Module 3- Sociological Perspective: The Self as a product of Society 1.3.

The Self as a Product of Modern and Postmodern Societies

This module will explore the sociological perspective of the self-based on the The Self as a Product of Modern Society
assumption that human behavior is influenced by the group in which he is living
with and interacting. This will create a particular view of the self which is formed According to Gerry Lanuza's article, "The Constitution of the Self" (2004). In
through interactions with other people, groups, and social institutions. The modern societies, the attainment and stability of self-identity are "freely
succeeding discussion will be based on the principles and concepts of well- chosen". It is no longer controlled by customs and traditions. This is considered
known sociologists to develop student's understanding of sociology and how a new found freedom that offers unlimited possibilities for self-development,
sociology affects students' everyday lives and lead towards self-understanding problems like alienation and dehumanization of the self also appear which
of "who you are "and "what you are" in this contemporary human society. prevent the full development of human potentials. But there is a need to
discover the "authentic core" of the self for the individual to freely work towards
Sociologists like George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley self-realization. The dissolution of traditional values and communities in a
emphasized that the self is not a product of biological predispositions, rather, modern society guided the individual to develop a strong and stable self-
they are a product of social interaction. Therefore, the sense of self is born as
identity, and the postmodern individual accepts all the possibilities for self-
the individual interacts in human society. As the individual finds a strong and
improvement. Therefore, in the postmodern societies, self-identity
stable self-identity in modern society, the postmodern individual finds ways to
avoid fixation and keeps on developing ways and means for self-improvement. continuously developed due to the very demanding multiple social contexts
and the advent of new information technologies and globalization.

It is worth noting that French sociologist Jean Baudrillard posts that in the The Self as Product of Postmodern Society
postmodern society, the self is found in the prestige symbols of goods Jean Baudrillard, a French sociologist, exposed the negative consequences of
consumed by people. Thus, the postmodern person has become an post modernization to individuals in society (Demetrio, 2013). He emphasized
unsatisfied consumer, developing unlimited desires. People desire to be that consumption describes the postmodern society. The postmodern
satisfied with things in life but they are persuaded by the postmodern culture individuals achieve self-identity through prestige symbols that they consume.
of advertisement and mass media which suggests false needs. Individuals want to have a position in society through the quality of prestige
The sociological perspective of the self as discussed in this module will be symbols that they can afford to consume. It is manifested through the cultural
explored in the most simple manner to provide a clear picture of how the practices of advertising and mass media that have a great impact on the
different sociological theories influence the development of self-identity and individual consumers' behavior of goods consumption not for their value and
later self-image. utility but more for the feeling of goodness and power when compared with
others. The postmodern individual has become an unsatisfied consumer and
It focused more on the two major sociological theories developed by Charles may never be satisfied in life. This is manifested when a person buys an
Horton Cooley called the Looking-glass self and that of George Herbert Mead expensive gadget which is not for its usefulness in communication but because
known as the theory of social self. of its prestige symbol. The person will desire to buy a new model of cellphone
when a new model comes out in the market. The self then will be in a never-
it will further present the detailed development of the self in a three-stage ending search for prestige in the postmodern society.
process as proposed by George Herbert Mead.
1.4. The Looking-glass Self react when we're looking in the mirror or observing their responses
and attempting to infer from those to their inner ruminations.
The Looking-glass Self
2. We imagine what judgments that person makes of us based on our
The looking-glass self describes the process wherein individuals base their appearance and the way we present ourselves.
sense of self on how they believe others view them. Using social interaction  There are some circumstances in which we care more about others'
as a type of “mirror,” people use the judgments they receive from others to perceptions of us than others.
measure their own worth, values, and behavior.
 We have the capacity to care more about some things than others,
and our self-image is no exception to this.

3. We imagine how that person feels about us, based on the judgments they've
made.
 We use the looking-glass self to control and manipulate the responses
and evaluation of others.

 People are aware that others are watching us, reacting to us, and
judging us so people can use that knowledge to shape the impression
that they want to give off.

1.5. Theory of the Social Self

Theory of the Social Self

Sociologist Charles Horton Cooley is the proponent of this theory. This theory Sociologist George Herbert Mead, supports the view that a person develops a
highlights that the people with whom a person interacts become a mirror in sense of self through social interaction and not the biological condition of that
which one views himself. Therefore, self-identity or self-image is achieved interaction. It explains that the self has two divisions: The "I" and the "me". The
through a threefold event which begins by "I" is the subjective element and the active side of the self. It represents the
1. We imagine how we appear to another person. spontaneous and unique traits of the individual. While the "me" on the other
2. We imagine what judgments that person makes of us based on our hand is the objective element of the self that represents the internalized
appearance and the way we present ourselves. attitudes and demands of other people and the individual's awareness of those
3. We imagine how that person feels about us, on the basis of the demands. Then, the full development of the self is attained when the "I" and
judgments they've made. the "me" are united.
According to Mead, the self is not present at birth. It is developed only with
This is critical because it is subjective. What if you think that others judge you social experience in which language, gestures or symbols, and objects are
unfavorably? Can you imagine that it could develop a negative self-image? used to communicate meaningfully.

1. We imagine how we appear to another person.

 We can't know how others judge us or how they feel about us. Instead,
we depend on our imagination: either thinking about how they might
 Self in three-stage process

Preparatory Stage
(0-3 years old)
Children imitate the people around them especially family members.

Play Stage
(3-5 years old)
Children start to view themselves in relation to others as they learn to
communicate through language and other symbols.

Game Stage
(8 – 9 years old)
Children understand not only their own social position but also of others around
them

1.6. Mead's Three Stage of Self Development