Sociological Perspective of the Self

• What is the main objective of this chapter on the sociological perspective of the self?

  To discuss the concept of 'sociological imagination', explain various sociological perspectives of the development of the self, and appreciate the link between the self and the social world.
• What is the sociological imagination according to C. Wright Mills?

  • The ability to see connections between personal troubles and larger structural patterns in society.
• What do sociologists study in relation to the self and society?

  Sociologists study the role of society in shaping behavior and the reciprocal relationship between the self and society.
• How is the self socially constructed?

  The self is shaped through interaction with other people.
• What is the significance of social experience in the development of the self?

  Social experience is the exchange of symbols that helps in understanding intention from others' perspectives.
• What are the components of the self-concept according to sociologists?


  The self-concept is a relatively stable set of perceptions of who we are in relation to ourselves, others, and social systems.
• How do people's self-concepts reflect their social positions?

  Self-concepts are multidimensional and reflect roles associated with various personal characteristics and social positions.
• What roles influence an individual's self-concept?

  • Gender
  • Age
  • Family
  • Status
  • Occupation
  • Race or ethnicity
  • Residential location
  • Leisure time pursuits
  • General lifestyle preferences
• What does the Symbolic Interaction Theory emphasize about society?

  It sees society as the product of everyday interactions of individuals who attach meaning to symbols.
• Who coined the term 'symbolic interactionism'?


  Herbert Blumer.
• What is Mead's perspective on the development of the self?

  Mead emphasizes the close relationship between mental processes and interaction with others in developing the self.
• What is social behaviorism according to Mead?

  Social behaviorism criticizes psychological behaviorism for ignoring the subjective process of interpretation in human responses.
• How does Mead define the 'I' and the 'Me' in self-concept?


  'I' is the nonreflective aspect of the self, while 'Me' is the reflexive aspect that evaluates actions from others' perspectives.
• What are the stages of role-taking according to Mead?


  The stages are imitation, play, and games, leading to the understanding of generalized others.
• What is the 'looking glass self' according to Cooley?


  It is the concept that one's identity is formed from the reflections seen in the reactions of others.
• What are the three elements of the looking glass self?

  The three elements are how we appear to others, their judgments of that appearance, and our self-feeling.
• How does Cooley's concept of the looking glass self relate to emotional reactions?

  Emotional reactions to others' responses can lead to feelings of pride or shame based on perceived approval or disapproval.
• What is the difference between primary and secondary groups?

  Primary groups are characterized by intimate face-to-face relationships, while secondary groups are less personal and more formal.
• What does Blumer emphasize about the nature of society?

  Blumer emphasizes that society is always in the process of being created through the interpretations and definitions of actors in situations.
• How do individuals adapt their actions according to Blumer's perspective?

  Individuals adjust their actions based on mutual role-taking, interaction, and subjective interpretation in specific situations.
• What does Blumer suggest about individuals' freedom in defining situations?


  Individuals are free to define situations in any way they choose, leading to a society that is always in a state of flux.
• What is the significance of improvisation in social interactions according to Blumer?

  Improvisation is necessary for individuals to respond to novel situations that are unstructured and ambiguous.
• What is the consequence of society being in a state of flux?

  It is thought to have no real organization or structure.
• Why are different levels of analysis important in understanding the link between self and society?

  They help to understand patterns of behavior within and between individuals.
• How do individual actions relate to the structure of society?

  Individual actions exist within the context of patterns of action, interaction, and resource transfers among all persons.
• What did Blumer emphasize regarding people's responses to their environment?


  He emphasized the need for people to improvise their responses.
• What does Johnson (2008) suggest about habits and memories in social situations?

  They are downplayed in favor of improvisation in responses.
• What happens when people repeatedly face similar situations?

  They may employ ready-made responses with minimal negotiation or reflection.
• How do people cope with novel situations that are unstructured and ambiguous?

  They need to take conscious effort to make sense of them.
• What is Blumer’s emphasis on uniqueness in responses to situations?

  He emphasizes the uniqueness of people’s responses to particular situations.
• What does Blumer’s structural version of symbolic interaction theory emphasize?

  It emphasizes standardized and routine expectations and behaviors of various roles.
• How is the overall self organized according to the study material?

  The overall self is organized into multiple parts (identities).
• What is meant by "internalized positional designation" in relation to identities?

  It refers to the different positions or role relationships a person holds in society.
• What do identities represent in the context of social structure?

  Identities are the meanings one has as a group member, role-holder, or person.
• How do styles of interaction vary according to identities?

  There are various styles of interaction that are appropriate in each situation for each identity.
• How often do individuals operate in multiple identities?

  Often, we operate in two or more identities at a time.
• What does the dictum "the self reflects society" imply about the self?

  It implies that the self must be complex and reflects societal influences.
• What is Norbert Wiley’s Triadic Model of the Self-Concept?

  • Integrates Mead and Pierce's concepts.
  • Consists of "I" (present self), "me" (past self), and "you" (anticipated future self).
  • Present actions may reflect the past but are oriented toward an ideal future self.
• How does Wiley's model affect the influence of the past on present behavior?

  It reduces the determining influence of the past on present behavior.
• What does the example of Scrooge illustrate in Wiley's model?

  It illustrates that individuals can become active agents in constructing the self they want to become.