stories of self
SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE SELF AS PROCESS AND STRUCTURE
Soc. 230
Katherine Watson, Ph.D.
SELF
• For Symbolic interactionists, the self is a reflexive process that includes a person’s subjective stream of consciousness and self as physical, social and moral being.
GEORGE H. MEAD: STAGES OF SOCIALIZATION
1) Preparatory stage:
Pure Play and imitation of significant others.
Name and social objects creates capacity for self-reflection.
2) Play stage:
Language and the ability to use labels, names and share meanings with others develop.
Children role play taking one role at a time. Play at “house” or “school”.
3) Game stage:
Children interact in larger groups and play games that have multiple positions and rules.
With time, develop a sense of the generalized other (broader social values, norms and expectations).
PRIMARY SOCIALIZATION CONTINUED
• George H. Mead view of Socialization focusses on the development of the Self rather than personality.
• The Self is the result of a two phase process of interaction between the “I” and the “Me”.
• The I is the subjective spontaneous part of self; the Me is the objective part of self that allows for self-reflection and evaluation through the process of taking the role of the other.
• Role taking involves viewing oneself as an object from the perspective of another individual or social group (Generalized Other).
SELF AS PROCESS
Generalized Other
I Me
MEAD: SELF AS PROCESS
• For Mead, imagining ourselves through the eyes of others allows for shared meanings and the alignment of conduct.
• Different social contexts and amounts of regulation and control allow for different behaviour.
• Children are born without a Self but may develop one through interaction.
• Individual and Society Question: explains how society can exert a strong influence on the perceptions and behaviours of individuals.
MEAD: SELF AS PROCESS
• For Mead, imagining ourselves through the eyes of others allows for shared meanings and the alignment of conduct. It creates normative behaviour. This allows for interaction.
• The Self organizes both thought and action into coherent and meaningful patterns.
• The Self is therefore socially based and the object of our self-reflection.
• It enables us to formulate, monitor, control and react to our own behaviour.
SELF AND SOCIETY
• The self-concept gives stability and predictability to behavior
• Allows for shared meaning
• Anticipation of others’ actions
• SI: Basis of society
THE SELF AS SOCIAL STRUCTURE
• Twenty Statement Test Manford Kuhn • Four types of self-concept or the “Core Self”
• Most people can manifest all 4 types
• A: physical self
• B: the social self (roles)
• C: the reflective self (feelings and character traits)
• D: Oceanic self (abstract)
KUHN TST
• Group vs Individual of Self • Gender differences? Gender scripts?
• How do we come to view ourselves in particular ways? Has your view of self changed over the years?
• Would significant others define you in the same way as you define yourself? • Self is anchored in roles, identities and scripts we acquire through relationships,
interaction and reflection.
ROSENBERG: SELF ESTEEM
• Overall or global self-evaluation or self-worth.
• Sources: • reflected appraisals (primary);
• social comparisons (reference groups);
• and self-perceptions (self-assessment of role performances).
• Autonomy and Control in situations leads to higher self-assessments
• Self-Esteem Scale
CONSEQUENCES OF SELF-ESTEEM
• Higher self-esteem associated with life satisfaction and happiness.
• Long-term consequences: physical, psychological, and economic development.
• Low self-esteem associated with poor health, depression, anxiety, criminal behavior, unemployment and low educational achievement.
• A desire for self esteem may motivate people to present themselves to others in favourable ways.
SELF-CONCEPT
• Organizing structure
• Influences our perceptions, behaviours across social interactions and settings.
• Page 141
GOFFMAN AND THE DRAMATURGIC AL APPROACH
• The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959)
• Strategies of the “Authentic Self”
• Actors performance of Self: continually communicating a set of social categories.
• Gender; Age; Social Class; Interest; Roles; Ability; Intelligence, etc.
IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT
• Impression Management: try to shape the impression others have of them. Gain support and approval.
• Play various roles like actors on a stage
• Convey a desired self-image to others (audience). Personal front
• Expressive resources: setting, appearance and manner
REGIONS
• Social Context or Regions in which interaction occurs. Different scripts for different regions.
• Back Stage: Rehearse, Prepare, Less formal
• Front Stage: Ideal versions of roles