AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL
CONCEPTUALIZATION OF
SELF
THE SELF AS EMBEDDED IN
CULTURE
MODULE 3
PREPARED BY STELLA MARIE S. TABANGAN
OBJECTIVES
1. Recognize what the field of anthropology
can contribute to the understanding the
self.
2. Understand how culture and self are
complementary concepts.
3. Discuss the cultural construction of the self
and social identity.
4. Explain the concept of identity struggles;
and
5. Develop insights on how to achieve a sense
ANTHROPOLOGY
It is considered as one of the most complex areas of
discipline, has explored various meanings of culture,
self and identity in the desire to come up with a better
understanding of the self.
It is concerned with how cultural and biological
processes interact to shape human experience.
Anthropologists believe that culture and self are
complementary concepts that are to be understood in
relation to one another.
Compared with other disciplines, anthropology
possesses a holistic and integrated approach in
examining human nature.
ANTHROPOLOGY
“anthropology encroaches on the territory of the
sciences as well as the humanities, and transcends
the conventional boundaries of both while
addressing questions from the distant past and
pressing present – perhaps with implications for
the future.”
– JAMES L. PEACOCK, 1986, anthropology professor
“WHO AM I?” – Anthropology considers human
experience as an interplay of “nature, referring to
genetic inheritance which sets the individual’s
potentials, and “nurture,” referring to the
sociocultural environment.
Therefore, it could be understood that both
biological and cultural factors have significant
influence on the development of self-awareness
among individuals within the society.
THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF SELF
AND IDENTITY
Edward B. Tylor
- He is the first Professor of
Anthropology at the University of
Oxford, declared that culture is "that
complex whole which includes
knowledge, belief, art, law, morals,
custom, and any other capabilities and
habits acquired by man as a member of
society.“
Thus, one may say that culture
provides patterns of “ways of life.”
Culture, being diverse, self and identity
may have different meanings in
2 CONCEPTS OF THE SELF
viewed in different societies
EGOCENTRIC
- The self is seen as an autonomous and
distinct individual. Each person is defined
as a replica of all humanity but capable
of acting differently from others.
SOCIOCENTRIC
- The self is dependent on a situation or
social setting. This is a view of the self
that is context-dependent which
emphasizes that there is no integral self
that can possess enduring qualities.
WHAT IS
IDENTITY
TOOLBOX?
Refers to the features
of a person’s identity
that he or she chooses
to emphasize in
constructing the self.
Personal names are
intimate markers of a
person ex. Aymara
(Indians or Pedro
(Filipino)
THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF SELF
AND IDENTITY
ARNOLD VAN GENNEP
-He found a tripartite sequence in
ritual observance: separation,
transition, and incorporation.
Gennep offered interpretations of
the significance of these rites as
forms of social regeneration, based
on such natural symbols as death
and rebirth.
- He believes that changes in one’s
status and identity are marked by a
three-phased rite of passage.
THE SELF AS INTEGRATED IN
CULTURE
CLIFFORD GEERTZ (1973)
- An American anthropologist,
offers a reformulation of the
concept of culture which favors a
symbolic interpretative model of
culture. He defines culture as a
system of inherited conceptions
expressed in symbolic forms by
means of which people
communicate, preserve, and
develop knowledge about and
attitudes towards life.
Clifford Geertz's statement, "without
men, no culture, certainly; but equally,
and more significantly, without culture,
no men," emphasizes the crucial,
interconnected relationship between
humans and culture. He argues that
humans are inherently cultural beings,
and culture, in turn, shapes what it
means to be human. Without culture,
humans would be "unworkable
monstrosities" with limited instincts,
emotions, and intellect. Culture
provides the framework for human
development, giving meaning to our
experiences and guiding our behavior.
Thank you …
AWESOME
WORDS!!!
