Activity 2: "Mirror, Mirror On The Wall"

SOCIOLOGY
“Not only is the self entwined in society; it owes society its existence in the
most literal sense.”
―Theodor Adorno
Activity 2
“MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL”
Make a short video presentation by asking your family members, friends,

classmates, and even strangers to say something about their impressions on you. It
can be positive or negative.
The Self As a Product of Modern Society Among Other Constructions
Sociologists are concerned with questions about the person in the community. For
example, They ask questions, like: “How does society influence you?” “How do you affect
society?” More importantly, “Who are you as a person in the community?” Sociology
posits 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.
Modernization has significantly changed society, and this has affected how an
individual builds 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
(Hermannsdóttir, 2011).
Modernization, however, has improved 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 has also decreased as traditions and traditional support systems, such as the
family, have decreased in importance. In modern societies, individualism is dominant,
and developing one’s self-identity is central (Giddens, 1991).
Key characteristics of modernity

According to Giddens (1991), the most patent, major characteristics of modernity
are:
1. Industrialism, the social relations implied in the extensive use of material
power and machinery in all processes of production;
22 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

2. Capitalism, a production system involving both competitive product markets
and the commodification (putting a price tag) of labor power.
3. Institutions of surveillance, the massive increase of power and reach by
institutions, especially in government; and
4. Dynamism, 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.
Social groups and social network

Sociologist George Simmel expressed that people create social networks by joining
social groups. A social group is described as having two or more people interacting with
one another, sharing similar characteristics, and whose members identify themselves
as part of the group. An example of a social group is your family, your barkada, your
classmates. Meanwhile, social network refers to the ties or connections that link you to
your social group (Khan Academy, WEB). The connection you have with your family is
your blood relation; the connection you have with your barkada is your friendship; and
the connection you have with your classmates is the common interest to learn.
A social group is either organic or rational. An organic group is naturally occurring,
and it is highly influenced by your family. This is usually formed in traditional societies
because there is little diversity in these communities. 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. You are expected to act and behave according
to your community’s standards (Allan, 2012).
Rational groups occur in modern societies. Modern societies are made up of
different people coming from different places. The family in modern societies is not the
main motivation when joining rational social groups. Rational groups are formed as a
matter of shared self-interests; 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. 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, and the person
feels no meaningful connection with the others (Allan, 2012).
A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 23

Mead and the Social Self
“A multiple personality is in a certain sense normal.”

―George Herbert Mead
Have you ever watched someone do something? Of course you have. Even as babies
we watch others, like mom or dad, do something. Why do we do that? It’s how we
learn. We learn to do things; we learn what’s safe and what’s not. When we watch other
people, we learn a lot about ourselves. Moreover, when we watch others, we also come to
understand people. We understand why they behave the way they do; what identity they
claim; and what role they play in society.
On the other hand, while you get to know yourself and understand others by watching
people, how can you understand yourself? Can you “watch” yourself as objectively as you
do the others? This is the question that sociologist George Mead explored.
George Herbert Mead was a sociologist from the late 1800s. He is well known for
his “theory of the Social Self.” Mead’s work focused on how the “self” is developed. His
theory is based on the perspective that the self is a product of social interactions and
internalizing the external (i.e., other people’s) views along with one’s personal view
about oneself. Mead believed the “self” is not present at birth; rather it develops over
time through social experiences and activities.
Developing the self

Mead developed a concept that proposed different stages of self-development. These
stages are language, play, and game.
According to Mead, self-development and language are intimately tied. Through
shared understanding of symbols, gestures, and sound, language gives the individual
the capacity to express himself or herself while at the same time comprehending what
the other people are conveying. Language sets the stage for self-development.
The second stage for self-development is play. At this level, individuals role-play or
assume the perspective of others. Role-playing enables the person to internalize some
other people’s perspectives; hence, he or she develops an understanding of how the other
people feel about themselves (and about others, too) in a variety of situations.
Meanwhile, the game stage is the level where the individual not only internalizes the
other people’s perspectives, he or she is also able to take into account societal rules and
adheres to it. According to Mead, the self is developed by understanding the rule, and
one must abide by it to win the game or be successful at an activity.
24 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

Two sides of self: “I” and “Me”
Mead sees the person as an active process, not just a mere reflection of society. He
further proposed two interactive facets of the self: the “I” the and “me.” The “me” and the
“I” have a didactic relationship, which is like a system of checks and balances. According
to Mead, “me” is the product of what the person has learned while interacting with
others and with the environment. Learned behaviors, attitudes, and even expectations
comprise the “me.” The “me” exercises social control over the self. It sees to it that rules
are not broken.
On the other hand, the “I” is that part of the self that is unsocialized and spontaneous.
It is the individual’s response to the community’s attitude toward the person. The
“I” presents impulses and drives. It enables him or her to express individualism and
creativity. The “I” does not blindly follow rules. It understands when to possibly bend or
stretch the rules that govern social interactions. It constructs a response based on what
has been learned by the “me.”
A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 25

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SOCIOLOGY

Make a short video presentation by asking your family members, friends,

The Self As a Product of Modern Society Among Other Constructions

Key characteristics of modernity

22 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

Social groups and social network

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 23

“A multiple personality is in a certain sense normal.”

Developing the self

24 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 25

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