College of Business Management and Accountancy

End term Notes for GECSEL

Chapter 2
Unpacking the Self part 2

Lesson 1. Material Self

Our life is now full of options. And our world, real or digital, is filled with products, all vying for our attention and money through sales,
promotions and product advertisements. Advertisements appeal to our desire of feeling better or looking good – our wants.

William James (1890) in the The Principles of Psychology….

Understanding the self can be examined through its different components:
• Its constituents (material self, social self, spiritual self, and pure ego –Trentmann, 2016; Green, 1997)
• The feelings and emotions they arouse (self-feeling)
• The actions to which they prompt (self-seeking and self-preservation)

James (1890) – the material self is primarily about our bodies, clothes, immediate family, and home.

We are deeply affected by these (body, clothes, immediate family,

and home) because we have put so much investment of our self
to them.

A. Body

1. Innermost part
- we are directly attached to it
2. Intentional investing
- We make sure the body functions well and good
3. Valuable

B. Clothes

1. Essential part of material self (James, 1890)

2. Form of self-expression (Watson, 2014)
“any time we bring an object into the surface of our body, we invest that object into the consciousness of our personal existence
takings in its contours to be our own and making it part of the self”- Herman Lotze, Microcosmus
 C. Immediate family

1. Parents and siblings

- What they do and become affect us.
2. Nearest replica of our self
- We place huge investment in our immediate family

D. Home

1. Earliest nest of selfhood.

2. Holds records and markings of our experiences.
3. An extension of self where we can directly connect to.

Investment of self to things = attachment to things

Possessions = part or extension of the self

James (1890) - “a man’s self is the sum total of all what he CAN call his.”

WE ARE WHAT WE HAVE

Belk (1988):
“We regard our possessions as parts of ourselves. We are what we have and possess.”

Identification of the self, starts at infancy.

Distinction:

Materialism

-A trait that can afflict both rich and poor, and which the researchers define as "a value system that is preoccupied with possessions and
the social image they project is both socially destructive and self-destructive.”
-It's associated with anxiety. There has long been a correlation observed between materialism, a lack of empathy and engagement
with others, and unhappiness.
-In a series of studies published in the journal Motivation and Emotion showed that as people become more materialistic, their
wellbeing (good relationships, autonomy, sense of purpose and the rest) diminishes.
-It smashes the happiness and peace of mind of those who succumb to it.
-Materialism forces us into comparison with the possessions of others, a race both cruelly illustrated and crudely propelled by that toxic
website. There is no end to it. e.g. If you have four Rolexes while another has five, you are a Rolex short of contentment.
-A man’s self becomes the sum total of all that he has, these possessions become part of an extension of the self.

Lesson 2. Spiritual Self

Spiritual self is one of the three sections of the self, according to William James. It is the most intimate, inner subjective part of self.

It is the most intimate version of the self because of the satisfaction experience when one thinks of one’s ability to argue and discriminate,
of one’s moral sensibility and conscience, of our unconquerable will is more pure than all other sentiments of satisfaction. (Green, 1997)

The ability to use moral sensibility and conscience may be seen through the expressions of religion, its beliefs, and practices.

In the same manner, cultural rituals and ceremonies are some manifestations what people believe in. Moreover, seeking the meaning of
life is a journey that the Spiritual Self is on.

Religion

Rebecca Stein (Stein 2011) works on the definition of religion “as a set of cultural beliefs and practices that usually includes some or
all of basic characteristics.
These characteristics are:
1. a belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being, such as spirit and gods;
2. a focus of the sacred supernatural, where sacred refers to a feeling or reverence and awe;
3. the presence of supernatural, where sacred refers to a feeling or reverence and awe;
4. the performance of ritual activities that involves the manipulation of sacred object to communicate to supernatural beings
and/or to influence or control events
5. the articulation of worldview and moral codes through narratives and other means; and;
6. Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and mechanism of social control within a community; provides
explanation for unknown and a sense of control for individuals.

An individual lives in a society where there are many practices of religion. The choice of religious belief lies within the Spiritual Self.
Although the choice may be influenced by the society and its culture.

Ritual

It is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law (Penner 2017).
It is a specific, observable mode of behavior exhibited by all known societies.
Thus, it is possible to view ritual as a wat of defining or describing humans.

Three fundamental characteristics of rituals (Penner 2017).

a feeling or emotion of respect, awe, fascination, or dread in relation to the sacred;
dependence upon a belief system that is usually expressed in the language of myth; and
is symbolic in relation to its reference.

Some World Religious Beliefs and Practices:

There are different religions with different beliefs and practices. Some of the major world religions are Buddhism, Christianity,
Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.

Buddhism

Beliefs
It teaches that life is unsatisfactory.
When experience is unsatisfying, we tend to crave pleasant experiences and avoid disappointing ones. Our habits tie us into a reactive
cycle of craving and aversion.
The Buddha taught that a way to break this cycle is to practice ethics and meditation, and to cultivate wisdom, which is a deep
understanding and acceptance of things as they are.

Customs and Practices

Meditation practices can be divided into two:
Samatha practices develop calm, concentration, and positive emotion.
Vipassana practices aim at developing insight into reality. Developing and cultivating wisdom happens through studying and reflecting
the Dharma, the Buddha's teaching.

Buddhists celebrate a number of festivals timed to the full moon: Parinirvana Day in February, Buddha Day (Wesak) in May, Dharma
Day in July, Padmasambhava Day in October and Sangha Day in November. All are important events to celebrate together and to
contemplate key teachings of the Buddha.

Christianity

Beliefs
Christians believe that God became fully present in the world in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ’s dying on the cross, made Him a sacrifice to reconcile all humanity with their Creator.
Customs and Practices
One becomes a Christian through the Sacrament of Baptism (water ceremony) that symbolizes a sharing in the death and resurrection
of Jesus.
They also follow Jesus’ instruction of taking bread and wine, and declaring these as his body and blood offered in sacrifice for all
through the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

The principal Christian festivals are:

Christmas. It is when the birth of Jesus is remembered.
Easter. It is when Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is celebrated.

Hinduism

Beliefs
The term “Hinduism” was coined as recently as the 19th century to cover a wide range of ancient creeds, textual traditions, and religious
groups.
Hinduism is best understood as a complete way of life, a path of sanctification, and discipline that leads to a higher level of consciousness.
Hindus revere a body of texts as sacred scriptures known as the Vedas.
Customs and Practices

The main festivals are celebrated in different ways by different communities. The most commonly celebrated festivals are Diwali, the
Festival of Lights, and Navrati, nine nights which celebrate the triumph of good over evil. This takes place twice a year.
Islam
Beliefs

Islam is an Arabic word which means willing submission to God.

The root of the word Islam comes from a word meaning peace and Muslims believe it is the way of peace as laid down in the Quran.
The Arabic word Allah means one God.

Islam has five pillars that represent the foundation of Islamic worship and practice:
Shahada-declaration of faith
Salat-prayer
Zakat-charity or alms
Hajj-pilgrimage to Mecca
Sawm-Fasting
The end of Ramadan marks the beginning of the festival of Eid ul-Fitr.

Eid ul-Adha coincides with the completion of the Hajj and unites the whole Islamic community.

Judaism
Beliefs

The Jewish people believe themselves to be descended from a Semitic tribe that originated in the land of Canaan in the Middle East.
Jews believes of the coming of the Messiah, the Savior.
Study and interpretation of the Torah is an integral part of Jewish life.

Customs and Practices

The Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday evening at the sunset and is an important time when families gather for the Shabbat meal.
There are five festivals on which observant Jews are forbidden to work.
The New Year (Rosh Hashanah) – falls in the autumn
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - the most solemn day of the year.

Three Pilgrim festivals:

Passover (Pesach) in the spring,
Pentecost (Shavuot) occurs seven weeks later and
Tabernacles (Sukkot) takes place in the autumn.

Jewish food laws are highly complicated, prohibiting certain animals and shellfish.

Religious beliefs, rituals, practices, and customs are all part of the expression of the Spiritual Self.

Religious beliefs and practices therefore are formed relative to its context and culture

✓ In the prevailing religious view among Filipinos is that Man is a tripartite being:

• Body
• Soul
• Spirit

✓ Others would regard the human person as a dualistic being composed of the body (material) and soul-spirit (spiritual).
✓ In Western Philosophy:
• soul is the principle of life in man
• body is the matter, soul is the form
As long as body and soul are one unit, man is alive

The Concept of “DUNGAN”

The concept of Dungan is rooted in the Ilonggo culture of the Visayan region in the Philippines, where it refers to the soul or spirit.

Definition & Characteristics:

• Dungan is described as a non-material entity that represents the soul, distinct from the physical body. It is considered extremely
light and capable of movement, even leaving the body during sleep.
• Unlike conventional views of the soul, which may emphasize permanence or weight, Dungan is perceived as a separate life
force that can interact with the physical world but does not possess a tangible form.

Cultural Significance:

• The belief in Dungan encompasses various spiritual practices and understandings within Ilonggo culture. It highlights a
dualistic view of existence, where individuals are seen as comprising both a physical self and a spiritual self.
• Dungan is believed to grow alongside the individual, suggesting a dynamic relationship between one's life experiences and
their spiritual essence.
Spiritual Implications:

The concept emphasizes that Dungan can depart from the body voluntarily during states such as sleep, which implies a belief in the
soul's autonomy and its ability to traverse different realms

This understanding reflects broader Filipino cultural beliefs about spirituality, life, and death, where the soul's journey is integral to
personal identity and existence.

Rituals and Ceremonies:

Spiritual and Healing Practices

Functions of Rituals

Rituals often serve as a means of connecting with the spiritual world. In many Filipino communities, rituals are performed to invoke
blessings, heal ailments, or protect against malevolent forces. For instance, “albularyos” (traditional healers) use herbal remedies and
spiritual rituals to cure diseases believed to be caused by angry spirits or witchcraft.

Ceremonies like the to-ob ritual on Siquijor Island involve complex preparations using various natural ingredients to create potions
intended for protection or healing. These rituals highlight the blend of Catholicism with pre-colonial shamanic practices, illustrating
how traditional beliefs have been integrated into contemporary spiritual life.

Rituals also play a crucial role in fostering community bonds and cultural identity. Events such as harvest festivals or religious feasts
are occasions for communal celebration, reinforcing social ties and shared beliefs. These gatherings often include traditional dances,
music, and offerings to deities or spirits, reflecting the community's collective values and history.

Religion and Magic

Syncretism
The arrival of Spanish colonizers introduced Catholicism, which intermingled with indigenous beliefs. This syncretism is evident in
practices where Catholic saints are invoked alongside traditional spirits during rituals. Many Filipinos still engage in folk Catholicism,
which incorporates elements of magic and superstition into religious practices.

Witchcraft
Witchcraft, particularly kulam (a form of black magic), has deep historical roots in Filipino culture. It was practiced long before colonial
times and has evolved through various cultural influences. Practitioners known as mangkukulam use spells to inflict harm or bring about
justice against wrongdoers

Modern Perspectives:

In contemporary society, there has been a resurgence of interest in witchcraft among younger generations, who seek alternative spiritual
paths outside mainstream religions. This movement emphasizes empowerment through self-discovery and connection to nature, often
incorporating practices like tarot reading and herbalism.

The rise of liberal millennials has brought witchcraft into the spotlight, challenging traditional notions and allowing for a more inclusive
understanding that embraces diversity in gender and sexuality within spiritual practices.

In summary, rituals, religion, magic, and witchcraft in the Philippines are interrelated phenomena that reflect the country's complex
cultural landscape. They serve vital functions in healing, community building, and personal identity while illustrating the ongoing
negotiation between traditional beliefs and modern spiritual expressions.

Discovering meaning in life

1. Identify Your Values and Passions

Reflecting on Interests: Take time to think about activities and causes that resonate with you. Engaging in self-reflection can clarify
your values and guide your actions towards meaningful pursuits

Setting Goals: Once you've identified your values, set specific, achievable goals that align with them. This helps create a sense of
direction and purpose in your daily life, making it easier to see how your actions contribute to the larger picture

2. Cultivate Relationships and Community

Build Social Bonds

Invest time in nurturing relationships with family, friends, and community members. Participating in group activities or volunteer work
can foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

Engage in Altruism

Helping others not only benefits them but also enhances your own sense of fulfillment. Acts of kindness and service can create a profound
sense of meaning, as they reinforce the idea that your life has a positive impact on the world around you
 3. Embrace Growth Through Challenges

Solve Problems: Tackling challenges—whether personal or societal—can imbue your life with meaning. This could involve
addressing everyday issues or engaging in larger social causes. The act of working towards solutions fosters a sense of
accomplishment and purpose.

Learn from Experiences: Reflect on past experiences, especially hardships, as opportunities for growth. Understanding how
these moments have shaped you can help you appreciate the journey of life and recognize the significance of your struggles.

By focusing on these three pathways—identifying values, cultivating relationships, and embracing challenges—you can
actively discover and create meaning in your life that resonates with your unique experiences and aspirations

Lesson 3. Political Self

Who is a Filipino?
There are three ways to acquire Filipino citizenship (1987 Philippine Constitution)

• Citizenship by birth: If you were born in the Philippines to Filipino parents or if either of your parents is Filipino, you are a
Filipino citizen by birth.
• Citizenship by election: This usually applies to individuals who are considered stateless or have been living in the Philippines
for a long time.
• Naturalized citizenship: To attain naturalized citizenship in the Philippines, one must establish lawful residency within the
country for a period of 10 years, demonstrate an adequate income, and exhibit proficiency in the language.

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

Pakikipagkapwa-tao
Openness, helpfulness, and generosity
-Hospitality
-Bayanihan
-Pakikiramay

Family-Orientation
-Love for family and relatives
-Give honor and respect, care, generosity, and personal sacrifices
-Sense of belongingness and security

Joy and Humor

-Fiestas and social gatherings
-Still laugh at people we love, hate, or in good and bad fortune
-Find a reason to smile or laugh

Flexibility, adaptability, and creativity

-Adjust under any circumstances
-Improvises and makes use of what we have

Hard work and industry

-Take risks and works in other countries

Faith and religiosity

-“Bahala na” mindset (serves as kick starter or pampalakas loob)

Ability to survive
-All traits mentioned
-“Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot”

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

Extreme personalism
-Personally relating to things, events, and people.
-Takes things personally, and cannot separate objective tasks from emotional involvement.
-“Palakasan system” and inside connections (led to the prevalence of graft and corruption)

Extreme family-centeredness
-Concern for the community and the common good is less important
-Political dynasties

Lack of discipline
Ningas cogon
-hardworking, nice, or great at first, but eventually, no longer continues what was started.
Filipino time
- usually equated to being late
Passivity and lack of initiative
-Related to our lack of discipline
-Strong reliance on the leader and the government
-Do not contribute to solutions

Colonial mentality
-Loves anything foreign and incorporates foreign elements
-Loss cultural identity
-Feelings of inferiority

Kanya-kanya syndrome
-Related to extreme personalism and extreme family centeredness
-Personal and in-group interests are supreme
-Dampened sense of community and cooperation
-Crab mentality

Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection

-The tendency to be superficial and somewhat flighty.
-“Madaling makalimot” or short memory

Democracy
Establishing a Democratic Culture
Democracy
Government in which the supreme power is vested in and exercised by the people directly/indirectly through a system of
representations usually involving periodically held free elections.
Features:
-Prevent cruel and vicious autocrats form
-Foster human development
-Helps protect fundamental individual rights and interests
-Provide people maximum opportunity to take moral responsibility for their choices and decisions
-Offer a relatively high chance of political equality

Lesson 4. Digital Identity

Who Am I in the Cyber World?

Facts:
• Almost two-thirds of the world’s population now has a mobile phone
• More than half of the world’s web traffic now comes from mobile phones
• More than half of all mobile connections around the world are now “broadband”
• More than half the world now uses smartphone
• Media users in the Philippines grew by 12 million or 25% while the number of mobile social users increased by 13 million or
32%.
• Tim Berners-Lee made the World Wide Web available to the public 25 years ago.
• The number of people who are becoming more active online continues to increase worldwide.
• The Philippines is among one of the countries with the most active Internet users.
• Adolescents are among the most avid users of the internet.
• More than one out of five of the world’s population shopped online in the past 30 days
• More people are becoming interested and devoted in using the internet for various activities like online classes, work-from-
home office arrangement, etc.

Characteristics:
- Oriented Inward - Others cannot see the attributes of the online user
- Narrative in Nature - Online users will only come to know the person primarily through what the person tells them
- Retractable - Others are unable to link the online self-claims to the offline identities
- Multipliable - People can interact with one another in different domains of the online world at relatively the same time

Selective Self-presentation and Impression Management

Self-presentation controls how other people perceive one another and is the key to relationship inception and development.
-To construct positive images, individuals selectively provide information about them and carefully cater this
information in response to other’s feedback.
-Anything posted online should be considered “public” regardless of our “privacy” settings.

Advantages of Public Profile

• Open communication
• Allows open discussion
• Provides opportunity to widen business contracts
• Targets a wide audience
• Improves business reputation
• Helps expand the market

Disadvantages of Public Profile

• Opens up the possibility for hackers
• Scams
 • Negative comments and bashing

Advantages of Private Profile

• You have control over viewers
• Profile is protected from bashers and scammers

Disadvantages of Private Profile

• Network is very limited
• It will not help your business grow
• Engagement is very low
• You don’t get to meet interesting people

Personal Identity vs Social Identity

Personal Identity is the interpersonal level of self which differentiates the individual as unique from others.
Social Identity is the level of self whereby the individual is identified by his or her group memberships.

-For avid users of Facebook, social media friends are more updated about their daily activities, connections, and thoughts than their
immediate families.
-Diaries that were once private or shared only with close friends are now posted as blogs that can be viewed by anyone.
-Many teenagers, as well as some adults, share even more intimate details with their partners like their passwords.
-This could be an ultimate act of intimacy and trust or the ultimate expression of paranoia and distrust with the partner.
-Because of the conversion of diaries into public revelations of inner secrets, the lack of privacy in many aspects of social media make
the users more vulnerable.

“Fear of missing out”

Compulsively checking newsfeeds and continually adding tweets and postings in order to appear active and interesting.

“Disinhibition Effect”
The lack of face-to-face gaze-meeting, together with feelings of anonymity and invisibility, gives people the freedom for self-
disclosure but can also “flame” others and may cause conflict sometimes.
Self-revelation can be therapeutic to others especially if it goes together with self-reflection.

-In addition to sharing good things, many of us also share the bad, embarrassing, and sinful things we experience.
-We also react and comment on negative experiences of others.
-We empathize with people.
-We argue with others online.
-Relationships may be made stronger or broken through posts online.
-Blunders and bad moments are also preserved and shared through photos- and video-sharing sites.
-According to Michael Foucault, confession along with contemplation, self-examination, learning, reading, and writing self-critical
letters to friends, are part of “technologies of the self” through which we seek to purge and cleanse ourselves.
-Confessional blogs may also be therapeutic for the audience to read, allowing both sincere empathy and the voyeuristic appeal of
witnessing a public confession.

SEXUALITY ONLINE/ GENDER ONLINE

-Internet users are free to actively choose which gender or sexuality they are going to portray with the possibility of creating alternate
identities.
-Social media has led to the emergence of “free culture” where individuals are empowered to engage in cultural production using raw
materials, ranging from homemade videos to mainstream television characters to create new culture, memes, and humor.

Setting boundaries to your online self: SMART SHARING

-Before posting or sharing anything online, consider the following.

-Is this post/story necessary?
-Is it appropriate? Does it stay within the boundaries of our family values?
-Is there a real benefit to this post? Is it funny, warm-hearted, teachable – or am I just making noise online without purpose?
-Have we resolved this issue? An issue that is still being worked out at home, or one that is either vulnerable or highly emotional,
should not be made in public.

Guidelines for Proper Sharing of Information and Ethical Use of the Internet:
-Stick to safer sites
-Guard your passwords
-Limit what you share
-Remember that what you put online or post on a site is there forever, even if you try to delete it
-Do not be mean or embarrass other people online
-Always tell if you see strange or bad behavior online
-Be choosy about your online friends
-Be patient

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