SOCIOLOGY

 Sociology posits that 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.
 Pre-modern society was focused 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.
 Modernization has improved people's living conditions.
 A person in a Modern society is free to choose where to live, what to do and who to be with.
 But stability has also decreased as traditions and traditional support systems have decreased in
importance.
 Individualism is dominant and developing one's self-identity is central.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERNITY ACCORDING TO GIDDENS

1. Industrialism – the social relations implied in the extensive use of material power and machinery
in all processes of production.
2. Capitalism – a production system involving both competitive product markets and the
commodification of labor power.
3. Institutions of surveillance – the massive increase of power and reach by institutions, especially
in government.
4. Dynamism – the most evident characteristic of a modern society. It is characterized by vigorous
activity and progress.

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 of more people interacting with one another, sharing
similar characteristics and whose members identify themselves as part of the group.
 A social network refers to ties or connections that link you to your social group.
 A social group is either organic or rational.
 An organic group is naturally occurring and is highly influenced by your family. It is formed in
traditional societies because there is little diversity in these communities. According to George
Simmel, you join these groups because your family is part of it. This is called organic motivation.
 Simmel noted that the positive effect of organic groups is rootedness. The downside is less freedom
and greater social conformity.
 Rational group 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; people join these groups out of their
own free will. That is rational motivation.
 It implies greater freedom. There is no meaningful connection with the others.

MEAD AND SOCIAL SELF

 George Herbert Mead was a sociologist from the late 1800s. He is well known for his "theory of the
social self". His work focused on how self is developed. The self is a product of social interactions
and internalizing the external views along with one’s personal view about oneself. He believed that
“self” is not present at birth.

DEVELOPING THE SELF

 There are different stages of self-development that Mead developed. According to him, self-
development and language are intimately tied.
 Language sets the stage for self-development. It gives the individual the capacity to express
himself/herself while at the same time comprehending what the other people are conveying.
 Second stage is Play. Individuals role play or assume the perspective of others. It enables the person
to internalize some other people’s perspective; hence, he develops an understanding of how the other
people about themselves in a variety of situations.
 The third stage is Game. Self is developed by understanding the rule, and one must abide by it to win
the game or be successful at an activity.

TWO SIDES OF SELF : I and ME

 Me is the product of what the person has learned while interacting with others and with the
environment.
 I is that part of the self that is unsocialized and spontaneous.