The inquiry into the self holds a potential charismatic attraction which often attracts intellectuals from various fields. Perhaps most of the religions made their respective contribution towards this topic. In this article we are discussing this topic in the light of Hinduism and the contribution of two eminent sociologist CH Chooley,GH Mead.
The entire Hindu philosophy revolves around the self . When we use the word self with respect to Hinduism we mean the soul not the physical body . One can often experience the self while in the deep sleep state which is called the Susupti avasta. In jagruti avasta one experience the physical body and the physical body undergoes different conditions with respect to human ages . One needs to put minute attention to indentify the self . In reality the self is always resides inside the body which has no physical attribute but it has the power to control the physical body . The physical body is always follows the self. Take an example of anger which is always inside the body . But when one expresses anger ,the physical body gets modified like shouting, redness of eyes etc. so the Hindu philosophy always prescribes to understand the function of self . When Sri Krishna told to Arjuna about the Karma in Srimad Bhagavad Gita, he told about the work not karjya which is action . Human actions are like one's physical activities but karma is one's thinking ability. When Arjun said Karishya bachanam tabah that means he surrendered near Sri Krishna as his Guru whole heartedly and mindfully thatswhy after so many murdered,still Arjuna was able to sit in the heaven because what he was done may be wrong but his self intention was right that to re-established Dharma by eliminating Adharma.
Now let's discuss the concept of self according to CH Chooley and GH Mead .
Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead were prominent American sociologists who made significant contributions to the understanding of self and identity. Their ideas, developed in the early 20th century, have had a lasting impact on the field of sociology and psychology.
Charles Horton Cooley: The Looking Glass Self
Cooley's concept of the "looking glass self" is central to his theory of self. According to Cooley, our sense of self is not developed in isolation but through social interactions. He proposed that individuals shape their self-concept based on how they believe others perceive them. The looking glass self involves a three-step process: imagining how others perceive us, imagining how others judge that perception, and developing our self-concept based on those judgments.
Cooley emphasized the role of significant others, those individuals whose opinions matter most to us, in shaping our self-concept. For example, if a person believes their friends view them as intelligent, they may internalize this perception and come to see themselves as intelligent.
George Herbert Mead: The Social Self
Mead's work complements Cooley's ideas, expanding on the social nature of the self. Mead introduced the concept of the "social self" and emphasized the role of language and symbols in the development of self-awareness.
According to Mead, the self is not present at birth but is developed through a process of socialization. He identified three stages in the development of self: the preparatory stage, the play stage, and the game stage. In the preparatory stage, children imitate the actions of others. In the play stage, they take on the roles of specific others through imaginative play. Finally, in the game stage, individuals learn to consider the perspectives of multiple others simultaneously, allowing for a more complex sense of self.
Mead also introduced the concepts of "I" and "Me" to explain the internal dialogue within the self. The "Me" represents the socialized aspect of the self, influenced by societal norms and expectations, while the "I" represents the individual's spontaneous and creative impulses.
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Comparing Cooley and Mead:
While both Cooley and Mead focused on the social aspects of self-development, they differed in their emphasis. Cooley highlighted the role of perception in shaping the self, emphasizing the looking glass self and the influence of significant others. On the other hand, Mead focused on the role of language, symbols, and stages of development in the formation of the social self.
As we discussed about the self with respect to Hinduism we also find the same meaning what these two sociologist proposed about self . In case of Arjuna ,when we analyse the case we find that after the wisdom given by Sri Krishna, Arjun's self also changed and he worked accordingly .
In summary, Cooley and Mead's ideas on self and the ideas of self in Hinduism also provide valuable insights into the social nature of identity formation. In the modern era of education The looking glass self and the social self concepts remain foundational in the study of sociology, psychology, and interpersonal relationships, influencing scholars and researchers .
The awareness of self is very essential for everyone. Without knowing the self one cannot able to know others. This is the biggest problem now a days !
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