The name is absent

CHAPTER XV

model i - Strelley (cont.)

INTERACTION BETItfEEN THE SELF AND SOCIETY, BETItfEEN SOCIAL
STRUCTURE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REALITY (AREA III)

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL REALITY OF THE SELF AT STRELLEY

15.1. Introduction

The social structures of Strelley have been mappedɪ.

The psychological reality of the individual found in these
social structures will now be examined, that is,

the manner in which the individual apprehends himself,
his processes of consciousness and his relations with
others (Berger, 1971:95).

Berger points out that

The self exists by virtue of society, but society is
only possible as many selves contrive to apprehend
themselves and each other with reference to it (Berger, 1971:96)%

V

Society offers a ’repertoire of identities’ from which choices
are made and the self located in the social structure. The individual
recognises his identity in socially defined terms and in doing this
confirms the social structure. The question now to be explored is
that of the identities open to members of the Strelley community and
their acceptance of these identities.

15.2 Location of the self in the group (i.e. the Mob)

Membership within a tradition-oriented Aboriginal group was
historically, and still is, through inheritance, that is by birth
into a kinship grouping. Membership of kinship groups within the
Mob is still by inheritance. However, membership of the larger,
socially constructed group, the Mob itself, is through voluntary
acceptance.
»4    ******

¹See Chapter XIV.

<<   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   >>

More intriguing information