Lesson 1.

Philosophical
Perspectives of the Self
Philosophy as a subject presents various philosophers offering multiple
perspectives on just about any topic including the self. Philosophically,
discussion of the self is a basic search for meaning and purpose in life.
Determination, rationalization, and identification of the self set the direction from
which an individual travels to fulfill his or her purpose in life. The inability to
define oneself leads to a lot of contradictions within the self later on; hence , it is
one of the many imperatives in life to know oneself and to go on with the
business of leading a life charted by oneself.
Philosophical Orientations:
 Empiricism – the belief that there is no such thing as innate knowledge,
instead, knowledge is derived from sensory experience.
 Rationalism – the belief that there is innate knowledge, and that there are
different sources of knowledge.
 Idealism – objects of knowledge is held to be dependent on the activity of
the mind.
Antiquity/Classical Philosophers:
1. Socrates – Knowledge is the personification of good, and ignorance is that of evil;
self-knowledge is the ultimate virtue.
“An unexamined life is not worth living.”
“Know thyself.”
2. Plato – moral virtue is rooted in the intellect, and leads to happiness.
3. Aristotle – the ideal (essence) is found inside the phenomena (matter), and the
universals inside the particulars.
Medieval/Middle Ages Philosopher:
St. Augustine – All knowledge leads to God; only the pure heart can see God;
love of God, faith in Him, and understanding of the Gospel will ultimately lead to
happiness.
Enlightenment Philosophers:
1. Rene Descartes – “Cogito ergo sum” – I think therefore I am.
 The self is a thinking thing whose whole essence or nature is merely thinking.
The self is different from the body hence, the self and body exist but differ in
existence and
reality.
Mind-body dichotomy – through (mind) will always precede action (body).
Only humans have hubris (excessive pride) because of the fact that humans are
the sole
rational animals in existence.
2. John Locke – founded on consciousness (the perception of what passes in a Man’s
own mind).
According the Locke, consciousness can be transferred from one substance
(body and soul)
to another therefore, the soul can change, but consciousness remains the same.
Tabula Rasa – this concept posits that everyone started as a blank slate, and the
content is provided by one’s experiences over time.
3. David Hume – there is no self as a mental entity for “what we call a mind is
nothing but a heap/collection of different perceptions.
” The self is nothing but a complex set of successive impressions or
perceptions.
4. Immanuel Kant – consciousness is formed by one’s inner and outer sense: the
inner sense (comprised of one’s psychological state and intellect) and the
outer sense (consists one’s senses and the physical world).
Contemporary/ Modern Philosophers:
1. Sigmund Freud – the self is multilayered and is composed of the three
structures of the human mind – the id, ego, and superego.
Id Ego Superego
Since birth Maintains equilibrium Last to develop
Hedonistic/Pleasure Reality Principle Morality Principle
Principle Adheres to reason and Has two systems:
Driven by the sexual energy logic Conscience & Ideal Self
2. Gilbert Ryle – opposed the Cartesian notion of “Cogito ergo sum.”
The mind is not separate from the body.
Logical/Analytical Behaviorism – a theory of mind which states that mental
concepts can be understood through observable events.
The self is a combination of the mind and body; “I act, therefore I am.”
3. Paul and Patricia Churchland – Eliminative Materialism – ordinary, common sense
understanding of the mind
is deeply wrong and that some or all of the mental states posited by common sense
do not exist.
To understand the self, one must study the brain, not just the mind.
4. Maurice Merleau-Ponty – body has two types: subjective body (as lived and
experienced),
and objective body (observed and scientifically investigated),
The self is embodied subjectivity – humans are neither disembodied minds (existing
without
body) nor as complex machines, but as living creatures whose subjectivity
(consciousness) is
actualized in the forms of their physical involvement with the world. “I am my body.”
Lesson 2. The Self from the
Sociological Perspective
and
Lesson 3.The Self from the
Anthropological
Perspective
 Lesson 2: The Self from the Sociological Perspective
George Mead’s The Social Self – the self is not biological but social. Self is
something that is developed through social interaction.
 Self has two parts, self-awareness and self-image.
 Role playing – the process in which one tales on the role of another by
putting oneself in the position of the person with whom he or she interacts.
 According the Mead, self is not inborn. Babies cannot interpret the meaning
of other people’s behavior.
 Three stages of development:
 imitation or preparatory stage – the child imitates the behavior of his
parents,
 play stage – involves the child playing the role of others, and
 game stage – the child comes to see himself from the perspective of other
people.
 Phases of the self: the I self and the Me self
1. I self – the phase of the self that is unsocialized and spontaneous.
2. Me Self – the self that results from the progressive stages of role playing or role
-taking and the perspective one assumes to view and analyze own’s behaviors.
3. Generalized Others – an organized community or social group which gives to the
individual his or her unity of self.
 Charles Horton Cooley’s Looking-glass Self
– a social psychological concept providing that the self is developed as a result
of one’s perceptions of other people’s opinions.
Steps:
(1.) people imagine how they must appear to others,
(2.) people imagine the judgment on that appearance, and
(3.) people develop themselves through the judgment of others.
1.Private Self – the cognition that involves traits, states, and behaviors.
2.Public Self – the cognition concerning the generalized other’s view of the self.
3. Collective Self – cognition concerning a view of the self that found in
memberships in social groups.
Social Identity Theory by Henri Tajfel
– the person’s sense of who he is according to his membership to a certain group.
 In-group – the group where a person belongs.
 Out-group – the group where a person do not belong.
Postmodernism – not a philosophy but a report on the mindset of the western
culture in the latter half of the 20th century.
Andersen (1997) Four Basic Postmodernist Ideas
 Multiphrenia – refers to the many voices speaking about who you are, and what
you are.
 Protean – the self that is capable of changing constantly to fit the present
conditions.
1. De-Centered – a belief that there is no self at all.
2. Self-in-relation – humans do not live their lives in isolation, but in relation to people
and to certain cultural contexts.
Erving Goffman’s Dramaturgical Model of Social Life – social interactions may be
compared to a theater, and people to actors on a stage where each plays a variety
of roles.
Three Regions:
1. Front Stage – the region where actors perform in conformity with the expectations
of the
audience.
2. Back Stage – the region where actors act/behave differently. Where actors are their
natural selves.
3. Off-Stage - the region where actors meet audience independently.
Kenneth Gergen’s Saturated or Multiplicitous Self – the saturated self is constantly in
connection to others, a self that absorbs a multitude of voices and takes in a
seemingly endless stream of information.
 Lesson 3: The Self from the Anthropological Perspective
 Cultural Identity and National Identity
Culture – derived from Latin word cultura or cultus, meaning care or cultivation.
Identity – refers to “who the person is,” or the qualities and traits of an individual
that make him different from others.
 Cultural Identity – refers to the identity or feeling of belongingness to certain
culture group.
Cultural Identity Theory – explains why a person act and behaves the way he
does.
 Nation – a group of people built on the premise of shared customs, traditions,
religion, language, art, history, etc.
 National Identity – refers to the identity or feeling of belongingness to one state
or nation.
 Material Culture – a type of culture like national flag, national emblem, or seal
representative of allthe people who are a part of the nation.
 Non-material Culture – embodies the shared understanding of a group of
people including norms, beliefs, and traditions.
Brian Morris’s Anthropology of the Self – the self is not an entity but a process that
orchestrates
an individual’s personal experience. As a result of this process, a person
become self
aware and self reflective about his place in the surrounding world.
 Dialogical Self Theory – introduced in 1992 by Hubert Hermans. The theory
regarded the
“self” as the “Society of Mind.” The self is considered as extended to significant
others in the
environment that populate the self as monological relationships may emerge.
 Individual Self – reflects the cognitions related to traits, states, and behaviors
that are stored in memory (e.g. “I am religious).
 Relational Self – reflects cognitions that are related to one’s relationships
(e.g. “I am the father).
 Collective Self – reflects cognitions that are relatedto one’s group
(e.g. “I am an Ilocano”).
 Identity Struggles – introduced by Anthony Wallace and Raymond Fogelson.
It characterizes the discrepancy between the identity a person claims to
possess and the identity attributed to that person by others.
When an individual perceives that he or she is assigned a wrong impression,
he or she will probably always defend his or her identity. The best possible
solution is to this situation is to talk to the person and establish a mutual
understanding regarding one’s way of perceiving himself or herself as opposed
to how he or she thinks he or she perceived by others. It has to be done as soon
as possible in order to prevent future conflicts. The confrontation, however, must
be done in a calm and respectful manner.
 Lesson 4. The Self from the
Psychological Perspective
Lesson 5. The Self in Western
& Eastern Thoughts
 The Self from the Psychological Perspective
 William James’s Self Theory – divided the self into two categories – Me and I.
A human being has the capacity to be a thinking subject and the object of
his own thinking at the same time. As a thinking subject, an individual is both
conscious of his environment, and conscious of his existence.
 I – constituted by the continuous stream of consciousness internal to an
individual.
 Me – a person turns into a ‘me’ when he makes himself the object of his own
thinking.
Three Categories of the Self
1. Constituents of the Self – refer to the further subcategories of the self,
including
the material self, social self, spiritual self, and pure ego.
2. Self-feeling – the feelings and emotions aroused in the individual because of
 his knowledge and appraisal of his empirical existence in the world.
3. Self-seeking – the actions the self prompts – the effort of every individual to
preserve and improve oneself based on one’s self - knowledge and resulting
self-feelings.
 Carl Rogers’s Self Theory – the self does not exist at birth, it is developed
gradually during childhood wherein one differentiates the self from non-self.
By means of free choice and action, one can shape himself based on what
she wants to be.
• Real Self – who an individual actually is, intrinsically. How one thinks, feels,
looks, and acts.
• Ideal Self – the perception of what a person would like to be or thinks he or
she would be. Based on the idealized image.
• Congruence – an agreement between the real self and the ideal self.
• Self-Concept – the totality of complex, organized, and dynamic system of
learned beliefs, attitudes, and opinions that each person holds to be true
about his personal experience.
 Aspects of Self-concept
1. Existential Self – begins when an individual recognizes his existence as a
separate entity from others and realizes that he will continue to exist over a
period of time and space.
2. Categorical Self – starts after a child recognizes his existence as a separate
entity and becomes aware that he is an object of the world.
Three Components of Self-Concept
1. Self-worth or self-esteem – is what one thinks about oneself.
2. Self-image – how one sees himself, which is important for good psychological
health.
3. Ideal Self – the person that one wants to be.
 Donald W. Winnicott’s True Self and False Self
❑ True Self – known as the real self, authentic self, original self, and vulnerable
self. The core of who you are, the original you, unshaped by the upbringing
of society.
❑ False Self – known as the fake self, ideal self, perfect self, and pseudo self.
Composed of the parts of the self, wherein behaviors are altered, feelings
are repressed, and one’s needs are set aside in order to fit in with others.
Also called the adapted self.
➢ Social Mask – helps one to interact properly in a larger variety of
interpersonal contexts.
 Global versus Differentiated Models
❖ Global Models look into a human being in his or her totality, as an indivisible
entity that cannot be broken down into parts.
❖ Gestalt Psychology – guided by the principle that “the whole is greater than
the sum of all its parts.”
❖ Humanistic Psychology – guided by the principle that “human beings, as
humans, supersede the sum of their parts.”
➢ Differentiated Models look into a human being through examining its parts for
it is divisible or can be broken into components.
 For Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, the psyche is divided into three – id, ego,
and superego.
1. Id – exists since birth and pertains to instinct. Driven by libido (sexual energy).
2. Ego – developed as a product of coping with anxiety brought about by the id’s
repression of impulses.
3. Superego – operates according to the morality principle.
❖ Albert Bandura’s Agentic Theory of the Self – rejects the notion that selfhood
is culturally influenced or controlled by urges, rather, it looks upon every
human being as capable of thinking, deciding, foreseeing, and controlling
his or her actions, free to decide for himself. This is called as human agency.
The Self in Western and Eastern Thoughts
1. Individualism versus Collectivism
▪ Individualism – an orientation concerned with the independence and self
reliance of the individual. Puts more emphasis on promoting the individual and
the immediate family’s welfare. The Western Culture focuses on Individualism as
it gives more emphasis on freedom and choice – an independent
self that is free from the influence of culture and environment and from the
expectations and welfare of society. Does not promote isolation, it is grounded
 on the idea that an individual makes judgments.
▪ Collectivism – an orientation characterized by belongingness to larger groups
or collectives. Gives more importance to loyalty to the in-group, which in
turn takes care of the individual’s welfare. The Eastern Culture focuses on
Collectivism as it gives more importance on relationships, roles, duties,
obligations, and the preservation of culture and tradition. This is an idea that
man should think, live, and act toward certain goals that benefit the group.
2. Buddhism – there is no such thing as atman (self). The atman is impossible to
perceive by one’s senses for it does not actually exist in any metaphysical,
material, and spiritual level. Everything is just an illusion, an imaginary concept
born as a product of evolved consciousness and misguided thinking of
humans. Humans have no real knowledge of a self, or a clear proof of
claiming that there is a self.
3. Confucianism – a way of life propagated by Confucius. It regards an individual as
a member of a larger whole, not as a separate being. The ethical teachings of
Confucius are based on human relationships as reflected in his concept of Five
Cardinals.
Relationships or Five Cardinals:
• Between the King (Ruler) and the Subject (Ruled)
• Between father and son
• Between husband and wife
• Between brothers
• Between friends
4. Taoism – emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao (way or path), a religion and
a philosophy at the same time. Tao is nothing but the expression of the unity of the
universe and of the path which human beings must take to preserve that unity.
 Going against the will of nature or universe disrupts the cosmic order
(the Yin and Yang).
5. Hinduism – the Upanishads contain some key concepts of Hinduism.
“Story of Creation” tells about the origin of the universe and humans. “In the
beginning, the Self was alone, in the shape of a person (Purusha). He first
said, ‘This is I’; therefore, he became ‘I’ by name. ”Therefore even man is
asked, he first says, “This is I” and then pronounces the name which he may
have. From this story of creation, the Self called Purusha created a wife out of
himself. The wife bore Man and then transformed herself into a cow, which
prompted Purusha to transform into a bull. This transformation continues, and
believe that everything originated from Purusha.(same as the creator)
▪ Atman (referred to as the self, spirit, or soul) is the same self described in the
creation. In Hinduism , the atman is one with Brahman (the absolute,
transcendental power).By being identified with the Brahman, the atman
indicates a true self which underlies one’s existence.
 Chapter 2.
Unpacking the Self
 Lesson 6 – The Physical Self
• Refers to the body the tangible aspect of the person that can be directly
observed and examined. (Singh, 2017)
• Defining traits and features of the body like sex, height, weight, complexion,
hair, and facial features.
• Does not include the abstract characteristics (e.g. kindness, generosity,
loyalty, obedience, and
other qualities).
• The physical appearance is attributed to both genetics (heredity, DNA,
chromosomes) and
environment (physical and social).
 Impact of Culture on Beauty and Body Image
• Each culture has their own set of beauty standards, which means society
prescribes the
standards of beauty (what is beautiful and what is not).
• Only the physical features like our facial features and body figure are
considered to be
bases for beauty.
 Beauty as Both an Asset and a Liability
Asset Liability
More attention and Bullying
opportunities Catcalling
Beauty pageants Harassment
Acting career Act of Lasciviousness
Endorsements Stalker

 Will there be beauty, if there is no sight?

• Beauty is always referred to be seen through the naked eye.
• Aesthetics have laid down the laws and principles to determine beauty (could be
heard –beautiful voice, melody; felt – contextualized or projected as the purity of
the heart; understood – based on appreciation).
• Therefore, blind people could still perceive beauty even if there have no sight, as
beauty can have
different phases/facets).
 How to Achieve Physical Well-Being?
1. Eat healthy foods
2. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
3. Follow proper hygiene
4. Engage in daily exercise
5. Take vitamins and drink fruit juices
6. Avoid stress
7. Spend less screen times
Lesson 7 – The Sexual Self
• Sigmund Freud – all human behavior is motivated by the desire to feel pleasure.
Organized and controlled by two instincts called sexuality and aggression.
These instincts are driven by a form of psychic energy called libido.
• An individual becomes physically mature upon reaching the age of puberty.
• Testosterone –male hormone
• Estrogen and Progesterone – female hormones
• Chromosomes – XY for Males and XX for Females
 Male Reproductive System
1. Penis – primary male sex organ
2. Testes or testicles – responsible for production of sperm cells and testosterone
3. Vas Deferens – tube that connects with the urethra.
4. Scrotum – a skin carrying the testes.
5. Sperm – the male sex cell.
6. Prostate Gland – secrets fluid to nourish the sperm
7. Epididymis – stores and carries sperm
 Female Reproductive System
1. Ovary – produces ova or egg cells
2. Ovum – female reproductive cell, also called egg cells
3. Fallopian Tubes – carry the eggs from ovary to uterus
4. Uterus – nurtures fertilized egg cells that develops to a fetus
5. Cervix – directs the sperm to the uterus
6. Vagina – receives the penis during sex, and where the baby passes during birth
7. Vulva – external genital organ of the female
 Erogenous Zones – a part of the body that is highly sensitive and the stimulation
of which leads to sexual responses.
 Human Sexual Responses – has four phases
1. Excitement – the body gets ready for sexual activity. Males experience penile
erection and females experience swelling of the clitoris and vaginal lubrication.
2. Plateau – a person will retain the conditions achieved during the excitement
phase, waiting for the climax
3. Orgasm – climax of the cycle. Males release semen and females experience
contraction of the vagina
4. Resolution – the body gradually returns to its normal level of functioning
 Diversity of Human Sexual Behaviors
1. Masturbation – act of stimulating one’s own genitals
2. Sex – the act of stimulating one’s genitals through the actual penetration of an
orifice
 Types of Sex
• Oral Sex – the stimulation of genitals through the use of mouth
• Vaginal Sex – the stimulation of genitals through the penetration of penis to the
vagina
• Anal Sex – the stimulation of genitals through the anus
• Premarital sex – sexual activities outside of marriage
• Marital sex – sexual activities within the bounds of marriage
• Extramarital sex – sexual activities that married people engage in with people
they are not married to
3. Heterosexuality – sexual attraction to the opposite sex
4. Homosexuality – sexual attraction to the same sex
5. Bisexuality – sexual attraction with the opposite or same sex.
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
1. HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome) – a spectrum of conditions caused by being infected with HIV.
2. Gonorrhea – a bacterial infection of the mucus membranes. Usual symptom in
men include secretion of yellowish-white fluid, for women, painful urination with
discharge.
3. Syphilis – an infection caused by cork screw shaped bacterium called
Treponema pallidum. Causes sores on infected area.
4. Genital Herpes – viral infection which causes blisters on the genitals.
5. Genital Warts – warts caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
6. Chancroid – a bacterial infection that causes sores or ulcers on the genitals.
7. Pubic Lice (Crabs) – very small parasites that infest the genital area.
8. Scabies – a skin condition caused by the tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabies.
9. Trichomoniasis – an infection caused by a parasite called Trichomonas
vaginalis.
10. Molluscum contagiosum – a skin condition characterized by small lumps
which are pearly-white or slightly pink.
11. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – a complication caused by chlamydia or
gonorrhea.
12. Chlamydia – caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis that do significant
damage to the human reproductive system.
 Methods of Contraception
1. Folk Method
• Post-coital Douche – washing of vagina to remove the sperm
• Prolonged Lactation – longer period of lactation
2. Behavioral Contraceptives
• Rhythm – couples abstain for a certain period during the fertile time of woman
• Ovulation – uses the observed mucus discharge of the vagina at the beginning of
woman’s fertility period
• Withdrawal or Coitus Interruptus – a man withdraws his penis before orgasm
• Coitus reservatus – man withholds ejaculation and lets the erection subside inside
the vagina
3. Mechanical Contraceptives
• Condom – thin rubberized material to block sperm
• Diaphragm – shallow rubber cup inserted to the vagina to block sperm
• Cervical Caps – fitted to the cervix by a doctor
4. Chemical Contraceptives
• Vaginal Suppositories and Tablets – contains spermicide
• Contraceptive jellies, creams, and vaginal foams
5. Intrauterine Device – small device inserted to the uterus be a physician
6. Pills – renders a woman infertile for a specified period. Oral contraceptives
may
have side effects on some users and should not be used at all by some women.
7. Sterilization – permanent infertility
• Vasectomy – males
• Tubal Ligation - females
8. Injectable – contraceptive injected to women to prevent ovulation and
usually last for three months.
 Lesson 8– The Material Self
 William James (1890) – the Material Self is the self that consists of the body,
clothes, immediate family, home, and other things one considers to be his
or her own. We invest ourselves in our material possessions – because of it,
we feel a deep connection to them. “I shop, therefore I am.”
• Material possessions are objects of instinctive preferences that may or may
not be related with a person’s most practical interests in life.
• An individual’s body is the primary component of our material self (includes
the kinds of clothes one prefers to wear, and what accessories one would
put on.
 Consumer Culture – credit cards have allowed people to buy goods and
avail services even without cash or checks on-hand. Gives both
advantages and disadvantages to users.
 Advantages Disadvantages
▪ Convenience • Debt
▪ Security of Transactions • Abuse of usage
▪ Security of Transactions • Risk of not saving money
▪ Comfort • Impulse buying
▪ Rewards
Advertisement – a major force changing/swaying of consumer options or
decisions. Influential in shaping how and why people consume goods and
services. The reason why companies to tap the services of famous celebrities to
endorse their products.
• Needs – things that are essential for survival
• Wants – synonymous to luxury. Thing you buy but you can live without.
• Utility – the practical purpose of the object you own
• Significance – the meaning you attach to the object you own
 Lesson 9. Spiritual Aspect
of Self
Lesson 10. Political Aspect
of Self
Lesson 11. Digital Aspect
of Self
 Lesson 9 – The Spiritual Self
 Religion – introduces the concept of supreme beings as a cause of reason of all
phenomena. A set of rituals made to coordinate with the goal of either obtaining or
hindering changes in human condition and nature’s state. Believes that there is an
architect of all things.
• Omnipotent – all powerful
• Omniscient – all knowing
• Omnipresent – ever-present
 Religion has many functions such as providing sense of the word, strengthening norms
and identity, setting sanctions for individual behavior, and giving serenity in facing life
changes.
 The Concept of the Soul
❑ Monism – a view that there is only one substance and only on being. The soul and the
body are one.
❑ Dualism – a view that mind and body are two independent substances.
• For Western Philosophers, a human person is a rational being constituted
of soul and body.
• Soul – a superior of the body and can exist independently (along with
the body), invisible and immortal, serves as he life-force of the body.
• Kaluluwa – the Filipino term of soul or spirit. Has two forms of existence:
(1.) physical – the soul is connected on the human body and life, and
(2.) spiritual – the soul exists on its own.
• Dungan – the Bisayan (Ilonggo) concept of the soul, lacks material
substance and is extremely light that it travels with the wind. Does not stay
in any specific part of the body.
 A young person may manifest nausea, headache, stomachache, fever,
etc. due to the concept of usug.
 Religious Rituals
❑ Rituals – patterns of behavior or practices that are related to the sacred. For
Catholics, rituals are called Sacraments, and there are seven: (1.) baptism,
(2.) Holy Eucharist, (3.) confirmation, (4.) reconciliation, (5.) anointing of the
sick, (6.) marriage, and (7.) Holy Order.
• Religious people use rituals to give honor to the divine power/s they believe in
and to serve as a reminder of their religious obligations. The interdependence
between rituals and beliefs is possible such that rituals validate beliefs.
Ultimately, rituals strengthen the sense of belongingness.
❑ Rites of Passage – rituals that mark important stages in individual’s life cycle.
Helps individuals through the crucial crises or major social transitions in their
lives, like birth, puberty, marriage, parenthood, advancement to a higher class,
occupational specialization, and even death.
 Life Crises are Divided into Three Stages:
1. Separation – removes an individual from everyday society. The concept of
isolation.
2. Transition – the individual performs the necessary rites/rituals to get/attain
his/her new status.
3. Incorporation – formal return and readmission into society with the new status.
Magic and Witchcraft
 Magic – involves the manipulation of the supernatural for good or evil
purposes. Usually performed to ensure production of good crops, the
replenishment of game, fertility of domestic animals, and the preventions
and cure of illnesses.
 Sorcery – makes use of materials, objects, and the medicines to invoke
malevolence.
• Witchcraft – accomplish the same ills (as sorcery) by means of thought and
emotion alone.
In the Philippines:
• Barang – done as an act of revenge for wrongdoing. Natabang –
experience illness
like stomachache.
• Nabarang – more painful and deadly experience as a swarm of insects
through body
openings.
• Kulam for the Tagalogs wherein dolls, candles, and prayers are used during
rituals.
 Finding and Creating Meaning in Life
Roman Catholics – God is the architect and designer of all things
 Atheists – there is no God and everything will end upon death.
 Albert Camus – human life is absurd.
 Lesson 10 – The Political Self
 Aristotle – man is, by nature, a political animal. This is because man is a
social being and that people are naturally drawn to various political
involvements in order to satisfy his social needs.
• Politics imbibes man on several things – first, politics is concerned with power.
Second, politics functions based on a particular social economic and cultural
context. Third, politics is personal. Fourth, politics goes hand-in hand with
society.
 Political Culture – the pattern of individual attitudes and orientation towards
politics among members of a political system. (Almond and Verba, 1965)
 Characteristics of Philippine Political Culture
1. Dominance of family ties or kinship system – consanguinity (blood relations)
is given outmost importance. Ritual kinship or the or the kumpadre system
where the sacredness of baptism or sacrament of marriage is used to get
 favors is evident in politics.
2. Euphemism – officials and employees in lower positions are not frank or
straightforward in criticizing officials of higher rank. People use parinig or
patutsada instead of confronting the officials immediately address the
problems.
3. Utang na loob – Filipinos feel obliged to repay immediately or in the future any
favor they receive from another person.
4. Sense of overdependency – some constituents rely on an elected official or a
patron politician for their personal and economic needs.
5. Belief that majority of politicians are corrupt – the term buwaya has been used
to describe corrupt politicians in the Philippines signifying their greed for
money and power.
6. Lack of political maturity – people elect officials based on their popularity and
personality, and not on performance and platform.
Establishing a Democratic Culture
 Democracy – a system of government in which all citizens are eligible members of the state.
Sovereignty belongs in the people.
 Basic Features of Democracy:
1.Rule of the majority – the decision of the majority prevails. (Vox populi, vox dei – the voice
of the people is the voice of God.)
2. Protection of human rights
3. Upholding the rule of law
Ideal Citizenship
 Citizenship – denotes the status of being a legal member of a nation-state.
 Ideal Citizen – a person who follows the laws, protects and takes care of the environment,
and contributes to the welfare of the people.
 Governance – defined as the traditions and institutions that determine how authority is
exercised in a particular country.
Includes (1.) the process by which governments are selected, held
accountable, monitored, and replaced; (2.) the capacity of
governments to manage resources efficiently; (3.) the respect of citizens and the
state for the institutions that govern.
 Nolan Principles of Good Governance:
1. Selflessness – means caring for what the people need and want instead of
promoting personal interests.
2. Objectivity – means being neutral and free from biases in making decisions.
3. Integrity – means maintaining a good name and character.
4. Honesty – means telling the truth, hiding nothing, and being transparent at all
times.
5. Accountability – means being liable and responsible for one’s actions.
6. Openness – means being transparent with whatever information one handles.
7. Leadership – means being able to lead the way for development that would
benefit all.
 Positive Filipino Values
1. Bayanihan 7. Flexibility
2. Damayan 8. Religious
3. Familism 9. Respect for Elders
4. Optimism 10. Remedyo Attitude
5. Hospitality 11. Matiyaga
6. Regionalism 12. Utang na Loob
 Negative Filipino Values
1. Bahala na attitude 8. Crab Mentality
2. Colonial mentality/blue-seal mentality 9. Belief in Kapalaran
3. Crab mentality 10. Manana Habit
4. Euphemistic 11. Ningas Kugon
5. Filipino time 12. Oversensitivity
6. Gaya-gaya attitude 13. Pakikisama
7. Lack of Sportsmanship 14. Tsamba Lang Attitude
 Lesson 11 – The Digital Self
 Digital Self – consists of how one expresses himself or herself in various online
platforms.
 What Not to Post Online?
1. Sexy or revealing pictures
2. Pictures or videos showing private moments with loved ones
3. Pictures or videos showing bad habits
4. Negative comments on another person’s attitudes
5. Posts announcing conflicts with other people
6. Posts of the results of a particular competition with the names of the defeated
participants
7. Comments showing strong opposition to certain issues
8. Comments with foul, vulgar, indecent, and offensive words
9. Pictures or videos revealing one’s financial status
10. Pictures or videos showing family trips
11. Pictures or videos displaying one doing good deeds
12. Pictures or videos in hospitals
13. Posts of every single thing you do
 Dichotomies of the Self
1. Producer or consumer – do your material possessions define who you are?
2. Offline versus online – will there be a consistency between what is seen online
and what is perceived offline?
3. Body versus technology – technology and consumerism allow people to
easily redefine and recreate themselves.
 Are You a Responsible Netizen?
You should know what behaviors are accepted and what behaviors to avoid.
1. Sharing of Fake News – “Think before you click.”
2. Cyberbullying
3. Sharing of Viruses and Malicious Content
 How to Fight Social Media Addiction?
• Limit the time for use of social media.
• Do not participate in the discussion of political issues
• Do not post in social media for the sake of posting
• Read books instead of spending time reading news, articles, and issues on
social media.
• Spend time to communicate with your family at home even to your neighbors
and your officemates.
Lesson 12. Becoming a Better
Student
Lesson 13. Setting Goals for
Success
Lesson 14. Taking Charge of
One’s Health
 Lesson 12: Becoming a Better Student
 Learning – involves change. Changes in one’s behavior mostly occur through
experience. Generally, it involves acquiring changes in the present knowledge, skills,
habits, behaviors, or tendencies through experience, practice, or formal education.
 Characteristics of Learning:
1. Learning is purposeful – every human action is motivated or inspired by one’s aims,
goals, or intentions. Goals can be short-term or long-term. Learning occurs because it
is planned, desired, or even forced. There is always a purpose why a person seeks
more knowledge.
2. Learning is a result of experience – learning is often associated with a change in
behavior as a result of experience. This entails that learning comes with one’s
interaction with the environment.
3. Learning is multifaceted - “A sound mind in a sound body.” This exemplifies the
connection between the physical and mental well-being of a person. One must
hone not just his intellectual, but also physical, emotional, social, and spiritual
potentials.
4. Learning is an active process – learners should not be mere passive receivers
of information. They should actively participate in the learning process. Learners
should also recognize the importance of lifelong learning.
 What Happens During Learning?
• Brain Changes - (1.) new nerve cells may grow and new neural networks will be
formed, (2.) the strength of existing synaptic connection changes, thus
functionally changing the connectivity within the neural networks in response to
sensory stimuli, and (3.) new synapses are formed between neurons which
represent new memories
• Behavioral Changes – learning will become a permanent change in behavior
as a result of experience.
 Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner
• Self-regulated learning – the learner’s ability to regulate or control one’s own
learning and behavior. According to Barry Zimmerman, an effective learner
regulates one’s own learning by: (1.) planning and setting goals, (2.) using
strategies and monitoring performance, and (3.) reflecting on one’s own
performance and adapting strategies to achieve goals. Once a learner
becomes a good self-regulator, he or she develops a set of skills and habits to
be an effective learner.
 Learning to be a Better Student - “If you are not getting better, you are getting
worse.” - Pat Riley
 Good Study Habits:
1. Get Organized – plan ahead of time and do not procrastinate. Fix study area and
eliminate all distractions.
2. Prepare your review materials – make review notes/flashcards. Make mind maps
and mnemonic patters to recall terms and concepts. Record important lessons and
listen to it.
3. Ask help – seek help from your teacher, classmates, or other people if you cannot
understand a lesson.
4. Test yourself or ask someone to test you
5. Allot time to take a break and eliminate stress.
6. Create or join a study group – enables you to take notes, discuss thoughts,
brainstorm ideas and tutor concepts.
7. Teach what you have learned.
8. Study to understand, not to remember.
 Lesson 13: Setting Goals for Success
• John Maxwell – “Have you tried playing darts without a dartboard? Have you
tried playing basketball without a ring? Or playing golf without a hole?”
• A life without a purpose is a wasted life.
• A life without a goal is a pointless life.
 Alfred Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy – one’s belief in his/her ability to
succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task.
 Belief – if a person believes in himself or herself, then half the battle is already
won. If one has faith, then nothing is impossible.
Ways to Strengthen Self-Efficacy:
1. Mastery Experiences – first-hand or direct experiences that a person
acquires.
Hone your talents and skills and gain mastery of the technical know-how to be
ready to face tasks and challenges.
2. Vicarious Experiences – emanate from observing people especially those that
one regards as his/her role models. Find a mentor and follow him/her.
3. Verbal Persuasion – the motivation coming from influential people (family,
friends, mentors). Statements like “kayang kaya mo ‘yan” and “ikaw pa,
maning-mani lang ‘yan sa’yo” provide very significant motivation.
4. Emotional and Physiological States – the condition of your body and mind is
important since you will use those to prove to yourself that you can succeed.
“A sound mind in a sound body.”
 Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset Theory
• Mindset – the implicit theories that individuals hold regarding the nature of
intelligent behavior.
• Fixed Mindset – people believe that basic qualities such as intelligence and
talents are fixed traits.
• Growth Mindset – people believe that talent and intelligence are developed
through learning, effort, training, and practice.
 Edwin Locke’s Goal-setting Theory – a goal has two sides: (1.) mastery goal,
and (2.) performance goal.
• Mastery goal – the desire to gain knowledge and skills
• Performance goal – the desire to look competent in the eyes of others
▪ Principles of Goal Setting:
➢ Clarity – being clear and not being vague. A goal must be SMART (Specific,
Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Based).
➢ Challenge – a goal must trigger the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a person
A goal should require extra effort for its attainment.
➢ Commitment – reflects a person’s dedication towards the attainment of the set
goals. Attaining of goals requires sincerity and focus. You should always finish
what you have started.
➢ Feedback – serves as a mechanism to ensure that everyone is sharing the
same goal is on the right track and all are in the same direction.
➢ Task Complexity – pushes people to take the extra mile and work hard. The
more complicated the goal or task is, the higher your motivation will be.
 Julia Rotter’s Expectancy Theory – focuses mainly on the expectations that
shape a particular behavior in a particular situation. Learning creates
cognitions that guide behavior. A person’s decision to engage in a behavior is
determined by what the person expects to happen, following the behavior
and the value the person places on the outcome.
• Internal locus of control – a person believes that events are controlled by
his/her own efforts.
• External locus of control – a person believes that events are determined by
external forces over which he/she has no control.
 Success – all about achieving something as a product of one’s initiative and
effort. Success is subjective as it comes from a lot of sources. Success
is the feeling of fulfillment of an aspiration or desire, these feelings stay and
become sources of pride.
King (2004) – Categories of Success
1. Mental – understanding and accepting one’s intellectual abilities, feelings,
and emotions.
2. Spiritual – equates to having a sound body and spirit.
3. Personal – overcoming one’s physical and psychological limitations like
overcoming a phobia.
4. Career – achieving milestones on one’s career.
5. Financial – means financial stability, free from debt.
6. Social – reflects respect and recognition one has from the community.
7. Physical – possessing the desired qualities of one’s body.
8. Family – having a harmonious and happy family.
• One can’t have it all, but the continuous chase for success makes life more
challenging and worth living.
Lesson 14: Taking Charge of One’s Health
 Biorhythm – the self is dominated by three domains that operate in a cycle.
These manifests regularly and one may dominate the other.
 Three Domains that Dominate the Self:
1. Physical Domain – includes coordination, strength, and well-being.
2. Intellectual Domain – includes alertness, analytical functioning, logical
analysis, memory or recall, and communication.
3. Emotional Domain – includes creativity, sensitivity, mood, perception, and
awareness.
• Taken as a whole and as a framework or indicator of health, these domains must
be balanced by individuals. Any imbalance results in incongruence and
thus in an unhealthy situation.
❖ Personal Health Responsibility – involves active participation in one’s own
health and healing plan through education and lifestyle changes. People
should think more of prevention over cure.
❖ Stress – the reaction of our physiological and psychological self to any kind of
demand or threat. Could be positive (eustress) or negative (distress).
▪ Eustress – a beneficial stress that can be in the form of physical, psychological,
and biological stimuli.
▪ Distress – occurs when there is a tension buildup which becomes unbearable and
difficult to cope with.
▪ Stressor – any event or stimuli that compels a person to adjust or change.
 These are the common stressors:
1. Catastrophic events and life threatening experiences – abrupt, unforeseen
traumas like calamities, terror attacks, accidents, physical and sexual abuse.
2. Life changes and strains – separation of parents, illness in the family, change
of workplace, transfer of domicile (home).
3. Chronic Problems – exist for a long period including suffering from serious
illness, failure to acquire/get a good job.
4. Everyday Hassles – irritations, pressures, and annoyances that may not be
significant stressors, but whose cumulative effect can be significant. Example:
traffic congestion, long lines, etc.
➢ Stress Tolerance – ability of an individual to endure stress. This is dependent
on a person’s physiological and psychological constitution.
 Signs and Symptoms of Poorly Managed Stress
A. Physical – inability to sleep, fatigue, headache, cramps, unpleasant aura,
and gastrointestinal problems. Could also cause aging and malignant diseases
like cancer.
B. Emotional and Behavioral – lack of concentration, irritation, nervousness,
panic, lack of appetite in food or too much intake of food, low level of
enthusiasm and desire, and mood swings.
 Coping with Stress
• Problem-focused coping method – attempt to change or eliminate the causes
of stress. Includes confrontation, seeking social support and undertaking
careful and deliberate problem solving.
• Emotion-focused coping method – aimed at controlling negative emotional
consequences of stressors. Includes self-control, distancing, accepting
responsibility, and wishful thinking.
 The Need for Self-Care and Self-Compassion
• Self-care – “You cannot give what you don’t have.” Self-care – All activities
that a person does to maintain and improve his physical, psychological,
emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
• Physical self-care – activities one does to maintain and improve his physical
wellbeing.
• Psychological self-care – activities one does to deal or resolve mental health
issues, address both positive and negative emotions, and learn to deal with
negative self-criticism.
• Emotional self-care – activities one does to cope with stress and deal with grief.
• Social self-care – activities one does to connect with people valuable to
him/her.
• Spiritual self-care – activities one does to strengthen one’s relationship with his
belief.
 Benefits of Self-care
1. Enhanced productivity
2. Improved vitality
3. Enhanced self-esteem
4. Increased self-knowledge
5. Mindfulness and self compassion – showing compassion to one’s self.
6. Being open to and moved by one’s own suffering, expressing care, and
kindness towards
oneself.
 Self –compassion is defined as showing compassion to oneself. It involves
being open to and moved by one’s own suffering, expressing care and kindness
towards oneself, taking an understanding and nonjudgmental attitude towards
one’s inadequacies and failures, and recognizing that one’s experience is part of
the common human experience(Neff, 2018).
 Three Components of Self-compassion
 Self-kindness – not being physically and verbally harsh to oneself. Self-beration
is a kind of verbal abuse directed to oneself. Self-harm is the act of harming
oneself through physical means damaging to the individual.
 2. Common Humanity – means acceptance that one is an imperfect being, one
makes mistakes along with everyone else, and one does not always get what he
or she wants.
 3. Mindfulness – the practice of being fully present in the moment. One has to
turn toward his painful thoughts and emotions in order to embrace himself with
compassion.