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Sociological Views of The Self

The document discusses different sociological perspectives on the self, including the self as a product of modern society which offers both freedom and risks of alienation, the postmodern view of the self as a narrative that is pluralized across contexts, and the idea that the self is socially constructed but individuals also actively negotiate their own identities within social and cultural frameworks. It provides an overview of these perspectives to understand how sociology views the formation of self-identity.

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Crissah Jane Acosta Olazo
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245 views18 pages

Sociological Views of The Self

The document discusses different sociological perspectives on the self, including the self as a product of modern society which offers both freedom and risks of alienation, the postmodern view of the self as a narrative that is pluralized across contexts, and the idea that the self is socially constructed but individuals also actively negotiate their own identities within social and cultural frameworks. It provides an overview of these perspectives to understand how sociology views the formation of self-identity.

Uploaded by

Crissah Jane Acosta Olazo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sociological Views of the Self

Objectives:

1. To know the different Sociological


perspectives of the self;
2. To differentiate these various views
of the self;
3. To be able to apply these views in
understanding the self.
Activity:
Form 2 groups and for each group,
prepare a short presentation of your
assigned sociological perspectives of the
self.
The preparation time is 30 minutes.
The maximum time for the presentation is
10 minutes.
Scoring Criteria
Group participation and collaboration (25%)
(All members actively participated in the activity, and the group
collaborated harmoniously.)
Quality of Content (25%)
(The application of the the sociological concepts is correct in the
whole presentation.)
Aesthetic Value (25%)
(The presentation is very pleasing to watch.)
Time Management (25%)
(The presentation observes the prescribed time exactly.)
Sociological Perspectives of the
Self:
Self as Product of Modern Society
Self as a Necessary Fiction
Post-Modern View of the Self
Self as Artistic Creation
Self Creation and Collective Identity
Self Creation and the Struggle for
Cultural Identity
Self as product of modern society:
Modernization “delocalized” self

Free to seek own


identity; free from
customary constraints
Problems:
1.The newfound freedom threatens the very
authenticity of the self (e.g. love)
2.Alienation (Marx) – human beings
haunted by the very images they have
created
3.Objectification of the body (e.g. medical
practice)
Solution:
For the individual to discover the “true”
and “authentic” part of herself to realize
her potentials, thus, the need to abolish
repressive social constraints
Self as Necessary Fiction
Self (Nietzsche) : sum of individual’s
action, thoughts and feelings
: Self as a representation;
Post-modern view of the self
Self is a narrative, a text written and
rewritten
Manifestations:
 Information technology dislocates the self,
thus, self is “digitalized” in cyberspace
 Global migration produces multicultural
identities
Post-modern selves are “pluralized” selves
Social Construction of the Self
Self is not discovered, it is made through
the socialization process. BUT,
individuals are not just hapless victims of
socialization.
Individual is an active, strategizing agent
that negotiates for the definition of
himself.
Self as an artistic creation
Nietzsche: unity of the self is not pre-given
but accomplished through conscious effort;
: we can recreate ourselves to get hold of
the present, forgive the past and plan the
future.
Rorty: contingencies of selfhood – conceal
the “ugly” by reinterpreting the overall
aesthetic contours of the self.
Self creation and collective identity
Memories (photographs, videos) play
significant role in creating the self and
identity
Self creation is formed within “imagined
communities”
Self creation along cultural lines must be
done in maximum cultural recognition of
differences among and between
individuals and cultural groups.
Self creation and the struggle for
cultural recognition
A challenge of self-identity amidst
recognition of racial and ethnic identities
Beyond self creation
 Search for self-identity is a product of
modern society but this is complicated by
the socio-cultural sensibilities of
postmodernity, new information
technologies and globalization. Yet the
project of self creation is embedded
within imagined communities.
 The self constantly lives in this paradox:
to pursue self creation within pre-given,
not willfully chosen social circumstances.
THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF MODERN
AND POSTMODERN SOCIETIES

In modern societies the attainment and


stability of self-identity is freely chosen. It is
no longer restricted by customs and
traditions.
While this newfound freedom offers infinite
possibilities for self-cultivation, problems such
as alienation and dehumanization of the self
also appear which hinder the full
development of human potentials.
Hence, there is a need to discover the
“authentic core” of the self for the individual to
freely work towards self-realization.
• Whereas the dissolution of traditional
values and communities in modern society
has led the individual to construct a solid
and stable self-identity, the postmodern
individual welcomes all possibilities for self-
improvement.
• In postmodern societies, self-identity
continuously change due to the
demands of multitude of social
contexts, new information
technologies, and globalization.
Assignment:
Write a reflection paper in your journal:
How do you negotiate your self-identity in
different social contexts you are into?

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