ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHIES

Ancient and Medieval Philosophies view and understand the self as a

perfection of the soul via self-examination and self-control. These philosophies
include the perspectives of Socrates, Plato, and St. Augustine.

Ancient Greek philosophers believed that the soul is the essence of man.
The soul or the self. The famous statement,

to know the limits of oneself,

self-moderation, with prudence and good judgment.

SOCRATES

To know and understand oneself, one should live an

having self-knowledge
being dignified with values and integrity
having and applying wisdom
recognizing ignorance

To live an examined life also maintains that one should recognize and
acknowledge that there are things one does not know; that there are things
about the self and about life that still needs to be discovered; that life is a
never-ending search for answers. To this, Socrates stated: now

PLATO

According to Plato, the examination of the self is a

unique experience; it differs from person to person, as one
gets to discover things about him/herself. This experience
then leads to better understanding of the psyche.
 Plato proposed three elements of the psyche: the appetitive, the spirited,
and the mind. These three elements either work together or go against each

and comforts. It basically holds all those relevant to sustaining a comfortable

environment. An example of this is wanting to sleep in despite having classes,
or enjoying ice cream on a hot, sunny day.

The spirited is the motivated element, which fights back to ensure that
the appetitive is controlled. For instance, telling oneself that education should
be prioritized, it is not good to be lazy, and one should wake up and get ready
for school.
The mind is the most superior element of the psyche, which controls how
the self is expressed. To do this, it controls the appetitive and spirited elements,
thus striking a balance between the two and resulting in more realistic
behavior. To illustrate, perhaps acknowledging that one is still tired and sleepy,
but also realizing the fact that one needs to attend classes, thus, he/she goes
to class and then makes it a point to take a nap afterwards.

Understanding how these three elements work then leads to

understanding of the self, as one sees how behavior results, and determines
how to balance the calls of each element.

ST. AUGUSTINE

own imperfections

St. Augustine considered himself a sinner. He

acknowledged that he had committed bad deeds, and
resolved to change and be a better person. For St.
Augustine, the self develops through self-presentation and
self-realization. One must present him/herself, accepting
who he/she is - strengths, weaknesses, and discerning
what changes to make to be a better individual.

he believed that to be a better person, one should turn to his/her religious

beliefs as this would serve as a guide towards better understanding of oneself.
In doing so, the end goal - happiness in and through God - would be
achieved.
Which of the ancient and medieval propositions did you
find interesting or you can relate with?

What have you realized about your SELF?

Pause for a while and find joy in thinking of what you are
thinking.
 MODERN PHILOSOPHIES
Modern philosophical perspectives view the self as a dialectic synthesis
between Rationalism and Empiricism, that is, having different points of view but
coming to a resolution. Rationalism deals with thinking and innate ideas, and
regards reason as the main source of knowledge. Empiricism, on the other
hand, has to do with sense experience where knowledge is based on how one
observes and perceives his/her experiences.

To understand the self then implies the use of both reason and
experience, as such, there is a dialectic synthesis.

RENE DESCARTES

Rene Descartes is a pioneer or Rationalism. To understand

the self, the rational method should be carried out, where the
self exists as one makes use of rational thought, or to put it simply,
when states
that everything must be subjected to doubt or that everything
should be questioned. It is a way of searching for certainty by systematically
and tentatively doubting everything. When one applies Methodic Doubt,
he/she uses rational thinking, thus, the self exists. For instance, one may
question why he is not good in singing. Instead of simply accepting this as a
fact, he reasons out why he is not good at such, and in doing so, enables his

Human rationality, according to Descartes, is the primary condition for

the existence of the self. Human beings need to reason in order to:
evaluate thoughts
evaluate actions
establish firm foundations or bases
protect oneself
build knowledge

ind; the main thing is to

JOHN LOCKE

John Locke was an advocate of Empiricism. His

concept of
an empty space. This empty space is then filled with the
experiences one has each and every day, where such
experiences are necessary for sense data - what one sees,
hears, smells, tastes, and touches. These sense data are
then perceived or given meaning, and so the empty
space is filled with knowledge of the self. Locke
highlighted the capability of man to learn from
experience, and process different perceptions skillfully to form more complex
ideas. From
experience comes before knowledge. For example, to know how one would
behave when a course has been failed, one should first experience failing a
course. From here, one can observe him/herself in terms of his/her behaviors so
there would then be knowledge and understanding of how the self reacts
towards failure.

DAVID HUME

Perhaps the most different perspective in terms of the

existence of the self would be that of David Hume. He
proposed the idea that the self does not exist. This is
because the idea of the self is merely derived from
impressions. These impressions may be subjective,
temporary, and prejudicial. They do not persist.

educational pursuits, and even b

can change. The self, then, cannot exist if information about it is temporary.
Even everyday decisions can change.
IMMANUEL KANT

Immanuel Kant synthesized the rationalist and empiricist

views. He proposed that the self is always transcendental. The
self is outside the body and outside the qualities of the body.
Ideas are perceived by the self, and they connect the self and
the world. Accordingly, rationality unifies and makes sense of
the perceptions we have in our experiences.
Rationality enables sensible ideas about ourselves and our
world. Thus, the saying above explains that in a way, how we
see ourselves is also how others would see us.

Which of the modern propositions did you find

interesting or relatable?

What have you realized about your SELF?

Pause for a while and find joy in thinking of what you are
thinking.
 CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHIES

The Contemporary philosophical perspectives present a wide variety of

theories that could be used in understanding the self. Much of these is more

SIGMUND FREUD

Sigmund Freud contended that the self is th

a product of multiple interacting processes. When we say, for

and actions.

Freud introduced two models to enable the understanding of the self:

Topographical Model

There are things about the self that one knows and is aware of, and at the
same time, there are those that one does not know and is unaware of. For
instance, you know that you are enrolled in this subject, but you do not know if
you will pass the subject.

At the conscious level, one is aware of thoughts, feelings, and

perceptions. These are easily identified and known by the person. The
subconscious level consists of those that one is able to easily remember and
bring into awareness, such as usual memories and stored knowledge. The
unconscious level, on the other hand, houses those that one has either
repressed or forgotten. it consists of those which are unacceptable,
undesirable, or painful. Freud stated that to come to a complete
understanding and awareness of the self, the contents of the unconscious
should be made conscious, where recognition and acceptance of all
experiences are present.
What are those things that you are aware of? What are those things that you
have tried to forget? How do these contribute to who you are and how you
understand yourself?

Structural Model

as Freud proposed. The three structures are the id, ego, and superego.

primal urges and wants. In children, the id is most dominant, as the other
structures have not yet been developed. The EGO is the reality principle,
and balances the id and superego. The SUPEREGO synthesizes the values
and morals of society, and conscience.
one needs to be aware of both the conscious and the unconscious, and
integrate the id, ego, and superego.

GILBERT RYLE

Gilbert Ryle stated that the self may be understood based

on the external manifestations - actions, language, expressions
of a person. Here, physical actions or behaviors are dispositions
of the self.

To illustrate: You are known to be a very responsible student because it is

seen in the way you act, wherein you are observed to be always on time, listen
intently to your Professor, and get good scores.

***REFLECTION:

agree or disagree with it? Why?

 ***JOURNAL ENTRY #1:

Inventory of my 24 hours
Make an honest inventory of how you spent your typical 24 hours in the
last week or so
Tabular format: start from the moment you woke up until you sleep at
night
Column 1 : time or time duration
Column 2: activity/ies
Make a short reflection on how your dominant
activities shape your emotions, thoughts, perspectives
and how you see yourself. Be sure to incorporate
concepts that you learned from the Philosophical
Perspectives.

MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY

Maurice Merleau-Ponty developed a phenomenological

view of the self/ A phenomenological rhythm explains the
perception of the self, and this involves three dimensions. The first
is the empiricist view, followed by the idealist-intellectual
alternative, and lastly, the synthesis of both views. Merleau proposed

caused by the intricate experiences of the self, and intellectually

processed while making a distinction between truthful and illusory
perceptions.

Merleau-

a single integrated entity; a blending of mental, physical, and emotional -

structured around a core identity: the self.
 PAUL and PATRICIA CHURCHLAND

The Churchlands brought neuroscience into the fore of

understanding
explains how mental concepts are mistaken and do not
adequately allow people to know about what is going on with
themselves.

As such, these should be abandoned, and focus should be on brain

processes instead. Thus, to understand the self, one should go for Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) Scans, to have

References for the three part-handout:

Chafee, J. (2013) Who are you? Consciousness, Identity and the Self. In the Philosopher's
Way: Thinking Critically about Profound Ideas. Pearson. 106 169.

Villafuerte, S. Quillope, A. Tunac, R. Borja, E. (2018). Understanding the Self. NIEME

Publishing House Inc., Quezon City
EMILE DURKHEIM: SOCIAL INTEGRATION and MORAL INDIVIDUATION

Before we were born, there are already societal influences on us that

shape our life and personalities. While alive, the societal influences continue
to have an impact on us, and even beyond our lifetime. Durkheim has
worked on a lot of theories to emphasize this. Some of his works include how
people get to live together peaceably and in organized manner (Division
of Labor), how culture, roles and norms bind people together in synchronized
behaviors, feelings and thoughts (Social Integration), how the rights and dignity
of the individual are based on the principles of equality and Justice (Moral
Individualism). Such theories shall anchor the structuralist and functionalist

Durkheim proposed that the task of sociology is to analyze social facts.

Social Facts conditions and circumstances external to the individual that,

social facts can be ascertained by using collective data such as marriage and
divorces rates. This means that through systematic collection of data, the
patterns behind and within an individual behavior can be uncovered.

Another example of social fact can be exemplified in this instance: When you
fulfill your obligation as a son/daughter, student, brother/sister, or citizen, you
perform duties which are defined, externally to yourself and your actions, in law
and in custom
school, do your duties as a son or daughter) because it conforms to your
sentiments and feel their reality subjectively, such reality is still objective. We did
not create these realities (duties and responsibilities of a child or citizen); we
merely inherited them through our education (formal and informal). That, or
rather, these realities, are social facts.

***REFLECTION:
What are the prevailing social facts of your time? What do these collective data

want to have children of their own compared to the previous generation?

Durkheim emphasized that the society is not a result or an aftereffect

of individual conduct; rather, it (society) exists prior to, and thus, shapes
individual action. In other words, individual lines of conduct are the
outgrowth of social arrangements.

Social Integration is the degree to which an individual is connected to the

society. Social Integration results from a collective consciousness or a shared
 way of understanding and behaving in the world in terms of norms, beliefs,
and values. Those who have weak social connections are more prone to self-
destructive behaviors, or deviancy, because they are unable to balance their
desires with what is considered appropriate by the society. People who are
able to form strong social ties have a deeper sense of belonging, form more
cohesive groups and are able to reduce conflicts. It is synonymous with Social
Solidarity. Social solidarity described the social ties that bind a group of people
together such as kinship, shared location, or religion.

Moral Individualism the doctrine that rationality leaves room for the
individualities of personalities of subjects to express themselves in the moral realm
in an autonomous choice between idealism and fulfilment-maximization. It
involves a morality of cooperation and a profound respect for humanity. It is not

Moral Individualism and the experience of the SACRED

and th
individual finds its expression in the unique respect granted to him and in the
protection of his rights. But there is no such thing as inherent rights and liberties.
Modern society has

the universal values of humanity, each individual consciousness carries

r which renders it sacred

distinctive characteristic of modernity, and that it is replacing all other religions.

profound respect

scholars have noted, it refers to humanity in general rather than to individuals of

any particular nation-

***REFLECTION:

What do you think about Moral Individualism?

Individualism?
 The foregoing, illustrates how such concepts as simple as norms, roles and
culture in the society in which one belongs determines to a great and profound
extent to which the self is embedded in the society that the self is not just a
construct accorded with an identity all its own. To be, the self has to be defined
also in its social dimension. Think for example how such concepts profoundly
affect gender norms, family dynamics, religion and politics and our day-to-day
interactions. Even the field of psychology acknowledges that in solitude or

are affected by his imagined or real influence coming from other people.
 Unit 3: ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF

EXPLAIN

the self.
ZEUS SALAZAR

According to Salazar, our reality is rooted in society and

learning. Language is needed in order for us to articulate this reality.
We get to know what is happening in our society through language.
Similarly, we learn about our culture from our family through
language. As such, language is also considered as the primary
vehicle in understanding ourselves.

PANTAYONG PANANAW

pantayo is a self-subsisted
ideological circle consisting of active subjects. For instance, we Filipinos are a pantayo
because we are a group of people who have a particular set of beliefs and practices.

Pantayong pananaw is a from-us-for-us perspective. It is any social

collectivity which possesses a relatively unified and internally
articulated linguistic-cultural structure of communication and
interaction and/or a sense of oneness of purpose and existence. Going
back to our previous example, we FIlipinos have our own language
which we use to understand what is happening around us. We have
qualities, values, knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and experiences
which are unique to Filipinos. Our beliefs, practices, and other things
which make us Filipinos came from the Filipino people, for the Filipino
people.

PROSPERO COVAR

1
 Prospero Covar makes use of dynamic dualism, or a pairing of
concepts, in order to understand the Filipino personality. Loob is paired
with labas while budhi is paired with kaluluwa.

He likened the body to a banga. Ang nilalaman ng banga ay ang

kalinangan at pagkatao ng Pilipino. This banga is a container which has
a labas, loob, and lalim.

Labas Loob
Ulo Utak
Dibdib Puso
Tiyan Bituka
Sikmura Atay

Lalim: budhi, kaluluwa

According to Covar, metaphors involving the labas, loob, and lalim are used in order
to understand the laman or the pagkataong Pilipino.

Labas matigas ang ulo masuwaying

bukas ang palad mapagbigay

Loob malambot ang puso maawain

halang ang bituka

masama

Lalim maitim ang budhi

halang ang kaluluwa

Aspects of Culture:

1. Likas: This includes the biological and natural aspects of culture.

2
 2. Likha: This includes the artificial and man-made aspects of culture.

HARRY TRIANDIS

discussed several aspects of the self, each of which become more prominent or are
sampled in a specific type of culture.

ASPECTS OF THE SELF:

1. Private Self: This includes your understanding of yourself.

2. Public Self: This covers how you are perceived by other people in
general.
3. Collective Self: This refers to your sense of belonging to a social
group such as your family, friends, religious affiliation, nation, and
other groups you might belong to.

TYPES OF CULTURE:

1. Individualistic vs. Collectivistic: In individualistic cultures, emphasis is placed on the

individualistic self. In contrast, collectivistic cultures give importance to being an
active player in society. You will gain a deeper understanding of this in unit 5.

2. Tight vs. Loose: A tight culture is rigid in requiring that members behave according to
the norms. In comparison, a loose culture has a high tolerance for deviation from
norms.

3. Simple vs. Complex: In a simple culture, there is a common way of living. On the
other hand, a complex culture has several ways of life.

The following table depicts which self is sampled in a particular type of culture.

Private Self Public Self Collective Self

Individualistic

Collectivistic

Tight

Loose

3
Simple

Complex

4
 UNIT 3:
EXPLAIN 2: THE SELF IN WESTERN AND EASTERN
THOUGHT

EXPLAIN 2
How is the Filipino self different from other nationalities? Here, we look into the difference
between Western and Eastern perspectives of the self.

Western Thought vis-a-vis Eastern Thought

Western Thought
Western or eastern labels imply not only geographical locations but also ways of
thinking and behaving. Central to the western traditions is their idea of the psyche which is
their model of the soul. Likewise, western thought believes in the duality of body and the soul
which means that these two are separate entities. According to Plato, the soul inhabited the
world of ideas, while the body descended to the world of the sensible. And, Aristotle
formulated his Hylemorphic Theory wherein the human person is composed of matter or the
body and form or the soul. Matter is changeable while the form remains. Centuries later,
Rene Descartes shared this dualistic view. The body gathers information through the senses
while it is the reason that processes all information and makes sense with experiences of the
body. Furthermore, he believed that the body and soul is fused in the pineal gland.
The western concept of the self is very much anchored on the individuality of the
psyche. The individual self is always in a struggle to reconcile the connection between the
ideal self and the limited self. Hence, the understanding of the self is a lifetime effort for
selfperfection. The development of the self from conception to death is given importance in
this western way of thinking. The purpose of the self is to live the ideals of the soul. This
selfperfection is called by the Greeks as arete - the ultimate goodness, perfection, or
excellence (Villafuerte, S. L., Quillope, A. F., Tunac, R. C., Borja, E. I., 2018).

Eastern Thought
The easterners or Orientals have no issue on dualism. They see the self as one entity.
The body and soul is always one self. Below are some eastern philosophies to help you
understand more the eastern way of thinking.

1
Hinduism - this is a polytheistic religion from India. According to the
Advaita monistic doctrine the atman is the true self because it is
unchanging and it is identical to Brahman, the only one reality.We
can realize true selfhood when we surrender to the all-embracing
Brahman (Ho, D. n.d.).

Buddhism - another religion that originated from India. Although some

people claim that
Buddhism is not a religion but a way of life. The tenets of Buddhism is
based on the teaching of a man named Siddhartha Gautama who is

there is no self because it is considered as nothing but an evolution

and transformation of inner consciousness. There is no permanent self
to talk about because everything is changing (Ho, D. n.d.).

Confucian Philosophy - the chinese philosopher Confucius ascertained

Chinese civilization by establishing social order. He believed that the
society has primacy over the individual person. The self is a person within
the society who exhibits refinement and compassion. The ideal person
for Confucius is the junzi which is translated as a gentleman or superior
man. The junzi is the new self formed in the right education under the virtuous teacher as the
role model. Central in the educational formation of junzi: (1) humanistic learning, (2) refined
personal manners, and (3) the capacity to govern the community wisely and with
compassion. The junzi brings to life the virtues of the ancestors to the new order of the
society. The self is the transmitter of the ancient virtues to the new world. Confucian
philosophy has two important concepts. First is Li which originally means sacrifice but later it
is better understood as a refined manner of spiritual rituals and sacrifices, and protocols in
honoring the ancestors. The virtuous self must be able to practice the correct customary
procedures and protocols governing all of life. Second is Ren the character of the self
that sincerely shows compassion for others (Villafuerte et al, 2018).

Taoism - represents the Chinese counterculture. The good life for the
Taoists is the simple life, spontaneous, in harmony with nature,
unencumbered by social regulation, and free from the desire to achieve
social ascendancy. Taoists are champions of individuality and individual
freedom. Taoism disavows a hierarchical view of the self, society, or cosmos. The self is not
an extension of, and not defined by social relationships. The self is but one of the countless
manifestations of the Tao. It is an extension of the cosmos. The Tao De Ching speaks of
knowing others as being wise, and of knowing oneself as being enlightened. This implies a
differentiation between the self and others. In Taoism, selflessness is the philosophical
attitude of being identified with the Tao an attitude that leads to acceptance of both life
and death. It encompasses both tranquility and activity. When selflessness is attained, the
.

2
African Ubuntu Philosophy - this is from the Ubuntu (humanness)

people need reconciliation with others to realize this philosophy

(Nabudere, D. W., n.d.).

Judeo-Christian Philosophies - emphasized the unity of a nation

the chosen people of God. This is basically a communal
perspective of the self shared by eastern traditions.

Islamic traditions - Islam shares similar perspective with Judeo-

Christian Philosophies by believing in the importance of
community over the individual. Also, it highlights the oneness of
Allah and the inclusivity of Islam as a religion.

The Eastern philosophy is more attuned to the collective dimension of the self, compared to
the Western individualistic ideals of the self.

The table below gives a summary of the differences between individualism and collectivism.

INDIVIDUALISM COLLECTIVISM

Each person is an active player and does what is

goals best for the society

Individual rights are most The rights of others supersede those of the
important individual

Independence is valued Working with others is the norm

Rules attempt to ensure self- Rules promote unity and selflessness

importance

Relying on others is seen as Cooperating and supporting each other is

shameful desirable

THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE SELF IN WESTERN THOUGHT

Characteristics of the Western social construct of the self:

1. Individualistic Self - the individualistic self is an autonomous self and the goal of the person
is to achieve the goals set by himself/herself.
2. Self-Sufficiency - the self is seen as capable of meeting its need without external
assistance.
3. Rational Self - the self is constantly rational and reasonable. It relies on logic and reason
to understand the world.
3
 THE SELF AS EMBEDDED IN RELATIONSHIPS AND THROUGH SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT IN
CONFUCIAN THOUGHT EASTERN CONSTRUCT

1. The Eastern construct is primarily viewed as collectivistic and is always grounded on nature.
2. Eastern traditions are firmly based on how the self relates with others, to the Divine being,
and with nature.

In conclusion, the eastern traditions are known for their communal and spiritual
constructs. On the other hand, the western traditions developed a construct of being
individualistic, self-reliant, rational, and scientific.

*** REFLECTION: What aspects of yourself and personal identity are from the
What What makes you a FILIPINO? (Ilocano?
Kapampangan? Bicolano? Korean? Chinese? American?- depends on your alliance
or affinity)

4
 Write your thoughts on the space provided.

References:
Chafee, J. (2013) Who are you? Consciousness, Identity and the Self. In the Philosopher's Way:
Thinking Critically about Profound Ideas. Pearson. 106 169.
Covar, Prospero. "Kaalamang Bayang Dalumat ng Pagkataong Pilipino." Sa kanyang Larangan:
Seminal Essays on Philippine Culture. NCCA, 1998. mp. 9- 19.
Salvacion, V., Quillope, A., Tunac R., and Borja, E. (2018). Understanding the Self. Nieme Publishing
House Co. Ltd.,
Triandis (1989). The self and social behavior in differing cultural contexts. Psychol.Rev. 96(3). 506-520.

5
 Unit 4: PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF

EXPLAIN

psychological perspectives. Try and see which is most relevant to how you understand and
know yourself.

WILLIAM JAMES

-self
and the I-self.

ME-SELF
- this is the empirical self
- the object of a thought

3 Dimensions of Me-self:
1. Material Self - pertains to the things you own
2. Social Self - significant interpersonal relations
3. Spiritual Self -

I-SELF
- - provides the thread of continuity between our past, present, and
future selves
- this component of the self is consciousness itself
- self-awareness (the act of thinking about ourselves)
- referred to as the soul (or mind)
- involves subjective experiential features such as life history and experience

3 Dimensions of I-self:
1. Individual Self
2. Relational Self
3. Collective Self

1
KAREN HORNEY

According to Horney, the foundation of a healthy development

stems from our childhood experiences. People need to meet certain
conditions to grow. Parents need to provide feelings of safety and
security to the child in order for them to become psychologically
healthy individuals.

Unfortunately, parents may fail to provide such conditions at some point. Parents are not

capacity to provide safety and security to the child. As a result, the child will develop basic
hostility - anger/aggression - towards the parents. However, such feelings are unacceptable
and are repressed. These feelings of unexpressed hostility would result in the child developing
basic anxiety - a feeling of inadequacy and helplessness in a perceived hostile world.

The presence of basic anxiety can lead to the development of what Horney calls the
Idealized Self - an overly positive, and perfect image of the self. Idealized self contains
numerous beliefs including: (1) they are better than others, (2) the world owes them, and (3)
they should be perfect, should be the best, etc.

IDEALIZED SELF
- an imaginary picture of the self as the possessor of unlimited powers and superlative
qualities
- developed when people feel inferior and have the need to be loved
-

ACTUALIZED SELF
- the person one is in everyday life
-

- often despised because it fails to fulfill the requirement of the idealized image DESPISED
SELF
- negative view of the self
- based on the lack of love and acceptance by others
- consists of feelings of inferiority and shortcomings
- true self is the one hated

REAL SELF
- revealed only as a person begins to shed the various techniques developed to deal with
basic anxiety
- -realization
- - the need to be who one truly is

2
***REFLECTION: Is having an idealized self good or bad? Why?

wanting to be perfect. However, we have to accept that

we cannot be perfect. We can be better, but NOT perfect.

Basic hostility, basic anxiety and the idealized self are said to be normal since the

are not perfect. They will always have their shortcomings.

However, Idealized self

Real self - who you really are, including your strengths, weaknesses and imperfections. If there
is a huge gap between your idealized self and real self, this leads to neurotic behaviors.

CARL ROGERS

According to Carl Rogers, there are two types of tendencies:

Formative and Actualizing.

1. FORMATIVE TENDENCY: The ability to grow from simple to

complex organisms
2.
potential

Experiences can help us grow and develop. That is why Carl Rogers gave emphasis on
the subjective experience of a person. As the individual goes through life experiences,
he/she becomes a separate individual from others. This is the SELF or SELF-CONCEPT defined
by the words I, my, myself and me.

Similar to Horney, the self is also divided into two: Real self and Ideal self.

REAL SELF (Self- eing and experiences that are

perceived in awareness.
IDEAL SELF: This pertains to who you want to become in the future.

- ized Self-image. The Real self and Ideal self should

overlap and co-
Problems and difficulties may arise once there is little to no overlap between the two.

3
 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IDEAL SELF AND REAL SELF TO OVERLAP:

1. Congruence/Genuineness - being real; accepting the self

2. Empathy -

3. Unconditional Positive Regard -no conditions of worth; unconditional acceptance

ELABORATE

THE SELF AS PROACTIVE AND AGENTIC

PROACTIVE
- acting in advance of a future situation, rather than just reacting
- taking control and making things happen rather than just adjusting to a situation or
waiting for something to happen

AGENTIC
- self-organizing, proactive, self-reflective and self-regulating as times change - agentic
perspective states that we are NOT merely reactive organisms shaped by environmental
forces or driven by inner impulses

4
 ALBERT BANDURA

HUMAN AGENCY: Essence of humanness; People are self-regulating,

proactive, self-organizing and self-reflective. In addition, people have
the power to influence their own actions and produce the desired
consequences.

CORE FEATURES OF HUMAN AGENCY:

1. Intentionality
- This pertains to the idea that people are continually
changing their plans and are aware of the consequences of their actions.

2. Forethought
- This pertains to the idea that people are able to anticipate the possible
outcomes of their actions and select behaviors that will produce the desired outcome.

3. Self-reactiveness
- This pertains to the ability to motivate themselves and regulate their actions.

4. Self-reflectiveness
- This pertains to the idea that people have the ability to examine themselves.

SELF-EFFICACY: Feelings of adequacy, efficiency and competence in coping with life.

HIGH LEVELS: Belief that they can deal effectively with events and situations

LOW LEVELS: Belief that they are unable to exercise control over events and situations

Sources of Self-efficacy:

1. Performance Attainment ü Previous successful attempts and experiences provide clear

level of self-efficacy.

2. Vicarious Experience ü Observing and witnessing others perform successfully strengthen

self-efficacy, particularly if the people being observed are similar in abilities.

3. Verbal Persuasions ü Verbal feedback and encouraging words may help strengthen levels
of selfefficacy.

4. Physiological and Emotional Arousal -

efficacy is.

5
References:
Bandura, A. (1999). Social Cognitive Theory of Personality. In Pervin and John (eds) Handbook of
194. (For the topic, The Self from
Various Perspectives - The Self in Western and Oriental/Eastern Thought)
Chafee, J. (2013) Who are you? Consciousness, Identity and the Self. In the Philosopher's Way:
Thinking Critically about Profound Ideas. Pearson. 106 169.
Villafuerte, S. Quillope, A. Tunac, R. Borja, E. (2018) Understanding the Self, NIEME Publishing House
Inc.,