The self and the person in the contemporary Anthropology

Summary

This anthropology lesson delves into the concept of the self, exploring its dynamic nature and cultural influences. It discusses how the self encompasses physical, psychological, and social attributes, with theories by Catherine Ewing and Joseph LeDoux highlighting its implicit and explicit aspects. The self is portrayed as non-static, shaped by experiences and forgetting, and is culturally constructed through self-representations that shift across contexts. The video also contrasts independent and interdependent self-construals, emphasizing the impact of culture on relationships, personality traits, achievements, and emotional expression, ultimately questioning the universality of self-perception.

Takeaways

• 📚 Anthropology is the study of humans, their evolution, and the differences among cultures over time, focusing on the cultural aspects of the human condition.
• 🤔 The concept of 'self' in anthropology is multifaceted, with various definitions and theories attempting to explain its development and nature.
• 🧠 Catherine Ewing described the self as encompassing physical, psychological, and social attributes, highlighting the interplay of biological and cultural processes.
• 💡 Joseph LeDoux emphasized the implicit and explicit aspects of the self, suggesting that our conscious awareness of self is only part of a larger, unconscious self that is constantly evolving.
• 🔄 The self is not static; it is influenced by factors such as genetic maturation, learning, forgetting, stress, and diseases, affecting both implicit and explicit aspects.
• 🌐 Katherine Ewing asserted that the self is illusory and forever shifting, with individuals constructing a series of self-representations based on cultural concepts and personal memories.
• 🏠 The self-representation is influenced by the context and culture, with people projecting different identities depending on their environment and social interactions.
• 🌟 Cultural anthropologists argue that the self is culturally shaped and infinitely variable, with cultural traditions and social practices having a profound impact on the human psyche.
• 🔍 Two main ways the self is constructed are identified: independent (typical of individualistic cultures) and interdependent (typical of collectivistic cultures) self-construals.
• 🌐 Katherine Reeve's work suggests that culture influences our views on relationships, personality traits, achievement, and emotional expression, varying significantly across different societies.
• 🏆 The definition of success and the value placed on individual versus group achievements differ across cultures, reflecting the impact of cultural norms and values on personal goals and aspirations.

Q & A

What is the definition of anthropology according to the script?

Anthropology is the study of people, past and present, focusing on understanding the human condition in its cultural aspect. It is concerned with how humans evolved and how they differ from one another across time.

What are the two main aspects of the self according to Joseph LeDoux?

The two main aspects of the self according to Joseph LeDoux are the explicit self, which includes aspects that one is consciously aware of, and the implicit self, which includes aspects that one is not consciously aware of.

How does Katherine Ewing define the self?

Katherine Ewing defines the self as encompassing not just the physical organism but also possessing psychological functioning and social attributes, existing in the mind and comprised of psychological, biological, and cultural processes.

What is the concept of 'soft representations' as described by Katherine Ewing?

Soft representations, as described by Katherine Ewing, are the illusory and forever shifting mental constructs that people create based on selected cultural concepts of a person and personal memories. These representations change with different contexts or scenarios.

How does the script explain the development of the self in relation to cultural practices?

The script explains that cultural traditions and social practices can regulate, express, and even transform the human psyche, resulting in ethnic divergence in mind, self, and emotions. The principles of how the mind works are as varied as the cultures and traditions people practice.

What are the two types of self-construals described in the script?

The two types of self-construals described in the script are independent and interdependent constructs. Independent construct is characteristic of individualistic cultures, emphasizing internal attributes, while interdependent construct is typical of collectivistic cultures, emphasizing the connection between the individual and the community.

How does the script relate the concept of the self to cultural differences?

The script relates the concept of the self to cultural differences by stating that cultural anthropologists argue the self is culturally shaped and infinitely variable. Different cultures influence how individuals view relationships, personality traits, achievement, and the expression of emotions.

What is the difference between individualistic and collectivistic cultures in terms of how they view the self?

In individualistic cultures, the self is viewed as separate from the community with an emphasis on internal attributes, traits, skills, and values. In contrast, collectivistic cultures stress the essential connection between the individual and the community, with a high sense of conformity and fear of social rejection.

How does the script describe the impact of culture on the way we view relationships?

The script describes that culture influences how we enter into and maintain relationships, which may be voluntary or duty-based. For example, Western societies value the freedom to choose a partner, while some Eastern societies still practice arranged marriages.

What is the role of cultural traditions in shaping the self according to the script?

According to the script, cultural traditions play a significant role in shaping the self by influencing how individuals view themselves, relate to others, and perceive their environment. These traditions can regulate, express, and transform the human psyche, leading to differences in self-concept across cultures.

How does the script connect the concept of the self to the idea of genetic maturation and learning?

The script connects the concept of the self to genetic maturation and learning by stating that the self is not static and is constantly affected by factors such as aging, cognitive development, and experiences. This includes both the implicit and explicit aspects of the self.