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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

INTRODUCTION PHILOSOPHY is a Greek Word

Philo – Love ; Sophia – Wisdom
Do you truly know who you are?
Who Am I? ORIGIN of Philosophy and Logic
How would you characterize yourself?  Search for Truth
What makes you unique? Special? Different?  Search for Meaning
How us yourself connected to your body? (importance, significance, value, relevance)
How is yourself related to other selves? Philosophy is about asking a lot of questions
What will happen to you after death?
PHILOSOPHY AND THE SELF
Are these questions easy to answer?  Started with the Ancient Greeks
Or is it difficult?
SOCRATES
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE “An Unexamined Life is Not Worth
living”
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
 a scholar, teacher and philosopher born circa 470
It is the study of the basic ideas about knowledge, B.C. in Athens, Greece
truth, right and wrong, religion, and the nature and  Main source of Western thought
meaning of life.  Condemned to death for his Socratic method of
questioning
It is about finding answers to serious questions
about ourselves and the world we live in.  Know Thyself
 Self-knowledge is a prerequisite to a
What is morally right or wrong? And why? happy and meaningful life
(Abortion, same sex marriage, divorce, etc.. )
 An Unexamined Life is Not Worth living
What is good a life? (You are rich but you have no  Reflection and introspection
family? Or You have a family but you have no
wealth?  Every Man is Dualistic
 Man is composed of a body and a soul
Does God exist? If no, why? If yes, why and how  Two (2) aspects of Personhood
many? a) Body (Imperfect and Impermanent)
b) Soul (Perfect and Permanent)
Questioning existing knowledge & intuitions to get
closer to the truth!  Every Man has a Dichotomous Realm
 Two (2) Realms
WHAT WILL YOU GET OUT OF PHILOSOPHY? a) Physical Realm (Body)
Skills: Critical Thinking Reasoning Changeable, transient, imperfect
Argument Skills Analysis
Communication Problem Solving b) Ideal Realm (Soul)
That will allow us to: Unchanging, eternal, immortal
1. Justify our opinion.
2. Spot a bad argument.  First thinker to focus on the Full Power of
3. Explain why they are wrong and why you Reason on the Human Self
are right.  Who we are?
4. Basically teaches us to THINK!  Who we should be?
 Who we will become?
PYTHAGORAS – First person to us the term
“philosophy”

 The SOUL strives for wisdom and b.) SPIRITED SOUL

perfection. - emotion and passion
 The REASON is the soul’s tool to achieve - love, anger, ambition, empathy, aggressiveness
an exalted state of life.
c.) APPETITIVE SOUL
 What keeps us away from attaining - basic needs (biological needs)
wisdom? - hunger, thirst, sexual desires
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
- It is our preoccupation with bodily needs
(food, sex, drink, pleasure) and material  These three (3) are either in dynamic
possessions and wealth. relationship or in conflict.

 What are Socrates’ advices?  The Rational Soul sort things out and exert
- A person can have a meaningful and effort to control and restore harmonious
happy life only if he becomes virtuous relationship among the three.
and knows the value of himself that can
be achieved through constant SOUL-  Plato believes that genuine happiness can
SEARCHING. only be achieved by people who
consistently make
Long examination of thoughts/feelings. sure that their Rational Soul is in control of
Achieved when one tries to separate their spirits and appetites.
the body from the soul.

PLATO “The Soul is Immortal” ARISTOTLE “The Souls is the Essence of the Self”
 Ancient Greek philosopher who was a  Born circa 384 B.C. in Stagira, the northern coast
student of Socrates and a teacher of of Greece
Aristotle.  One of the greatest thinkers in politics,
 Plato's birth was around 428 B.C.E psychology and ethics.
 Founded the Academy and is the author of  When Aristotle turned 17, he enrolled in Plato’s
philosophical works of unparalleled Academy
influence in Western thought.  In 338, he began tutoring Alexander the Great.

 The Soul is Immortal  The Body and Soul are NOT two separate
elements but are ONE thing.
 Philosophy of the self can be explained as a
process of self-knowledge and  The Soul is simply the FORM of the BODY,
purification of the soul. and is NOT capable of existing without the
body.
 He believed in the existence of the
Mind and Soul  The Soul makes a person a person. The soul
is the essence of the self.
Given in Perfection with GOD
 The Rational Nature of the Self is to lead a
 Soul has three (3) parts: good, flourishing and fulfilling life.
a.) RATIONAL SOUL
- Reason and Intellect  Without the body, the soul cannot exist.
- Divine essence enabling us to think The soul dies along with the body.
deeply, make wise choices and achieve
true understanding of eternal truths  The soul and body react sympathetically
upon each other.
You Pause. You Reflect. You Act.

 A change in the state of the soul  KNOWING GOD = KNOWING OURSELVES.

produces a change in the shape of the The self is only known through knowing
body and vice versa. God.

 Anything with Life has a Soul.  Self-knowledge is a consequence of the

knowledge of God.
 Three (3) kinds of Soul possessed by
man.  The human person being a creation of God
is always geared towards the Good.
a.) VEGETATIVE SOUL
- The physical body that can grow “Knowledge can only come by seeing the
truth
b.) SENTIENT SOUL that dwells within
- Sensual desires, feelings and emotions us.”
– St.
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
c.) RATIONAL SOUL Augustine
- It’s what makes Man a Human. It
includes the intellect (to know and By knowing
understand things) God
))
Involves reproduction and growth.
Ex. Plants RENE DESCARTES“I Think. Therefore, I am”
Involves mobility and sensation.
Ex. Animals  Born March 31, 1596, La Haye, Touraine, France
Involves thoughts or reflections.  one of the first to abandon
Ex. Humans Scholastic Aristotelianism when he formulated
the first modern version of mind-body dualism,
Illustration. from which stems the mind-body problem
(psychophysical monism)
 regarded as the founder of modern philosophy
Plants Animals Humans
 Cogito, Ergo Sum. "I think, therefore I am"

St. AUGUSTINE (Saint Augustine of Hippo)  The act of thinking about self, of being Self-
“I am Doubting Therefore, I Conscious, is in itself proof that there is
am.” self.

 Born on November 13, 354, in Thagaste,  Two (2) distinct entities

northern coast of Africa, (Algeria) a.) COGITO – the thing that thinks (mind)
 The greatest Christian philosopher b.) EXTENZA – the extension (body)
 Integrated the ideas of Plato and
Christianity JOHN LOCKE “The Self is Consciousness”
 His view of the human person reflects the
entire spirit of the medieval period  Born August 29, 1632, Wrington, Somerset,
England
 The soul is immortal.  An English philosopher whose works lie at the
foundation of modern
 The soul is united with the body so philosophical empiricism and political liberalism,
that man may become entire and classical liberalism
complete.  Role in Enlightenment,
-a European intellectual movement of the 17th
 Human kind is created in the image and 18th centuries in which ideas concerning
and likeness of God. God, reason, nature, and humanity were
synthesized into a worldview

IMMANUEL KANT “We Construct the Self.”

 TABULA RASA
- The mind at birth is a blank slate.  Born April 22, 1724, Königsberg, Prussia [now
Kaliningrad, Russia]
 The self is constructed primarily from  German philosopher whose comprehensive and
sense experiences. systematic work in epistemology (the theory of
knowledge), ethics, and aesthetics greatly
 At birth, our brain is empty, ready to influenced all subsequent philosophy
learn through experience  In him were subsumed new trends that had
(Experiential Learning) begun with the rationalism (stressing reason)
of René Descartes and the empiricism (stressing
 Consciousness – necessary to have a experience) of Francis Bacon
coherent personal identity or knowledge of  Opposes the idea of Hume
the self as a person.
 Self is not just what gives one his
 We are the same identity in different personality, but also the seat of knowledge
situations is what makes our belief acquisition for all human persons.
possible about the self.

DAVID HUME “There is No Self.”

 The self constructs its own reality creating
a world that is familiar and predictable.
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

 Born May 7 [April 26, Old Style],  We construct the self because there is a
1711, Edinburgh, Scotland MIND that systematizes those impressions
 Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, we get from the external world because the
and essayist known for his philosophical mind regulates.
empiricism and skepticism.
 The self is a product of reason. Through our
 The mind is a theatre, a container of rationality, the self transcends sense of
fleeting sensations and disconnected experience.
ideas. Your reasoning ability is merely a
slave to these passions.  The self exist independently of experience and
the self goes beyond experience.
 The self is simply a bundle of
collection of different perceptions.

 The idea of personal identity is just a

GILBERT RYLE “I act therefore I am.”
result of imagination, therefore, there is
no self.  Born August 19, 1900, Brighton, Sussex, England
 His first book, The Concept of Mind (1949) - he
Ideas are made of impression or perception challenges the distinction between body and
to construct a Fictional Self. mind as delineated by René Descartes
 Personal identity is just a result of
imagination.  The self is the way people behave.

 The self, insofar as it is accessible through  The self is the same as your behavior.
inner experience, consists of nothing but
perceptions, therefore that any knowledge  Self is not an entity one can locate &
claims about the nature of the mind and its analyze, but simply the convenient name
identity that go beyond the 'bundle of that we can use to refer to all the behaviors
perceptions' view cannot be justified. that people make.

 The self is subjective.

PAUL CHURCHLAND
“The Self is the - The mind and body are intertwined and
Brain.” both is important in creating who you
are.
 Canadian philosopher born in 1942
 Known for his studies in neurophilosophy SIGMUND FREUD
and the philosophy of mind “Unexpressed emotions will
 leading proponent of Eliminative never
Materialism die. They are buried alive and
will
 Eliminative Materialism - supports the come forth in uglier
idea that folk psychology's conception of ways.”
the mind does not correspond to reality
- Born May 6, 1856, Freiberg, Moravia,
- Materialism is the doctrine that the Austrian Empire [now Příbor, Czech
physical world is all that exists and that Republic
the mind is identical to states of the - Emphasizes the importance of
brain. unconscious

- The self is inseparable from the - The self is composed of three (3) layers
brain and the physiology of the - Conscious – thoughts, feelings and
body. emotions that you are currently aware of
- Preconscious – mental activities stored
- All we have is the brain. in our memory that can be accessed or
NO BRAIN=NO SELF recalled
SELF IS THE BRAIN. - Unconscious – things we are not aware
of
- The physical brain (not the
imaginary mind) gives us our sense - There are thoughts, feelings, desires or
of self. urges that the conscious mind wants to
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
hide, buried in our unconscious, but
- The mind does not really exist. shed light in our unexplained behavior.

- The importance of the unconscious is

MAURICE MERLEAU PONTY demonstrated in the Iceberg Model
“The Self is Embodied
Subjectivity.”

- Born March 14, 1908, Rochefort

conscious 1
- According to him, the mind-body
bifurcation (division) that has been 7
going on for a long time is a futile unconsciou
endeavor and an invalid problem. s
- He held that it is necessary to consider
the organism as a whole to discover
what will follow from a given set - We need to restore the hidden desires
of stimuli. from the unconscious to the
consciousness so we can deal with them
- All knowledge of ourselves and of realistically.
our world is based on subjective
experience. - Three (3) structures of personality
- ID – childlike, immature, pleasure-
- The self can never be truly seeking and cannot delay gratification
objectified or known in a - EGO – works on the reality principle,
completely objective manner. controls the ID and can delay
gratification
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE - SUPEREGO – the conscience/moral judge
“No Man is an Island”

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
Sociology is the study of society, patterns of
Some Aspects of Personality
social relationships, social interaction and
culture of everyday life. 1. Physical Characteristics
- physical appearance (short or tall, fat or thin,
Man is a social being, who is born into light or dark in complexion, black or brown hair, a
existence in a community before he is able to pointed or flat nose)
know himself. - inherited but can be altered by your
culture
Through socialization that begins in the family because people make efforts to change their
that you are exposed to behavior, social rules, and appearance in order to fulfill the desired
attitudes that lead to social development. cultural values.

Through social institutions – family, school, 2. Abilities

church, and the community you interact with every - skills that are developed within the culture
day, that will lead you to your deeper - one may develop ability in playing football
understanding of your social identity or social self. Aptitude
- the capacity to learn skills, or to acquire
a particular body of knowledge
SOCIALIZING THE INDIVIDUAL - Aptitude is more related to heredity, as
abilities are always related to culture.
- Personality Development
- In what ways do you differ from other 3. Interests
people? - acquired from various kinds of things
- In what ways are you alike? - differ in your interests depending on the
cultural alternatives that are available – and
an awareness of your existence.
What is Personality?
Personality is the basic organization of
individuals that determines the uniqueness of their 4. Beliefs
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
behavior. - includes attitudes, values, preferences,
superstitions, prejudices, and knowledge
refers to the structure of the personality – how about yourself, your friends, nature, religion,
it is put together, and the relationships among the work, etc.
various parts. - Some are based on fact, others are not.
- All beliefs are related to the culture and
It consists of the total physical, intellectual, and learned from others in the society
emotional structure of the individual.
5. Habits
Each one is unique. Each has its own way of - regular, routine ways of thinking, feeling, or
interacting with others and with the social behaving
environment. - learned from others and help you distinguish
one person’s behavior from others
- almost all of your habits are related to your
culture.

- Heredity and Environment

Nature Vs. Nurture

- Heredity
- the transmitting of genetic
characteristics from our parents
- characteristics that are innate, present
at birth – physical characteristics (hair, 4. Subcultures
skin, eye color and body size) - a portion of a society that has enough
characteristics of its own to set it apart, and
Example: yet is included within the general society.
Biological Drives (Hunger Drives) - Ex. (Isnag, LGBTQs, Punks, as per religion)
- drives do not dictate our specific
behavior
5. The Cultural Environment
- hunger drive doesn’t tell us when, what,
- cultural differences affect your personality
or how to eat
development
- we learn those things from other human
- cultural environment makes us human
beings within your culture.
- Your personality – our humanity – comes from
- we learn those things from other human
our cultural environment.
beings within your culture.

Heredity = biological needs

Culture = how to meet these The Social Self
needs  At birth, we know nothing about the
ways of our culture or society
- Heredity sets limits on individuals.  Through interaction with other people
- Inherited characteristics place and the environment, we are developed
limits on what is possible, but it will into individuals who have knowledge of
not determine what you will do and our culture and become participants of
what kind of personality you will the society.
have.
Example: Socialization- the process of cultural molding,
if you were born with a five-foot frame, how individuals learn the basic
you are not likely to become a professional skills, values, beliefs, and
basketball player. However, it is not a behavior patterns of the society.
guaranteed that you’ll become one even if
you are seven feet tall.  Theories will help us understand how we
become socialized and develop our identity,
- Birth Order or self.
- personality is also influenced by
whether you have brothers, sisters, JOHN LOCKE
both, or neither, born first, last, or  Tabula Rasa – Blank Slate
in between  We are born without qualities and we
develop our personality as a result of our
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
- Parents experiences
- Parents amount of education, religious  basic assumptions about socialization are
beliefs, ethnic backgrounds, related to Locke’s views
economic/social status, occupations,
and communities in which they live, all  Most sociologists think of socialization as a
contribute to the personality process by which we absorb those aspects of
development of an individual. our culture with which we come into contact.
 The social self is the way that we see
CHARLES HORTON COOLEY ourselves as a result of interacting with
- born Aug. 17, 1864, Ann Arbor, others.
Michigan, U.S.  Through the socialization process, you
- developed the theory about the social develop your social self.
self

- He observed that you only begin to

have a sense of your own self – of
who you are and what you are like –
after you notice how others see
you.

- a newborn baby has no sense of person

or place. Various people – parents,
family members, and friends – interact
with the baby.

- The Looking Glass Self

- The people as they relate to the baby

provide the infant with a mirror that
reflects the infant’s image. The image The looking glass self is a sociological concept that one’s
reflected back is created during the self grows out of society’s interpersonal interactions and
interaction between the baby and the the perceptions of others, meaning people shape
other people. themselves based on how other people see and judge
them.
puts a great deal of responsibility on
parents and others who have contact Key Takeaways:
with children.  The looking-glass self, first coined by Charles
They contribute to the child’s sense of Cooley, describes how one’s self or social identity
ability or inability. is dependent on one’s appearance to others.
- based on Cooley’s observations of childhood
- Social interaction is a kind of looking social development.
glass that reflects yourself back to you –  The reactions of others to ourselves provide us
but only after you are interpreted with feedback about ourselves.
by those with whom you interact.  Cooley – along with the other “symbolic
interactionist”, such as George Herbert Mead,
- you are as other people see you argued that a child could not develop a sense
- You can only see yourselves only as of self in the absence of others to reflect
others see you that self back.
- what they see is what you are
 Cooley emphasized the individual’s
Question: autonomous role in deciding which
judgments they pay attention to in identity
How do you react when others see you differently formation, as well as in controlling and
from the way you see yourself? evaluating the responses of others.
(Individual Autonomy)
- You are continually changing your
personality as you adjust your self- How the Looking Glass Self Works?
image to the way you are viewed by 1. We imagine how we appear to others.
the rest of society. 2. We interpret how others judge that
appearance and then respond to that
interpretation through behaviour.
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Symbolic Interactionism 3. We experience feelings of pride or shame
based on this imagines appearance and
 a micro-level theory that focuses on judgment by others
meanings attached to human interaction, 4. We respond based on our interpretation.
both verbal and non-verbal, and to symbols.
 The social world is, therefore, constructed
by the meanings that individuals attach to
events and social interactions, and these
symbols are transmitted across the
generations through language.
Ex. Dad is stressed out when we see him smoke. - Significant others and the I-self
- It is subjective, or personal, and entirely
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD constant. You can act in a way that is not
- born Feb. 27, 1863, South Hadley, expected of someone in your role because of
Mass., U.S your I-self
- American philosopher prominent in both
social psychology and the development - Generalized others and the me-self
of Pragmatism - Human interaction and communication
depend on the existence of many generalized
- According to George Herbert Mead, others.
seeing yourselves as others see - many me-selves = number of roles we
you is only the beginning. occupy (objective social identity)

- We do not only come to see yourselves

as others see you, but actually “take The I-Self and the Me-Self
the role of the other”. I-Self Me-Self
subjective, private self objective, social self
- All of us come into contact with two (2) Self as subject Self as object
kinds of people Self-expression Conformity
o Significant Others Subjective behaviour, Objective behaviour -
-from your earlier contacts quite constant predictable
- people who are most important How you act according to
Your unique personal
to you the rules and
qualities, your individual
- they know you and love you for expectations of a specific
impulses
who and what you are role in a given situation
o Generalized Others
-social groupings, people or roles to Key Takeaways:
whom you relate in a more abstract,  The self is not there from birth, it is developed
general way. over time from social experiences and activities.

- The self involves two phases: the Development of the Self

“Me” and the “I.”  There are three (3) activities in developing the
self (Mead)
- The Me - based on how someone sees 1. Language- allows individuals to respond to to
others as seeing themselves. each other through symbols, gestures, words and
sounds.
- The I - is one’s personal reaction to a
situation. 2. Play - allows individuals to take on the different
- Forms their social self through an roles, pretend and express expectations of others.
ongoing interaction between the Me and
the I 3. Games- allows individuals to understand and
adhere to the rules in which one must abide to win
The Socialization Process and to become successful
Agents of Socialization
Socialized aspects, learned behaviours,
1. Family- Procreation and Socialization attitudes and societal expectations
2. Mass Media
3. Peer Group- peak: adolescence Present and future phase of the self.
4. Religion- influenced by parents Individuals identity based on the responses to the ME.
5. Sports
“Every man is in certain respects like all other men, like
6. School
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
some other men, and like no other man.”
-psychologist Henry Murray and anthropologist Clyde Kluckhohn (1953)
ANTHROPOLOGICAL
View of Human Nature
PERSPECTIVE Pre-contemporary Contemporary
demonstrated sameness, inherent variability
What is Anthropology? invariability, and universality
man was regarded as more holistic approach in
- the science of man
identical, constant, and studying the self
- concerned about the various aspects of general.
the human species, irrespective of time essentially the same men are in many respects
and place, from ancient to the regardless of place and time like no other man
contemporary predictable and can be can be studied from many
- involves the interplay of nature and studied uniformly points of view
nurture the self as an unchanging taking into account all the
entity physical, biological,
Greek Word psychological, social and
- anthropos – man cultural elements that make up
- logus meaning study or science. the self.

Anthropology Professor Katherine Ewing

Anthropologists are interested not only on
defined self as one that which “encompasses
how humans have structurally evolved from
the physical organism, possessing all
their animal predecessors but also on how
aspects of psychological functioning, and
humans transformed and into a culturally
social attributes”, (1990:254).
and socially adaptive beings
The development of culture and its impact
on shaping the self, appear to be Neurobiologist Joseph LeDoux described the self
fundamental in any anthropological as the totality of what an organism is physically,
discourse biologically, psychologically, socially, and
 Culture is a way of life that encompasses culturally.
the values, behaviours, beliefs, customs,
languages and traditions of a particular -the self is a unit, it is not unitary” (2002:
social or ethnic group. 31)

THE SELF AND THE PERSON IN The Concept of Culture

CONTEMPORARY ANTHROPOLOGY
Cultural anthropology- underscores the concept of
Are there characteristics and experiences which culture and its influence in shaping the self
are inherently common among us?
Are there universals in terms of our biological -clothing designs, food preferences, the dialect, the festivals,
endowments and predispositions? the religious beliefs and customs you observe, the set of
Do we share the same biological needs? values you conform to.

Symbol - one of the most fundamental aspects of culture

- a common set of symbols which represent
Our Bodies and Culture their identity
Have you tried to modify your body image?
Cultural symbols- aid in establishing the uniqueness
like refrained from letting your hair be cut because
of a particular culture
of some religious beliefs? Had tattoos?
- When properly preserved and accurately
passed on from one generation to the other, it
 These are proofs that culture influences
continues to be an indelible representation of
our body image.
one’s personhood.
 Your bodies and what you do with it is a
reflection of the life you live and the culture  Harry Triandis (2019), a psychology professor at
you were accustomed to. the University of Illinois

Three (3) aspects of the self:

 Body modifications and embellishments for
1. private- cognitions that involve traits, states,
instance are regarded as part of the norms
or behaviours of the person; an assessment of
and representations of some cultures.
the self by the self (I’am.)

The Self Embedded In Culture 2. public- cognitions concerning the generalized

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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
other’s view of the self (People think.)
Why do we need to examine the self as an entity
embedded in culture? 3. collective self- cognitions concerning a view
of the self that is found in some collective (e.g.,
The self as a basic psychological concept family, co-workers, tribe, scientific society)
which is commonly assumed to be static - corresponds to an assessment of the self by a
and have a universal nature is therefore specific reference or groups
susceptible to changes depending on social - heavily influenced by culture
situations and cultural contexts. - (My family thinks. My co-workers believe.)
The self is malleable and can act in
different ways depending on circumstances; CULTURE
it is multi-faceted yet unified. - Set of unwritten norms of conduct that guide
the behaviour of a group
 French sociologist and anthropologist
Marcel Mauss (1950) Material Culture
- the physical objects of the culture and the
- person as a cultural category ideas associated with these objects
- moi (refers to the concept of self) and - physical objects, resources and spaces
personne (refers to the concept of person) - ex. Church, temples, tools, products, etc
Non-Material Culture
- the person was considered primarily a - nonphysical ideas that we have about our
cultural conception, or a ‘category’ of a culture
particular community - beliefs, values, rules, morals, norms,
language, organizations
For example, Four (4) most important symbols
-in the society, you can have different  symbols
attributes of your personne or the person  language
depending on your social situation.  values
-(you can be the responsible student at school, a  norms
loving child, caring elderly) Two (2) ways to view the Concept of the Self
Egocentric Sociocentric
Each person is defined as The self is dependent on the
the replica of all humanity situation or social setting
Terms to Remember: but capable of acting
a. Social Identities - People construct their independently from others
social identities from the similarities and The self is autonomous and Ex. Chinese prioritize kin
differences distinct individual with ties, compliance and
b. Identity Toolbox- features of a person’s inherent characteristics subordination
identity that he or she chooses to Ex Americans
(assertive&independent) Ex.Japanese defines the
emphasize in constructing a social self
boundaries based on social
groups
c. Self-identification –attained by: kinship,
family membership, gender, age, language,
religion, ethnicity, appearance, etc.
- Family membership - most significant
feature to determine the person’s social g. Identity Struggles – the discrepancy between
identity (history, status) the identity a person claims to possess and the
identity attributed to that person by others
d. Language – essential for maintenance of (Anthony Wallace and Raymond Fogelson)
group identity
h. Illusion of Wholeness- implies that the
e. Religious Affiliation – important marker cohesiveness and continuity of self are only
for group identity specially between illusion (Katherine Ewing)
Christians and Muslims - People project multiple, inconsistent self-
representations that are context-dependent
f. Personal Naming – universal practice and that may shift rapidly
established as a child’s birth right and - demonstrates how a person’s self-
social identity representation can shift from one moment to
the next, generating inconsistencies that the
Name-an important device to individualize person is usually unaware of because of an
a person to have an identity illusion of the self as cohesive whole
One’s identity is not inborn
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
It is something that we develop in i. Cultural Differences – exists when groups of
life people assign different meanings to different
Changes in identity involves rites of things and life events
passage
PRELIMS NAHHHH…
Three (3) phase of the Rite of Passage
 Separation Phase – people detach
from their former identity

 Liminality (Transition) – the

person transitions from one identity
to another

 Incorporation phase- the change

in one’s status is officially
incorporated
Ex. Marriage, Migration

PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
I am who I am.
This is the real me.

What is Psychology?
It is the study of mind and behaviour. It is the
study of the mind, how it works and how it affects
behaviour (APA).

WILLIAM JAMES (1842-1910)

“Whenever two people meet, there are really six
people present. There is each man as he sees
himself, each man as the other person sees him,
and each man as he really is.” - William James Me-Self or the Empirical Self has three components:
a.) The Material Self which encompasses all of our
The SELF- is the “sum total of all that he can call his, important possessions as well as the people we treasure
not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes
and his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and b.)The Social Self involve how we think we are viewed
friends, his reputation and works, his lands and horses, and regarded by others and also our instinctive desire to
and yacht and bank-account.” be recognized
 The self is comprise of everything the person
has. c.) The Spiritual Self contains our subjective
 It embraces all his physical and corporeal dispositions like our self-appraised abilities, beliefs,
possessions and extends even to the non- attitudes, emotions, etc
physical or intangible aspects.
 The sense of self pertains to all entities which
these facets of the Me-Self help people define us;
we consider ours and which we value as they
aid us too in defining and understanding
are deemed extensions of us.
ourselves, bring about positive or negative self-
feelings that will motivate and direct our efforts
The self has two facets
 The I-Self is said to be the self in action or to maintain, change, or improve ourselves.
as subject; it is that aspect of the self that
does the acting, thinking, and feeling. It is Carl Rogers’s Real Self and Ideal Self (1902 –
also known as the self as the knower or 1987)
perceiver.
-The “I” is the THINKING, ACTING, and FEELING “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I
self (Gleitman, Gross, and Reisberg, 2011) can change.” -Carl Rogers
 The Me-Self (Empirical Self) refers to the
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
self as an object; it is that facet of the self Self-concept simply speaks of how we think and view
which is the known or the perceived. the of ourselves; the entire schema and the knowledge that
me is one’s accumulated understanding of we have or that we are aware of about ourselves.
one’s self basically what comes to your mind when you are
-The “me” is the physical characteristics as asked about you are
well as psychological capabilities that feedbacks will challenge our self-concept
makes you who you are. (Hogg, and Vaughan, we may have difficulties changing our self-
2010) concept thus, we are likely to deny or distort
them whenever there are incongruences

Two (2) essential components of the self:

 Self, identity, and self-concept are NOT a. The real self speaks of how we genuinely
FIXED in one time frame. (Ever-changing) appraise ourselves; the self that feels most true to
 Your description in the past, present, and
what and who we really are; may not be perfect but
future about yourself varies. it is the part of us that feel most real.

Self- schema, or our own organized system or b. The ideal self on the other hand, denotes one’s
collection of knowledge about who we are. view of self as one wishes to be; contains attributes,
Ex. HOBBIES SELFFAMILY RELIGION NATIONALITY usually positive, that people aspire to possess.
 Rogers suggests that a discrepancy between
May include your interests, your work, your our ideal and real selves results to non-
course, your age, your physical characteristics, equilibrium, indicating an unhealthy
etc. personality.
As you grow and adapt to the changes
around you, THEY ALSO CHANGE. But they are
not passive receivers, they actively shape and
affect how you see, think, and feel about things
Self-efficacy - one’s conviction or belief that he or she
Ex. Provincial language and you hear can take on a certain task successfully
someone using it, it catches your attention
The concept of the self as proactive and agentic:

 The self as proactive is constructive; it is

optimistic that it can get through whatever
adversities it may encounter. Being proactive means
having the capacity to recognize and take advantage
of opportunities that may be beneficial to our selves
and to better our lives in general.

 An agentic self is one who takes charge of his

choices and actions; it is self-reflective and self-
regulating.

Bandura views people as being more than just

mere planners and fore thinkers.
Albert Bandura’s Proactive and
We are agents of change; we can be actively
Agentic Self (1925 – present) involved in shaping our own lives because we are
equipped with the cognitive faculty and capacity
Social cognitive theory of learning/ vicarious to do so.
learning- through the experiences of other people
We can be highly motivated and not easily
 people as agents or originators of experience discouraged when he faced with challenges.
 We don’t just merely observe and imitate An agentic and proactive self believes that no
behavior; we have cognitive faculties that matter how big the problem may seem to be, he
enable us to discern unto whether or not such or she can overcome it.
behavior is worth emulating or if such can help
us become better individuals
Murray Bowen’s Differentiated Self(1913 – 1990)
 American psychiatrist
 Known for being one of the forerunners of family
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
therapy and notable for having developed a
family systems theory
What are the things that we are able to balance?  posited on the differentiation of selves.

(a) emotional and intellectual functioning

(b) intimacy and autonomy in relationship
(Skowron & Friedlander, 1998).
Differentiation of selves refers to the
differentiation involves the ability to make degree to which one is able to balance
clear boundaries between our thoughts and
feelings, and to choose which of the two will
guide our behaviour

Highly differentiated individuals are

able to balance autonomy and intimacy in
their relationship.
One is able to establish connection with
others without losing one’s self in the Donald Woods Winnicott’s True and False
process Selves (1896-1971)
Ex. a highly differentiated person may be able to - an English psychoanalyst
assert one’s self despite the influence of peers - conceptualized the true and false selves
are flexible and are better able to adapt to
stressful situations. Since they can set clear
boundaries between their thoughts and  The true self is based on our authentic
feelings, they can shift of being emotional experiences as a person (similar to Roger’s
to being rational (or vice versa) depending concept of the real self)
on what the situation and may make - The feeling of being alive, doing the things
impulsive decisions based on their current you want to do, and just being yourself
emotional states. comprise the true self.
 The false self, which may also referred to as a
Poorly differentiated individuals, may fake self or superficial self, is our defenses
engage in fusion in their relationships. against the vulnerabilities or imperfections of our
They become much attached to the roles real self
they play in a relationship, they have few
firmly held beliefs, they are more likely to Our true self may have its own share of
be compliant, and seek approval from blemishes and weakness that sometimes
others before making major decision. lowers our self-esteem. As a result, we
try to cover up these flaws and act “as
 Differentiation of self is the capacity to if” we do not have them.
achieve a clear, coherent sense of self
along with emotional relationships with The false self may start to surface as early as
important others. infancy, when we are put under the control of
our parents or early caregivers. As we grow
 According to Bowen, differentiation is a old, we are taught different rules imposed by
salient trait for attaining mature our families, the school, or the society
development and psychological well-
being (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998). We may have to put our true selves aside, just
to abide by the demands of other people. We
do this to maintain harmony in social
relationship.

There are instances when it is necessary for

the false self to take over a certain situation. If
we show the false self because of forced
compliance to others, then this may be
UNPACKING THE SELF unhealthy.

 Discuss the dimensions of the self Continually suppressing our true selves may
 Knowing about these different dimensions inhibit us from truly expressing who we are,
of yourself is critical to harnessing your which may negatively impact our wellbeing.
holistic character as a person, as a friend,
 14
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
as a daughter or son and as a family
member
 will help you empower yourself to make
changes and to build on your areas of
strength as well as identify areas where you
would like to make improvements that
could help you to respond to the pressures
of changes and transitions in your life.
PHYSICAL SELF and SELF-ESTEEM
Self- understanding is vital to your ability to
change and grow – and to succeed as a
person.  How do you evaluate people you meet?
 Do you assess them based on how they
look/appear?
THE PHYSICAL SELF  Do you let your physical appearance define who
you are?
“Make sure you don’t start seeing yourself through
The physical self has a big impact in the
the eyes of those who don’t value you. Know your
development of your self-esteem.
worth even if they don’t.”
– Thema Davis
Self-esteem is an individual’s sense of personal worth
and an acceptance of who one is. It is the value you
 Are you willing to undergo physical place on yourselves; how much you like or dislike who
transformation for your body? Why or why you are.
not?
 Describe the physical appearance sone And how do you achieve this?
celebrities, before and after. Which of their
pictures do you consider to be beautiful? A self-help environment reflects the belief that
Why? autonomy and independence are the birthright of every
child.
 Physical self refers to the body, this
marvellous container and complex, finely tuned, Nothing renders people more helpless than not being
machine with which you interface with your able to maintain their own needs or to take care of
environment and fellow beings. themselves in basic ways
 The physical self is the concrete dimension, Self-concept is based on what you know about
the tangible aspect of the person that can be yourselves, which includes the ability to take care of
directly observed and examined. your own needs.

To care for oneself, to feel capable of learning, to solve

problems, are all rooted to feelings of self-esteem.

Your physical attributes and experiences impact the

development of a strong self-concept and a positive self-
esteem.

Definition of Beauty around the World Four (4) components of self-esteem (Gordon, 2000):
(1) A sense of one’s own identity (2) A sense of
belonging (connectedness) (3) A sense of one’s own
Name some things you’ve done in the name of uniqueness and (4) A sense of self (power).
beauty (eyelash extensions, Brazilian waxes and
using tanning beds, etc) Low self-image is correlated with poor mental health,
poor academic achievement, and delinquency
Ethiopia: Body Scars
Kenya: Long Earlobes and Shaved Heads A positive self-image strengthens self-confidence.
Burma and Thailand: Long Necks
China, Thailand and Japan: Pale Skin Self-image is based on the way society views individuals.
New Zealand: Face Tattoos
Mauritania: Full Figures
Iran: Surgical Bandages
India: Decorated Skin
Japan: Stick Straight Hair
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Important Secondary Sex Characteristics
The Five Global Beauty Archetypes BOYS GIRLS
Hair Hips
Pubic hair appears about one The hips become wider and
year after the testes and penis rounder as a result of the
have started to increase in size. enlargement of the pelvic bone
Axillary and facial hair appears and the development of
when the pubic hair has almost subcutaneous fat.
completed its growth, as does Breasts
body hair. At first, all hair is Shortly after the hips start to
scanty, lightly pigmented, and enlarge, the breasts begin to
fine in texture. Later it becomes develop. The nipples enlarge
darker, coarser, more luxuriant, and protrude and, as the
and slightly kinky. mammary gland develops, the
breast become larger and
Skin rounder.
The skin becomes coarser, less Hair
transparent, and sallow in color, Pubic hair appears after hip and
and the pores enlarge. breast development is well
underway. Axillary hair begins to
Glands appear after the menarche, as
The sebaceous, or oil-producing, does facial hair. Body hair
glands in the skin enlarge and appears on the limbs late in
become more active, which may puberty. All hair except facial
cause acne. The apocrine hair is straight and slightly
glands in the armpits start to pigmented at first and then
function, and perspiration becomes more luxuriant,
increases as puberty coarser, darker, and slightly
THE SEXUAL SELF progresses. kinky.
Skin
“Sex is something you do. Sexuality is something you are.” Muscles The skin becomes coarser,
– Anna Freud The muscles increase markedly thicker, and slightly sallow, and
Sexual self-concept refers to the totality of in size and strength, thus giving the pores enlarge.
shape to the arms, legs, and Glands
yourself as a sexual being, including positive and shoulders. The sebaceous and apocrine
negative concepts and feelings. glands become more active as
Voice puberty progresses. Clogging of
DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY Voice changes begin after some the sebaceous glands can cause
pubic hair has appeared. The acne, while the apocrine glands
SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS voice becomes husky and later in the armpits produce
drops in pitch, increases in perspiration, which is especially
Primary Sexual Characteristics- the physical volume, and acquires a pleasant heavy and pungent just before
characteristics directly involved in reproduction, tone. Voice breaks are common and during menstrual period.
when maturing is rapid. Muscles
such as the sex organs The muscles increase in size and
Secondary Sexual Characteristics- emerge at Breast Knots strength, especially in the
puberty Slight knobs around the male middle of puberty and toward
mammary glands appear the end, thus giving shape to the
between the ages of twelve and shoulders, arms, and legs.
EROGENOUS ZONES OF THE HUMAN BODY fourteen. These last for several Voice
weeks and then decreases in The voice becomes fuller and
Sexual awakening takes place through the different number and size. more melodious. Huskiness and
parts of your body where they lead to sexual breaks in the voice are rare
among girls.
stimulation due to their sensitivity to touch.
- sensitive areas on the body that cause sexual
arousal when they are touched (Merriam-Webster).

Your awareness of these body parts will lead you to

being responsible – as to know your limits and
capabilities, and will give you control over your
desires and sexual urges. The Brain – Its Role and Function in the Human Sexual Response

FEMALE responsible in translating nerve impulses from the skin

 Clitoris into pleasurable sensations
 Vagina - “G-spot”
 Cervix – located at the lower end of the uterus  controls nerves and muscles used during sexual
 Mouth and Lips – surveys found kissing to be activity
more important in relationship-building than in  regulates the release of hormones
sexual arousal.
 Neck- both the nape and back of the neck a.) The brain stem- controls primitive responses
 Breasts and Nipples associated with sexual behaviour and facial
 16
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
 Ears expressions; contains circuits for many emotions,
including love/attachment, joy, and sexual excitement
MALE (Lewis, 2005)
 Penis
 Mouth and Lips b.) The hypothalamus- regulating the production of
 Scrotum hormones in response to both internal and
 Neck environmental events; it controls the pituitary gland,
 Nipples which is the master gland that controls all the other
 Perineum- the area between the anus and scrotum endocrine glands in the body
 Ears
c.) The limbic system- learning, memory, and
UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE emotion
What turns you on?  Amygdala – helps generate associations
What attracts you the most? between experiences and emotions – Was this
Are you aware of your body’s reaction whenever an experience that felt good, that resulted in a
you see intimate scenes? good meal, or a loving touch? Or was this an
experience that produced fear or pain?
Yes – and this is a sign that you are a normal
person who is considered as a sexual being.  Hippocampus – organizing and storing
memories
As sexual beings, humans have desires for sexual ** The amygdala and hippocampus seem to work
pleasure and satisfaction. together, so that emotions associated with past
experiences influence the storage and retrieval of
Libido is a person's overall sexual drive or desire specific memories
for sexual activity. Libido is influenced by
biological, psychological, and social factors d.) The cerebral cortex- thinking and processing
(Wikipedia). information from the five senses
a. frontal lobe – for cognitive functions and control
of voluntary movement/activity
The Sexual Response Cycle b. parietal lobe – processes information about
temperature, taste, touch and movement
Your sexual motivation – libido, is your overall c. temporal lobe – processes memories,
sexual drive or desire for sexual activity and integrating them with sensations of taste, sound,
affected by: sight and touch
d. occipital lobe – primarily responsible for vision
 Biological- controlled and influenced by sex
hormones
 Social factors – work and family
 Internal psychological factors – personality
and stress, medical conditions, medications,
pregnancy, and relationship issues
Ways of Dealing with Sexual Energies
Four (4) phases of the sexual response cycle:
Sexual energy is a life-energy.
1. Excitement – the intrinsic (inner) motivation to
pursue sex arises; it includes increased heart Your sexual impulses have the power to influence so
rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension much of what you do, how you act, and the choices that
you make.
2. Plateau – sets the stage for orgasm; heart rate
quickens, blood pressure rises, muscle tension Sex, as one of the greatest motivational forces in life, if
increases, and breathing becomes faster not properly controlled, can lead to great destruction.

3. Orgasm – the release of tension; also known as Knowing your sexual self is to empower you to put into
the “climax or peak” of the sexual excitement; good "use" and avoid "abuse" in all your male and
heart rate increases dramatically, blood female relationships and interactions.
pressure rise, breathing becomes rapid and
shallow, muscles throughout the body contract, 1. Repression – involves keeping certain thoughts,
and perspiration is evident; there is an intense, feelings, or urges out of conscious awareness; to
pleasant, or pleasurable psychological feeling keep unacceptable desires or thoughts out of the
associated with the release of sexual tension; conscious mind in order to prevent or minimize
and feelings of anxiety
2. Suppression – the person consciously and
 17
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
deliberately pushes down any thoughts that leads
4. Resolution – the return to the unaroused state to feelings of anxiety.
before the cycle begins again; heart rate, blood ex. An older man has sexual feelings towards a
pressure, and breathing return to normal state, teenager and quickly suppresses the thought.
and muscle tension decreases. 3. Sublimation - allows us to act out unacceptable
impulses by converting these behaviors into a more
As teenagers, curious of your body changes and acceptable form.
sensations, you should be aware of your ex. A person experiencing sexual urges/thoughts might
responsibilities to control and to not go beyond take up sports as a means of expressing these
your limits when it comes to the practice of forces.
engaging sexually. 4. Genital satisfaction – giving in to one’s sexual
desires through sexual gratification; it includes
Sex is beautifully expressed and experienced in sexual intercourse – the likes of premarital sex,
the state of love, commitment, and marriage. marital sex, and extramarital sex.
5. Integration – integrate one’s sexual energies into
friendships, marriage, vocation, and all levels of
relationships.

REMEMBER!
Once you find your duty, purpose, and responsibility,
you will be able to handle well and proper your sexual
LOVE-LUST! energies.
The Chemistry Of Love: The Science Behind Lust, Maintain your standards and learn how to say no beyond
Attraction, And Companionship your limits.

What is LOVE? Celebrate your strengths and learn to accept your

Who is your first crush/love? limitations and weaknesses.
Is there a “formula” for love, what is it, and what
does it mean?
3.) Attachment (Staying together)
- factor in long-term relationships
- lust and attraction are pretty much exclusive to
romantic entanglements, attachment mediates
friendships, parent-infant bonding, social cordiality

Three (3) primary hormones:

a. Oxytocin -“cuddle hormone”; from the
hypothalamus and released in large quantities during
sex (peaks during orgasm), breastfeeding, and
childbirth (precursors to bonding)
Three (3) stages of Falling In Love (Helen b. Vasopressin – “monogamy chemical”
Fisher) c. Endorphins – "feel-good"; use to cope with pain
1.) Lust - driven by the desire for sexual or stress; pain reliever and happiness booster.
gratification; evolutionary basis for this is our need
to reproduce; through reproduction, organisms  Testosterone and estrogen drive lust
pass on their genes, and thus contribute to the  Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin create
perpetuation of their species attraction
Sex hormones (Testosterone/  Oxytocin and vasopressin mediate attachment.
Estrogen)
Lust and attraction shut off the prefrontal
2.) Attraction (Falling in love) – involves romantic
or passionate love, characterized by euphoria; cortex of the brain, which includes rational
physical symptoms include loss of appetite, behavior.
inability to sleep, lack of concentration, wet palms,
and butterflies in the stomach. Symptoms are
caused by monoamines:

b. Dopamine - feel-good feelings when spending

time with loved ones and having sex.

c. Norepinephrine (noradrenalin) – high dosage

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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
are released during attraction; (energetic,
euphoric, decreased appetite, insomnia;“fight
or flight” response

d. Phenylethylamine – a natural amphetamine;

(feeling of being on-top-of-the-world that
attraction can bring; to stay up day and night
when in love)

d. Serotonin – involved in appetite and mood;

this gives the overpowering infatuation that
characterizes the beginning stages of love

DIVERSITY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

Gender and sexual diversity (GSD), or simply
sexual diversity, refers to all the diversities of sex
characteristics, sexual orientations and gender
identities, without the need to specify each of the
identities, behaviors, or characteristics that form
this plurality.

Sexual Orientation
a. Heterosexuals - sexually attracted to people
of the opposite sex; commonly referred to as
straight;
b. Homosexuals - sexually attracted to people of
their own sex; gay or lesbian;
c. Bisexuals - sexually attracted not exclusively
to people of one particular gender; attracted
to both men and women;
The Self and our Possession
Gender identity  things we possess define who we are
a. Transgender - denoting or relating to a person  manifest our being, our personality our
whose sense of personal identity and gender “self.”
does not correspond with their birth sex;  great measure on our level of either
b. Cisgender - denoting or relating to a person happiness or loneliness
whose sense of personal identity and gender  “buti ka pa” (good for you) “sana all” (hope
corresponds with their birth sex; everybody), “buti na lang nakabili ako”
(good enough I was able to buy one),
Related minorities – intersex, gathered under “cannot wait to use this,” are expressions of
the acronyms: satisfaction or dissatisfaction
a. LGBT or LGBTI or LGBTQIA++ – lesbian, gay,
 high materialism tendencies to compensate
bisexual, transgender/transsexual people, and
for self-esteem (Lia, Lua, & Xiaa, 2018)
sometimes intersex people
 materialism has negative impact on a
THE MATERIAL SELF person’s subjective well-being and
depression
Material Self are tangible objects, people or places  materialism influences personal well-being
that carry the designation of mine (ex. My arm, my via psychological needs satisfaction (Wang,
bag, my wife, my husband) Liu, Jiang, & Song, 2017)
-William James
“I Shop, therefore, I am.” Dependence on our possession as definition of
-Barbara Kruger ourselves are reflected on how we purchase, care,
and worry, for the things that we have including the
When you shop, do you look for specific brands effort exerted in acquiring them.
that suit your taste?
Do the things you possess define your The brand, color, or quality of bags, perfumes, wrist
personhood? watches, gadgets, books, shoes and other
 19
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
possessions we have are reflections of who we are.
Whether you like it or not, your possessions
speak about you, for they are extension of It is not the capacity to buy, but the interest to
ourselves. possess and the priority set in having those
possessions.

Consumer Culture “Tell me what you possess and I will tell you
where you are obsessed”. This is so for there are
- refers to a marketing strategic planning people who are very particular with the color of
theory that focuses on the relationship consumers products, the genre, the brand, or the cartoon
have with certain goods and services. character they symbolize.
- helps target groups of individuals who share
the same interest, desire and need for a certain Sentimental value. The significance of the things
product or services. we possess has a memory ascribed to it . hence the
- considers consumer behaviour to certain difficulty in foregoing them. (They end up being
products possessed by what they possess)
Hoarding disorder is characterized by the
Significant predictors of materialism were acquisition and retention of possessions up to the
celebrity endorsement, peer group, and TV extent of impairing a person’s life, regardless of the
advertisement. value of the items (Christopher, Moulding, & Knight,
Materialism is the significant predictor of 2017).
compulsive buying behavior (Islama, Weia,
UNDERSTANDING THE WAY WE SEE OUR
Sheikhb, Hameeda, & Azamc, 2017)
MATERIAL SELVES
Signs of being a slave of
consumerism: 1. Biological:
Hypothlamus: “I need that”
 being a shopaholic
Prefrontal Cortex: Correct! It’s necessary
 a panic buyer
Amydala: I want this
 buying the latest gadget
Prefrontal Cortex: Ok
 waiting for the latest gadget to be out in the
market
2. Psychological:
 competing with peers in acquiring new
a. Sigmund Freud’s concept of Id (pleasure
products
principle)
 buying even if it is not necessary
b. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
 seeking happiness in possessing expensive
brands
 always desiring for more

Why do people buy?

 People at times are more interested on what
the brand says and not on its usefulness.

 They buy signature products because the

brand speaks of the quality of life they enjoy.

 People buy because they are driven by the

status symbol attributed to the things they
have which in turn favourably influences a
higher self-esteem.

The purchase and use of material goods depends

on its specific function and oftentimes people may
be reluctant to admit that material things fulfil
symbolic and affective rather than instrumental
functions.

FUNCTIONS OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

THE SPIRITUAL SELF
Instrumental Functions relate to the functional
 20
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
“The soul feels what the mind ignores.” properties of a product. For example, a person bought a
– Stace Morris van for family and business use.
Social Symbolic Functions signify personal qualities,
What does it mean to be a spiritual being? social standing, group affiliation, gender role. For
instance buying an iphone instead of Samsung, Oppo,
What molds your spirituality?
Hwawei, Vivo, or Cherry mobile phones.
How can you best cultivate your soul and Categorical Functions refer to the extent to which
deepen your connection with the divine material possessions may be used to communicate
creator?” group membership and status. Example is buying or
renting condo unit in Makati City.
DEVELOPING YOUR SPIRITUALITY Self-expressive Functions reflect a person’s unique
qualities, values or attitudes. There are people who may
Andrew Wallas - The “Modern Day Wizard” represent themselves by collecting objects with a Hello
-proposed the ‘New Model of Spirituality’ Kitty brand; favorite color through the color of their
clothes, accessories, shoes etc.
Four (4) Stages of Spirituality
Stage 3. Questioning.
Stage 1. Anything Goes.
-difficult, troubling **stage as what you have taken
Represents your undeveloped spirituality; at
to be untouchable is now being challenged. The
this point of spiritual growth, you are
biggest stumbling block in this stage is the fear
manipulative and self-serving. Though you
that you are falling back to Stage I and hence you
may pretend or you even think you are loving
often retreat into the perceived safety of the
toward others, you are narcissistic and don’t
second stage.
really love yourself or others.
(clips on issues about clergy/ priests,etc.)
(Narcissism)
Stage 4. Free Flowing.
Stage 2. Rigid.
Characterized by an acceptance and peace with
Characterized by firm set of external rules
who you are. You discover an alignment with the
which you need to follow.
flow of life. You recognize, not as an intellectual
(illustrations of different religious symbols)
concept but as a lived experience, the true unity
and interconnectedness of all things.
The prescriptive nature of this phase provides
(peace, serenity, good deeds and acts of love)
you comfort, as you do not have to think for
yourself.
In religion, you will mainly view your God as REMEMBER
an external, transcendent Being. You generally It is essential to embrace each stage of your
need a legalistic God, who will punish spiritual journey and not try to rush on to achieve
misdeeds, to keep you from chaotic behavior. the next. Wanting to move quickly towards
enlightenment is often an ego need rather than a
spiritual one. Embracing each stage fully and
accepting yourself as in the perfect place in every
moment of your journey can make the process of
spiritual growth smoother and less challenging.
3. Ascetic: Loving God in Solitude and
Simplicity. You feel closest to God when you
are alone and there is nothing to distract SACRED PATHWAYS
you from focusing on His presence.
The nine (9) different spiritual styles proposed
4. Sensate: Loving God with the Senses. You by Gary L. Thomas in his book, Sacred Pathways:
feel closest to God when you are in a Discover Your Soul’s Path to God
church service that allows your senses to
come alive – when you can see, smell, hear,
and almost taste His majesty. 1. Naturalist: Loving God Out of Doors. You
feel closest to God when you are surrounded
5. Activist: Loving God through by what He has made- the mountains, the
Confrontation. You feel closest to God when forests or the oceans.
you are cooperating with Him in standing
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
up for His justice: writing letters to
government officials and newspaper 2. Intellectual: Loving God with the Mind. You
editors, picketing at a place of injustice, feel closest to God when you learn
urging people to vote or becoming informed something new about Him that you didn’t
about current issues.
understand before.
6. Caregiver: Loving God by Loving Others.
You feel closest to God when you see Him in YOUR LIFE PURPOSE AND
the needy, the poor, the sick and the
imprisoned, when you are sitting quietly by MEANING
the bed of someone who is lonely or ill or
when you are taking a meal to someone in Three (3) ways in discovering meaning in life
need. by Victor Frankl (1959):
7. Contemplative: Loving God through
Adoration. You feel closest to God when (a) by creating a work or doing a deed; (CREATIVE)

your emotions are awakened, when God

quietly touches your heart, tells you that He (b) by experiencing something or encountering
loves you and makes you feel like you are someone; (EXPERIENTIAL)
His closest friend.
(c) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable
8. Enthusiast: Loving God with Mystery and suffering (ATTITUDINAL)
Celebration. You feel closest to God when - (Belief that everything can be taken from a man, but
your heart is sent soaring and you feel like
one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose
you want to burst, worship God all day long
one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.)
and shout out His name. Celebrating God
and His love is your favorite form of
worship.

9. Traditionalist: Loving God through Ritual

and Symbol. You feel closest to God when
you’re participating in a familiar forms of
worship that has memories dating back to
your childhood. Rituals and traditions move
you more than anything else.

Role of Shamans/ Babaylan

- Spiritual leaders responsible in mediating
between the physical world and the spirit
world
THE
- Helps maintain the balance of the soul
through healing, rituals, and guidance to SOUL: ACCORDING TO INDIGENOUS FILIPINOS
from lopezseum.blogspot
ensure that they remain spiritually healthy
and connected to their ancestors
Dual Nature of the Soul.
The soul and Nature Kaluluwa & Inyong or Anito)
- The is seen as a part of a larger cosmic - Kaluluwa (spiritual or immaterial soul);essential
order, where harmony with the being
environment and respect for all living - Inyong/Anito (Ancestor’s spirit)may interact
beings is essential for maintaining spiritual with the living through rituals and offerings
balance.
Spiritual Connections and Afterlife. Existence after
Rituals and Practices death
- May vary per indigenous group - May join the ancestral spirits in the spirit
o Anito Worship. Offerings to spirits esp. world
- May wander and potentially need guidance or
deceased
appeasement through rituals
o Healing Rituals. Performed by the
- May be reincarnated, in some traditions
babaylan.
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Diversity of Beliefs. (Tagalog, Igorot, Wizard

Visayan, etc. - one who is acquainted with the secrets of
the nonmaterial or unseen world.
What other Filipino beliefs in ‘souls’ and Necromancer
‘spirits’ do you know? - one who is seeking unto the dead

Basing on your religion, what rituals do you Barang

practice? - Filipino Term for sorcerer. Used to describe
malignant sorcery or familiar spirits
RELIGION, BELIEFS AND WITCHCRAFT IN Kulam – voodoo/witchcraft
THE PHILIPPINES
What is your concept of witchcraft and magic? Albularyo/albulario- Filipino practitioner of
traditional medicine
Magic
- Power if influencing course of events by Folklores – includes aswangs, manananggal,
using mysterious or supernatural forces. kapre, dwende, sirena, syokoy, engkanto,
- Ability to use supernatural forces to make tikbalang, etc.
impossible things happen. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------

WITCHCRAFT PRACTICE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Magician
- one who performs magic. Albularyos
One of the most famous faith healers.
Sorcerer - were believed to have agimat or anting-
- related to medicine, magic, potions, anting, charms like pendants with words
drugs or poison inscribe in Latin. where they get their power to
heal people.
Mangkukulam
- the one who performed the kulam, are faith healing is beyond religion and was also
often from the islands of Siquijor and Samar, influenced by other religions, such as the
and the province of Sorsogon. Buddhism, Muslim, Protestantism, etc.
- use of rag doll to injure the intended
victim - they chant incantation, mostly in pig Latin,
- For the curse to work, something while healing someone.
belonging from the victim should be - performed some rituals that would alleviate
obtained such as hair, etc. the said illness and be healed soon

“Na-engkanto” and “nausog”- common diagnosis.

Some of the faith healers performed surgery as

their way of treating called “bare hand
surgery” - conducted without the use of any
medical equipment, just the bare hands of the
faith healers.
Laurence Cacteng is the famous faith healer
who performed the bare hand surgery.
believed to be able to counterfeit a
“kulam”.

- the village witch where one can get love

spells (Gayuma) , spells to catch cheating
husband, potions and such.

Kulam- the used of black magic to perform some

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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
evil deeds that could cause to hurt other people

Buntot Pagi (Stingray’s Tail)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------

The Most Prominent Types of Filipino “Witches”

Katalonan: Tagalog Priest/Priestess

The Katalonan (Catalonan, Catalona; Catulunanin Kapampangan): is a priest or priestess in the

indigenous religions of the Tagalog. Mostly found in Central to Southern Luzon. They are the
equivalent of the Visayan Babaylan. Spanish friars and missionaries also called them anitero (male)
and anitera (female).

What the Katalonan Do?

They safeguard the religious practices of the barangay (a type of community) and the dambana,
the main term for a sacred place before Catholicism was introduced in the Philippines. Now, in the
modern times, it may refer to shrines of indigenous religions in the Philippines, altar of Philippine
churches, or monuments erected to remember Philippine history.

Female and Transvestite Catalona, Offerings, and Ceremonies

The Catalona could be of either sex, or male transvestites (bayoguin), but were usually women
from prominent, wealthy families. As compensation for their services, they received part of the
offerings (mostly food, wine, clothing, and gold.) Thus, the catalonas filled a very prestigious as
well as lucrative role in society. The catalonas performed public ceremonies for community
prosperity, fertility, or seasonable weather as well as private services to diagnose and cure
ailments.

This type of Filipino witches were respected for these functions but they were also feared sorcerers
able to work black magic. Some were spirit mediums and held séances during which they spoke
with the voice of spirits (anito).

The Babaylans: Shamans and Mediums

The Babaylans were shamans of various ethnic groups of the pre-colonial Philippines and usually
found in Visayas. They were highly respected members of the community. They were usually
female, especially the mediums. They function as spirit mediums and as a mananambal (a Filipino
practitioner of traditional medicine or a medicine man).

The Babaylans’ Abilities and the Asog

The Babaylans could be considered Filipino witches in that they performed divination, sorcery,
black magic, and herbalism. There were male shamans too, but they’re usually the minority and
belonged to a special class of shamans known as asog (feminized men). In Luzon they’d be called
bayok. The asog would adopt the voice, mannerism, hairstyle and overall look of a female. They
were treated as women by the community and would do the work most women did back then—
shamanism, pottery, and weaving. These powerful individuals were believed to possess powers
that blocked dark magic and healed the sick or wounded. They ensured safe pregnancies and child
births.

Albularyo: Filipino Witch Doctor

The albularyo is a Filipino witch doctor, folk healer, or medicine man, who often don’t have formal
education. They are equivalent to a general practitioner. And knowledgeable in most folkloric
medicinal herbs. The Filipino witch doctor was believed to have acquired their healing abilities from
an elder, passed down to them. Or acquired from a supernatural being or a higher power. Some are
able to find out your ailments just by checking your pulse.
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Herbalists and Healers
Coined by the Spaniards as herbolario, or in English, an herbalist. An albularyo is alternatively
called a manghihilot (a person who does healing massage) or a manggagamot (someone who
heals). They’re found in rural areas where modern medicine and facilities are expensive and
difficult to find. People who are traditional and superstitious are the ones who seek the albularyo
the most. Aside from tradition, people seek them because they are believed to show more care and
concern for their patients as compared to the modern doctor. Albularyos differ by region and were
born from the suppression of the Babaylans and native Filipino animists.
Their practice is influenced by animism and the local mythological ethos. To survive persecution,
some willingly adopted the Catholic ways by fusing together ancient healing practices with the new
religion and exchanged their native pagan prayers with oraciones. Albularyos were prominent
figures in rural Philippines.

Albularyos and Angry Spirits

People trust the albularyo to rid them of disease of natural or supernatural causes. They employ
herbs, alum, coconut oil, etc. in their healing practices as well as incorporating prayers, chants and
“supernatural” cures. These cures are used especially for cases involving spirits like the duwendes
(dwarf or goblin), nuno sa punso (a dwarf-like creature, some call them ancestor/grandparent of the
anthill but not because they are actually ancestors, but they are perceived to be old looking earth
bound dwarfs that live on anthills), lamang lupa (gnomes), tikbalang (hybrid horse beast, complete
anatomical opposite of a centaur), and a kapre (a tree giant or a tree demon that carries a cigar
and has a prominent smell that’s hard to ignore).

A Dying Breed
As western medicine rose, people leaned towards modern technology and scientific treatments,
slowly pushing the albularyos and Filipno witch doctors into shadows even further, slowly being
driven to extinction. However, they can still be found in the rural areas of the Philippines.

Faith Healers
Filipino faith healers usually start as an albularyo, a medico, or a manghihilot. They believe their
healing powers come from a higher being, like the Holy Spirit. They believe this higher gives them
the gift of healing, or they believe they’re merely a medium of the Holy Spirit or the

Mother Mary to heal.

These faith healers use their divine connection to heal others. Their mode of healing is prayers,
visiting religious or sacred sites, or by use of sheer faith. They truly believe calling on the presence
of a higher power will heal those who ask them. Their hands are used as their healing tools. People
who seek their healing liken their results to miracles of god/Mother Mary.
On one end of the spectrum there are the albularyos, manghihilots and other faith healers; where
their healing rituals are mostly of religiosity, icons, prayers and invocations. They use the same
divining ways of a mangtatawas, diagnosing black elves, black gnomes, black dwarves and the like,
evil spirits, possessions, and sorcery as causes of maladies. With their knowledge, belief, and
courage, they share their unconventional concoctions of treatments to heal.

Psychic Healers
On the other end of the fringe, there are psychic healers, those who can heal at a distance,
whispering and blowing prayers to the afflicted areas, healers anointing the bodies with flowers
dipped in coconut oil infused with prayers, healers anointing the afflicted areas with their own
saliva, and healers who pass religious icons or crucifixes over the body. Kind of like the same way
you use salt or an egg to check for Evil Eyes. To this group of healers belong the psychic surgeons,
those who perform bare-handed surgery. They perform without the traditional surgical tools. They
are but a small number; perhaps, over a hundred, and a mere handful of them are exceptional by
faith healer standards.
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Mangkukulam: The Feared Ones
Kulam is a form of Filipino folk magic, specifically natural magic, where the practice is very similar
to voodoo. A mangkukulam is someone who is believed to be a sorceress who performs black
magic. They can either be a man or a woman. People come to these Filipino witches for revenge or
justice, that’s why they are the most well known and the most feared type of witch in the
Philippines, especially in rural areas. If you ask even a city-dweller, they know all too well what a
mangkukulam is and are just as fearful as the country-dweller. Aside from the mangkukulam’s
ability to harm, hex, or curse people, they also offer love potions. And for witches like me, love
potions are a no no as it controls another’s free will.

Mangtatawas: Diagnosis Ritual

A mangtatawas is a divination where someone uses tawas (alum) as a diagnostic ritual. Other tools
could be used for a diagnostic ritual, like candles, eggs, plain paper or the paper used in cigarettes,
and mirrors. A good example of candle wax diagnosis is interpreting the shapes that form in bowl
of water from candle wax drippings. This has personally been done to me when I was a child,
because I was sickly.

Manghihilot: Healing Hands

A manghihilot is someone who performs hilot (a magical chiropractic type of massage or form of
reiki healing). Their scope of healing abilities are limited and are reserved only for sprains, sala
(afflicted area or cause of pain), and massage in general. The basis is more esoteric than scientific.
They use hilot to find musculoligamentous disorders and muscoloskeletal problems to diagnose and
treat. Even though they have no formal training, people from rural areas seek them. The
manghihilot also use coconut oil or special herbs as a patch to an afflicted area.

Magpapaanak
The magpapaanak is someone who people call for pregnancy, prenatal, and postnatal issues. They
have a basic knowledge of herbal medicinal plants which they use in prenatal and postnatal care,
like suob. They mostly get their training from a trained practitioner who was a relative, friend or
neighbor. Some become magpapaanak because of a spiritual calling, or a message from a
supernatural being that grants them the needed power. Their care starts about the fifth month of
pregnancy. The magpapaanak requires the patient to follow up every two weeks or as often as
needed to assess the progress and fetal position.

Education and When There’s No Magpapaanak

Midwives are required to be certified and should register annually at the municipal hall, yet there is
no strict enforcement of certification for a magpapaanak. In impoverished communities, deliveries
are performed by friends, neighbors or relatives who have gained experience, confidence and the
basic expertise in umbilical cord care if a magpapaanak is not available.

Pagbubuhos: Pre-Baptism
In these same communities or even in developed ones where superstitions are treated seriously, if
an infant shows unusual amount of crying or restlessness, they attribute it to unpleasant entites. A
midwife or local healer might take on the task of “pagbubuhos,” a pre- baptismal ritual of water
application or immersion performed on some infants while awaiting the sacramental church ritual.
Filipino Folk Magic and Healing is Disappearing
Kulam is no longer the norm either. Siquijor is now treated as one of the most beautiful tourist
destination. Due to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, most native shamanistic practices
and Filipino witchcraft are now extinct. A few followers of the native shamanism resisted Spanish
rule and conversion, especially in areas difficult to reach, like the highlands of Luzon and the
interiors of Mindanao.
Some Resisted Spanish Rule
 26
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
At the onset of the Colonial era, the suppression of the babaylans and the native Filipino religion
gave rise to the albularyo. By exchanging the native prayers and spells with Catholic oraciones and
Christian prayers, the albularyo was able to synchronize the ancient mode of healing with the new
religion.

THE POLITICAL SELF

Who is a Filipino? 6. a difficult task or if they have

Article IV Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution exhausted all possible efforts in
(Official Gazette Republic of the Philippines) performing a task. This shows their
states that you are a Filipino citizen if: belief that someone up there will take
1. You were born in the Philippines; care of the rest for things that they
2. Your parents are citizens of the are in little or no control at all.
Philippines;
3. You were born before January 17, 1973, 7. Bayanihan – This term comes from
of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine the word “bayan” which means
citizenship upon reaching the age of nation, town or community. This is a
majority; Filipino trait of helping others without
4. You are naturalized in accordance with remuneration. This is a communal
law. trait which shows favourable deed
Being a Filipino is not reflected by citizenship towards one another in the
alone. The values and traits must also be community
manifested.
8. Compadre System – It is expected
Values and Traits of a Filipino that friends over non-acquaintance
Filipinos have their own trademark. are given priority to be given a favour
When asked to describe who is a Filipino, such as job placement, promotion
there are adjectives or unique and the like.(Panopio, Corder-
descriptions that are automatically McDonald, & Raymundo, 1995);
attached to them. (David & Macaraeg, 2010)

5. Utang na Loob – This is a way of Role of Family, School, Church, Peer Group and Media
showing gratitude for a favour or in the Development of a Filipino Identity?
assistance extended to a person, such
debt can never be fully paid and the 1.Family – most basic unit of society is the
obligation can last for generations. It is first world of a child where the child
expected that when the grantor asks for develops the initial sense of self, his/her
help, the debtor needs to return the first place of indoctrination.
favour with no excuses.
2.School – first formal education of a child
6. Hiya – Filipinos are generally dependent continues whatever was instilled by the
on what other people will think or say family during preschool age. Since most
about them. Social approval, acceptance of the waking time of the child is spent in
by a group and belonging to a group play the school, values instilled at home are
further crystallized.
 27
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
a vital role in their life. Expressions such
as “nakakahiya,” “ano na lang ang 3.Church – The child is spiritually
sasabihin nila” are oftentimes heard influenced by the church teachings. The
from them: learnings one gets from the church
manifest on one’s views and actions to
7. Bahala Na – Filipinos have the tendency circumstances in life.
to utter this expression especially if they
are about to perform

4 . Peer group – The cliché “tell me who THE DIGITAL SELF

your friends are and I will tell you who
you are” explains how peer influence “Overloading attention shrinks mental
each other. Generally, the opinion of one control. Life immersed in digital distractions a
becomes the stand of the whole group near constant cognitive overload. And that
and vice versa, hence the statement, overload wears out self- control.” – Daniel
“one for all, all for one.” Goleman

5. Media – Filipinos are well-versed on Digital self is the personality you use
media information. Findings of Adel when you’re online.
(2019) reveal that an average of four
hours and 12 minutes is spent on social  Some of you maybe maintaining one or
media platforms. This record doubles more online identities that are distinct
the global average of two hours and 16 from your “real world” selves
minutes. Filipinos are also regarded as  Some of you may have only a single
world’s heaviest internet users. online self that is more or less the
same as the one they live in the real
How Is Nationalism Depicted By A True Filipino? world.

Nationalism is defined as identification On your online behavior: Is your FB profile

with one’s own nation and support for its up to date? Do you post regularly? Are you
interest. consistent with your posts?
On your online voice: When you post in
Do Filipinos consciously put an effort to be your FB account, what do you say? Are
nationalistic? you controversial? Contentious? Or
otherwise inappropriate? Do you also
Every Monday, you hear Filipinos in all think you’re adding value to
government and private agencies including conversations?
educational institutions singing the national On your online presentation: What does
anthem. Is singing the national anthem and the fonts, styles and images you use say
putting your right hand over your chest about your presentation of yourself? Do
reflects your being a nationalistic? you maintain a professional visual image?

What describes a true Nationalistic Filipino? I, ME, MYSELF AND MY USER ID ONLINE
IDENTITY

It’s important to always use social media

with care and consistency
Always make yourself aware of how your
personal brand can be affected by what
you say and post.
Always assume that potential people will
often perform an online search, so make
sure that everything they find about you is
positive and professional.
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

1. Teacher Anna is a quiet person. But

SELECTIVE SELF PRESENTATION AND lately she would always post rants and
IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT complaints on her social media account.
She discloses things on public, and tries
 Most often you try to impress others – to to humiliate her boss, her co-employees
put your best foot forward, to try to look and subordinates online.
good and always into new trends, to
always get people to like you even if it Reflect on the following questions:
means you need to lie, to pretend and to
create fictitious self of yours. On situation 1: What do you think will be the
long term effect of cyberbullying to Lita?
 However, selective self-presentation
and impression management is very On situation 2: What do you think is the major
important in the development and loss of John in getting addicted to playing
maintenance of your social relationships, Mobile Legends online?
for you to gain self-confidence and pride.
On situation 3: What do you think is the
 Your success in social relationships and persona Teacher Anna is being portrayed on
your triumph as a person requires a her negative posts?
delicate balance of self-presentation
and impression management. It is
with this reason that you need to monitor
and control how you appear to others.
But never forget that you also need to be
straightforward and ‘authentic’.

IMPACT AND BOUNDARIES OF ONLINE

INTERACTIONS ON THE SELF

1. Lita, a senior high school student who

happens to be chubby, dark skinned and
curly hair is often bullied in school. One
time, a classmate, took a stolen photo of
her, edited her face with a pig face and
uploaded in the Facebook with the
caption, “black-boar for sale”. The post
went viral and many more insulting
comments popped in.

2. John, 15 year old is fun of playing Mobile

Legends using his gadget. He would
missed eating his meals, urinating,
drinking water and the like just to finish
his online gaming for a win. He would
chat with his ML friends more often. He
then loss his concentration in school and
family affairs.