SOC 2522 - The Sociology of Self

Institution:

Temple University

Subject:

Description:

What is the self? Where does the self come from? And why does the self matter? In this course, we seek to answer these questions from the standpoint of symbolic interactionism. Symbolic interactionism is a sociological perspective that explains human action in terms of the meanings that things have for the actors. Meanings are not regarded as inherent in objects but emergent from interactions among humans and between humans and their environments. The self, which plays a pivotal role in human interaction, is both a product and a force of social life. This course is divided into two parts. In Part one, we learn the basic tenets of symbolic interactionism, which provides us with the conceptual tools needed for the examination of the self. In Part two, we study the concept, origin, development, and impact of the self. Specifically, we first take a close look at the acquisition of self during childhood; we then study the development of identity, self-esteem, and other important elements of the self-concept; finally, we examine the presentation of self in everyday life. The ultimate goal of this course is to promote a deeper self-understanding and a better social relationship with others.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

WWW.TEMPLE.EDU

Phone Number:

(215) 204-7000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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