous aspect of the self.
• It is the source of our unique individuality and our
ability to act freely.
• The "I" is the part of us that is always changing and
evolving.
• It is the subjective, unsocialized self that responds
to the attitudes and expectations of others.
The “Me"
• This represents the organized set of attitudes and
roles that we take on from others.
• It is the socialized aspect of the self that allows us
to interact with others in meaningful ways.
• The "Me" is the objective, socialized self that is
shaped by the expectations and attitudes of
others.
The "I" and "Me"
• Mead argued that the self develops through a
process of interaction between the "I" and the
"Me."
• The "I" acts impulsively, and the "Me" responds to
the social environment and shapes the "I's"
behavior.
• Through this interaction, individuals develop a
sense of self that is both individual and social.
The "I" and "Me“ (Example)
• A student who wants to skip class (I) but decides
against it because they know it would disappoint
their parents (Me).
• A student who is angry at a teacher (I) but
chooses to express their frustration in a respectful
way (Me).
• A student who is interested in a new hobby (I) but
decides to focus on their schoolwork first (Me).
Mead’s Perspective on Self
• HIs perspective on the self emphasizes the social
nature of identity.
• He argued that our sense of self is not innate but is
shaped through our interactions with others.
• We learn to see ourselves as others see us, and we
adopt the roles and expectations of society.
• This means that our self is constantly changing and
evolving as we interact with different people and
situations.
Erving Goffman
(1922-1982)
Erving Goffman (1922-1982)
•He was a prominent Canadian-American
sociologist renowned for his
groundbreaking work on social interaction
and the presentation of self.
Erving Goffman (1922-1982)
•Born in Mannville, Alberta, Canada, on
June 11, 1922, Goffman's theories have had
a profound impact on the fields of
sociology, psychology, and
communication studies.
•He died of stomach cancer on November
19, 1982.
Erving Goffman (1922-1982)
•He developed a unique perspective on the
self that is rooted in the metaphor of
theater.
•He argued that individuals are constantly
performing roles, much like actors on a
stage.
Dramaturgical Perspective
•A powerful metaphor that compares social
interaction to a theatrical performance.
•It suggests that individuals are constantly
performing roles, much like actors on a stage.
•This performance is carefully constructed and
managed to create a desired impression on
others.
Key Elements of the Dramaturgical
Perspective
•The Stage
•The social setting or environment where
the performance takes place.
•This can be a physical space (e.g., a
workplace, a party) or a more abstract
concept (e.g., a relationship, a social
group).
Key Elements of the Dramaturgical
Perspective
•The Actor
•The individual who is performing the role.
•The actor's goal is to present a desired
image or impression to the audience.
Key Elements of the Dramaturgical
Perspective
•The Audience
•The other individuals who observe the
actor's performance.
•The audience's perception of the actor is
crucial to the success of the performance.
Key Elements of the Dramaturgical
Perspective
•The Script
•The cultural norms, expectations, and
rituals that guide the actor's performance.
•The script provides a framework for how
the actor should behave in a given
situation.
Key Elements of the Dramaturgical
Perspective
•Props
•Objects or symbols that the actor uses to
enhance their performance, such as
clothing, accessories, or status symbols.
Key Elements of the Dramaturgical
Perspective
•Frontstage and Backstage
•Individuals often present a carefully curated
image of themselves in public or frontstage
settings.
•However, in private or backstage settings, they
may relax and reveal their true selves, free from
the constraints of public performance.
Impression Management
•Is a strategic process through which
individuals attempt to control the
impressions others form of them.
•It involves a variety of techniques and
strategies that individuals use to present
themselves in a favorable light.
Key Elements of Impression
Management
•Self-presentation
•How individuals present themselves to
others, including their appearance,
demeanor, and behavior.
•This can involve dressing in a certain way,
using specific language, or adopting a
particular posture.
Key Elements of Impression
Management
•Props
•Objects or symbols that individuals use to
enhance their self-presentation, such as
clothing, accessories, or status symbols.
•For example, a person might wear a
designer watch to convey wealth and
status.
Key Elements of Impression
Management
•Setting
•The physical environment in which individuals
interact, which can influence how they are
perceived.
•For example, a person might choose to meet
with a potential employer in a high-end
restaurant to create a positive impression.
Key Elements of Impression
Management
•Teamwork
•Collaboration with others to create a
desired impression.
•For example, a couple might work
together to present themselves as a
happy and harmonious pair.
Key Elements of Impression
Management
•Face-work
•The efforts individuals make to maintain a
desired social identity or "face."
•This involves avoiding embarrassment or losing
face.
•If an individual's face is threatened, they may
engage in face-saving strategies, such as
humor or apologies.
Goffman’s Perspective on Self
•He suggests that individuals are like actors on a
stage, performing various roles and adjusting
their presentation based on the audience and
the specific social context.
•They strive to create and maintain desired
impressions of themselves by carefully selecting
their words, actions, and appearance.
“The Self is a Product of
Social Interaction”
The Self is a Product of Social
Interaction
• The self is not present at birth.
• It develops only with social experience wherein
language, gestures, and objects are used to
communicate meaningfully.
• The sociological perspective of the self assumes that
human behavior is influenced by group life.
• A particular view of oneself is formed through
interactions with other people, groups, or social
institutions.
Activity # 3
Activity #3: Personal Reflection
• Look for a photo of yourself with your friends or classmates. Then,
compose a short story that explains the events of that particular
photo.
• What occasion do these photographs clearly recall?
• Who do you recall the most from this photograph? Why?
• Have your prior experiences with your friends or classmates
made you a better person, based on your memories? How?
• Are you happy with yourself now? Why?
The End…