The Self and Society

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Professor’s Name

Date

The Self and Society

List of ten groups to which I belong.

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Coworkers

4. Classmates

5. Church

6. Sports teams

7. Clubs

8. Organization

9. Neighbors

10. Boys.

How those Groups Influence my Ought Self and How far my Ought Self is from my Ideal

The groups that I am a part of influence my Ought self in that they provide me with a set of expectations that I am expected to meet. My ideal self is the individual I would like to be, and my Ought self is the individual I am expected to be. The two are often quite different, and I am usually much closer to my ideal self than my Ought self. I am ever striving to be the best type of myself and to live up to the ideals that I have set for myself. In the groups, I participate in discussions, offer help and support to others, and try to be a positive force in the group. I also try to be open-minded and respectful of others, even if we have different opinions. However, I am also realistic, and I know that I will never be perfect. I am always working towards becoming the preeminent type of myself, but I am also okay with imperfection (Sanford 2017). I will use two main groups in which I am a member and explain how the groups have influenced my Ought self and how far my ought self is from my ideal.

The first group is the classmate group. The classmate group has influenced my Ought self in a few ways. First, they have helped me to understand better what my ideal self would be like through interactions with group members. The various topics and skills I have learned in school have helped me have a clearer understanding of my ought self. Second, they have helped me to set goals for myself that are realistic and achievable. Finally, they have helped me to stay motivated and focused on achieving my goals. This has been through encouragement and combined efforts. However, my Ought self is still quite far from my ideal self. I always feel that I have not achieved enough to enable me to realize the validity of my dreams.

The second group I will discuss is the church group. I was raised in a very religious household, and the church was a big part of my life growing up. My parents instilled in me a strong sense of right and wrong, and I had a very clear idea of what my ought self should be. Unfortunately, I have not always been able to live up to my ideals, and I often fall short of the person I want to be. The church has definitely influenced my ought self, and I am still working on becoming my ideal self.

How Membership in these Groups Affect my Self-Presentation and Impression Management

The membership in these groups has affected my self-presentation and impression management by providing me with a shared identity and purpose. This has made it easier for me to project a positive image of others, as I feel they are part of a larger group with similar values. Additionally, membership in these groups has provided me with a sense of belonging and social support, which can help me boost my self-esteem and confidence.

Reference

Sanford, N. (2017). Self and society: Social change and individual development. Routledge.