Essay On Multiple Masks And Our Relational Selves

In a 1979 piece titled “In Defense of Masks” by Kenneth Gergen, the eminent psychologist talks about the difficulty of selecting from multiple voices made against a self. Gergen argues that multiple selves exist in one person, and each self makes claims and demands on its subject. Gergen suggests that multiple selves is a pragmatic adaption of the self. The main argument of Gergen is that people tend to have multiple identities represented in the form of social masks, but that this does not make our interactions inherently superficial because of the underlying nature of our basic identities themselves. For Gergon, normal development for most people commonly does not mean they also have a coherent sense of their own identity. a coherent I agree with Gergon's idea that social masks allow people to adapt to various social contexts by playing specialized roles in different contexts. In this context, identity is less a static, unitary idea but is instead per formative; we realize our identities as we act and interact in the world. Masks play a functional role for the self which allows the self to mitigate various social contexts. In this essay I argue that Gergen's idea of masks is best understand as role specialization rather than a lack of an integrated “core” self. Masks allow one to maintain composure and adapt to the pressures of interacting in in different social contexts. What is it about society that generates the need for people to wear masks? In this piece Gergen does not reveal directly his underlying assumptions about society and its effect on wearing masks. He does, however, state that over several experiments he studied the relationship between motivation and wearing masks (Gergen 1). For Gergin, the general belief is that all wearing of masks is tied to a deep need nearly all individuals have for social approval he assumption here is that on a very basic level, all people move through life seeking social approval. In fact, Gergin writes specifically that the act of wearing masks is motivated by a need for approval: “When an individual seeks approval from a diverse range of personalities, he or she adopts wholly different masks or public identities. “ Yet, he continues in the next sentence: “When people are not seeking approval, their self-presentations are much different in character.”(Gergin 1) The basic function of the ego needs others approval for basic self-worth. We have an internal drive to meet this need in order maintain our ego functioning, yet approval is not so much a basic need to like hunger to be satiated. Gerger suggests persons identity yet restrict themselves to a limited class of persons for whom they seek the approval of. This is consistent with my own experience, as well, for there are some people or groups which I simply could not care their opinion of me much, so I will not put effort into having a friendly demeanor, or smiling and being warm and open for these individuals. If they are dangerous, I might even try to keep maximum distance or avoid altogether. Our need to achieve these feelings both for ourselv prompts us to mask wearing, Relationships are what helps a person realize their own masks as a way to adapt. This is how I feel with regard to other people in the feedback they give me to realize my self-perception of myself. I feel comfortable to care and express emotions with some people, yet with others with whom I feel uncomfortable or threatened by, I am aggressive and resist close contact.I believe that Gergen does not mean to say that masks indicate a split identity in the subject, but rather masks indicate positive adaptation in social contexts. It means that te person is able to adapt effectively, can learn to be different and can explore their own potential and develop their own talents which make him or her both successful and emotionally alive. Gergen's idea of masks does not take a full blown departure from from traditional Western ideas of viewing the self. Gergen rather means to emphasize the role that one's self-concept consists of multiple identities or components and that these differentiate differently between people. Self-concept is socially situated and emerges and evolves in social contexts. It is through interaction with different people that a person may show a different side of himself or herself. A person's self-concept has many unique facets which correspond to the manifold unique characteristics and interactions that make up the totality of an individual's social roles. .
The degree to which our roles necessitate different masks will reflect in our experiences over the lifetime. A person who has had many diverse experiences and has experienced many changes in the roles they play over their lifetime will likely yield a self that is more differentiated than an individual who has made few role changes. The roles we occupy in wearing masks are shaped not only by our own perceptions of how to relate to others based on our own internalized perceptions of the significant others in our lives. Gergen's idea contends that we construct our social reality in our relationships rather than in our minds. Meaning is located in the continuous everyday temporal flow of contingent communicative action occurring between people. conflicted with the complexity that is created by considering multiple sources of one’s identity. As any one person has multiple group affiliations, any may be simultaneously dominated or subordinated or oppressed in the social interaction., In conclusion, Gergen's position regarding the notion of seeking coherent, static identity versus multiple and dynamic identities represented by masks is sound. He argues that the social masks are suitably linked to the process of realizing one's own potential and that this diversity may help a person enjoy differentness and have relationships with different people. This allows for more fluid emotional adaptation to the stressors of life.