Sociology
Sociology
separate, self-contained,
independent, consistent, unitary,
and private
Stevens, 1996
"The struggle for one’s individuality is only
possible in modern society where religio-
theological traditions are gradually replaced by
rational and scientific calculations; and the
intimate personal affiliations are replaced by
exceedingly impersonal associations brought
about by urbanized way of life."
CLIFFORD GEERTZ
Modernization or the destruction of the traditional
way of life "delocalized" the self
• The new found freedom threatens the
very authenticity of the self
• Alienation
• Objectification of the body
• Dehumanization of the self
Modernization or the destruction of the
traditional way of life "delocalized" the
self
The stability of one's self-identity is
no longer anchored on pre-given
tradition-bound definition of the self.
IT IS NOW FREELY CHOSEN.
Necessary fictions are beliefs that cannot be
proven to be true and sometimes can be
proven false, but are, nonetheless,
necessary to sustain life.
FRIEDRICH NIETZCHE
The self nothing but a metaphor, a
representation of something abstract; symbolic.
FRIEDRICH NIETZCHE
Self as NECESSARY FICTION
‘Self’ is a hierarchy of drives, a complex of
urges in conflict. So each of us is many
people.
The ‘self’ is a set of moving parts, with the movement
being informed by one’s need at any given time.
FRIEDRICH NIETZCHE
Post-Modern View of the Self
Self is a narrative, a text written and rewritten
NICOLA GREEN
Global migration produces multicultural identities
Post-modern selves are “pluralized” selves
Post-Modern View of the Self
"If the modern problem of identity
was how to construct an identity
and keep it solid and stable, the
"postmodern problem of identity' is
primarily how to avoid fixation and
keep the options open. In the case
of identity… the catchword of
modernity was creation; the
catchword of postmodernity is
recycling."
zygmunt bauman
"The unity of the self is
not something that is pre-
given to individuals. It is
something that they must
accomplish through
conscious effort."
FRIEDRICH NIETZCHE
Individuals must fashion, care for,
and cultivate their selves, in order to
transform them into a beautiful work
of art (Nietzche)
“Solidarity is not
discovered by reflection
but created.”
Self-creation is formed within "imagined
communities"
GENERALIZED OTHERS
refers to our perception of how
people in general think of us.
The “I” is the self as subject, the active,
spontaneous, creative part of the self.
PLAY
During the second stage, from the ages of about 3 to 6, we
pretend to take the roles of specific people.
TEAM GAMES
This third stage, organized play, or team games, begins roughly
when we enter school. The significance for the self is that to
play these games, we must be able to take multiple roles.
The image of ourselves is largely a
reflection of how people react to us
1. We imagine how we appear to those around us.
2. We interpret others’ reactions.
3. We develop a self-concept.
NOTE:
• Development of the self does not depend on accurate
evaluations.
• Although the self-concept begins in childhood, its
development is an ongoing, lifelong process.
When we are labelled and
other’s view and expectation
of us are affected by that
labelling.