SOCIAL SCIENCES

Metalanguage
Explicit self - the aspects of the self that you are consciously aware of.
Implicit aspect - those that are not immediately available to the consciousness.
Construal- is an interpretation of the meaning of something; hence in this sense, the meaning of
“self”.
Individualistic culture- represents the self as separate, distinct, with emphasis on internal attributes
traits, skills, and values.

Essential Knowledge

Joseph E. Ledoux said:

“Indeed, much of the self is learned by making new
memories out of old ones.”

Anthropology is the study of people, past and present.

Anthropological View of Self

Katherine Ewing (1990) described the self as encompassing the “physical organism, possessing
psychological functioning and social attributes”. This definition portrayed the “self” as implicitly and
explicitly existing in the mind comprised of psychological, biological, and cultural processes.

Neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux (2002) conceptualized the implicit and explicit aspects of the self
(Kemp, 2012). The aspects of the self that you are consciously aware of are the explicit self; while
those that are not immediately available to the consciousness is the implicit aspect. This concept can
be traced to the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud’s “level of consciousness”.
LeDoux added that the self is NOT STATIC (ex. Aging, forgetting, learning, getting sick)
According to Ewing people construct a series of self-representations which are culturally shaped self
concepts that one applies to oneself. We project these representations depending on the contexts of
the situations.

A. The Self Embedded in Culture

How individuals see themselves, how they relate to other people, and how they relate to the
environment is deeply defined by culture.
If one finds the view that the “self” is a product of society, then it is plausible that the ways of how
the self is developed are bound to cultural differences as well.
• Construal is an interpretation of the meaning of something; hence in this sense, the meaning
of “self”.
• individualistic culture represents the self as separate, distinct, with emphasis on internal
attributes traits, skills, and values.
• Cultural psychology is the study of how people shape and are shaped by their cultures.
• Cultural psychologists think that the self is constructed in 2 ways:
• Independent construct > Individualistic culture of the West emphasizing individual
separation, skills, values.
 • Interdependent construct > Collectivist culture of East Asia stressing connection between
people.
• Developmental psychology looks at how thinking, feeling, and behavior change throughout
a person’s life.

B. Catherine Raeff view about culture

According to Developmental Psychologist Catherine Raeff (2010), culture can influence how you view:
1.Relationships
Culture influences how you enter into and maintain relationships.
2. Personality traits
Culture influences whether (and how) you value traits like humility, self-esteem, politeness,
assertiveness, etc.; as well as how you perceive hardship or how you feel about relying on others.
3. Achievement
Culture influences how you define success and whether you value certain types of individual
and group achievements.
4. Expressing emotions
Culture influences what will affect you emotionally as well as how you express yourself, such
as showing your feelings in public or keeping it private.

⦿ Meaning of Psychology? cognitive?

⦿ According to Piaget cognitive development is a progressive reorganization of mental processes
resulting from biological maturation and environmental experience.
⦿ What are the 3 basic components of Piaget’s cognitive theory?
⦿ Individuals use assimilation and accommodation in order to adapt to the environment.
⦿ Table on Piaget’s 4 stages of cognitive development

Metalanguage
Sociology – the study of human interaction in the society

Modernization –the process of social change whereby less developed societies acquire characteristics
common to more developed societies.

Capitalism - a production system involving both competitive product markets and the
commodification (putting a price tag) of labor power.

Institutions of surveillance – the massive increase of power and reach by institutions, especially in
government.

Dynamism – this is the most evident characteristic of a modern society. Dynamism is characterized as
having vigorous activity and progress

Organic group- is naturally occurring, and it is highly influenced by your family.

Rational group- occur in modern societies.

Me- the product of what the person has learned while interacting with others and with te
environment.
“I”- Is unsocialized and spontaneous.

Essential Knowledge
⦿ According to Theodor Adorno, "Not only is the self
entwined in society; it owes society its existence in the most literal sense."

Definition of sociology: the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships.

For Sociology, socially formed norms, beliefs, and values come to exist within the person to a degree
where these become natural and normal; thus developing the person’s self-identity.

Sociological View of Self

Sociology posited that socially formed norms, beliefs, and values come to exist within the person
to a degree where these become natural and normal (Elwell, 2003); Thus, developing the person’s
self-identity.

A. Modernization

Modernization has significantly changed society and this affected how an individual build and
develops his or her self-identity.

Pre-modern society was centered on survival. People behaved according to social rules and traditions,
while the family and the immediate environment provided supervision on how to get through life.
Choosing where to live, what line of work to do, and even who to marry was very limited

Modernization/ Modern Society, however, improved the people’s living conditions. A person in the
modern society is free to choose where to live, what to do, and who to be with. However, stability
also decreased as traditions and traditional support systems such as the family decreased in
importance. In modern societies, individualism is dominant and developing one’s self-identity is
central

B. Key characteristics of modernity

According to Giddens (1991), the most patent, major characteristics of modernity are:

Industrialism - this refers to the social relations implied in the extensive use of material power and
machinery in all processes of production.

Capitalism - a production system involving both competitive product markets and the
commodification (putting a price tag) of labor power.

Institutions of surveillance – the massive increase of power and reach by institutions, especially in
government.

Dynamism – this is the most evident characteristic of a modern society. Dynamism is characterized as
having vigorous activity and progress. In a modern society, life is not a predetermined path with
limited options based on location, family or gender: it is a society full of possibilities. Everything is
subject to change, and changes happen much more rapidly than ever before in human history.

For sociologist George Simmel, people create social networks by joining social groups.

A social group is described as having two or more people interacting with each other, sharing similar
characteristics, and the members identify themselves as part of the group. (Ex. Family)

Social networks are the ties or connections that link you to your social group . (Ex. the connection
you have with your family is your blood relation)
⦿ Organic group and organic motivation

C. Organic and Rational social groups

An organic group is naturally occurring, and it is highly influenced by your family. Sociologist
George Simmel stated that you join these groups because your family is also a part of it, in the first
place. He called it organic motivation. Simmel noted that the positive effect of organic groups is
rootedness. This means the foundation of the social network runs deep, thus giving the person a
sense of belongingness. The downside however is that organic groups imply less freedom and
greater social conformity.

Rational groups occur in modern societies. Rational groups are formed as a matter of shared self-
interests (Ex. Sport or Hobby Club). Moreover, people join these groups out of their own free will.
Simmel called this rational motivation. Rational groups imply greater freedom, especially the freedom
of movement. However, relationships based on self-interest are not as embedded as organic
relationships. Interests change and when they do, group members change. The relationship between
rational social networks is tenuous (weak) and the person feels no meaningful connection with others
(ex. Just plain acquaintance).
.

D. George Herbert Mead’s Theory

- the self is a product of social interactions. We develop the “self” over time beginning at
birth.
Mead came up with the 3 stages of self-development:
First is LANGUAGE. Gestures, symbols, sounds allow expression of oneself and comprehending
others.
Second is PLAY. Role playing allows one to assume others’ perspectives and understand they think
and feel in different situations.
Third is GAME. To win the “game” (meaning to become successful), one must follow societal rules.
⦿ What are the “me” and “I” sides of the self for Mead?
The “ME” is the product of social interactions and ensures obedience to rules.
The “I” is the response to the community, to the learnings of the “me”.

a. Sociologist of 1800s
b. Work: Theory of Social Self
c. Self
 i. Product of social interactions and internalizing the external i.e. other people’s
view along with one’s personal view about oneself
d. Stages of Self Development
i. Language
1. One expresses himself and comprehend what other people are
conveying
ii. Play (Role-play)
1. Assume the perspective of others
iii. Game
1. Account societal rules
E. George Herbert Mead
a. Interactive facets of the self
i. Me
 Product of the person has learned while interacting with others and
with the environment
 Comprised by learned behaviors, attitudes and expectations
 Exercises social control over self
 Sees to it that rules are not broken
ii. I
 Unsocialized and spontaneous
 Presents impulses and drives
 Does not blindly follow rules
 It understands when to possibly stretch the rules that govern social
interactions
 Constructs response based on what has been learned by the me

Metalanguage

Psychology - deals with the human brain pertaining to its consciousness, memory, reasoning,
language, personality, and mental health.
Cognitive -conscious intellectual activity.
Real self -is the person you are
False self -is the product of early experience
True self -flourishes in infancy if the mother is positively responsive to the child’s spontaneous
expressions.
I-self -is the pure ego
me-self-is the self that is the object
Material – physical appearance and extensions of it such as clothing, immediate family, and home
Social – social skills and significant interpersonal relationships
Spiritual - personality, character, defining values
Trait (Allport theory)- is your essential characteristic that never, ever changes and sticks with you all
your life.
Parent ego state- is the voice of authority
Adult ego state -is the rational person
Natural child- who loves to play but is sensitive and vulnerable.
Little Professor- is the curious child who wants to try everything.
Adaptive child- is the one who reacts to the world.
Experiential self -as the theater of consciousness
private self-conscious can be described as the narrator or interpreter.
public self- or persona is the image you project to the public.

PSYCHOLOGY is the study of the psyche/mind (how you think and feel) in different situations.

For Psychologist Jean Piaget “The self thus becomes aware of itself, at least in its practical action, and
discovers itself as a cause among other causes and as an object subject to some laws as other
objects.”

Piaget defines Cognitive development as a progressive reorganization of mental processes resulting

from biological maturation and environmental experience.

3 Basic Components to Piaget’s Cognitive Theory

1. Schemas/schemes – mental organizations that individuals use to understand his or her
environment and designate action.
2. Adaptation - involves the child's learning processes to meet situational demands.
3. Stages of Cognitive Development - reflect the increasing sophistication of the child's
thought process.
2 Adaptation processes of Piaget:
Assimilation is the application of previous concepts to new concepts. Ex. The child says “fish” when
she sees one.
Accommodation happens when people encounter completely new information or when existing
ideas are challenged. Hence you have to change existing schemas. Ex. The child recently learned that
cats and dogs are animals.

Psychological View of Self

People have misconception of a human development, to the extent that they give less
importance to cognitive development. Psychologist provide some theory that may serve as our bases
in understanding the complexity of human existence especially to our development in all aspects, its
effect and importance.

A. The Self as A Cognitive Construction

• Psychology
 • Deals with the human brain pertaining to its consciousness, memory,
reasoning, language, personality and mental health
• Cognitive
• Conscious intellectual activity e.g. thinking, reasoning and remembering
• Natural for Self to form theory about himself and a single entity and as a
group and to make meaning of one’s existence and experience

B. Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development

• Jean Piaget
• 1896-1980
• Swiss Clinical Psychologist
• Known for his pioneering work in child development
• Theory of Cognitive Development
• Development of human intelligence
• How humans acquire, construct and use knowledge (Torres and Ash,
2007)
• Progressive reorganization of mental processes resulting from biological
maturation and environmental experience
• Children construct an understanding of the world around them, experience
inconsistencies between what they already know and what they discover in
their environment, and then adjust their ideas accordingly (McLeod, 2009)

C. Harter’s Self-Development Concept

The development of self-concept according to Harter is as follows:
• Early childhood - the child described the “self” in terms of concrete, observable characteristics
such as physical attributes, material possessions and preferences.
• Middle to later childhood - the self was described in terms of trait like constructs that would
require the type of hierarchical organizational skills characteristic of logical thought
development.
• Adolescence – according to Harter, this is the emergence of a more abstract self-definitions
such as inner thoughts, emotions, attitudes and motives.
• Emerging adults – the marked characteristic of “self” for emerging adults is having a vision of
a “possible self”. It is the “age of possibilities”.

D. William James and The Me-Self; I-Self

• I-self is the pure ego. It is the subjective self. It is the “self” that is aware of its own actions.
HOW?
• me-self is the self that is the object. It is the “self” that you can describe such has your
physical characteristics, personalities, social role, or relationships, thoughts, feelings. WHAT?
The dimensions of the me-self include:
• Material – physical appearance and extensions of it such as clothing, immediate family, and
home
 
• Social – social skills and significant interpersonal relationships
 
• Spiritual - personality, character, defining values

E. Carl Ransom Rogers humanistic Approach

⦿ was an American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach to
psychology (which focuses on the innate drive to self-actualization).

Ideal Self vs. Real Self

The ideal self could include:
– Notions influenced by your parents
– What you admire in others
– What the society sees as acceptable
– What you think is in your best interest

The real self is the person you actually are. It is how you behave right at the moment of a
situation. It is who you are in reality, how you think, feel, or act at present
The Importance of Alignment
• When there is a great inconsistency between your ideal and real selves or if the way you are
is not aligned with what you want to be, then you experience a state Rogers called
incongruence.
• He added that incongruence could lead to maladjustment.
• Rogers said that A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE SELF-CONCEPT CAN AFFECT YOUR
HAPPINESS.

• Is there a unified or multiple selves?

For William James, “a man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him and
carry an image of him in their head.”

For Social Psychologist Roy Baumeister “the essence of the self is integration of diverse
experiences” or unity.

Social Psychology is the study of how you affect or affected by human groups.

The Unity of Consciousness

Immanuel Kant’s “unity of consciousness” that can be described as “I am conscious not only of single
experiences but of a great many experiences at the same time. The same is true of actions; I can do
and be conscious of doing a number of actions at the same time.”

F. Allport’s Personality Theory

• Gordon Allport proposed his “Personality Trait Theory” claiming that every person possesses
traits.
• According to him, a “trait” is your essential characteristic that never, ever changes and sticks
with you all your life.

G. Eric Berne Transactional Analysis model

The Ego States

In 1960 psychiatrist Eric Berne began to develop his Transactional Analysis model as basis for
understanding behavior. Transactional Analysis is anchored on two notions:
 
• Every person has three parts called “ego states” in his or her personality.
• People communicate with each other assuming roles of any these ego states.
Berne presented the ego states as:
 
• Parent
• Adult
• Child
The Parent ego state is the voice of authority. It could be a comforting “nurturing parent”
voice or a “controlling/critical parent” that tells what you should or should not do.
• The Adult ego state is the rational person. It is the voice that speaks reasonably and knows
how to assert himself or herself.
• There are 3 Child ego states. First is the natural child who loves to play but is sensitive and
vulnerable. The Little Professor is the curious child who wants to try everything. The
Adaptive child is the one who reacts to the world.

H. Gregg Henriques domains of Self

Domains of the Self

Gregg Henriques PhD proposed that the human self has three related, but separable, domains.
• These domains are:
 1. Experiential self
2. Private self-conscious
3. Public self/persona

• described the “experiential self” as the theater of consciousness because it is the first to
experience its beingness (the state or fact of existing).
• The “private self-conscious” can be described as the narrator or interpreter.
• The “public self or persona” is the image you project to the public.

I. True vs False Selves (Winicott)

False self is the product of early experience. It is a defensive organization formed by the infant
because of inadequate mothering or failures in empathy.
Healthy false self - when the person has false self but can still function both as an individual
and in the society.

Unhealthy false self - an individual who may seem happy and comfortable in his or her environment
but actually feels forced to fit in and constantly needs to adjust his or her behavior to adapt to the
social situation is said to have an unhealthy false self.

• True self flourishes in infancy if the mother is positively responsive to the child’s spontaneous
expressions.