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D. THE
ANTHROPOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE OF
THE SELF
What is Anthropology?
• Anthropology is derived from the Greek word
“anthrope” meaning man and “logy”
meaning science. Hence, the science or the
study of humankind in all times and places.
• The dictionary defines Anthropology as the
science that treats the origin, development,
and especially the cultural development,
customs, beliefs, etc. of humankind.
I. Anthropology
It deals with the study of culture - the
components, characteristics, functions, modes
and adaptation of culture as well as cultural
values and practices.
A. Physical Anthropology=seeks to understand
two things.
1. The emergence of humans and their evolution
later. (human paleontology). This may include
Primatology, the scientific study of primates
(apes, monkeys).
2. How and why contemporary human
populations vary biologically (human variation)
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It attempts to understand both primitive and
modern cultures by studying physical traits like:
-shape and size of skulls
- artifacts (e.g., pottery, weapons, utensils, tools)
- genetic mutations of human and nonhuman
forms
B. Cultural Anthropology- the work of social or
cultural anthropologists is very similar to that of
sociologists.
Concerned with:
- social institutions
- pattern of organization
- other aspects of society
Branches of Cultural
Anthropology
1. Archaeology - seeks to reconstruct the daily life and
customs of people who lived in the past
- trace cultural changes in societies ( thru relics, fossils)
- offer possible explanations to those changes
2. Anthropological Linguistics/Linguistic
Anthropology - seeks to study:
- how languages change over time and how they may be
related (historical linguistics)
- how contemporary languages differ (structural
linguistics)
- how language is used in actual speech
(sociolinguistic s)
3. Ethnology- seeks to understand how and why
peoples today and in ancient past differ in their
customary ways of thinking and acting.
Differences between Anthropology and Sociology
Coverage of studies
Anthropol ogists generally study a society as a whole.
Sociologists concentrate on one aspect of society.
Methods
Anthropologis ts often live in the community they are
studying so that they can observe behavior directly.
Sociologists more likely rely on statistics, surveys,
secondary data.
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Motivational Activity
1. Which of the following conditions is
applicable to you at this moment of your life?
2. Describe your experience which is
connected with your chosen symbol/s.
3. Do you have similar/different conditions
with your classmates?
4. What have you discovered about yourself
and your classmates in this activity?
SAKAY NA
KAIN NA
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MABUHAY
KANYA KANYA
JUAN TAMAD
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MAMAYA NA
ANG SAYA
YOU ARE LOVED!
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Smoking
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God Loves You
KAMAYAN
BIG Special Loved Suicide Trapped
Brilliant Inferior Afraid Guilty Lonely Fool
Very Sad Hysterical Depressed Drunk Addicted Angry
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The Self from Anthropological
Perspective
Anthropology:
• Studies all the aspects of human condition
(past, present, future)
• Examines the biology, interactions in
society, language, and especially culture
• Explores the interconnectedness and
interdependence of human cultural
experiences in all places and ages.
• How does Anthropology explain
human nature?
• What is the Anthropological
concept of the self?
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Anthropological Concept of the SELF:
The self is both a biological and cultural entity.
Traditionally, the self is understood as an animal specie
which underwent the process of biological evolution
and has shared characteristics with other living
animals, the hominids, in particular.
The self evolved from apes some 33 million
years ago and in the evolutionary process, the
self traced his/her origin from hominid
species “HOMO SAPIENS”. Since the self
has better development in terms of brain
billion neurons and adaptation to the
environment for survival, the self develops a
culture resulting in behavioral changes.
The self is a living animal but superior to other animals
due to certain factors namely:
Physical aspects:
The self is the only animal that has larger brain capacity
making him/her a rational animal.
The self is the only animal that can stand straight allowing
him/her to have better mobility in doing things.
The self is the only animal that can rotate arms freely and
have free finger movements allowing him/her to
manipulate/do things easily.
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Social aspects:
•The self uses language and symbol in dynamic,
complicated and yet systematic manner allowing him/her
to communicate, and preserve history, knowledge, culture
etc.
•The self can cooperate with others in a systematic manner
in larger cooperation.
•The self invents new things for survival.
The SELF from Anthropological
Perspective
Two Important Concepts
1. Culture – systems of human behavior
and thought covering all customs,
traditions, and capabilities of humans as
they function in society. It includes
knowledge, beliefs, arts, religion,
language, law, morals, rituals, tools and
equipments, symbols, events, landmarks,
etc.
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CULTURE is “a
historically transmitted
pattern of meanings
embodied in symbols,
a system of inherited
conceptions
expressed in symbolic
forms by means of
which men
communicate,
perpetuate, and
develop their
knowledge about their
attitudes toward life”
(Geertz 1973d:89).
The “Embodiment in
symbols” of cultural
elements describes
both an attitude of our
body to incorporate
techniques and social
devices, and a creative
vocation to invent and
incorporate new and
different expressive
Thomas operative ways,
Csordas (Csordas, 1999)
EMBODIMENT-the TEXT-
BODY
Something that you have
to read…parts, process,
experience, movements,etc.
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• Culture therefore, is learned and is very much
integrated in ones customs and beliefs. It is
ingrained in the patterns and systems of one’s
life. Hence, people must be on guard that culture
can be adaptive or maladaptive. Communities
should continue to assess whether the practices,
rituals, customs, etc. are still relevant and
beneficial to the community or not. To do this,
they have to understand the concept of
enculturation.
2. Enculturation – transmission of
culture from one generation to the next.
This is done through observation, use
of language, adaptation to
environment, rituals and formal and
informal education. Members of the
community will then distinguish
themselves from other communities
because of the differences in the way
people do things in their lives.
[Link] Self and Person in Contemporary
Anthropology
• The Anthropological self takes a holistic
dimension of the individual person. It considers
both the biological (genes) and environmental
aspects of the person.
• Contemporary anthropologists suggest that the
environmental exposure starts during
conception.
• The growing years of the child is very crucial in
anthropological perspective – the child
develops the psychological construct
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of dependency or independency
depending on the rearing practices
(West – independence; East –
dependence) which are the key to the
development of neuromotor functions
of the child which is fundamental in the
formation of self-awareness.
2.1 Self-awareness
Anthropology defines it as that which
permits one to assume responsibility for
one’s own, to learn how to react to others,
and to assume a variety of roles which
usually starts at age 2. More exposure of
the child to mother helps the child
develop self-awareness earlier. Less
exposure/less stimulation leads to slower
development.
Parents, immediate family, and the community
play a role in the development of the child’s
values. He imitates what he observes from
adults which will eventually help the child
develop his own identity which is further
intensified as he receives his name. The
person’s name is a symbol of one’s status in
the community. It either gives you honor or
stigma. It is also a project in progress.
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2.2 Self and Behavioral Environment
In order to strengthen the identity of
the self, one must be able to grasp the
different behavioral orientations namely:
object orientation, spatial orientation,
temporal orientation, and normative
orientation.
• Object Orientation - positions the self in
relation to the surrounding objects. The
self should be able to act responsively to
the cultural objects around. (respect for
trees, lakes, animals)
• Spatial Orientation - provides the self with
personal space in relation to other people
or things.
• Temporal Orientation - endows the self
with the sense of time
• Normative Orientation - provides the
self with the grasp of accepted norms
in the community. (ex. Being on time is
a generally accepted norm in
communal activities.)
Norms are basis of right and wrong in
the community.
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