PSED5112 ADDITIONAL EXAM NOTES

THE SELF AS ‘I’ AND THE SELF AS ‘ME’- THE DIFFERENCE

THE SELF AS ‘I’

 The ‘I’ represents the active, spontaneous and subjective aspect of the self.
 It is the part of the self that initiates action and experiences the world from a first
person perspective.
 This aspect is not fully governed by social norms or expectations; rather, it is the
individual’s inner voice, desires and impulses.
 It is mostly concerned with the present moment and is often focused on personal
experiences, feelings and choices.
 The ‘I’ is reflective , capable of sself-awareness and self-assertion and asserting one’s
identity in response to the environment.
 The ‘I’ is dynamic and subject to change which can be influenced by various factors
such as emotional distress, life experiences and social interactions.
 The ‘I’ also experiences growth and transoformation over time while adapting to new
circumstances and challenges.

THE SELF AS ‘ME’

 In contrast, the self as ‘me’ represents the social self that is aware of how one is
perceived by others.
 It comprises of the internalised perspectives, expectations and judgements that society
and others hold about oneself.
 The self as ‘me’ is shaped by social interactions and encompasses roles and identities
that individuals adopt in various contexts.
 This part of the self is concerned with societal norms, cultural expectations and how
one fits into the large social structure.
 The ‘me’ involves self-regulation, self-regulation and the capacity to oberve oneself
from the outside.
 The ‘me’ allows individuals to evaluate their own consequences of their actions in
social contexts.
  The interaction between ‘I’ and Me’ is interdependent . The ‘me’ influences the ‘I’ by
providing context and framing how one perceives oneself while the ‘I’ influences the
me by allowing for personal reflection and pone behaviour leading to the evolution of
social identity.
 While the ‘I’ may strive for autenticity and individual expression, the ‘me’ pushes
individuals to conform and fit into social worlds.

COMPOMETS OF THE PERMA MODEL OF WELL-BEING:

The PERMA model was developed by Psychologist Martin Seligman with the aim of
contributing towards ans enhancing human well-being and the overall state of happiness.

The PERMA model collectively provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and
enhancing well-being, suggesting that a balanced approach across these components can lead
to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Positive Emotions

-This aspect emphasizes the importance of experiencing positive feelings and emotions, such
as joy, gratitude, hope, and love. It emphasizes how we feel happiness and how these good
feelings are an essential ingredient of wellbeing.

-Positive emotions not only enhance our immediate well-being but also contribute to long-
term resilience and overall life satisfaction. It encourages individuals to cultivate positivity in
their daily lives.
-We can increase positive emotion towards the past e.g. by practising gratitude. Generate
positive emotions towards the present by savouring positive experiences and cultivate
positive emotion towards the future with hope and optimism.

Engagement

-Engagement refers to the state of being fully absorbed in activities that foster a sense of
involvement and flow. This can occur during work, hobbies, or meaningful tasks where one
loses track of time because of intense focus or interest.

-This model encourages finding activities that promote engagement in order to experience a
deeper sense of fulfillment and well-being.

-This is the type of optimal engagement that Seligman suggests that you work toward. When
you’re in this state of flow, you are fully involved, enjoying what you do, and find that your
efforts and rewards are one and the same.

Relationships

-This aspect highlights the significance of social connections and relationships in enhancing
well-being. Strong, healthy relationships with family, friends, and community enrich our
lives, provide support, and foster a sense of belonging and love.

-Positive social interactions are linked to greater happiness and can buffer against stress.

-Having a sense of connection and belonging is one of the fundamental needs for wellbeing.

-This aspect can also be linked to Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Above
physiological needs are psychological needs, including “belongingness.”

-According to Maslow, humans want to feel as though they belong. They want to feel like
they can reach out to friends, family, colleagues, etc. for support. People want to feel seen,
heard, and loved.

-Knowing that they have this support system and sense of belonging, individuals are better
able to thrive/excel at what they do.

- The alternative/opposite of this is loneliness and isolation as also explained by Erikson in

his psycho-social stages of development.
-Research identified loneliness as an epidemic has proven to affect not only one’s mental
well-being, but physical well-being as well hencde forming meaningful relationships is good
for your mental health snd overall well-being.

Meaning

Does your life have meaning?

-This is a question that needs to be asked and must be pursued in order to elevate your well-
being. Humans gather meaning from various activities or groups. Religion gives people
meaning. Spirituality gives people meaning. Working toward a greater goal gives people
meaning. Where do you find meaning?

-Meaning involves the pursuit of a sense of purpose and significance in life. This can come
from various sources, such as religious beliefs, personal values, or contributing to a greater
cause.

-Finding meaning in life’s experiences can boost resilience and foster a deeper sense of
fulfillment.

-A sense of meaning and purpose comes from belonging to and serving something bigger
than the self, most often using your strengths to serve a bigger purpose.

-Sources of meaning include family, faith, a vocation, social causes (e.g. the environment),
work organisations, science, politics, justice and the community among others. A sense of
purpose is a route into a deeper form of happiness, known as eudaimonic wellbeing, which is
a sustainable form of happiness.

Accomplishment

Accomplishment pertains to the pursuit of goals, achievements, and mastery. It is about

recognizing and celebrating progress, whether in personal, professional, or academic pursuits.
Setting and achieving goals can instill a sense of competence and self-efficacy, contributing
to overall life satisfaction.
- This is about developing our mastery and competence. There are two faces of the A in the
PERMA model. Accomplishment is about becoming more accomplished in yourself i.e. your
personal development while Achievement is about the successes and triumphs in life.

APPLICATION OF THE 5 SPARK MODEL

The SPARK model is a framework designed to enhance motivation and engagement in

learning by focusing on five key components:

Self-Management

Application

Goal Setting: Self-management can be applied by encouraging students to set personal and
academic goals. Use tools like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-
bound) goals to help them articulate their objectives.

Reflection can be taught by implementing regular reflection sessions where students assess
their progress, identify challenges, and strategize areas for improvement.

Time Management Workshops: Teach strategies for prioritizing tasks and managing time.
Purpose : Application

Relevance of Curriculum, it is imperative for the teaching curriculum to be relevant to and

address contemporary issues in education within the South African context. Therefore,
teaching should not be done in a vaccum limited geographical borders, however it should be
broad to accommodate students from vast geographical and socio-economic landscapes. This
can be done through implementing the following:

-Connect learning and contextualize material to real-world applications/situations. Show

students how what they're learning is relevant to their interests and future careers.

-Service Learning Projects: Involve students in community service or projects that impact
their community, which can help them see the bigger picture of their education.

-Guest Speakers and Mentorship: Invite professionals from various fields to share their
experiences and how education contributed to their success, helping students find their own
purpose.

Autonomy: Application

Learner autonomy is a concept used to describe learners taking control of their own learning
journey and experiences which includes making decisions about what and how they learn.
Autonomy is all about shifting the focus from teaching to learning, encouraging peer support
and cooperation, and utilizing self/peer assessment. Autonomy in learning can be
implemented through the following:
-Choice in Assignments: Allow students to choose from a variety of assignments or projects
that cater to their interests and learning styles.

-Flexible Learning Environments: Adapt classroom settings to support different learning

preferences, such as collaborative spaces, quiet study zones, and sensory-friendly areas.

-Encourage Self-Directed Learning: Provide resources and guidance for students to pursue
their interests independently, including research projects or passion projects.

Relationships :Application

-Collaborative Learning: Promote group work and peer-to-peer learning to bolster teamwork
skills and build connections among students.
-Mentorship Programs: Pair students with mentors (teachers, older peers, or professionals)
who can provide guidance and support, fostering meaningful relationships.

-Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Incorporate SEL curricula that teach empathy,

communication, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills.

Knowledge :Application

-Inquiry-Based Learning: Encourage students to ask questions and seek answers through
research, experimentation, and discussion.

- Interdisciplinary Approaches: Design projects that integrate knowledge from different

subjects, helping students see the interconnectedness of their learning.

-Access to Resources: Provide access to a variety of learning materials, including books,

online databases, and interactive technologies, encouraging deeper exploration of topics.

In essence, incorporating the SPARK model into educational practices can create a more
engaging, responsive, and supportive learning environment. By focusing on self-
management, purpose, autonomy, relationships, and knowledge, educators can help students
develop a lifelong love of learning and the skills necessary for success.