PERSONAL

DEVELOPMENT
Prepared by:
JAN NIÑO U. ACEBUCHE
CAC – Part-Time Lecturer

Name: _______________________ Grade & Strand: ____________

 Unit 1

SELF DEVELOPMENT

Module 1

Introduction to
Personal Development
Rubrics for Essay Learning Exercises:
CRITERIA 4 3 2 1
Information is Information is Information is The information
very organized in slightly organized but appears to be
a well- organized in a paragraph(s) are disorganized.
Organization
constructed well-constructed not well-
paragraph or paragraph or constructed.
paragraphs. paragraphs.
Information Information Information Information has
relates to the relates to the partially relates little or nothing
topic. It provides topic. It provides to the topic. No to do with the
Content a lot of few supporting details and/or topic.
supporting details and/or examples are
details and/or examples. given.
examples.
Main points well Main points well Main points are Main points lack
developed with developed with present with detailed
high quality and quality limited detail and development.
quantity support. supporting development. Ideas are vague
Development Reveals high details and Some critical with little
degree of critical quantity. Critical thinking is evidence of
thinking. thinking is present. critical thinking.
weaved into
points.
Essay is free of Essay has few Most spelling, Spelling,
distracting punctuation and punctuation, and punctuation, and
spelling, grammatical grammar correct grammatical
punctuation, and errors allowing allowing reader errors create
grammatical reader to follow to progress distraction,
Grammar errors; absent of ideas clearly. through essay. making reading
& Mechanics fragments, Very few Some errors difficult;
comma splices, fragments or run- remain. fragments,
and run-ons. ons. comma splices,
run-ons evident.
Errors are
frequent.
Meets all formal Meets format and Meets format and Fails to follow
and assignment assignment assignment format and
requirements and requirements; requirements; assignment
evidences margins, spacing, generally correct requirement;
attention to and indentations margins, spacing, cover format,
detail; all are correct; essay and indentations; incorrect
Format margins, spacing is neat and essay is neat but indentations;
and indentations correctly may have some neatness of essay
are correct; essay assembled. assembly errors. needs attention.
is neat and
correctly
assembled with
professional look.
1: INTRODUCTION TO
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Personal development is a lifetime process marked by laughter, sweat, and tears. It is

the journey of an individual toward self-discovery and self-acceptance. During the adoles-
cent stage of human development, the individual finds himself or herself at a vulnerable
spot, which requires great patience in order for him or her to understand the movement
and changes happening inside and outside a person. Adolescence is the time of discovery
and experimentation that brings joy and freedom to the person. It is the time in our life
when we discover, mold, and chisel our identity that we will bring to the future.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. understand and explain in their own words what personal development is;
2. understand and explain the psychological basis of personal development;
3. relate the concept of personal development in his or her own experiences as an
adolescent; and,
4. express their spiritual and religious beliefs and how these influence their personal
development.
I. Human Development and Personal Development
Developmental scientists identified the three aspects or domains of human
development as (Papalia and Feldman 2012):
1. Physical Development, which covers the growth of the body and the brain,
motor and sensory skills, and even physical health;
2. Cognitive Development, which covers our capacity to learn, to speak, to
understand, to reason, and to create; and
3. Psychosocial Development, which includes our social interactions with
other people, our emotions, attitudes, self-identity, personality, beliefs, and
values.
While human development covers the whole lifespan of human existence in
relation to the three domains, personal development is one's own development and
growth within the context of the three aspects of human development. Human
development is also influenced by:
➢ Heredity or the inborn traits passed on by the generations of offspring from
both sides of the biological parents' families;
➢ Environment is the world outside of ourselves and the experiences that result
from our contact and interaction with this external world; and,
➢ Maturation is the natural progression of the brain and the body that affects
the cognitive (thinking and intelligence), psychological (emotion, attitude, and
self-identity), and social (relationships) dimensions of a person. The influence
of physical maturation over a person’s development is most pronounced
during his childhood and adolescence stages.

1.1. Is It Personality Development or Personal Development?

You must be familiar with the term personality development and must have
heard of learning places where you could enroll to learn skills like table etiquette,
how to sit properly and walk with grace, how to dress up appropriately, and how to
communicate better. In some personality development centers, they also offer
sessions that deal with oneself and how one relates with others. Training in these
skills bring about noticeable transformation and improvement in one's personality.
Personality development has given birth to many related businesses that span
the globe. It includes image enhancement such as skin care and make-up, fashion
and clothing, and even body contouring; modeling and beauty pageants; and many
others.
If personality development is all about these things mentioned above, then what
is personal development?
Let us see how the words “personal,” “personality,” and “development” are
commonly defined.
We will use the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary to serve as our reference.
The word personal is defined as:

• belonging or relating to a particular person;

 • made or designed to be used by one person;
• someone whose job involves working for or helping a particular person; and
• of, relating to, or affecting a particular person.
Here are some examples given for the word personal:

• This is just my personal opinion.

• I can only tell you what I know from personal experience.
• We do not accept personal checks.
The word personality, on the other hand, is defined as:

• the set of emotional qualities, ways of behaving, etc., that makes a person
different from other people;
• attractive qualities (such as energy, friendliness, and humor) that make a
person interesting or pleasant to be with;
• attractive qualities that make something unusual or interesting;
• distinction or excellence of personal and social traits; also a person having
such quality; and
• a person of importance, prominence, renown, or notoriety.
Some examples that are given for the word personality are:

• He has a very pleasant personality.

• We all have different personalities.
• He has many personality.
• He wants to buy a car that has personality.
• She has met many television personalities.
• He was an influential personality in genetic engineering.
And finally, the word development is defined as:

• the act or process of growing or causing something to grow or become larger

or more advanced;
• the act or process of creating something over a period of time; and
• the state of being created or made more advanced.
From these definitions, we can see that there is a major difference between
personal and personality. In this module, we will explore together what personal
development is all about, and why this is important in our lives.

II. What is Personal Development?

Human nature is very complex. There is no one singular school of thought in any
form of scientific study, including psychology, which can completely and
satisfactorily define human nature. Although similar to many other living organisms
that go through the process of birth, growth, development, regeneration, and death,
human beings are different as we possess more complex capabilities such as self-
awareness, analytical thinking, self-evaluation, motivation, decision-making, and
reflective thought. These capabilities, beyond mere survival instincts, are what
distinguish the human species from the rest of the physical world.
 Human beings have the sole capacity to reflect upon itself, and in the process
develop self-awareness, become motivated, and then desire to grow and change for
the better; and are prompted to mature and improve until it reaches its desired level
of development. It is, therefore, natural for human beings to develop toward maturity
and fullness (Carl Rogers 1961).

Personal development may be defined as a process in which persons reflect upon themselves,
understand who they are, accept what they discover about themselves, and learn (or unlearn) new
sets of values, attitudes, behavior, and thinking skills to reach their fullest potential as human
beings.

Zorka Hereford in her book, 9 Essential Life Skills - A Guide for Personal
Development and Self Realization, defined personal development as “the process of
striving to be the best that you can be in order to reach and realize your full potential.
It is a journey of self-discovery, self-improvement, and self-realization.”

III. Origins of Personal Development

The evolution of the understanding of human development may have started eons
ago when the first Homo sapiens walked the face of the earth. The cavemen who drew
figures on their cave walls attempted to narrate their experiences such as hunting.
The act of drawing can be deemed as an attempt toward creative expression and
narration. It was during the time of the Western philosophers, particularly the Greek
thinkers, when questions about the self and about being human were started to be
asked.

In Republic, which some consider to be the greatest work on the philosophy of

education, Plato argued that building character, as much as intelligence, is what
education is all about. Even during the early times of human development and
civilization, there was already an attempt to link individual development with social
responsibility (“Explaining Personal and Social Development” by the Young Adult
Learners Partnership, Queen’s Printer 2003). This could be the seeds of personal
development in Western thinking that eventually evolved into the Human Potential
Movement in the 1960s influenced by the popular philosophies at that time:
existentialism and humanistic psychology.

Eastern thought may have understood personal development through another

concept. The great Chinese being will always desire to become the “superior man,”
not just to his peers and followers, but to himself most especially. He envisioned
what Confucius must have understood as a consequence of personal development
(The Ethics of Confucius, Chapter 1: What Constitutes a Superior Man?).

Even religions may have influenced personal development through their

adherence to many rituals in self-discipline, meditation, prayer, physical exercises
such as yoga and fasting, and creative acts of expressions such as singing, dancing,
and acting.
IV. Psychology and Personal Development
Psychology, being the study of human thinking and behavior,
serves as a foundation for personal development.

The school of thought that gave birth to the contemporary

understanding of personal development started during the
flourishing of Humanistic and Positive Psychology in the 1950s,
which dealt with personal growth and meaning as a way of
reaching one’s fullest potentials. Carl Rogers

The two proponents of Humanistic Psychology were

Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. While Maslow
theorized the five stages of human development based on
a hierarchy of needs, peaking in what he termed as “self-
actualization,” Carl Rogers, in his psychotherapy practice,
theorized that “the individual has within himself the
capacity and the tendency, latent if not evident, to move
forward toward maturity” {On Becoming a Person, p. 35)
Abraham Maslow

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to theorize the

Five Stages of Human Development

As Humanistic Psychology waned in the late 1970s, it was eventually revived

decades later.

Martin Seligman, a noted psychologist and president of the American

Psychological Association, realized how psychology, after the Second World War, puts
more emphasis in diagnosing, treating, and preventing psychological disorders and
therefore focusing on a disease model of human nature. Martin Seligman and Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi helped refocus this emphasis of psychology from a disease model
 Martin Seligman

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

toward what is good and positive about human persons and their desire to achieve
their full potentials. Positive psychology also created a balance between what
humanistic psychology emphasized that human nature is basically good, while
adding that human nature includes both the positive and the negative aspects. In
short, positive psychology stresses that human nature has its good and positive
strengths, as well as its inadequacies and weaknesses (Peterson 2006).

The Positive Psychology Center of the University of Pennsylvania defines Positive

Psychology as the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals
and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead
meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within them, and to enhance
their experiences of love, work, and play.

While personal development falls within the realm of psychology, it cannot be

detached from the development of the brain and the rest of the physical body.

Adolescence is the transition period between childhood and early adulthood.

Although scientists and psychologists may slightly differ in pegging the exact age of
adolescence, it is widely believed to be between ages 11 or 12, and lasting to about
18 years of age (Feist and Rosenberg 2012).

In the Philippine context, authors Corpuz, Lucas, Borabo, and Luddo (2010)
defined the three stages of adolescence as:

• Early adolescence - between 10 and 13 years of age

• Middle adolescence - between 14 and 16 years of age
• Late adolescence - between 17 and 20 years of age

Adolescence starts with the biological changes called puberty. The physical body
undergoes growth spurts at this time, for both male and female, leading toward
physical maturity.

Biological changes bring about cognitive (thinking and reasoning) and affective
(feelings and emotions) changes. The child, who has reached adolescence, is now
capable of reasoning about abstract concepts and problems (Piaget). At this point,
the adolescent become more inquisitive about things like philosophy, religion, and
politics. This is also the stage when they begin to ask questions about their identity.
Relationships with family and friends are also affected by puberty during
adolescence. Friends become the center of relationships more than family.
 V. Spirituality and Religious Beliefs in Personal Development
As we have discussed personal development in the psychological, social, and
biological contexts, it is also important to consider the spirituality and religious
beliefs of a person, and how these influences personal development. According to a
research study conducted among US teens, the formation of one's identity includes
attitudes about religion. This reflection is left to the student to find out how his or
her religious beliefs influence one's identity development and understanding of
personal development.

LEARNING EXERCISE 1.1

Are you ready to test what you have learned? It’s simple. Just discuss each question below with an honest
answer. LET’S DO THIS! (5 points each)

1. How does the age and stage of development of a person influence their personal development?
Explain.
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2. Relate your spiritual and/or religious beliefs to personal development. How does this manifest in
terms of your day-to-day behavior at home? In school?
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3. How would you relate Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in your personal life? Elaborate your
answer.
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4. What is your OWN definition of happiness? How is this related to your personal development?
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REFLECTION PAPER
Write down what you have learned and reflections on the topics discussed. This will serve as your
journal entry, which you will continue to do throughout the year. In the journal, write down your thoughts,
feelings, and realization about the lesson. Pay special attention to what kinds of emotions you are feeling
and how these are affecting your thoughts about yourself. List down things about yourself that you would
like to improve on and create a work plan on how to do this. List down the things you want to learn and
change about yourself. (10 points)
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SUMMARY
1. There are three aspects of human development: physical, cognitive, and
psychosocial.
2. There are three factors affecting or influencing human development: heredity,
environment, and maturation.
3. Personal development is a process in which persons reflect upon themselves,
understand who they are, accept what they discover about themselves, and
learn (or unlearn) new sets of values, attitudes, behavior, and thinking skills
to reach their fullest potential as human beings.
4. Psychology serves as a foundation of personal development.
5. There are several schools of thought or theories on personal eve op were
developed through the years: humanistic psychology by its lead proponent
Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, and positive psychology espoused by
Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
6. Adolescence is the transition period between childhood and early adulthood,
it is widely believed that the adolescent age spans from 11 or 12, up to age 18.
7. Spiritual and religious beliefs influence personal development. Research
shows that the formation of one's personal identity includes attitudes about
religion.
REFERENCES

Books:

• Santos, Ricardo Rubio. Personal Development. First Edition. Rex Printing

Company. Quezon City. February 2016.
• Papalia, Diane E. and Ruth Duskln Feldman. 2012. Experience Human
Development, 12th Edition, International Edition. New York, NY, USA:
McGraw-Hill.

Internet Sources:
• Maslow's Key Characteristics of Self-actualized Individuals. Accessed on
October 2014. http://
psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_ 2.htm.
• Peterson, C. 2006. A Primer in Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford
University Press. Found online on June 12, 2015 at.
https://books.google.com.ph/books
Images and Artworks used in this Module:
• https://www.toolshero.com/toolsheroes/carl-rogers/
• https://www.verywellmind.com/biography-of-abraham-maslow-1908-1970-
2795524
• https://studiousguy.com/real-life-examples-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs/
• https://positivepsychology.com/who-is-martin-seligman/
• https://flowleadership.org/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-a-life-story-with-his-own-
words/