The Self Can Be Understood as 'socially Constructed'

Introduction

The notion of self strikes us all in someway throughout our lives. Whether we are considered by others to be of a particular persuasion or we admire or despair of our own qualities we have ingrained perceptions and beliefs about the nature of the self, of ourselves. The importance of culture and context in understanding the processes by which people come to describe, explain or account for the world and themselves is described as social constructionism. The theory of social constructionism contrasts with theories of psychodynamic perspectives and essentialism that suggest that our representations of ourselves are based on some innate and unconscious propensities. This essay will show that the social constructivist perspective clearly describes the self as we know it through the examination of the self in childhood, working life and throughout the ageing process.

Ian Hacking states that something can be thought to be socially constructed if the following 2 claims are satisfied:

(0) in the present state of affairs, X is taken for granted, X appears to be inevitable

(1) X need not have existed, or need not be at all as it is. X, or X as it is at present, is not determined by the nature of things; it is not inevitable.

From this definition, social constructs can be understood to be the by products of countless human choices rather than laws resulting from divine will or nature, however unintended or unconscious they might have been. Thus in order to show that the self is socially constructed, the ways in which individuals and groups participate in the creation of their perceived social reality must be demonstrated. The most simple demonstration of this is varying treatment of societal groups in different communities around the world.

Childhood

James and James state, in their work, Constructing Children, that childhood as a concept did not exist in mediaeval society. While younger members of society were identified by size or lack of sexual maturity, they were not treated any differently to adults. Each person contributed to society to the extent possible based on their physical and mental capabilities. Over time the rise of compulsory schooling, law and social policy, and specialised health care combined with changing societal perceptions (generally associated with growth of wealth) lead to the concept of childhood that westerners understand today. While physical development patterns have changed little, social and mental development is markedly different in children who have experienced a privileged 'childhood'. Increasingly the effect of an extremely privileged upbringing has lead to the 'Gen-Y' syndrome in which a sense of responsibility has not been instilled, but a sense of 'entitlement' is strong. This is a direct result of a youth-focused society in which rights, entitlements and perceptions grant the youngest members of society special social status. The same beliefs of 'entitlement' are not demonstrated