The Self Demanded by "Self-Analysis" Manuals for University Student's Employment Search and Their Functions: Analysis from "Technologies of the Sel"

• Published in: Shakaigaku hyōron Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 150 - 167
• Main Author: Makino, Tomokazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 01.09.2010
• Subjects: College Students; Employment; Imagination; Markets; Students; Universities
• ISSN: 0021-5414

In this article, I think establishment of "self-analysis" in university student's search for employment as establishment of sub-market in the university freshman graduate adoption market. Through this, I can consider the shortcomings of the previous studies, variety of relation with self-analysis, issue of writers and readers, and definitiveness of the influence on students. In addition, I consider "self-analysis" as "technologies of the self," because they make the readers subjectivate through the construction of "relations to one's self." Thus, I can undertake a comparison with previous studies of the self and consider the reason for the establishment of self-analysis on the basis of the material. From these points of view, I analyze the 'technologies of the self' dealt with in the market for self-analysis and consider the functions of the market. The objects of analysis are the self-help books written for finding employment that deal with "self-analysis," 190 titles, total 758 books. In these books, there are three key orientations: reflection on the past, analysis of the present self, and imagination of the future. Through these, the readers are induced to extract "the true self." However, this is not a purely psychologized action. In these works, the readers are encouraged to find an objective view of the self and positive self-expression for employment. From the foregoing analysis, it would appear that there are three key functions of the self-analysis market: reduction of the uncertainty of the university freshman graduate adoption market, provision of support and motivation to work, and individualization of the social issues. The function of individualization will be distinctive when there is a downturn in the university freshman graduate adoption market, Therefore, we have to pay attention to the "technologies of the self" -- the micro technologies of individualization. Adapted from the source document.