Developing The Whole Person

DEVELOPING THE WHOLE
PERSON
What is Holistic Development?
In this lesson we will be taking a look at the whole person, to
understand what Holistic Development is we will be using
philosophical theories
Mind and Body Dualism of Descartes
 For Descartes people perceive things as dual in character or the
perception of things in dual mode. Hence the notion of the separation
of the mind and body, a duality or two sides of the same coin.
Holism and Gestalt
 As an introduction for the discussion of the meaning of Holism, General
Jan C. Smuts defines it as “the tendency in nature to form wholes which
are greater than the sum of the part through creative evolution”. But with
just this we can surmise that it is more about looking at the whole picture
rather than the pieces that make said picture.
 Now at 1890 a German Philosopher and psychologist named Christian von

Ehrehfels which would be later on be supported by Max Wertheimer, Kurt
Koffka, and Wolfgang Kohler introduced the concept of Gestalt.
Continuation…
 Gestalt is defined as “something that is made of many parts and yet is
somehow more than or different from the combination of its parts;
broadly, the general quality or character of something.”
 If we are to use this as our guide in looking at a person it means that you
can’t judge a person purely by one aspect of himself. But if we are to
look at the whole person and the different aspects that makes him whole
we would find out that he is his own unique person. If we are to use a
metaphor “a symphony can’t be defined by one of its notes alone”.
The Various Aspects of Holistic Development of Persons
 When we see a person, we would almost instantly form an impression of what kind of
person he is. But we have to consider that a person is composed of different aspects
such as the one’s listed below:
 1. Physiological or the physical attributes including the five physical senses;

 2. Cognitive or the intellectual functions of the mind: thinking, recognizing, reasoning,
analyzing, projecting, synthesizing, recalling, and assessing;
 3. Psychological or how thinking feeling, and behaving, interact and happen in a
person;
 4. Social or the manner by which an individual interacts with other individuals or
groups of individuals;
 5. Spiritual or the attribute of person’s consciousness and beliefs, including the values
and virtues that guide and put meaning into a person’s life.
 Before your judge someone you would need to consider these factors first since our
topic is about developing the whole person, we need to see the person as a whole.
Basic Drives and Affect
Here we will be talking about the basic drives such as hunger and
thirst and also affect which refers to emotional experiences such
as emotions, moods, and affective traits.
Feelings and Emotions
 First off, we will be differentiating Feelings from emotions. Now emotions come from the Latin verb
movare which means to move or be agitated. It is defined by Smith as a descriptive term referring to
variations in level of arousal, affective state or mood, expressive movements, and attitudes.
 As for Feeling, feeling arises from the brain as it interprets an emotion, which is usually caused by
physical sensations experience by the body as a reaction to a certain stimulus. (Dr. Antonio R.
Damasio 2005)
 An example for feeling would be fear, we feel fear when we are afraid.
 We have four basic Emotions: Happy, Sad, Afraid or surprised.

Attitudes and Behavior
 Attitudes are a person’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions about
another person, object idea, behavior, or situation. Attitude is a result
of a person’s evaluation of an experience with another person, idea,
behavior, or situation based on his or her values and belief systems.
 While behavior is a manifestation or acting out of the attitudes an

individual has.
Values and Virtues
 Values are this system of beliefs that adheres to the highest ideals of
human existence which create meaning and purpose in a person’s life.
Values changes depends on what an organization or person values
most or what they intend to achieve.
 While everyone has a different set of values a research conducted by

Shalom H. Schwartz revealed a list of common values.
Continuation…
 1. Self – Direction – Independent thought and action; choosing creating, and exploring
 2. Stimulation – excitement, novelty, and challenge in life
 3. Hedonism – pleasure and sensuous gratification for oneself
 4. Achievement – personal success through demonstrating competence according to social standards
 5. Power – social status and prestige, and control or dominance over people and resources
 6. Security – safety, harmony and stability of society, of relationships, and of self
 7. Conformity – restraint of actions, inclinations, and impulses that are likely to upset of harm others
and violate social expectations or norms
 8. Tradition – respect, commitment, and acceptance of the custom and ideas that traditional culture
or religion provide the self
 9. Benevolence – preserving and enhancing the welfare of those with whom one is in frequent
personal contact
 10. Universalism – understanding, appreciation, tolerance, and protection for the welfare of all
people and of nature
Continuation
 The motivational goals that characterize the ten values he identified
were:
 1. Openness to change;
 2. Self – transcendence;
 3. Self – enhancement;
 4. Conservation.

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What are the different philosophical theories discussed regarding holistic development?

What are the various aspects that make up a person according to holistic development?

DEVELOPING THE WHOLE

 Now at 1890 a German Philosopher and psychologist named Christian von

 1. Physiological or the physical attributes including the five physical senses;

 We have four basic Emotions: Happy, Sad, Afraid or surprised.

 While behavior is a manifestation or acting out of the attitudes an

 While everyone has a different set of values a research conducted by

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