UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Defining the
Self: Personal
and
Developmental
Perspectives on Unpacking
Self Identity the self

Managing and Caring

for the Self

ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE

OVERVIEW on the MODULES for Understanding the Self

I. COURSE TITLE: Understanding the Self

II. COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome!

Understanding the Self deals with the nature of identity, as well as the factors and forces
that affect the development and maintenance of personal identity.
The directive to Know Oneself has inspired countless and varied was to comply. Among
the questions that everyone has had to grapple with one time or other is “Who am I?” At no other
period is this question asked more urgently than in adolescence – traditionally believed to be a
time of vulnerability and great possibilities. Issues of self and identity are among the most critical
for the young.
This module is intended to facilitate the exploration of the issues and concerns regarding
self and identity to arrive at a better understanding with one’s self. It strives to meet this goal by
stressing the integration of the personal with the academic – contextualizing matters discussed
in the classroom and in the everyday experiences of students – making for better learning,
generating a new appreciation for the learning process, and developing a more critical and
reflective attitude while enabling them to manage and improve their selves to attain a better
quality of life.
To assist you along this line, three modules have been developed to
support deeper understanding along identified topics. The modules are as follows:

Module 1. Defining the Self: Personal and developmental Perspectives on Self and
Identity

Module 2. Unpacking the Self

Module 3. Managing and Caring for the Self

III. COURSE STUDY GUIDE:

This module was prepared for you, my dear student, to work on

your own. To have the best in working with this module, you are reminded to follow these simple
yet effective guidelines:

1. Manage your time well. A course study schedule is prepared for you to help you
study the modules in this course. The productive use of your time and energy will
help you a lot in finishing the scheduled activities.

2. Focus your attention. The key element for better understanding is having the focus
on the things to be done.

3. Give your best. Always remember that success will be attained in everything you
do by giving extra effort in the things you are doing.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
4. Submit on time. Work diligently. Do not procrastinate. Remember time is gold.
Work immediately on the task at hand in order for you to follow scheduled time for
submission.

5. Be patient, Motivate yourself. Patience equates success. Always think of the bright
future ahead. And to get there, start moving now.

6. Answer confidently. Study hard, surf the internet, read and read and read more.
The more you know, the more confident you become.

7. Work independently. You can do it! Your future lies in your own hands and your
own decisions. So, practice working independently, trust yourself, be independent.

8. Contact me. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me through my email
[email protected] or the group chat created for this class.

IV. COURSE STUDY SCHEDULE:

To keep you on track for the best use of the modules in Understanding the Self, the study
schedule is hereby presented for you to follow:

Week Topic Learning Activities Special Instructions

Week 1 Read Information Research more information or
and 4 Module 1. on the identified details regarding the topics. Take
topics in module 1. note of the important points and
The Self From Various Perspectives Write in your Notebook for
Understanding the Self
➢ Philosophical Perspective
on Self Answer/Perform Work on the intended learning
➢ Sociological Perspective of the Intended activity / in-text questions and
the Self Learning Activity submit to your instructor. Place
answers in an Activity Notebook.
➢ Anthropological Answer/research Work on the assignment then
Perspective of the Self /perform the submit to your instructor on the
➢ Psychological Perspective Assignment specified date. Written
of the Self assignments will be placed in an
Assignment Notebook.
➢ The Self in Western and Answer Compare answers with the
Oriental/Eastern Thought Assessment or answer key from your instructor.
Self-Check Activity You must have to get a perfect
score before proceeding to the
next activity, if not re-read the
activity and have a re-take.
Answer questions Answer the questions asked in
in the Study Guide the study guide. Write your
answers in short bond papers for
compilation.
Week 5 Module 2. Read Information Research more information or
to 12 on the identified details regarding the topics. Take
Unpacking the Self topics in module 2 note of the important points and

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
➢ Physical Self Write in your Notebook for
➢ Sexual Self Assessment.
➢ Material/Economic Self
Answer/Perform Work on the intended learning
➢ Spiritual Self
the Intended activity / in-text questions and
➢ Political Self
Learning Activity submit to your instructor. Place
➢ Digital Self
answers in an Activity Notebook.
Answer/research Work on the assignment then
/perform the submit to your instructor on the
Assignment specified date. Written
assignments will be placed in an
Assignment Notebook.
Answer Compare answers with the
Assessment or answer key from your instructor.
Self-Check Activity You must have to get a perfect
score before proceeding to the
next activity, if not re-read the
activity and have a re-take.
Answer questions Answer the questions asked in
in the Study Guide the study guide. Write your
answers in short bond papers for
compilation.
Week 13 Module 3. Read Information Research more information or
to 18 on the identified details regarding the topics. Take
Managing and Caring for the Self topics in module 3 note of the important points and
➢ Learning to be a Better Write in your Notebook..
Student
➢ Setting Goals for Success
➢ Taking Charge of One’s Answer/Perform Work on the intended learning
Health the Intended activity / in-text questions and
Learning Activity submit to your instructor. Place
answers in an Activity Notebook.
Answer/research Work on the assignment then
/perform the submit to your instructor on the
Assignment specified date. Written
assignments will be placed in an
Assignment Notebook.
Answer Compare answers with the
Assessment or answer key from your instructor.
Self-Check Activity You must have to get a perfect
score before proceeding to the
next activity, if not re-read the
activity and have a re-take.
Answer questions Answer the questions asked in
in the Study Guide the study guide. Write your
answers in short bond papers for
compilation.

V. COURSE EVALUATION:

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
To pass the course, you must:

1. Submit all course requirements to include the following:

a. Activity Notebook with answers of the in-text questions given in the five
modules;

b. Assignment Notebook or Assignment Outputs

c. Evaluation Activities (checklist or self-test)

d. Compilation of Answers to the Study Guide for the five modules.

2. Pass all examinations:

a. Quizzes

b. Midterm examination

c. Final examination

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Welcome to MODULE 1:
Defining the Self: Personal and Developmental Perspective on self and Identity

WHAT IS THE MODULE ALL ABOUT?

Module 1 enables the students to understand the construct of the self from various disciplinal
perspectives: philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and psychology including the more traditional division
between the East and the West.

YOU WILL STUDY THE FOLLOWING TOPICS IN THIS MODULE:

1. The Self From Various Perspectives
1.1 Philosophical Perspective on Self
1.2 Sociological Perspective of the Self
1.3 Anthropological Perspective of the Self
1.4 Psychological Perspective of the Self
1.5 The Self in Western and Oriental/Eastern Thought
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
After studying and working with this module, you must be able to:
1. Examine the different influences, factors and forces that shape the self;
2. Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across the different discipline and
perspective;
3. Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in analyzing the development of one’s self and
identity by developing a theory of the self.

Let us now proceed with the module, remember our study guide and follow our
study schedule.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
CHAPTER 1
Philosophical Perspective on Self

Philosophical Perspective on Self

Philosophy

• Philosophy is derived from the Greek words “Philos” and “Sophia” which literally means “Love
for Wisdom”.
• Philosophy has also been defined as the search for meaning and reality.
• It is the study of acquiring knowledge through rational thinking and inquiries that involves in
answering questions regarding the nature and existence of man and the world we live in. As
such, it is imperative to look into the various explanations from different philosophers their notion
of what the “Self” its nature and how it is formed in order to have a better picture on how people
develop their behaviors, attitude and actions and to be able to identify and understand who we
are and how we came to be.

Socrates
• Main Interest: Epistemology (study of knowledge) and Ethics (study of the morality of human
acts)
• Socratic Method: Question and Answer “ I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them
think.
• He witnessed the moral degradation of his time especially among the youth.
• He realized that immorality is caused by the lack of knowledge.
• For the Greeks, the key to happiness is wealth, prestige and popularity. For Socrates, true
happiness springs from goodness.
• He believed that ignorance is vice and knowledge is virtue.
• QUOTATIONS: “Nothing can harm a good man, either in life or after death.”
“An unexamined life is not worth living”

Plato
• One of the most prominent thinkers of his time, Plato included in his work the learnings and ideas
shared to him by his teacher Socrates.
• the father of the academy a place where learning and sharing of knowledge happens
• a person who is a follower of truth and wisdom will not be tempted by vices and will always be
just.
• believed in the division of a person’s body and soul which forms the person as a whole aside
from the material things and that could be observed and associated with a person
• presented the idea the ones’ soul is divided into 3 different parts that has different views leading
to different behaviors, these parts of the soul are known as the Appetitive, Spirited, and Rational
Soul.
Plato’s 3 parts of the soul
o Appetitive Soul –This Is the part of the person that is driven by desire and need to satisfy
oneself. This satisfaction both involves physical needs and pleasures and desires.
o Spirited Soul – can be attributed to the courageous part of a person, one who wants to
do something or to right the wrongs that they observe. Spirited soul are very competitive
and is very active, his competitiveness drives one to expect positive results and winning.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
o Rational Soul –the driver of our lives, this is the part that thinks and plan for the future
“the conscious mind” it decides what to do, when to do it and the possible results one
could have depending on their actions.
• QUOTATIONS: The true lover of knowledge naturally strives for truth, and is not content with
common opinion, but soars with undimmed and unwearied passion till he grasps the essential
nature of things.”
“Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”

St. Augustine
• A Saint and a Philosopher of the church
• St. Augustine follows the idea that God encompasses us all, that everything will be better if we
are with God.
• His work’s focal point is on how God and his teachings affects various aspects in life, he follows
the belief that everything is better if we devote ourselves in mending our relationship with God.
• His idea of a man and how to understand who we are as a person is related to our understanding
of who we are and how we question ourselves, though St. Augustine also relates our existence
to God being modeled in his likeness though being alive means that we are still far from God and
has yet to be truly with him.
• He believes that our notion of ourselves and our idea of existence comes from a higher form of
sense in which bodily senses may not perceive or understand, and the more one doubts and
question his life means that, that person is actually living.
• One of the greatest Christian thinkers of all times.
• His writings are very influential in the development of western Christianity.
• QUOTATIONS: “Everyone who observes himself doubting observes a truth, and about that
which he observes he is certain; therefore he is certain about a truth…Hence one who can doubt
at all ought not to doubt about the existence of truth. “

Descartes
• Rene Descartes is a French Philosopher known to be the father of modern philosophy because
of his radical use of systematic and early scientific method to aid his ideas and assumptions.
• Descartes is known for the statement “Cogito Ergo Sum” which means in English as “I think
therefore I am”.
• According to him a person is comprised of mind and body, the body that perceives from the
different senses and the mind that thinks and question or doubt what the body has experienced.
• QUOTATIONS: “It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.”
Locke

• John Locke is an English Philosopher, Physician.

• He is considered to be the father of Classical liberalism some of his works on this subject matter
paved the way to several revolutions to fight the absolute powers of monarchs and rulers of his
time that led to the development of governance, politics and economic system that we now know.
• His work on the self is most represented by the concept “Tabula Rasa” which means a Blank
Slate.
• He believed that the experiences and perceptions of a person is important in the establishment
of who that person can become.
• He believed people could learn and improve themselves through their experiences.
• Believed in the idea that all people are born with three basic natural rights: Life, liberty, and
property and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights.
• A government’s power comes from people.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
• People are equal, independent and free. They are free to do what they wish but only in the
bounds of law.
“Wherever Law ends, Tyranny begins.” John Locke

David Hume
• Prolific and successful writer on philosophy, history, and economics; published his Treatise at
the age of 26.
• He was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, who is best
known today for his highly influential system of philosophical empiricism, skepticism, and
naturalism.
• According to him, there is no permanent “self”, that since our impressions of things based from
our experiences and from such impressions we can create our ideas and knowledge which leads
to the argument that since our impression and ideas change, it may improve or totally be replaced
means that one change occurred the same phenomenon of will happen to ones idea of who he
is and what he can do.

happy loving cold

Impressions

warm approachable

sad

• QUOTATIONS: “A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence.” David Hume
“All our simple ideas in their first impressions are derived from simple impressions, which are
correspondent to them, and which they exactly represent.”

Kant Immanuel
• Kant, a German Philosopher that is known for his works on Empiricism and Rationalism. Kant
responded to Hume’s work by trying to establish that the collection of impressions and different
contents is what it only takes to define a person.
• Kant argued that the awareness of different emotions that we have, impressions and behaviour
is only a part of our self. He said that to fully understand who we are, a certain level of
consciousness or sense that uses our intuition which synthesizes all the experiences,
impressions and perceptions of ourselves will pave the way to define and know who we really
are.
• Kant argued that the sense called “Transcendental Apperception” is an essence of our
consciousness that provides basis for understanding and establishing the notion of “self” by
synthesizing one’s accumulation of experiences, intuition and imagination goes. Which means
that this idea goes beyond what we experience but still able to become aware of.

“Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may
make ourselves worthy of happiness.” Immanuel Kant

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Ryle
• Gilbert Ryle with his Behavioristic approach to self, said that self is the behaviour presented by
the person, his notion of dualism is that the behaviour that we show, emotions and actions are
the reflection of our mind and as such is the manifestation of who we are.
• Ryle does not believe that the mind and body, though some say can coexist, are two separate
entities which is said to be evident in the unexplainable phenomenon or abilities of the mind
where the soul is considered. To him, once we encounter others, their perceptions of what we
do, how we act, and the way we behave will then result to the understanding of other people and
establishing of who we are.
• His explanation of self is further exemplified in his “ghost in the machine” view. This view said
the man is a complex machine with different functioning parts, and the intelligence, and other
characteristics or behaviour of man is represented by the ghost in the said machine.

Churchland
• Paul Churchlanda Canadian philosopher whose focus is on the idea that people should improve
our association and use of words in identifying the self. He has this idea that the “self” is defined
by the movements of our brain.
• Churchland’s work revolves around challenging of the notion and terms being used to explain
behavior or to explain how a person feels, thinks, and act with regards to physiological
phenomenon that is happening in the body as well as definitions brought about by emotions, this
is one of the notion of the concept of Folk Psychology also known as common sense psychology.
• The main philosophy of Churhland built the idea of “eliminative materialism”. Basically,
eliminative materialism opposes that people’s common sense understanding of the mind is false
and that most of the mental states that people subscribe to, in turn, do not actually exist, this idea
also applies on the understanding of behaviour and emotions.
• This leads to his idea of Neurophilosophy, he believed that to fully understand one’s behaviour,
one should understand the different neurological movement of the brain that pertains to different
emotions, feelings, actions and reactions and how such brain movements affect the body. With
this in mind we can eliminate the ambiguity of subjective and baseless identification of the
mind,behaviour and self in general because by understanding the different neural pathways, how
they work, and what implications are those movements are to people, will we not only have proof
that there is a measurable classification on one’s behaviour it can also be said that the constant
movement of the brain can be the basis of who the person is this is emphasized by Churchland
and his wife in the statement “The Brain as the Self”.

Merleau-Ponty
• Maurice Jean Jacques Merleau-Ponty is a French philosopher that is known for his works on
existentialism and phenomenology. His idea of the self, regarded that the body and mind are not
separate entities, but rather those two components is one and the same. His idea that follows
the gestalt ideation where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts in which pushed his idea
on the unity of the function of the mind and body, this idea is called the Phenomenology of
Perception.
• The idea of Phenomenology of Perception according to Merleau-Ponty is divided into three (3)
division, The Body, The Perceived World, and the People and the world. The body that both
receives the experience as well as integrates such experiences in the different perception. The
Perceived world, which are the accumulation of the perception as integrated by the experiences
of the body. And the People and the world that enable one to not only be able to integrate the
other objects in the world but also to be able to experience the cultural aspect and relate to
others.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
• His idea of perception follows the idea of Gestalt psychology which gives important on the whole
than the sum of its part. For him, perception guides our action based from what our experiences
are, the body perceives while our consciousness provides the meaning or interprets the various
perception we have in the world and the self could be established by the perceptions we have in
the world, whereas one’s action, behaviour and language used could be said to be the reflection
of our united perception of the world.

ACTIVITY/ASSESSMENT:
I. Formulate your own philosophy using the criteria given. (5 pts)
Name:

Simple description of yourself:

Significant experiences leading to your philosophy:

Philosophy of the Self:

Live out the philosophical views by making a short essay towards the creed (not more than 5 sentences).
(5 pts)
Possibility Thinker’s Creed
by: Robert Schuller

When faced with a mountain

I will not quit. I will keep on striving
Until I climb over, find a pass through,
Tunnel underneath, or simply stay and
Turn the mountain into a gold mine!
With God’s help!
Share a favorite philosopher of yours from the given philosophical views of the self.

Instruction: Each of you are going to choose one concept or philosopher from the discussion
that is very much related from your experience. Explain the reasons of your choice by not exceeding
three sentences. (5 pts)

II. I AM & I AM NOT

List all the characteristics that you may consider that describe you in the table
below.
No. I am…. No. I am not….
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
III. True or False. Write the capital letter BEAUTY if the statement is true and FUL if the
statement is false. (5 points)
______1. Descartes claimed that reason controls the body.
______2. Merleau-Ponty follow the idea of Descartes that reason is the only thing that we cannot deny.
______3. Philosophy is a very difficult subject.
______4. St. Augustine stated that the self cannot be easily understood.
______5. Gilbert Ryle stated that the body is the only way to fully understand the self.

IV. Make a short reflection regarding your experience of the topic on “THE PHILOSOPHICAL
VIEWS OF THE SELF.”

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points each item

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
CHAPTER 2
Sociological Perspective of the Self

Sociology, or the study of how human society is established, its structure and how it works, the people’s
interaction with each other and the effects they have to one another is an aspect in which we have to
consider with regards to the development of a person. It is also important to understand that the
establishment of the “Self” based on social structures could give us a better understanding of who we are
and provide reasons how our interactions can affect us as a person.

Sociological Views of the Self

(1) The Self as a Product of Modern Society

Due to the influence of technology, some social values have been gone already. The traditional practices
like gathering in the dining table has been replaced by a limited interaction and taking selfie of the food
before eating. In the definition of Manheim, he stated that modernization is the destruction of the self.
This calls for a strong need to be critical of the world especially that societies are changing and
progressing.

(2) The Self as a Necessary Fiction

Have you ever read a novel or watched a movie and then suddenly moved by the story but then you
realized that it is impossible to happen in real life? Well, that is the idea that the true self has no
permanency. Since in this society, the social world influences one’s behavior, but this is only for a period
of time. This is what necessary fiction means. So, there is a need for people to still search for certainty in
this world of constant change.

(3) Post-modern View of the Self

The postmodern world is the world we are facing right now. Regarding postmodernism, the social
institutions like school, church, families, government cannot anymore influence the individual. This is
because the postmodern world effectively influences on how we construct ourselves. So, in this case, the
identity of the self is difficult to establish. It is either you adjust to the society or labeled as “outcast” to the
society.

(4) The Self as an Artistic Creation

In this postmodern period, the self is an endless challenge that we work and reflect on. This is what it
describes when we speak of the self as an artistic creation. It is how you create, maintain or revise
yourself. If for this season you are weak, the failure does not define who you are. You can and may
surpass everyone else the next season and continue being yourself. The important thing is you have
created yourself an identity as an artistic creation.

George Herbert Mead and the Social Self

George Herbert Mead is an American Sociologist, he is considered as the Father of American

pragmatism, and one of the pioneers in the field of social psychology because of his contributions on the
development of the person relating to various social factors.

Mead’s theory of the social self reflects how the social world affects our thoughts, feelings and
behaviors. This is through the presence of social interaction that one can know and understand his own
self. So, when there is an absence of such connection to the world, then you do not have the ability to

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
have an identity for yourself. It is also through the world that one can achieve meaningful existence.
These can be discussed on the three stages of the development of the self and the two sides of the self.

Three Main Stages of the Development of the Self

(1) Language Stage- This can be seen in the beginning of life especially so with children. This
is through the language, words, and sounds that they can be understand by their parents or
other significant people.
(2) Play Stage- This stage refers to an individual taking a role of someone else as a way to
understand oneself. For instance, a child is imitating her mother because she wants to be
like her in the future.
(3) Game Stage- This can be viewed by way of setting some rules to be followed. So in relation
to real-life situations, you must obey the rules in order to develop a good idea of yourself.

With the idea of Mead with regards to the establishment of the sense of self, socialization is a lifetime
endeavor, and the people one interacts with will change throughout a person’s life, as such, considering
the social environment one belongs to along with the changes on the 17 person’s development, may it
be at school, home, or work, the interactions and experiences the person acquires from those people and
situations helps define a more concrete identity and sense of self. That idea of “Self” may be based on
the general attitudes and behaviors of other people or the individuality of the person that manifests as a
response to those attitudes and behaviors of others.

Two Sides of the Self

(1) I- the reaction of the individual to the attitude of others, as well as the manifestation of the
individuality of the person.
- one’s response to the established attitude, and behavior that a person assumes in
reference to their social interactions.
- individual self in the present time.
EXAMPLE: If your parents wants you to be a doctor, you are hesitating to follow it because it’s n
ot your passion. Rather your passion is to be a musician.

(2) Me-the characteristics, behavior, and or actions done by a person that follows the
“generalized others” that person interacts with.
- the attitudes, and behavior of the person with reference to their social environment.
- expectation of others to yourself
EXAMPLE: If your parents wants you to be a doctor, you are going to follow their advice from you.

ACTIVITY/ASSESSMENT:
I. 1. Identify realistic sociological perspectives of the self that you have learned in relation to
your choice by way of a short essay. (5 pts)
2. Research a valuable article that can be connected to one concept of the sociological perspective
of the self by using different web sources. (5 pts)
3. Construct your own sociological aspect of the self by means of relating it to your experiences. (5
pts)
4. List one situation regarding the concept of the stages of the development of the self in connection
to Mead. (5 pts)
5. Explain the value of the two sides of the self in understanding oneself through a form of slogan.
(5 pts)

II. Connect the idea of the social self of Mead by failing to follow the rules of the society. These
would be the questions you need to answer: (5 pts each)

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
1. Did you experience humiliation through breaking the rule?
2. How does it affect such action in your identity as a student?

III. Identification of I and Me Concepts: Identify/choose someone from your family members
or people whom you are closed with. (1 pt each)

I (your individual identity) Me (what others expects of you)

Family
Example: I am responsible daughter/son.

School
Church
Barangay

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3 Grammar- /1 Neatness- /1 Total /5 points each item

CHAPTER 3

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Anthropological Perspective of the Self

Anthropology

The Self and the Person in Contemporary Anthropology

I. Anthropology and Its Subdisciplines

The academic discipline of anthropology, or “four-field” anthropology, studies human species

and its immediate ancestors includes four main sub disciplines or subfields - sociocultural,
archeological, biological and linguistic anthropology. Each sub discipline studies adaptation, the
process which organisms cope with the environmental. Anthropology is a systematic exploration
of human biological and cultural diversity.

The Subdisciplines of Anthropology

1. Cultural Anthropology
a. Cultural anthropology is the study of human society and culture which describes,
analyzes, interprets and explains social and cultural similarities and differences. It
explores the diversity of the present and the past. Ethnography and ethnology are
two different activities which can study and interpret cultural diversity. Ethnography
requires fieldwork to collect data, often descriptive and specific to group. On the
other hand, ethnology uses data collected by a series of researches, usually
synthetic and comparative.
2. Archeological Anthropology
a. Archeological anthropology reconstructs, describes and interprets human behavior
and cultural patterns through material remains. These materials remain such as
plant, animal and ancient garbage provides stories about utilization and actions.
3. Biological, or Physical Anthropology
a. Biological, or Physical Anthropology focuses on these special interest, human
evolution as revealed by the fossil, human genetics, human growth and
development, human biological plasticity and the biology, evolution, behavior and
social life of monkeys, apes and other nonhuman primates.
4. Linguistic Anthropology
a. Linguistic anthropology studies language in its social and cultural context across
space and over time. Universal features of language are analyzed and association
between language and culture are evaluated.. It also studies how speech changes
in social situations and over time.

The Self Embedded in the Culture

Culture refers to customary behavior and beliefs that are passed on through enculturation (Kottak, 2008),
wherein enculturation is the social process which culture is learned and transmitted.

Culture is a social process that is learned and passes from generation to the next. Culture depends on
images, which have a specific significance and incentive for individuals who share a culture. Cultural
traditions take regular marvels, including organic desires, and transforming them specifically headings.
Everybody is cultured. Social orders are coordinated and designed through predominant monetary
powers, social examples, key images and core values. Cultural mean of adjustment have been urgent in
human evolution. Cultures oblige people, yet the activities of people can change cultures.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Culture defined: Culture is shared, symbolic, natural, learned, integrated, encompassing and maladaptive
and adaptive.

shared

symbolic
Maladaptive
and adaptive

CULTURE
natural
encompassing

integrated learned

Csordas (1999) elaborated that the human body is not essential for anthropological study but the
paradigm of embodiment can be explored in the understanding culture and the self. The body is not an
object to be studied in relation to culture, but is to be considered as the subject of culture, or in other
words as the existential ground of culture. On the other hand, Geertz (1973) described culture as "a
system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which men communicate,
perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life" .The interpretation of the
symbols in each culture is essential which gives meaning to one’s action. Each culture has its own
symbols and has its own meaning; one must need to comprehend those meanings keeping in mind the
end goal to understand the culture. One must disconnect the components of culture, discover the
relationship among those components, and portray the entire framework in some broad way.

The Concept of Culture

CULTURE- is the summation of one’s life. It contains the food one eats, clothing designs, choice
of music, religious belefs, medical care and so forth. These are the elements that affecct the way you
think, feel and behave whether these are acquired from your ancestors.

Symbols are one of the fundamental aspects of culture. These symbols can be in a form of verbal
communication (spoken language) as well as nonverbal communication (gestures, hand signals, facial
expressions). Without these symbols it would be impossible for social interaction.

Our Bodies and Culture

The body is an important feature in connection to culture. According to Thomas Csordas, the self
is embedded in the culture. Meaning to say, our idea of the self is dependent on one’s culture. One
example would be religion on the way a body is perceived. Muslim women could not be wearing skinny
jeans, skimpy shorts or revealing blouses and dresses since religion plays a significant role in identifying

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
oneself. Another example would be the cultural traditions. In the Kalinga tribe, if a headhunter triumphs
a tribal war, the corresponding effect would be he will have a tattoo as a reward.
Strange as it may seem to be, traditions as well as religious rituals speak of how many others
from other tribes and nations define themselves. Culture is one of the fundamental aspects how the body
is displayed.

Another way to understand the self in the anthropological perspective is illustrated as follows in
the theory of Triandis of the major aspects of the self:

Private Self- These are ideas that involve an assessment of the self by itself. Such examples
are: “I am honest,” “I am sincere,” “I will be successful.”

Public Self- These are the assessment of the self by the general people in relation to yourself.
Such examples are: “People think I am disobedient of the given rules of the school,” “People viewed me
as ugly,” “People believed that I cannot make it into the top.”

Collective Self- These are the views of specific group of people towards you. Such statements
are: “My parents think I am introvert,” “My co-workers believe I work too much,” “My partner feels that I
am boring.”

These different kinds of the self influences the culture of a person. Culture designs for living that
have been proven effective in the past, ways of dealing with the situations in the present until the response
to the future endeavors.

ACTIVITY/ASSESSMENT
I. 1. Discuss how anthropology makes you relaize your religious beliefs as a person by finding
an article online to support your claim. (5 points)
2.Examine the value of beauty through making a one stanza poem entitled, “Finding Beauty
through Imperfections.” (5 points)
3. Answer the what concept of the self influences you the most in relation to Triandis major aspects of te
self. (5 points)

Fill out the following columns honestly through Triandis Major Aspects of the Self. (1 pt each)

My Private Life My Public Life My Collective Life

Write a short essay on how culture has shaped your idea of yourself. The essay is composed
only of five (5) sentences.

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3 Grammar- /1 Neatness- /1 Total /5 points

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
CHAPTER 4
Psychological Perspective of the Self
Psychology
Psychology refers to the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Psychology has
various ways of understanding a person and the therapist way of helping people understand themselves.
Self by definition is a reference by an individual to the same individual person. Having its own or single
character as a person, referring to the person as same individual.
The psychology of studying self is about either the cognitive and affective representation of one's identity
or the subject of experience. The earliest formulation of the self in modern psychology forms the
distinction between the self as I, the person knower, and the self as Me, the person that is known.
“The Self and It Selves”
William James, a psychologist, has introduced in his document The Principles of Psychology (1890) a
numerous concepts and distinction of self. For James, his main concepts of self are the “me-self” and the
“I-self”. The “me-self” is the phenomenal self, the experienced self or the self as known. It is the self that
has experience the phenomena and who had known the situation. The “I-self” is the self-thought or the
self-knower. James had claimed that the understanding of Self can be separated into three categories:
“1. Its constituents; 2. The feeling and emotions they arouse – Self-feelings; 3. The actions to which they
prompt – Self-seeking and self-preservation (James, 1890, p162)
Also, James wrote sub-categories of self, 1. the material self; 2. the social self; and 3. the spiritual self.
The Material Self is constituted by our bodies, clothes, immediate family and home. It is in this that we
attached more deeply into and therefore we are most affected by because of the investment we give to
these things.
The Social Self is based on our interactions with society and the reaction of people towards us. It is our
social self that thought to have multiple divergence or different version of ourselves. It varies as to how
we present ourselves to a particular social group.
The most intimate self, the spiritual self. It is the most intimate because it is more satisfying for the
person that they have the ability to argue and discriminate one’s moral sensibility, conscience and
indomitable will.
INCONGRUENT CONGRUENT

SELF SELF SELF SELF

WORTH IMAGE WORTH IMAGE

IDEAL
IDEAL SELF
SELF
Conception of Self
Carl Rogers, had come up with his conception of self through the intervention he used for his client, the
Person-centered therapy. It is a non-directive intervention because it believes that all people have the
potential to solve their own problems. Rogers believe that people must be fully honest with themselves
in order to have personal discovery on oneself. In this concept of self, he had come up with three sides
of a triangle.
a. The Perceived Self (Self worth - how the person sees self & others sees them) b. The Real Self (Self
Image - How the person really is)

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
c. The Ideal Self (How the person would like to be)

Concept of Unified and Multiple Self

As DanielCW (2016) wrote in his article “Psychoanalysis vs Postmodern Psychology” he has emphasized
how Freud percieved person as a unified beings and Gergens concept of multiple “selves”

In Freud’s concept, he argued that mind is divided into three connected but distict parts. The Id, Ego and
Super Ego. Id as the center of primitive, animalistic impluses (sex, food & comfort) following the pleasure
principle. Superego as the center for ethical imperative. The one that reminds the self of what is right of
wrong following morality principle. And the Ego as the moderator between these two which was driven
by rationality principle. And then also, Freud has stated two important division of mind, the conscious and
unconscious. Conscious are the thoughts that we are aware of. And Unconscious as thoughts that we
are not aware of. (DanielCW, 2016)

Although, Freud has argued that self has a multiple parts, he still believed that ultimately we are a Unified
beings (Atleast, when we are healthy). Ego remains at the helm of mind, guiding the Id and Superego
and staying at the center. Thus Gergen argued that having a flexible sense of self allows for multiple
“selves”. That it is up to the the self to define himself as warm or cold, dominant or submissive, sexy or
plain.

According to Kenneth Gergen, proponent of Post modern Psychology, The individual has many potential
selves. He carries within him the capacity to identify himself, whether warm or cold, dominant or
submissive, sexy or plain. How we bring ourselves in every situation will held him get through for a day.
Therefore, maybe it is healthy to have many mask. Multiple selfhood is part of what it means to be human,
and forcing oneself to stick to one self-concept maybe unhealthy.

True Self and Fake Self

True Self, as rooted from early infancy is called the simple being. The sense of self based on spontaneous
authentic experience and feeling of being alive, having “real self”. Example, as a baby we react base on
our sense of reality. The baby reacted spontaneously based on our instinctual sense.

Fake Self, is our defense facade. Overlaying or contradicting the original sense of self. Problem would
be we might build false set of relationship through concealing a barren emptiness behind an independent-
seeming façade.

CARL ROGERS REAL SELF AND IDEAL SELF

 Real self- how we see ourselves (I am not good in programming)
 Ideal self- how we wishes to be (I hope that I will be a programmer someday)

ALBERT BANDURA’S PROACTIVE VS. AGENTIC SELF

 Agentic self- he has the capacity to decide for himself even though the situation may be hard
(I can do all things possibly even if I’m heartbroken)
 Proactive self- a person has the capacity to grab opportunities that may improve himself
(Though I have no idea of the subject, I will try to learn the subject)

WILLIAM JAMES I AND ME SELF

I-self- these are things that you are still going to know about yourself

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Example: You are unaware that when you are angry you are snob to respond to them.
Me-self- these are the things that you know about yourself
Example: You know that you have your own money and belongings.
You know that you have a family to cherish

MURRAY BOWEN: THE DIFFERENTIATED SELF

MEANING OF DIFFERENTIATED SELF
This is able to balance between our thoughts and feelings to guide our behavior
CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGHLY DIFFFERENTIATED PERSON:
(1) able to establish connection with others without losing one’s idea of his self
Example: Even if Maureen is very much close to her peers, she still manage to be honor student
(2) able to be flexible to adapt to stressful situations
Example: Being a medical student requires sleepless nights to review one’s lesson but looking
at the brighter side, it will generate a good effect in the future to be a successful doctor

Describe the central points of the psychological perspectives of the self by using a table. (5 pts)
Psychological Perspective Central Point/s
Carl Roger’s Real Self and Ideal Self
Albert Bandura’s Proactive Self
Murray Bowen’s Differentiated Self

Utilize a holistic understanding of the self with regards to psychology by showing a map of how
you improve yourself from elementary until that you are a college student. (5 pts)

Realize the best way to interpret your psychological self by way of a line of a song that suits you
the most. (5 pts)

Make an example on the concepts of the psychological self.

a. Real Self -
b. Ideal Self -
c. Agentic Self -
d. Proactive Self -
e. I-self -
f. Me-Self -
g. Differentiated Self -

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /2
Neatness- /2
Total /7 points

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE

Think of a famous line or quotation that describes you the most and make a reflection about it.
Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 point

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
CHAPTER 5
The Self in Western and Oriental/Eastern Thought

There is a clash of civilization that is plaguing the country right now and though this is not officially and
consciously acknowledged, this war for dominance is victimizing all Filipinos in one form or another. There
is really no middle ground, and it is either one is rooting for the other side or opposing all contentions and
wisdom from another side. This is the battle for the dominance, and prisoners are not taken and captured.
This is literally, the war between the eastern self versus the western self. Western culture basically is
about the focus on oneself and personal needs; Eastern culture is about focus on others and the feeling
of others.
Western culture is predicated on putting egoism first while Eastern culture is about collectivism.
Conceptually, there is a vast of difference between egoism and collectivism. While egoism is focused on
oneself, collectivism is all about focus on others. While the Western culture is inclined in more acquisition
of material things, the Eastern culture is tilted towards less assets (thus the mantra less is more). Western
culture is obsessed with being successful, the eastern culture is more inclined towards long life; for the
Eastern culture, long life is equated with wealth.
In the Eastern culture, wealth and poverty is the result of fortune and luck, for the Western culture, wealth
and poverty is the result of enterprise and hard work. The Eastern culture values the wisdom of years
and seniority, while the Western culture celebrates the youth and being young. Philosophically, the
Eastern culture subscribe to concept of reincarnation while Western culture subscribe to the idea of
evolution. Taken as a whole, these basic and subtle differences between the Eastern culture and the
Western culture are taking its toll on Filipinos on which culture to adopt. The dilemma is whether to follow
and subscribe to the Western influences or subscribe to Eastern ideas.

Concept of Self Western and Eastern Thought

Western Eastern
∙ Self is a social construction which is ∙ A gentleman by following the moral way
symbolically and signally created between and consisting of the virtues of love, righteousness,
among social beings wisdom, propriety and loyalty in order to promote
∙ Phenomenological object which can be harmony in society (Confucianism)
productively studied through as series of ∙ (Theravada) detachment and desirelessness to
evanscent actions, self is multidimensional entity reach nirvana;
∙ Self is an interpersonal unit reciprocalrelationship;(Mahayana)compassion to
∙ Self takes form in communication other humans for belief that we are part of the same
∙ Self is intimately connected to bodily ever-changing universe (Buddhism) ∙ Attainment of
experience both ontogenetically and here and liberation in the identification of Atman (the spiritual
now awareness essence of all individual human beings) and
∙ Self is both phenomenal and nonphenomenal Brahman (the spiritual essence of the universe)
∙ Self acquires substance according to semantic, through the Four Yogas (Hinduism)
syntactic and pragmatic ∙ Attainment of liberation in the identification of
Atman (the spiritual essence of all individual human
beings) and Brahman (the spiritual essence of the
universe) through the Four Yogas (Taoism)
∙ Concept of Kapwa, recognition of shared identity,
an inner self shared with others; Two levels or
modes of social interaction – ibang-tao or “outsider”

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
and hindi ibang-tao or “one-of-us” (Filipino
Psychology)

Individualism versus Collectivism

Individualism Collectivism
People are autonomous and independent from ∙ Interdependent within their in-groups
their in-groups ∙ Give priority to the goals of their in- groups
∙ Give priority to their personal goals of their in- ∙ In-groups primarily shape their behavior
groups ∙ Behave in a communal way
∙ Behave on their basis of attitudes rather than ∙ Concerned in maintaining relationship with
norms others

As a natural-born Asian, is your perspective more of the Westerner or the Easterner? Inasmuch
that the Western perspective particularly seek for logical thinking and reasoning, the self of the Easterners
is based on meditation or contemplation of values. More importantly, the self is a holistic view. Meaning,
the self is fundamentally connected with the other selves and is part of the greater whole and that is the
society. This then leads to a harmonious relationship of the self since the individual goals are met due to
the society and the society as well can actualize its potentials through the individual.
To elaborate more on the Eastern thought, you can see the different perspectives of the self from
the major eastern philosophies.

Different Perspective of the Self in the Eastern World

The Self in Hinduism

The self among Hindus is called the Atman (innermost purpose of the self) whose destiny is to
reach Nirvana (freeing oneself from pleasurable things). It is because the nature of individuals is most
likely to enjoy life at its fullest which later on leads to forget themselves. The self therefore has to liberate
itself from these evil deeds and in effect have a sense of endless happiness.

The Self in Buddhism

The self is known as annata. Annata describes the idea that the self is subject to change.
Therefore, there is no self in the Buddhist perspective. In other words, there is no such thing as permanent
self. But it does not end there, even though the self is unclear, it has still the goal to reach enlightenment.
Enlightenment is the moment a person frees himself from his selfish desires and able to practice a sense
of well-lived life.

The Self in Confucianism

The self is a moral and social being. Moral being is someone who seeks for the good and refrains
from doing evil deeds. Social being, on the other hand, speaks about the idea that one is bound to a
social world and must take part on the society. Being a social being also denotes that the self must live
in accordance with the universe. In that manner, he can be a wise person. A wise person is the one who
thinks an action first before being able to perform such thinking.
The Self in Taoism
Taoism stem out its idea from the root word “Tao.” Tao simply entails “Way of Nature.” In other
words, the self is demonstrated as being one with nature. This can be in the practice of these three
virtues: humility, frugality (thrifty) and contentment. Additionally, the self must practice Wu-wie (not
meddling with the natural courses of events). This is the reason why it must be able to let the life presents
itself to the person since too much involvement with the nature leads to destruction.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
To end with, the Oriental or Eastern Thoughts varies from one another. However, the view the
world in whole package. That is to say, to live in the world is to be in harmony with the larger group. With
that, the self can have clearer outlook of the world.

Summarize one concept of the Eastern thought by drawing a symbol that represents you chosen
concept.

Provide a particular situation that you have practiced harmonious relationship with others
whether family, friends or someone you know using your own personal experiences.

Apply the virtues of correct behavior in the Confucian perspective to your everyday relationship.

Virtue Relationship with others

1. Benevolence - Example: I offered food for those people who are in need
2. Righteousness -
3. Wisdom -
4. Loyalty -

Identification of Terms: Identify the term or word being referred to by the following statements.
(5 pts)

1. It is known as the innermost self in the Buddhist view of the self. ____________
2. It is referred as the self as subject to the law of change.
____________
3. It is called as the way of nature.
____________
4. They are known to be rational thinkers.
____________
5. The self is a wise person according to this eastern thought. ____________

Make a reflection corresponding to the topic: The Self in the Eastern Thought.

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
MODULE 2:
Unpacking the Self

WHAT IS THE MODULE ALL ABOUT?

Module 2 enables the students to compare and contrast how the self has been represented across
different disciplines and perspectives

YOU WILL STUDY THE FOLLOWING TOPICS IN THIS MODULE:

6. Unpacking the self
6.1 Physical Self
6.2 Sexual Self
6.3 Material/Economic Self
6.4 Spiritual Self
6.5 The Political Self
6.6 Digital Self
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
After studying and working with this module, you must be able to:
1. Explore the different aspects of self and identity;
2. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self and identity;
3. Identify the different forces and institutions that impact the development of various aspects of
self and identity;
4. Examine one’s self against the different aspects.

Physical Self
Intended Learning Outcomes
Analyze the relationship of the physical self in relation to understanding oneself.
Appreciate and respect physical beauty in accordance to one’s cultural standard.
Imbibe the importance of beauty in way of preserving beautiful self.

In the period of globalization, many people are wanting to achieve a glass skin face, fair skin,
slimmer body and the like. Why is it like this nowadays? Why spend millions to go for greater lengths?
The opportunity given to people are somewhat their basis to achieve self-esteem which can be better
discussed in the medium of the physical self.

Physical self refers to the body which we interface with our environment and fellow being. It is a tangible
aspect of the person that can be directly observed and examined.
People now days are too conscious on how they look. How they see themselves in the mirror, how people
will look at them and what will people say about them. Our concept of our self and the perception of
people around us will always have big effect on how we deal in a situation, cultural or not. This discussion

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
of Physical Self has found place on different Schools of Psychology, like psychoanalysis, behaviorism,
humanism etc. For example:
∙ William James considered body as initial source of sensation and necessary for the origin and
maintenance of personality. It is an element of spiritual hygiene of supreme significance. For example, a
boxer during a fight, do not notice/feels his wounds until the intensity of fight has subside.
∙ Sigmund Freud, In Psychoanalytical school, construction of self and personality makes the
physical body the core of human experience.
∙ Wilhelm Reich argued that mind and body are one; all psychological processes, he postulated,
are a part of physical processes, and vice versa.
∙ According to Erik Erikson, the role of bodily organs is especially important in early
developmental stages of a persons life. Later in life, the development of physical as well as intellectual
skills help determine whether the individual will achieve a sense of competence and ability to choose
demanding roles in a complex society. For example a child get their confidence when they bigger,
stronger, faster and more capable of learning complex skills.
∙ Carl Jung, argued that the physical body and the external world can be known only as
psychological experiences.
∙ B.F. Skinner, says that the role of the body is of primary importance.
Which from this different orientation clearly show us and explains how people deals with their physical
self. Regardless of what culture or traditions he or she may be, his or her interpretation of himself will be
how people act in the community.

Self – Esteem
“We all know that self-esteem comes from what you think of you, not what other people think of you” -
Gloria Graynor –
People from different culture have opted to change their features in attempt to meet the cultural standards
of beauty, as well as their religious and/or social obligations. They modify and adorn their bodies as part
of the part of complex process of creating and re-creating their personal and social identity to be accepted
by society and to be able to accept them self. This includes body painting, tattooing, jewelries and
adornments. Youth in present time are too conscious of their physical attributes that they are not confident
to face the day without make- up.
As our physical self, dictates how we act in front of other people it also defines how we will manage our
self-esteem. Yet, this self-esteem is vital on how we form positive and healthy relationships with people
around us. We have different kinds of self-esteem; The Inflated Self- Esteem (this people holds high
regards of themselves. Better than the other to the point of under estimating them), High Self-Esteem
(this is a positive self-esteem, which make the person be satisfied of themselves) and Low Self-Esteem
(this person do not value themselves and do not trust their possibilities).
Most of the times, this self-esteem are define by what physical attributes they have.
Beauty as define by the society, culture or traditions, is what matter to the person.

Intended Learning Activities

Critique the idea of the self through the utilization of a quick survey.
Instruction: Survey 5 people you know in your community regarding the question “Am I beautiful
or handsome?” Afterwards, write the similar answers of your respondents. (5 pts)

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Assess the standards of beauty in this year using articles or websites online.
Instruction: Make at least one short essay regarding these articles for not more than 5 lines. (5
pts)
Discuss how your perspective of your physical self affects you as a person using your
vital statistics.
Instruction: Through discussing your perspective of physical self, you are guided with these
questions to answer: (5 pts each)
1. Do you feel gratitude?
2. Do you find disappointment?
3. What can be your way to modify such negative thinking regarding yourself?

Assessment:
Interpret the lines of the song coming from the song of Christina Aguilera “I am Beautiful in not
more than 5 sentences”

I am Beautiful
I am beautiful
No matter what they say
Words can’t bring me down
I am beautiful
In every single way
Yes, words can’t bring me down

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points

Assignment:
Time to think of this quotation “Beauty does not define who you are.” Make a short reflection
pertaining to this quotation in not more than 5 sentences only.

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Sexual Self

Intended Learning Outcomes

Describe the meaning and concepts of sexual self through the basis of the biological orientation.
Analyze the importance of sexual self by means of overcoming one’s identity crisis.
Apply the benefits of family planning using the facts provided by the internet source.

Pertaining to the self, one of the striking problems that comes along the way of the individual is
when they are about to reach the puberty stage. This where the physical and physiological aspects of the
self is beginning to develop. It is the time when one is attracted to the opposite sex and enters into a
relationship. Many questions arise during this teenage period. What this actually portrays then is the
sexual self that will be explain in this chapter.

As we come to understand the beauty of physical self, it is also proper to learn to understand the sexual
self. As psychoanalytical theory states that physical body is the core of human experience as form of
construction of self and personality. Freud maintained that nature of the conflicts among id, ego and
superego changes overtime as a person grows from child to adult. There are psychosexual stages that
focus: oral, anal, phallic and genital. Thus, these stages are directly related to different physical center of
pleasure.
To fully appreciate sexual self, it is necessary to understand human reproductive system, erogenous
zone,and human sexual behavior.

Understanding Basic of Sexual Behavior

Human Sexual behavior is complex and complicated, thus, it is not at all different from other species
(Feldman, 2010). To illustrate; men sexual behavior can occur at any time, by being arouse to certain
stimuli. At puberty, the testes begin to secrete androgens (male sex hormones) which produce secondary
sex characteristics like growth of bodily hair and change in tone of voice. Female sexual behavior starts
at puberty where the two ovaries begin to produce estrogens and progesterone (female sex hormones).
This stage of puberty for female occurs in cyclical manner where also brought changes. While for
nonhuman, period of ovulation is only when the ovulation occurs to the female specie is receptive to sex.
Human reproductive system is an organ system by which reproduces and bear live offspring. It requires
the union between the male and female reproductive system to which carries out to produce another life
form. Provided that all organs are present, human reproductive system works from the released of egg
cell from female reproductive organ, to the fertilization of sperm cells, to the conception, up to the giving
birth of the baby and eventually to the return of the female physical body to the original state. (Harrison,
2018)

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE

Male Reproductive System

a. Testis – is the most important part of male reproductive organ. It is the source of Spermatozoa (male
germ cell)
b. Scrotum – it is a sac of skin where the two testes are enveloped; directly below and outside of the
abdomen.
c. Prostate glands – it is a gland that carries out both urine and seminal fluid. It is connected by sperm
ducts from sperm ducts joining into single tube called urethra. Urethra then leads to the outside of the
body through penis.
d. Penis – it is where the ejaculation occurs by sending sperm cell from testis and secrete out.
e. Sperm – It is a male gametes, one that is necessary for the egg to develop and become a baby.
Female Reproductive System
1. Ovary – It is a pair of small, oval organs which produces ova (ovum; female germ cells). Thousands of
ova will mature and will be taken up to the fallopian tube through the uterus by the time of puberty.
2. Fallopian Tube – are pair of thin tubes that leads from ovaries to the uterus.
3. Uterus – (womb) it is a hollow pear-shaped elastic muscular structure where fertilized ovum (zygote)
develops into a baby.
4. Vagina – It is a tube leading to outside of the body through an opening called the vulva.
During the sexual intercourse, the semen from male is discharged in the vagina. The sperms will begin
moving up to the uterus reaching the fallopian tube. During the travel most of the sperms will die while
climbing up the fallopian tube, only one sperm will enter the ovum and can remain alive for only 12 hours.
In this time, if it meets ovum which will lead to fertilization. This zygote (fertilized egg) will form in an
embryo from which will enter gestation period. It is around 9 months in time for the woman to give birth.
Physiological Aspects of Sexual Excitement
Erogenous Zone

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
These are part of the body that particularly sensitive to touch, pressure and vibration which contributes
to sexual arousal. Identifying erogenous zone (“hot spots”) gives different reaction and effect to a person.
For one, these could bring sexual satisfaction, also, improves sexual health and stimulating different
spots may produce different reaction to the body. Female and male erogenous zone are reproductive
organ (vagina, penis, scrotum & clitoris), mouth (lips), neck, breast (nipples) and ears.
Phases of Sexual Response
Although, erogenous zone brings us to sexual arousal which is unique to each individual, people shares
same basic aspects of sexual responsiveness. According to Johnson & Master (1966), sexual response
follows a regular pattern consisting of four (4) phases: arousal, plateau, orgasm and resolution.

The arousal phase is a subjective sense of sexual pleasure. The physiological sign in males is penile
tumescence (erection) and vasocongestion to female leads to vaginal lubrication and nipple erection. 39
40
The plateau phase is a brief period of time before the orgasm. It is the body’s preparation for orgasm.
The orgasm phase is an intense, highly pleasurable experience. When this phase is reached, rhythmic
muscular contractions occur in the genitals. In male, the contractions expel semen, a fluid containing
sperm, a process called ejaculation. For women and men, breathing and heart rates reach maximum.
Last stage of sexual arousal, the resolution stage where the decrease of arousal (particularly in male)
happens. Genitals resume their unaroused state and shape; blood pressure, breathing and heart rate
return to normal.

Chemistry of Love
(1) Lust- This term is basically one’s sexual desire. It can be in terms of physical attraction or
flirting (gazing into the eyes, chatting with the opposite sex).
(2) Falling in Love- This is the stage that it is not only purely physical attraction. It is when you
realize that you accept the person of who he/she is.
(3) Attachment- This is the feeling of being calm towards the other person because there is a
strong connection or bond that keeps couple together.

Ways of Dealing with Sexual Energies

(1) Repression -This is denying one’s sexual desire and pushing it to the unconscious.
(2) Suppression-This is the process of being aware of one’s sexual energy but controls it for
many reasons.
(3) Sublimation- This is adressing sexual energy to something else like sports, arts or doing
community activities.
(4) Genital Satisfaction- This is giving in to sexual activity specially to married couples.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Diversity of Sexual Behavior
Sexual behavior transcends in different forms. It may be influenced by not only the basic physiological
aspect of sexuality but also by different expectations, attitudes, beliefs and state of medical and biological
knowledge. It made sexual behavior take a more diverse forms such as heterosexuality, homosexuality,
bisexuality and transexuality.
Heterosexuality
Is a sexual attraction and behavior directed to other sex. More than male-female intercourse, it involves
kissing, petting, caressing, massaging and other form of sexual activities.
Homosexuality and Bisexuality
Homosexualsisa romantic and/or sexual attraction between members of same sex. Bisexuals are person
who can be romantically or sexually attracted to same sex and the other sex. Some male homosexuals
prefer the term Gay and some female homosexual prefer the term Lesbian. Gays and Lesbian as
preference for a terminology refer not only to their sexual preference but also as Gender preference.
These by which refer to a broader array of attitudes and lifestyle of the individual than the sexuality itself.
Transsexuality
These are people who believed they were born with the body of the other gender. Men transsexuals
believe that they are men in a women’s body and women transsexuals believe that they are women in a
men’s body. Transsexuals sometimes seek sex exchange operations, which undergo several steps such
as intensive sexual counseling, hormone injections, living as member of desired sex for several years,
surgery.
Transgenderism
These are people who view themselves as a third gender, they are transvestites (who wears clothes of
the other gender) or those who believed that traditional male-female classifications inadequately
characterized them.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE

Intended Learning Activities

Differentiate secondary sex characteristics of male and female by filling each box. (5 pts. each)

Feature Male Female

Example: broadening of Present Absent
muscles

Identify the message of sexual self by interpreting this quotation, “Creating a foundation of
healthy sexual thoughts, feelings and beliefs is vital to accepting one’s sexual identity and embracing
one’s sexuality. (5 pts. each)
Discuss the best method of contraception whether natural or artificial method by means of
differentiating the two methods. (5 pts. each)

Assessment:
Essay. Should teenagers engage in premarital sex? Explain in not more than 5 lines.
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points each item

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Assignment:
Form a reflection regarding the things that you have learned from the topic on the Sexual Self in
not more than 5 lines.

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
The Material and Economical Self
Intended Learning Outcomes
Discover the ways that a person is a materialistic person using discussions.
Provide the positive and negative aspects of the material self by way of question and answer.
Practice Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in real-life situations.

When you shop, do you think that it defines who you are as a person? What does it mean to you
as a person? Another aspect of man is having material self. One cannot go away with this fact since it is
part of our lives. However, the negative side would be spending so much time to spend into matters that
are not urgently needed since there is a difference between wants and needs.
Thus, this chapter will enlighten you regarding the information that you are going to learn from the topic
on material self.

William James, Also known as the father of American Psychology identified various components of the
Empirical self, one of which is what he called a Material Self. According to James, that Man’s “Material
self” is not only consisting of his own body but also includes the different things he possess from ones
family, friends, as well as things such as, ones clothes, house, cars, gadgets, end even the amount of
money he has in the bank.

In James’ idea of the Material Self, One defines themselves and at the same time is being defined by the
people they are acquainted with along with the accumulation of objects and achievements that a person
acquired from the different endeavours and experiences in life. For example, a person can identify
themselves as a singer not only from their own beliefs that they can sing, we can also consider factors
such as if other people also says that he or she can sing, if he or she belongs to a family of singers, have
trophies and awards relating to singing (winning a singing contest), or works as a singer in a band or in
a concert hall.

Ways that a Person is Materialistic

1. The Self and Our Possessions
Treating oneself in terms of our possessions is not knew already from us. The way we define
ourselves is very much related to the possessions we have. However, overreliance to possessions lead
one to overvalue those things rather than discard them. At the highest level of materialism, such
possession has a central point in our lives and it is difficult to provide the greatest sources of satisfaction.

2. Possessions as Part of Self

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Possessions that are directly important to us such as jewelries, clothing, vehicles, photographs
have a magical efficacy to us. Magical efficacy means that such objects remind us of our identity, our
culture, our values, and our traditions. Aside from magical efficacy, it is also a determinant of our feelings
of possession. This only signifies that the more we possess the object, the more it becomes part of our
lives.
In connection to the previous paragraph, there is a psychological explanation that we invest
psychic energy in an object to which we have our labor, time and attention. That is why when we declutter
our own clothes, it is somewhat difficult to throw it away.
Underscoring on material things is dependent on the cases of people. Some viewed it as a sense
of accomplishment or investment, some looked at it as a collection and some realized that it is a weapon
that is beneficial to us.

Shaping the Way We See Ourselves

Why do we intend to buy something? Definitely, there are different features that influences our
material self. It can be in a form of the biological and psychological.

(1) Biological- One part of our brain, the hypothalamus is responsible for homeostasis (balance) of
the systems of the body. While on the other hand, another is for the hormone to push through
with its function. Take for instance, it endeavors to gratify the person in terms of its wants in
contrast with its needs. So, associating the material self to the hypothalamus, it seeks to achieve
a sense of pleasure or enjoyment into something.
(2) Psychological – Relating the concept of material self to the theory Freud regarding his id
principle. Its major responsibility is the satisfaction of one’s desire. So, if an individual goes to a
mall and looks at something pleasing to the eye, automatically, he will be going to buy the stuff
that he saw. But, one positive theory that can be related to the material self is Abraham Maslow’s
theory of the Hierarchy of Needs.

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

a. Biological Needs- needs for survival (air, food, water, shelter)

b. Safety Needs- needs for protection (law, security)
c. Love and Belongingness needs- needs for interpersonal relationship (friendship, family,
workmates)
d. Esteem Needs- confidence for oneself (achievemnts, dignity), desire for respect from
others (status, prestige)
e. Cognitive Needs- needs for knowledge and understanding
f. Aesthetic needs- needs for appreciation and search of beauty
g. Self-Actualization Needs- realization and fulfillment of our potentials/goals
h. Transcendence Needs- motivation for person to transcend beyond what we can be
(experience with God, service to others, experience with nature
From the given presentation, the eight hierarchy of needs are needs that is needed to be
satisfied. We spend to satisfy or fulfill these needs. We need to satisfy these needs to fulfill our
highest potential.

Overall, the material self are the extensions of oneself. When we have some things, it has been
part of our human development. Throughout the study, we have also seen that there are different
kinds of needs that are needed to be attained through the different aspects of the self that is
given such as biological and psychological. But, the most important thing here is that there are
things that beyond our grasp and that is the goal that needs to materialize. What this only

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
specifies is that there are abstract things that have higher cost than the material possessions
that we have and that is the dreams that we need to fulfill in our lives.

Intended Learning Activities

Relate the ways of being a materialistic person into the song “Price Tag” using a short essay (not
more than 4 statements) to elaborate your answer. (5 pts)

Search for inspiring stories who became rich due to the hardships that they have gone through
using the internet and connect it to one of the aspects of the material self. (5 pts)

Enumerate only one hierarchy of needs that is considered to be important to you through giving
2 situations about it. ( 5 pts)
Assessment:
Answer the question in relation to the topic on material self by not more than 3 lines.

(1) How much would it take to make you happy?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
(2) Which is better to be rich or to be happy?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points each item

Assignment:
Create a brief reflection on the topic: Material Self.
Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
The Spiritual Self

William James’ take on spiritual self which is included to the other empirical selves is defined as the inner
most workings of the persons mind, the behavior, beliefs and even morals that involves every aspect of
the human as a person. Considering the will of the person, how they distinguish between right and wrong
and also one’s intellect are some of the manifestation of the spiritual self of a person. According to James
(1890) people will find more satisfaction in having been able to show of the spiritual self like their
intelligence, to have their wishes be done, and to act upon their conscience than to count or show their
possession, because he said that the spiritual self “is the most enduring and intimate part of the self”.

Person’s Intelligence
Will and
Abilities
Spiritual
Self

Morals Values

Manifestations of the Spiritual Self

Person’s Will – Refers to one’s wishes, these are the things that we want to see and achieve in our lives.
Intelligence and abilities – these are the perceived strengths of a person, the things that they have
confidence in doing and believe to have a certain level of mastery of. Ex.
Morals – it is the definition of what is right and wrong, distinguishing the things that are acceptable for a
person, the society and at the same time the determination of the possible effects of their actions to
themselves, their environement and other people.
Values – is the person’s ability to distinguish what is important and what is not. With one’s values system
a person may be able to prioritize what they think are the tasks or things that the need, what are things
that should be done or resolve immediately and what are those that they can delay without grave
repercussions.

The Practice of Religion: Belief in Supernatural Being and Power

Religion refers to beliefs and behaviors related to supernatural beings and powers. Worldview is broader
than religion. Worldview refers to the collective body of ideas that members of a culture generally share
concerning the ultimate shape and substance of their reality. Religion also differs from spirituality, which
is a concern with the sacred in an individual manner. All cultures have religion, spirituality, a worldview
and magic (Haviland, 2007).

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE

Myth, Rituals and Supernatural

Myth Rituals Supernatural

∙ A sacred narrative that explains ∙ A culturally prescribed symbolic ∙ The supernatural is around you
the fundamentals of human act or procedure designed to guide all of the time, especially in non-
existence—where we and members of a community in an industrialized societies
everything in our world came orderly way through personal and ∙ In a lot of cultures, health, wealth
from, why we are here, and where collective transitions. and daily things are related to
we are going. ∙ Two types: calendric and crisis. supernatural.

Functions of Religion

Emotional Function
Cognitive Functions
Helping individuals to
Enabling humans to cope up with anxieties
explain the that often accompany
Social Function
unexplainable illness, accidents, death,
phenomena Social control, conflict and other misfortunes
resolution and building
group solidarity

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
The Concept of “Dungan” – Spirit or Soul
The “soul“ or spirit of a person has two dimesions; (1) human body and (2)spiritual. Soul referred to as
kaluluwa by the Tagalogs or dungan by the Ilonggos comes from the root word duwa,two. The dungan is
not seen by the human eye, it takes on a different form. For instance, it can be in a form an insect or a
small animal such as lizard. The Bisayans believe that the dungan leaves the body while person is asleep.
Travelling dungan outside the body must be free from accidents such as getting trapped in a jar. Only
when the soul has safely reunited with the body, the person will be awake. Dungan is also connoted as
“willpower”. If a person has a strong willpower, is it said to have a strong dungan (Magos, 1986).

Rituals and Ceremonies

Rituals in the Philippines are quite common. Visayan fishing villages practice the offering ritual called
harang. A local shaman invokes sea-spirits. There are several stages of the ritual purification, invocation,
entreaty and feast which cover community life such as harvest, operation of fishing boats and cases of
illnesses (Kawada, 1996).
Finding and Creating Meaning in Life
Viktor Frankl, the originator of Logotherapy, indicates how his involvement in quest for the significance of
life in a Nazi death camp changed his viewpoint of the world. Frankl states that we can't abstain from
affliction, yet we can pick how to manage it and discover significance in it.
Frankl's hypothesis question the thoughts of Freud, who trusted the significance of life was to seek after
joy. Frankl trusted that the motivation behind life isolates the person from creatures as well as enables
us to survive troublesome circumstances. The reason forever isn't identified with the quest for delight,
however to finding what you adore and living with significance. For Frankl, man cannot avoid suffering
but can find meaning from it. His theory holds three primary human capabilities called as noological
possibilities: self-detachment, self-transcendence, and the ability to “spiritually be in touch” with
something or someone independent of spatio- temporal dimensions. To complement these capabilities
he indentified three postulates.
Anthropological Psychological Philosophical
“Man does not simply exist but Man’s key motivation is the Life has unconditional meaning,
always decides what his search for meaning. regardless of the circumstances
existence will be, what he will or situation. His life in the
become in the next moment.” concentration camp, Frankl
writes that he found meaning
Man is ultimately self-
that helped strengthen his will to
determining.
survive.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
The Political Self

Developing a Filipino Identity: Values, Traits, Community and Institutional Factors

Collective action, shared vision, means of sustainable future and the link to generation has been crucial
in the construction of identity and sense of belonging in the democratic standpoint. On the other hand, in
the socio psychological perspective, citizenship or being a Filipino serves a cognitive and motivational
basis for ones beliefs and behavior. Thus, enhancing the practice of citizenship and democracy is crucial
to the awareness and understanding of self and community.
Three Major Concerns in Building an Identity
The level of individual, community and institution are primary factors that come into play in the building
an identity. At the same time, it is essential to consider the following concerns in building an identity:
1.Instrumental - An individual act in accordance with rules and identities consistent with supportive of
democratic processes.
2. Morals - Values and beliefs embody and reinforce democratic principles.
3.Transformative - Includes process of self-reflection and redefinition of individuals, institutions and
communities.

Community

Person

Level of Institution
Individual

Aspects in Developing Filipino Identity

Individual Attitudes and Institutional Factors Macro-Factors at the Societal

Traits
Dualism of Filipino Traits •Family •Immediate community with
(negative and positive) which one readily identifies
•Church
•Colonial/Accomodative one's self
•School
Surface Value (hiya, utang na •Less intimate grouping of which
loob, pakikisama) •Media one is a member
•Confrontatie Surface •Government
Value(bahala na, sama/lakas ng •Non-government
loob, pakikibaka)
•People's organization
•Pivotal Interpersonal Value
(pakiramdam)

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
•Linking/socio-personal Value
(kagandahang- loob)
•Associated Societal Value
(karangalan,
katarungan,kalayaan)

Establishing a Democratic Culture

Sense of community and public good and empowerment of people are central questions to consider in
the development of democracy agenda. The following frameworks were used as a guide in the
development of action agenda. According to Diokno 1999, in her article Becoming a Filipino Citizen,
Perspective on Citizenship and Democracy, the agenda was crafted in September 1996 conference in
which perceptions of citizenship and democracy from different standpoints were discussed.

March and Olsen’s Framework of Democratic Przeworski’s Concept of Effective Citizenship

Political Development
• Building institutions that civilize expressions of ∙ Official conduct in accordance with the law.
solidarity and confrontation of conflict among
∙ A judicial system applied equally to all.
identities.
∙ Social conditions for the exercise of citizen's
• Forming specific identities (character, habits of rights.
thought, sense of reality and codes of conduct)
that fit into and support a democratic political
order
• Sense of solidarity that connects the individual
to a broad political community of others and
organize others and organizes other belongings in
a way that enriches the community

Based on the following frameworks, the democratic agenda was crafted.

1. Improve the political and social environment and reduce poverty through structural reforms in order to
foster a sense of community and enable citizens to exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations.
2. Continually re-examine societal institutions responsible for value formation so that they can inculcate,
rather than indoctrinate, democratic citizenship values.
3. Incorporate cross-cultural activities in public and private sector programs, including those of schools,
churches, NGOs and POs, so as to recognize ethnolinguistic and cultural diversity in the country and
encourage the sharing of experiences.
4. Further promote the use of Filipino and Philippine languages in all transactions so as to enable the
articulation of citizenship and democratic views and values.
5. Continue to harness institutional as well as informal mechanisms that open up space for the exercise
of citizenship and democracy.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Digital Self: Self and Others in Cyberspace

I, Me and Myself and My User ID online

Digital self is a mask we put on to draw in the innovative world. With the digital technologies such as web
pages, online games, virtual worlds, social media, smart phones, Internet, self- extension is extensive.
Objects that one’s possess can truly extend the self, as when an instrument or weapon enables us to get
things done of which we would somehow, or another be unable. Belonging can likewise emblematically
extend self. Sartre explained that the reason we want to have something is to enlarge our sense of self
and that the only way we can know who we are is by observing what we have. Belk (1988) presented the
concept of the extended self: (1) Dematerialization, (2) Reembodiment, (3) Sharing, (4) Co-construction
of Self, and (5) Distributed memory.
This reasonable refresh looks to renew the idea, consolidate the effects of digitization, and give a
comprehension of consumer feeling of self in the present innovative condition. It is essentially a work in
advance, for the computerized condition and our conduct inside it keep on evolving. Be that as it may,
some vital changes are now certain. Five changes with advanced utilization are viewed as that effect the
idea of self and the idea of belonging. Required alterations and increments to the extended self are laid
out, and bearings for future research are recommended. The advanced world opens a large group of new
implies for self-extension utilizing numerous new items to come to an incomprehensibly more extensive
crowd. Despite the fact that this requires certain reformulations, the fundamental idea of the extended
self stays crucial.

Belk’s Summary of Digital Modification of the Extended Self

Digital Dimension Self Possession
Dematerialization Attachment to and
singularization of virtual
possessions; almost, but not
quite the same
Reembodiment Avatars affect offline self; Attachment to avatars
multiplicity of selves
Sharing Self revelation; loss of control Aggregate possessions; sense
of shared place online
Co-construction of self Affirmation of self;building
aggregate extended self;
“Attachment to Virtual
Possessions in Videogames”
Distributed memory Narratives of self Digital clutter; digital cues to
sense of past

Selective Presentation and Impression Management

Self-presentation is behavior that attempts to convey some information about oneself or some image of
oneself to other people. These behaviors are activated by the evaluative presence of other people and
by others' knowledge of one's behavior. In new situations, many people would like to impress and become

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
self-conscious. People behave in ways designed to create a favorable impression or even to one’s ideals.
Humans are social animals and regulate our behavior to fit in world or adjust it to impression that we
desire. People monitor their behavior, observe how others react and adjust their performance to create a
desired impression.
Two Types of Self-Presentation
1.Pleasing the audience – This type of self-presentation which try to match self to the audience's
expectations and preferences.
2.Self-construction – This type of self-presentation tries to match oneself to one's own ideal self. The
expression of the audience-pleasing motive varies across situations.
Multiple Aspects of the Self
Higgins (1987) argues that there are three domains of the self: the actual self, the ideal self and the ought
self.
1. Actual self – this refers to the attributes an individual possesses.
2. Ideal self – this refers to the attributes an individual would ideally possess.
3. Ought self – this refers to the attributes an individual ought to possess.
According to Higgins, the discrepancies between the actual self and ideal self leads to feelings of
dejection. Our sense of self helps organize our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Our overall self-
evaluation influences our cognitive processes. For instance, when people with high self- evaluation fail,
they sustain their self-worth by looking at others failure.
Impact of Online Interaction on Self
Computer-Mediated Communication
Computer-mediated communication encompasses human communication involving several exchanges
through various platforms such as text, audio, and/or video messages. A CMC interaction occurs through
various types of networking technology and software, including email, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), instant
messaging (IM), Usenet and mailing list servers. An interesting discussion can stem from a comparison
of how we construct our identity in the “real world” versus how we construct it in the online world. As
Dutton (1996) points out, that technology can work two ways – open or close social choices. Individuals
shape the impact of technology has on their lives by choosing which technology to use and how to use
it.
Boundaries of Self Online
The line between offline and online self has become blurred. Since people nowadays are becoming more
connected digitally, self-identity is becoming more fashioned in transmedia paradigm. In the present
culture of constant connectivity, the Internet is coordinated into our lives with the end goal that the
experience of being on the web is subjectively not quite the same as before.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
MODULE 3 :
Managing and Caring for the Self

WHAT IS THE MODULE ALL ABOUT?

Module 3 identifies three areas of concern for young students: learning, goal setting, and
managing stress. It also provides for the more practical application of the concepts discussed in this
course and enables them the hands-on experience of developing self-help plans for self-regulated
learning, goal setting, and self-care.
YOU WILL STUDY THE FOLLOWING TOPICS IN THIS MODULE:
1. Learning to be a better student;
2. Setting goals for Success; and
3. Taking charge of one’s health.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:

After studying and working with this module, you must be able to:
1. Understand the theoretical underpinnings for how to manage and care for different aspects
of the self ;
2. Acquire and hone new skills and learnings for better managing of one’s self and behaviors ;
3. Apply these new skills to one’s self and functioning for a better quality life.

Let us now proceed with the last module, always remember our study guide and
follow our study schedule.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Learning to be a Better Student

Intended Learning Outcomes

Identify the meaning of learning process in relation to the things that best describes the self.
Evaluate the value of one’s learning strategies in this COVID-19 pandemic.
Create ways on how to develop metacognition in relation to this virtual learning.

Learning is a continuous process in an old understanding. It does not mean that learning stops
after graduation. Learning still continues after the last level of education. Although this time that learning
can be best done through the use of the internet, many are still having a difficulty of learning. That is the
reason why this chapter will discuss the meaning of the learning process, the different learning strategies
and on how to become an effective learner.

The Learning Process

Learning as defined in psychological practice is defined as relatively permanent change in
behavior and mental processes as a result of practice or experience. Though learning ca be stored in the
brain, not all the time that the brain can be able to manage it. However, through constant learning, the
mind can be able to refresh our minds to those things that we forget. Constant learning can also be
effective in a way that a person has a difficulty in understanding concepts like that of Mathematics.
That is why most behaviorists can say that learning is reflected through one’s change in behavior.
Not in matters of bad way since there are things that one must unlearn like that of saying bad words. To
some behaviorists, learning can also be reflected in one’s behavior at a later time and this is referred as
latent learning. This can be applied in language, when you have a Language class you can apply later
on what you have learned from that subject.
In effect, learning is a combination of practice and experience. This is in relation to the famous
thought, “Practice makes perfect.” Yes, if one can actually practice and practice to a particular idea or
skill that he wanted to understand, then possibly he can be able to experience a good outcome in return.
So, don’t just give up easily in learning. Learn things in a hard way.

Learning Strategies
The table below shows the simplest meaning or description of the different learning strategies.
Strategy How It Works
Practice Testing It is practicing one’s learning which helps students
to mentally organize information learned which
can lead to better understanding of ideas
Distributed Practice It is spreading out what have learned which leaves
longer absorption of idea through a set of lessons
in one period of time. Other strategy of learning
can be applied here like practice testing.

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Interleaved practice This is studying different lessons in an alternate
way. This is better to process the information very
well and not to remain stagnant in one lesson.
Elaborative interrogation It is asking ‘why’ questions in studying a lesson to
have critical thinking and not only memorizing
what is written in a particular reference material
Self-explanation It is asking students how they come up with an
answer to a question which allows making
connection between previous to current learning

These strategies stated are just only a reference to further understand a lesson. However, it still
lies on you which is suitable in your interest as a learner. For the reason that, every individual has different
strategies in understanding some things in this world.
Becoming Self-Regulated Learners
Effective learning is not purely based on the cognitive level only. It includes the affective and
behavioral aspects of life. That is why in psychological practice, metacognition is a way to strengthen
one’s learning.
Metacognition as defined by John Flavell is thinking about thinking. In other words, it involves
being able to deeply understand things not only in the shallow level. It has different steps: (a) knowing
our cognitive abilities (What are the strengths and weaknesses as a learner?) (b) truly understanding the
task at hand (What are the internal and external factors that might affect learning this particular material?)
and (c) having an absorption of different strategies and when to use them (What strategy works for this
particular material?) In these phases, it allows one to have an easy absorption of learning a particular
idea since there are steps to consider.
Aside from that, there are three phases to consider in metacognition. Firstly, forethought or the
planning stage. In this phase, there are goals that we need to set for ourselves. Take for instance, I need
to finish reading fifteen pages of this book out of 30 pages. Secondly, the performance phase.
Performance phase involves putting into practice what was set in the planning stage. Like for instance in
reading the fifteen pages of the book, how many concepts will I be able to understand here. Lastly, the
process of self-reflection. It is a way on how we evaluate ourselves. This is now being able to see the
sense of gratification in the things you have set and perform whether you have a poor performance or a
good performance. Then if you gain good performance then so be it. On the one hand, if you have poor
performance then you can still go back to the first process until such time that you can successfully say
that you have good performance in your learning.
Overall, this chapter is indeed a fruitful one’s in learning to be a better student. Yet, it does not
stop here as reading these concepts but applying into reality. The reality can speak what was truly learned
from it.
Intended Learning Activities
List the process of learning in relation to filling into this table. (5 pts each)
My Strengths as a Learner My Weak Points as a Learner
Pick one strategy that can be utilized in linking to the COVID-19 pandemic. Make only a three
sentences explanation of that strategy. (5 pts)
Evaluating on ways on how to become a metacognitive learner in this virtual learning through
differentiating the advantages and disadvantages of virtual learning in three sentences. (5 pts)

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Assessment:
Explain this quotation which states that “Learning is its own exceeding great reward” in not more than 5
sentences
Scoring Criteria
Content- /3 Grammar- /1 Neatness- /1 =Total /5 points
Assignment:
Make a reflection on this chapter on learning to be a better student in not more than 3 lines.
Scoring Criteria
Content- /3 Grammar- /1 Neatness- /1 =Total /5 points

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
Chapter 12
Setting Goals for Success
Intended Learning Outcomes
Understand the meaning of setting goals in one’s life as a student
Value self-efficacy in connection to one’s decisions and actions
Use concepts of self-efficacy to utilize in carefully planned goals

Goals are very important in our life as individuals. These are the prospected outcomes that we
endeavor to achieve. This can be in a form of short-term or long term. Short-term since it can last for over
months while long-term since it requires several years or it takes a lifetime to handle it. This chapter
explains the concept of setting goals, the value of self-efficacy and the contributors of self-efficacy.

Setting Goals
Goal-setting plays an important role but it is much denser when it comes to effective goals. That
is why there are important steps to consider in setting goals.
1. Set specific goals. Specific goals are particular goals that you really opt to achieve. Take for
example if you say “I should do make it.” It is better to tell I want to have an 85 grade in my
Mathematics subject. In that way, it is much easier to reach that goal because the goal is
more specific rather than general.
2. Set mastery goals. A mastery goal is being focus in learning by challenging oneself to be
well-versed in that specific goal that you are learning. Take for instance, even if your specific
goal is to have 85 grades in Mathematics if there is no mastery, it is still useless. You are not
able to apply what you have learned in reality.
3. Make difficult but attainable goals. Higher goals are much challenging than being able only
to achieve an ordinary one. So, if you only wanted to garner 85 grades in your Math subject,
then to make a difficult but attainable goal you must have to set a higher grade like 90 for
you to challenge yourself even more.
4. Setting goals should be invested in commitment. Commitment can be seen if you are willing
to put into action your goals. If you really want to surpass your 85 into a 90 grade so be it.
As they say, commitment is the key to success. Without this aspect, you are unable to reach
your specific goal.
5. Goals come with a deadline. Goals are not done out of an urgent attempt to reach it but it is
having to set a specific duration of time that you need to attain. In the case of having an 85
grade in Mathematics, a student must spend a deadline in passing requirements not only on
time but also ahead of time in order to maintain your specific goal.
6. Provide feedback upon goal-attainment. If you have attained your goals, try to assess if your
performance much your expectation. If you feel unsatisfied in making your goals, then try to
think of the things you have a weakness so that the next time around you already know what
you are going to do.
7. Goals have affective component. Affective component pertains to one’s emotions and
feelings not purely cognitive. Meaning to say, if you felt tired while on the process of attaining

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
your goals, it is not bad to take a pause. It does not mean that you are going to give up rather
you are just going to rest your brain so as to continue your fight.
Self-Efficacy
Albert Bandura, a renowned figure in psychology has founded the term self-efficacy. Self-efficacy
pertains to the way by which a person believes that he is going to achieve the task he is pushing himself
to. It has two phases: (1) those who have high self-efficacy are confident to make their goals in life while
(2) those who have low self-efficacy are having difficulty to achieve the goals he set for himself since he
doubted himself that he can make it. That is the reason which the next section of the discussion will
prioritize in discussing the contributors of self-efficacy.

Contributors of Self-Efficacy
There are important ways that contribute to one’s self-efficacy whether good or bad. These are
as follows:
1. Mastery Experiences. Mastery experiences mean that a person is able to be familiar already
with the things that he learned from his past and able to connect it into the present. Take for
instance, if you have failed to recognize your mistake in your past relationship then you are
now able to know what are the things you must and must not do the second time around that
you engage in romantic relationship and in this way it boosts your self-efficacy as a person.
2. Social Modeling. Self-efficacy can be increased through observing others. If you see
successful people who give you examples of ways to be better in your goal-setting, then
there is a higher chance that you are able to attain that goal. That is to say, through listening
to their pieces of advice you can actually gain something for yourself.
3. Social Persuasion. The people who are around us can sometimes break also our self-
efficacy. Self-efficacy will say that those people that influences our well-being. In that case,
when they break you through saying unnecessary words then most likely you will have low
self-efficacy but if you can hear good words from them, then your will have high self-efficacy.
That’s why those people play an important role in our everyday life to manage our self-
efficacy.
4. Physical and Emotional States. The physical and emotional states are combination of our
appearance in the outside and in the inside in boosting our self-efficacy. So it means if these
two does not jive with our self-efficacy, then most likely there are problems to see in the
process of learning. Take for instance, if your mind says that you need to complete already
your requirements and your body says no, then most likely it gives a conflict to yourself. That
is why, we must need to manage these two aspects of ourselves to have a better self-
efficacy.

This chapter discusses setting goals for success as a student which is needed for you in your future life.
So, it necessitates that this chapter has a comprehensive application to your everyday life not only limited
to be a student but a friend, a companion and part of the larger group.

Identify setting goals in your life through making an essay “What are the factors that led me to
the fulfilment of my goals and the failure of others?” in not more than 3 sentences only (5 pts)
Use the value of setting goals by means of answering this table. (5 pts)

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus

MODULE
My Goal in Academics Reason Behind this Actions to take in my
Goal in Academics Academics

Show self-efficacy through making a letter in your past self which is entitled “My letter to my Past
self” in not more than 3 sentences. (5 pts)
Example: Dear Past Self, I wish that you have achieved your goals already to be a successful
engineer……………..
Assessment:
Make an essay by answering and explaining this quotation “Setting goals is the first step to
turning the invisible into the visible.” By Tony Robbins
Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points
Assignment:
Make a reflection on what you have learned from the topic Setting Goals for Success.
Scoring Criteria
Content- /3
Grammar- /1
Neatness- /1
Total /5 points

Reference:
Degho, S.E. et. al. (2018). Understanding the Self. Mutya Publishing House, Inc. pp. 5-149

Course Code: GENED 104 Units: 3 Units

Descriptive Title: Understanding The Self
Instructor: Ms. Jasmin C. Calaunan