SOCIOLOGICAL VIEW

OF THE SELF
 SOCIOLOGY
NIETZSCHE
MEAD
“I”
Key Words/Concepts “ME”
LOOKING GLASS SELF
THEORY
SOCIAL COMPARISON
THEORY
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Self-thought:
Do you consider
yourself beautiful?
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Sociology as a SCIENCE
• Sociology is derived from the Latin
word socios (meaning companion or
associate) and the Greek word logos
(meaning study). Therefore, sociology
literally means the study of man in
relation to his companions or
associates. Its focus lies on
understanding society, social
organization, institutions, interactions,
and problems.
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Sociology as a SCIENCE
Sociology deals with the:
Origin and Development: How societies
have come into existence, grown, and
changed over time.
Organization: The structure of societies,
including social roles, hierarchies, and
institutions.
Functioning: How society operates,
including norms, laws, and relationships
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Sociology as a SCIENCE
Sociology is considered a science because it
approaches the study of society in three
distinct ways:

1. A Body of Knowledge: Sociology is a

systematic and well-tested body of
information. It organizes knowledge into
different levels, from the specific (such as
individual behaviors) to the more general
(such as societal norms and institutions).
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Sociology as a SCIENCE
Sociology is considered a science because it
approaches the study of society in three
distinct ways:

2. A Method: As a science, sociology requires

systematic methods to ensure that
investigations are rigorous and follow well-
defined procedures. This systematic approach
allows sociologists to uncover patterns and
social dynamics.
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Sociology as a SCIENCE
Sociology is considered a science because it
approaches the study of society in three
distinct ways:

3. An Attitude: Sociologists adopt an

objective and impartial stance when studying
society. They seek to overcome biases and
false beliefs (such as superstitions) and
approach their work with an open mind,
focusing on facts and evidence.
 Social Influence on the
Self
1. Self-Identity is Socially
Constructed: The perception
of oneself is not developed in
isolation. Rather, it is shaped
by interactions with others.
For example, an individual's
belief that they are good at
sports, dancing, or makeup
artistry is formed through
feedback from others and
social experiences.
 Social Influence on the Click icon to add picture

Self
2. Social Institutions
Influence Self-
Perception: Institutions
such as schools, families,
and media contribute to
shaping one's view of
themselves. These
institutions help to define
societal expectations,
which in turn influence
how individuals see
themselves.
 Social Influence on the Click icon to add picture

Self
3. Social Reality and Self-Perception:
Questions like "Am I beautiful?" or "Do my
eyebrows look like Liza Soberano's?" illustrate
how social interactions contribute to one's
self-image. People rely on others—through
social interactions—to form what is known as
"social reality," which provides a framework
for understanding what is considered normal,
acceptable, or desirable in society. This social
reality affects how we perceive ourselves,
and it helps us determine what to think, feel,
and do.
 Sociological Views of the Self

1. The Self as a Product of Modern Society

• Delocalized Self: In modern society, the self is

no longer tied to a specific tradition or local
culture. With modernization, individuals are
freer to define their own identities, beliefs,
and ways of life. They are no longer
constrained by the customs or traditions that
once defined who they were. This process of
delocalization allows individuals to explore
multiple aspects of identity, such as religion,
culture, and lifestyle, which were once fixed by
tradition.
 Sociological Views of the
Self
1. The Self as a Product of Modern
Society

• Shift in Identity Formation:

Traditionally, one’s identity was
defined by broad cultural, religious,
and social expectations. Modernization,
however, has led to a more fluid and
individualized self-identity that is no
longer stable or based on pre-existing
definitions.
 Sociological Views of the
Self
2. The Self as a Necessary Fiction

• Nietzsche's View: Friedrich Nietzsche

viewed the self as a kind of "necessary
fiction." According to him, the self is not a
concrete entity but rather the sum of an
individual’s actions, thoughts, and feelings.
It is a metaphorical concept rather than a
physical reality. The self is abstract and
symbolic, existing as a representation of
the various experiences and behaviors that
a person engages in throughout their life.
 Sociological Views of the
Self

3. Post-modern View of the Self

• Self as a Narrative: In post-modern

thought, the self is seen as a narrative or
a story that is continually written and
rewritten. It is dynamic and ever-
changing, influenced by the complex
realities of modern life. The self is no
longer a fixed or stable entity but rather a
fluid construct that can change based on
circumstances, interactions, and
experiences.
 Sociological Views of the
Self
3. Post-modern View of the Self

• Virtual Interaction: Post-modernity introduces

the idea of the cyber-self, which complicates
identity further through virtual interactions in
cyberspace. According to N. Green, the self
becomes "digitalized" in the virtual world, where
individuals create versions of themselves that
exist online. This version of the self may differ
significantly from the self in the physical world,
as it allows for experimentation with
appearance, behavior, and identity.
 Sociological Views of the
Self

4. Rewriting the Self as an Artistic Creation

• Nietzsche on Self-Creation: Nietzsche believed

that the self is not something that is given but
something that is created through conscious
effort. He viewed the self as a work of art,
something that can be shaped, transformed,
and made beautiful through one’s actions,
decisions, and life choices. In this sense,
individuals have the power to "rewrite"
themselves by crafting their lives into
something meaningful and aesthetically
pleasing.
 Sociological Views of the
Self

5. Self-Creation and Collective Identity

• Role of Memory: Memory plays a crucial

role in the construction of self and
identity. It helps individuals remember
who they are and create a coherent
sense of self over time. At the same time,
forgetting can also be a powerful tool for
identity formation, as it allows
individuals to let go of past experiences
and reshape their identities. Memory and
forgetting are thus essential for the
recreation of a person’s identity.
 Sociological Views of the
Self
6. Self-Creation and the Struggle for Cultural
Recognition

• Struggle for Identity: This concept suggests that

individuals create their identities through their
struggles with cultural expectations and pressures.
People often work to hide the "ugly" or undesirable
aspects of their cultural nature as they seek
recognition and validation from others. In this
struggle, individuals learn to adjust to cultural norms,
yet they also strive to own and shape their own
identities despite these challenges. Identity formation,
therefore, involves both adapting to and resisting
cultural influences.
Mead’s Theory of the Self

• George Herbert Mead, an

American sociologist and
social psychologist,
developed a foundational
theory of the self that
centers on the idea that
the self emerges through
social interactions. .
Mead’s Theory of the Self

• Mead proposed that the self is not

something we are born with, but
rather something that develops
over time through social
interaction. The key point of his
theory is that the self is shaped by
the responses and expectations of
others, which we internalize as
part of our self-identity.
 Mead’s Theory of the Self
• 2 Components of the Self:
1. "Me“
- The "me" represents the organized
attitudes, behaviors, and expectations of
the social group (or the "generalized
other"). It is the internalized set of social
rules and norms that guide a person's
behavior.
- The "me" is essentially the socialized aspect
of the individual, meaning it is formed by
how society expects us to behave.
 Mead’s Theory of the Self
• 2 Components of the Self:
2. "I"
- The "I" represents the individual's unique,
spontaneous response to the socialized "me." It
is the part of the self that reacts to social norms
and expectations but maintains individuality
and agency.
- The "I" is the self as subject, meaning it is the
part of the self that acts, makes decisions, and
asserts personal agency. It is unpredictable
and creative, allowing for deviation from
societal norms when necessary.
 Mead's Three Stages of the Development of
Self

1. The Preparatory Stage (Birth to Age 2)

- In this stage, infants and young children
imitate the actions of those around them
without understanding the meanings
behind them. This imitation sets the
foundation for later social interactions,
but there is no distinct sense of self yet.
Children mimic behaviors, gestures, ad
nwords without internalizing roles or
societal expectations.
Mead's Three Stages of the Development of
Self

2. The Play Stage (Ages 2 to 6)

- During the play stage, children begin to
take on roles during play, such as pretending
to be parents, teachers, or doctors. This
stage allows them to practice role-taking,
where they learn to see the world from the
perspective of others. However, their
understanding is limited to specific roles and
not the broader social expectations that
govern society as a whole.
Mead's Three Stages of the Development of
Self

3. The Game Stage (Ages 7 and Onward)

- In the game stage, children begin to
understand more complex social structures and
take on the perspectives of multiple others
simultaneously. This is where they start to grasp
the concept of the "generalized other," meaning
they recognize and internalize the broader
societal rules and expectations. In organized
games like sports, they learn to consider the
roles of all players and how their actions fit
within a structured social system.
 The Looking-Glass Self
This concept was proposed by
Charles Cooley in 1902. This
suggests that our sense of self is
shaped by how we believe others
perceive us. Essentially, we
develop our self-identity by
imagining how others view us,
interpreting their reactions, and
then integrating those
perceptions into our own self-
concept. In other words, part of
who we are comes from
 The Looking-Glass Self
Examples:
• If you think others find you funny
because they laugh at your jokes, you
might see yourself as a humorous
person.
• If you feel like people don’t think you're
smart because they often ignore your
ideas, you might start doubting your
intelligence, even if you are smart.
 The Social Comparison Theory

This suggests that we develop

our self-concept and self-
esteem by comparing ourselves
to others. This means that we
evaluate our own abilities,
traits, and status based on how
we measure up to those around
us.
 The Social Comparison Theory
Examples:
1. Upward comparison: When you
compare yourself to someone you
believe is better than you in some
way (e.g., a successful colleague or a
talented classmate), it can motivate
you to improve, but it might also
make you feel less confident.
 The Social Comparison Theory
Examples:
Downward comparison: When
you compare yourself to
someone who is less successful
or skilled, it can boost your self-
esteem because you feel better
about your own situation.
Thank you.
GERALDINE T.
FERANDO, LPT
[email protected]
du.ph