Understanding the Self - Sociological Perspective of the Self (The Self, Society, and Culture)

Summary

In this video lesson, students are introduced to the sociological perspective of the self, focusing on the relationship between self, society, and culture. The instructor discusses key sociologists like George Mead, Charles Cooley, and Erving Goffman, explaining how the self develops through social interaction and experiences. The lesson explores Mead's theory of the social self, Cooley's concept of the looking glass self, and Goffman's ideas on impression management. Through these theories, students learn how societal expectations and interactions shape identity. An activity encourages students to reflect on their self-development across different life stages.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lesson covers the sociological perspective of the self, focusing on how society, culture, and institutions shape personal identity.
• 🔗 The self is influenced by social interactions, communication, and experiences with others.
• 🧠 George Mead’s theory of the social self highlights that the self is inseparable from society and develops through social experiences.
• 👥 Mead proposes three stages in the development of the self: preparatory, play, and game stages, each marking different levels of social interaction and internalization of roles.
• 💡 Charles Cooley’s 'Looking Glass Self' theory explains that individuals form their sense of self based on how they believe others perceive them.
• 🎭 Erving Goffman’s theory of dramaturgy suggests that life is like a stage where individuals perform roles depending on the audience and social setting.
• 🌍 According to Mead, the 'I' represents spontaneity and personal desires, while the 'Me' reflects socialized behavior and societal expectations.
• 👓 Cooley emphasizes that self-perception is shaped through interactions, reflecting how others see us, which we internalize into our self-identity.
• 🎬 Goffman differentiates between 'front stage' behavior, where individuals perform social roles, and 'backstage' behavior, where they act without an audience.
• 🤔 The self is a social construction, dependent on the situation and the impressions we wish to convey to others, highlighting the concept of impression management.

Q & A

What is the main focus of lesson two in the video?

The main focus of lesson two is the sociological perspective of the self, examining the relationship between the self, society, and culture, and how they shape one's identity.

What activity are students asked to complete in the module on page 50?

Students are asked to paste pictures of themselves from elementary, high school, and college, and list characteristics they remember about themselves during those stages to observe any differences.

What was the purpose of the story about the five monkeys?

The story of the five monkeys illustrates how societal norms and behaviors can be followed blindly without understanding the reasons behind them, relating to how culture and society influence individual behavior.

Who conducted the experiment about the five monkeys and what was its significance?

The experiment was conducted by G.R. Stephenson in 1967, titled 'Cultural Acquisition of a Specific Learned Response Among Rhesus Monkeys,' demonstrating how learned behaviors are passed down in a group, even without direct experience.

What are the three sociologists discussed in the lesson?

The three sociologists discussed are George Mead, Charles Cooley, and Erving Goffman, each exploring different aspects of how society and culture shape the self.

What is George Mead's theory of the social self?

George Mead's theory of the social self suggests that the self emerges from social experiences and interactions, particularly through communication. He emphasizes that the self is inseparable from society and develops through social experiences.

According to George Mead, what are the three stages in the development of the self?

According to George Mead, the three stages in the development of the self are the preparatory stage, the play stage (where children imitate significant others), and the game stage (where children understand organized roles in society).

What is the 'looking glass self' according to Charles Cooley?

The 'looking glass self' is a concept by Charles Cooley that suggests individuals develop their sense of self by reflecting on how they believe others perceive and evaluate them.

What is Erving Goffman’s concept of 'impression management'?

Erving Goffman’s concept of 'impression management' refers to how individuals manage and control the impressions others form of them, acting differently in front-stage (public) and backstage (private) situations.

How does Erving Goffman describe social interactions using theatrical metaphors?

Erving Goffman describes social interactions as theatrical performances where people play roles (front stage) to manage impressions in social settings, while the backstage is where individuals can behave without the pressure of societal expectations.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Sociological Perspective of the Self

The video introduces students to the sociological perspective of the self, focusing on how society and culture influence an individual's identity. Students are expected to analyze the relationship between self, society, and culture, and reflect on how institutions shape the self. The video also includes an activity asking students to compare themselves at different life stages—elementary, high school, and college—by recalling their characteristics during these times.

05:21

🐵 The Five Monkeys Experiment: Cultural Conditioning

This paragraph describes a story about a group of monkeys subjected to an experiment where each time a monkey tries to climb a ladder, the group is punished with cold water. Over time, even without experiencing the punishment themselves, the monkeys discourage others from climbing the ladder, reflecting how cultural conditioning can persist without understanding the original reason. The narrator asks if this kind of behavior resonates with human experiences, where people follow societal norms without questioning their origins.

10:31

🧠 Theories of the Social Self by George Mead

George Mead's theory of the social self is explored, which posits that the self is developed through social interactions and communication. Mead argues that the self is not innate but emerges from experiences with society. The theory is built on key points: the self emerges from social experience, is not part of the body, and is developed through communication. Mead also highlights the 'I' and 'Me,' where the 'I' is spontaneous and individualistic, while the 'Me' is shaped by societal expectations.

15:34

👁️ The Looking Glass Self by Charles Cooley

This paragraph introduces Charles Cooley's 'Looking Glass Self' theory, which suggests that individuals develop their self-concept based on how they believe others perceive them. The metaphor of mirrors is used to explain how different people reflect different aspects of an individual, like friends viewing someone as strong, parents seeing them as angelic, or online friends perceiving them negatively. These reflections help form a person's self-identity.

20:37

🎭 Dramaturgy and Impression Management by Erving Goffman

Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory is presented, where he compares daily social interactions to theatrical performances. Individuals play roles on the 'front stage' (public) to control how others perceive them, while their 'backstage' (private) behavior is unseen. Goffman also introduces the concept of impression management, where people consciously manage the impressions they give to their audience, adapting behavior to fit societal expectations. The theory emphasizes the fluid and situational nature of the self.

🎬 Conclusion: Sociological Perspective of the Self

The video concludes by reiterating that the self is socially constructed and varies depending on the situation. Students are reminded that the next lesson will focus on the psychological perspective of the self. The instructor encourages students to reach out with questions and provides contact information.

Keywords

💡Sociological Perspective of the Self

This concept refers to how an individual's self is shaped and influenced by society and culture. In the video, it emphasizes the relationship between the self, society, and culture, exploring how societal norms, values, and expectations shape personal identity and behavior.

💡Self

The self is the individual's perception of their own identity, shaped by interactions with society and culture. In the video, the self is described as both a product of personal experiences and social interactions, influenced by external institutions such as family, education, and media.

💡Society

Society refers to the organized group of individuals that influence one's behavior, identity, and perception of the self. The video highlights how the collective expectations, norms, and interactions within society play a key role in shaping the individual's self.

💡Culture

Culture represents the shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group of people, which significantly impact an individual's self-concept. In the video, culture is presented as a fundamental factor in how individuals form their identities and behaviors through social experiences.

💡Social Interaction

Social interaction refers to the exchange between individuals that influences their self-perception. The video explains that through communication and interaction with significant others, individuals begin to develop their own self-concept.

💡George Mead's Theory of the Social Self

George Mead proposed that the self emerges from social interactions and cannot exist independently of society. In the video, his theory is discussed to emphasize how the self is built through communication and the roles we take from others, evolving from close interactions with family to broader societal influences.

💡Looking Glass Self

Charles Cooley's concept of the 'Looking Glass Self' explains that an individual's self-concept is shaped by how they believe others perceive them. The video uses this concept to show how people internalize others' evaluations and reflections, shaping their own identity based on perceived social feedback.

💡Impression Management

Impression management, as proposed by Erving Goffman, refers to the ways individuals attempt to control or influence the perceptions others have of them. In the video, this concept is illustrated by how people behave in social settings to create favorable impressions and maintain social norms.

💡Preparatory Stage

This is the first stage in Mead’s development of the self, where children imitate the behaviors of significant others without fully understanding the social roles they are imitating. The video mentions this stage as a starting point for developing the social self.

💡Game Stage

The game stage, according to Mead, is when individuals understand and internalize the roles and rules of society, taking the perspective of the generalized other. The video uses this stage to explain how children move from mimicking specific roles to understanding the expectations of society at large.

Highlights

Introduction to the sociological perspective of the self, focusing on the relationship between the self, society, and culture.

Activity 2: 'Myself Through the Years' where students compare themselves at different stages—elementary, high school, and college—and list characteristics.

Analysis section: Students reflect on similarities and differences in their characteristics through various life stages.

Story of the five monkeys: An experiment demonstrating how societal norms persist, even without understanding their origins.

Connection between the monkey experiment and real-life behavior: People often follow social norms without questioning them.

Introduction to George Mead's theory of the social self, emphasizing that the self emerges from social experiences.

Mead's concept that the self is inseparable from society and develops through communication with others.

Stages of self-development according to Mead: Preparatory stage, play stage, and game stage, each building on how children interact with significant others.

The dual nature of the self—'I' (spontaneous) and 'Me' (socialized)—explained as part of Mead's theory.

Introduction to Charles Cooley's 'Looking Glass Self' theory, where one’s self-perception is shaped by how they believe others see them.

The 'Looking Glass Self' metaphor of different mirrors representing the perceptions of others, such as friends, parents, or colleagues.

Erving Goffman's theory of social interaction as performance, with the concepts of front stage (public self) and backstage (private self).

Goffman's idea of 'impression management,' where people try to control how others perceive them during interactions.

Explanation of how the self is socially constructed and how different roles are performed depending on the situation.

Conclusion: The self is shaped by society and social experiences, leading into the next lesson on the psychological perspective of the self.

Transcripts

hello students and welcome back to our

class

in this video we will discuss lesson two

of chapter one

sociological perspective of the self

after this lassoing students are

expected to

explain the relationship between and

among the self

society and culture describe and discuss

the different ways by which society and

culture

shape the self compare and contrast how

the self can be influenced

by the different institutions in the

society

and lastly examine oneself against the

different views of the self

that we're discussed in the class

before we proceed with our discussion i

want you to look at page 50 of your

module

you will see activity 2 myself through

the years

so i want you to do a space a picture of

you when you were in

elementary in high school and now that

you are in college

below the picture let's do some list

down some characteristics of you that

you remember

so just pay some photos of you when you

were inventory high school

and now that you're in college and then

remember all those characteristics or

how you were described

when you were in those grades and then

list them down and let's see if there

will be differences

okay

of course after doing activity 2 we have

our analysis so turn your

module to page 51 and you will see

activity 2

analysis so after having examined

yourself

in this different stages i want you to

answer the following questions we have

three questions

una anonymous similarities in all the

stages of

para yourself since elementary high

school and then until now college

or similar but then all right next i

want you to identify a new management

a new differences hi i know different

elementary car and you're in a bag

and then in college and lastly i want

you to identify

and very impossible reason of these

strangers

okay

i will tell you the story about the five

monkeys

let's start our story with once upon a

time or the

small fairy tale anyway so once upon a

time my group of scientists

neglected monkey

in a cage it's a good night in cage

okay now what do you think will happen

after realizing the consequences of

uh getting to the leather and getting

the banana

a diagonal

[Music]

[Music]

five new monkeys that never experienced

mabasana

cold water pero alumni like that every

time you go up the ladder

what's surprising is actually the fact

now

they also heard other monkeys known that

would try

to go up the ladder without really

knowing the reasons why

okay what was left was a group of five

monkeys

that even though never received a cold

water continued to beat up

any monkey who attempted to climb the

ladder

now if we could only talk to monkeys

if we could ask them why are you doing

that more or less they will answer

us with i don't know that's how things

are done here

now my question to you is

does this sound familiar have you

experienced the same thing

[Music]

or are we following without really

knowing the reasons why

all right that's the purpose of our

discussion for

today the story of the five monkeys

this is actually an experiment conducted

by jira stephen son way back 1967

titled cultural acquisition of a

specific learned response among racist

monkey

so in this video in this lesson we want

to explore

how other people or our society and

culture affects our behavior

our personality and ultimately our

perception

of the self in this video we will

discuss three sociologists

george mead charles cooley in irving of

time

they look into how the self the society

and the culture

are interrelated

m

a young american philosopher and social

theorist

george smith he proposed the theory of

the social self

george mead believed that the self is

void of society

the self is inseparable from the society

and bound up with communication

it builds on social experience this is

largely a matter of taking the role of

other with increasing sophistication

broadening out from significant others

to the greater

complexity anonymous

having a detonation self cannot be

separated from the society

the society and the self they come

together

and we learn from experiences from

social experiences

to self is a social entity

they know a lesson that the self is

created through social interaction

with other people with their significant

others

mostly young families

now learning

the moment we learn the language is also

the moment we learn

to develop ourselves three points were

raised by mead

in a social self-theory

the self emerges from social experience

it's not part of the body

and it does not exist at birth if you

remember

john locke and his concept of tabula

rasa

metro

that we only begin to start developing

ourselves when we interact with other

people

social experience involves communication

and exchange of symbols

people create meaning okay we create

meaning

if you remember the term selfie that we

use right now

you minimize our that day we put meaning

to words

in the self theory or your social self

theory

is that communication plays an important

role in that

lastly to understand intention you must

imagine the situation from another

person's point

of view by taking the role of other the

self is reflective

and reflexive

to reflect on our actions

other organisms are not capable of that

whereas human beings we are capable of

reflection

according to mead there are different

stages in the development of the self

on when on stage according to him is the

preparatory stage

the second stage is the play stage this

is where children pretend to play the

role of a significant other

usually young parents as you request

and we internalize the roles and we

pretend to be them

that is included in the play stage

the third one is the game stage this is

where children play

in organized games and take on the

perspective of the generalized other

bixby

but also general perspective

is when we play team games

and then we internalize the different

roles

so we learn rules and we internalize the

rules

and then we use that and by a

generalized other

young generalized other is the

perspective and expectations

of a network of others or basically the

society

and the banging expects our society

we internalize those expectations and

use it to shape our own behavior

this results to the dual nature of the

self

or the belief that we experience the

self as both subject and object

the i and me by

young eye is spontaneous and

unpredictable

you're only concerned about yourself on

the other hand

you have your me you mean a mind is the

part of you that's been socialized

to think beyond yourself hindi language

but also the expectations of your

society

the second concept we will discuss is

the looking glass self

this is proposed by charles school

according to pulley one sense of self

depends on seeing oneself

reflected in interaction with others

it's because of the perception and

evaluation of other

imagine having different mirrors at

umagas aluminium

represents how other people see you

savage on young college friends mostly

sees you

as a smart person represents

your boss sees you as someone beneath

him

your parents sees you as an angel

feeling the long bite bite mo and your

online friends

sees you as a devil feeling

atlanta perceptions

you internalize them and you create your

own

definition or your own

description of yourself

here's another example pitona man your

college friend

sees you as someone strong

on the other hand

your parents

and your online friends still sees

how they perceive you if we look at this

picture

it also depicts looking glass elf and is

habit

we imagine how we appear to other people

[Music]

sabinya is situations and drama

young give me drama

according to government people routinely

behave like actors on easter

every day social life becomes theatrical

there are roles script and actions

daily life is a series of stitch craft

rules

so my girlfriend can um

into theater casabina constructing

situations and drama

naninu allah that meaning is constructed

through interaction and he proposed the

concept of

interaction order a new interaction

order

it's what we do in the immediate

presence of others

imagine this

what do you do okay

his concept focuses on how individuals

take on roles and act them out

and he called them our audience

because we want to give a positive

impression

saudi and

and this is what he called impression

management

about 400 years ago nakhon is

shakespeare young ideon gov man

sabinya all the world is a stage and all

the men and women merely players

they have their exits and their

entrances and one man in his time plays

many

boyfriend or girlfriend and others

okay union concept or

the shakespeare golf mind identifies the

following component in his theory of

impression management

how do we try to impress or control the

other people's impression of

us okay oh now we have the front stage

and then we have the backstage and now

my runs the front stage

so front stage is where we act where we

play our roles

basically this is our stage

the backstage on the other hand is what

we do when no one is looking

how do we act what's our behavior

additionally government pointed out that

each definition of a situation

lends itself to a different approach and

the consequences are real

and you're

because you want to impress your

teachers so we have these different

roles and why do we do that

because we want to impress other people

the self is a social construction

dependent of

the situation that's the end of our

discussion for

lesson two sociological perspective of

the self

in our next video next week we will

discuss psychological perspective

of the self thank you for watching if

you have questions you may email me at

resiliaslara teresa

gmail.com or you may just leave a

comment down below

bye class