THE SOCIAL SELF SOCIAL NORMS

GE 2 – UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

 Norms are the patterns or traits
Sociology characterized as typical or usual for a
group. Other terms associated with
 is the scientific study of society, patterns norms are “average” and “normal”
of social relationships, social
interaction, and culture.
Ex. Passing score in an exam, mothers take care
Social Psychology of the children, and fathers work

 Is a branch of psychology that deals  Social Norms refer to spoken and

with social interactions, including their unspoken rules for behaving in
origins and their effects on the particular situations.
individual.
 Is about understanding individual Ex. Covering one’s mouth when sneezing or
behavior in a social context. coughing

THE SOCIAL SELF Most people conform to the social norms of the
The social self is a multifaceted analysis of the culture in which they exist. Norms in social
self-concept based on the social nature of the behavior serve to guide or regulate the manner
self. The emphasis is on self-esteem along with in which people conduct themselves. Behaviors
self-centrality, self complexity, social interest, have to be controlled or regulated because of
identification, power, marginality, openness, and social consequences.
majority identification.

TOGETHER AS A GROUP
Interaction vs Relationship In social situations where people work and do
 Interaction refers to the mutual and things together for a purpose, two things may
reciprocal exchange of communication happen.
or action between two or more persons  First, the performance of an individual
or groups. member of the group is improved. This
 Relationship is a particular way in is referred to as social facilitation.
which two or more individuals, groups  Second, working or being with a group
or even countries talk to or behave with may also reduce individual effort, a
each other. phenomenon known as Social loafing.

Personal Perception CONFORMITY

 In psychology, personal perception Conformity refers to yielding a group pressure
refers to forming impressions and to act as everyone does, even when no direct
making judgments about another request has been made. It is the tendency to
person’s likability after seeing or behave like others in the group.
meeting him/her. The assessment
includes what kind of person one is, his Conformity is brought about by two
intentions, traits and behaviors. motivations;
 First Impressions are part of personal
 to gain a reward (approval) or avoid
perception.
punishment
 to gain information
According to Brawner and Arcega (2018),
it is wrong to judge the character of a person
Factors that make conformity more likely to
on the basis of first impressions because
exist:
biases and errors may occur. It is advisable
to always validate one’s perception through  size of the group
further observations, gathering of feedback  unanimous group
and reports, and interaction, among others,  culture
before making judgments.  gender

The decision to yield to group pressure should

be based on your answers to any of the
following questions:
1. Will conforming do you good? What
advantages or rewards will you get from
it?
 2. Will conforming put at stake or 6. personality and the like
endanger your integrity and that of your
family?
3. Will it cost much on your part if you ATTRACTION
conform?
4. Will you be penalized or punished if you  Attraction is a force acting mutually
do not conform? between particles of matter, tending to
5. Will things change if you yield/do not draw them together, and resisting their
yield to social pressure? separation.
 Attraction may lead to deeper
relationships. One person may be drawn
SOCIAL ROLES or attracted to another due to reasons
 Social Roles specify the part or position like similarities or differences in
of a person in a society. It also specifies interests, personality characteristics, life
the behavior expected to be exhibited by goals, and lifestyles, to name a few.
an individual in practicing his/her role.
 Sociogram indicates the social structure NOTE: Attraction is different from love.
of a group and the relationship of people
within that group. It shows who are
popular, isolates, islands, and mutual Love is a special attachment one has for himself
friends. or herself or for somebody else. It is an intense
feeling of deep or constant affection and
emotion in which a person always sees to the
Example of Sociogram good, happiness and welfare of the other.

KINDS OF LOVE
1. Romantic love - passionate love, includes
emotions such as fear, anger, sexual desire,
and jealousy, among others. It is one of the
reasons for getting married.

In a study by Berscheid, Snyder, and Omoto

in 1989, college students chose a romantic
partner, rather than a parent or sibling as
their closest relationship
2. Affectionate love - Also referred to as
compassionate love. It is the type of love
that occurs when someone has deep and
caring affection for a person and desires to
have him/ her near constantly.

3. Consummate Love - It is the strongest and

fullest type of love. This ideal form of love
involves passion, intimacy, and
commitment.

THE TRIANGULAR THEORY OF LOVE

In 1985, Robert Sternberg postulated that love is
NATURE AND DEPTH OF RELATIONSHIPS
made up of three components: passion, intimacy
Familiarity refers to being comfortable with and commitment.
another person and is a necessary condition for a
 Passion has something to do with
close relationship to develop. People who are
physical and sexual attraction to
familiar to us are our family, friends and lovers.
another.
 Intimacy is characterized by emotional
feelings of warmth, closeness, and
According to a research, people like to associate sharing of relationship.
with others who are similar to them in terms of:  Commitment is the cognitive appraisal
of the relationship and the intent to
1. attitude
maintain it even in the face of problems.
2. behavior patterns
3. personal characteristics Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love
4. taste in fashion or clothes Liking
Intimacy
5.intelligence
Romantic Love
Companionate
Passion + Intimacy
Commitment + Intimacy
 Consummate Love Empty Love
Infatuation Intimacy + Passion +
Passion Commitment
Commitment
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Acts of Service
Passion + Commitment
3. Receiving/Giving gifts
4. Quality Time
5. Physical Touch

ATTITUDES
Attitudes are beliefs that predispose people to
act and feel in certain ways towards people,
objects, or ideas.
 A positive attitude is reflected in a
happy, pleasant, or optimistic
disposition.
 A negative attitude is associated with
pessimism or a general feeling of
dislike.

Attitudes are normally acquired from two

sources: first-hand experience and accounts by
others.
Attitudes are not permanent. Persuasive
communication plays a big part in this process.

STEREOTYPES
Stereotypes are generalizations in which the
same traits or characteristics are assumed to be
possessed by all members of a group.
 Negative stereotypes are accompanied
by Prejudice and Discrimination.
 Prejudice is an unfair, biased, or
intolerant attitude or open towards the
members of a group.

Ex. Overweight women are not as intelligent as

women of normal weight.

DISCRIMINATION
Discrimination is the specific unfair behavior or
treatment towards the members of a group.
Ex. An employer refusing to hire women
because of their gender is an example of
discrimination.
 Discrimination against people based on
their skin color or ethnic heritage is
called racism.
 Discrimination against people because
of their gender is sexism.