SELF AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM ACTIVE INDIVIDUAL Cooley

Looking Glass Theory One’s sense of self derived from perception of others evaluation Basis = our “perception” - not necessarily who we are or actual beliefs Others = mirror by which we evaluate the SELF

Process How I “think” I appear to others. How I “think” others evaluate that appearance. My response to the evaluation.

The SELF Self concept develops in response to our perception of the evaluations. Mixed messages Self not permanently “fixed.” Self and Society not in conflict – interactive, feedback loop Self evaluation continues – though most stable concepts emerge in childhood

Self fulfilling prophecy Self Imposed Other Imposed Rosenthal and Jacobson Study

GENERALIZED OTHER SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM INDIVIDUAL ACTIVE IN CREATION OF SELF Mead

Dualism: I ME Self emerges through social experience Social experience = learning symbolic meanings – interpret communication To understand and interpret (infer) we need to “take the role of the other.” See ourselves as others see us – anticipate responses – role taking

Self Emerges over time with social experience Significant other – key people in our life Generalized other – all others – the demands and expectations of society – internalization of norms and values Social self – no biological component

Process Preparatory stage – imitation, no meaning Play stage – language and symbols gained, model key people – SG Others  One other – one situation Game stage – roles of many others in one situation Role Taking – generalized other – many others many situations  123 – Manyness; chart 124