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The reflexive self and culture: a critique
1Faculty of Humanities, Nottingham Trent University.
The British Journal of Sociology
|August 30, 2003
Summary
This study critiques modern theories of self-identity, arguing that reflexivity alone doesn't shape identity. It proposes a new view where culture plays a central, dynamic role in forming a fluid self.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Contemporary social theorists emphasize reflexivity in modern self-identity.
- Neo-modern accounts, including Giddens, Beck, and Castells, link identity formation to pervasive reflexivity.
- Existing theories are critiqued for potentially downplaying culture's role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the role of reflexivity in contemporary self-identity theories.
- To re-evaluate the influence of culture on identity formation.
- To propose an alternative framework for understanding self-identity.
Main Methods:
- Critical analysis of social theorists like Giddens, Beck, and Castells.
- Examination of the relationship between language, culture, and reflexivity.
- Drawing on philosophy, sociology, and G. H. Mead's social psychology.
Main Results:
- Theorized centrality of reflexivity in identity is questioned.
- Theorists' accounts of culture's role in identity are found wanting.
- A significant role for culture in shaping self-identity is reasserted.
Conclusions:
- A culturally-situated, fluid, and multifarious account of self-identity is necessary.
- Repositioning self-identity within its cultural context challenges the dominance of reflexivity.
- This revised perspective offers a more robust analytical and normative alternative.