LESSON 1: PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE SELF
09/22/20
● PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SELF
-The psychological viewpoint resolves around the
nature of self dc cas it is both cognitively and
socially constructed, where the reason actively
processes their internal ideas of self and
meaningfully assimilates the self in the social
environment.
● NATURE OF SELF
-William james, Dual structure of the self as he
distinguishes between the self as I and the self as
ME
-I in self, refers to the aspect of the self that
actively perceives and thinks, the one that is aware
of one’s experience, and the part of the self that
organizes and interprets these experiences. It is
the subjective part of the self.
-ME in self, the one that is being perceived, the
object of one’s attention, thought, and perception.
Iy is the objective part of the self.
-Example: I am a teacher …I is the one perceiving
or describing the ME as a teacher. The ME is the
objective quality of the I, who subjectively
perceives and organizes the qualities of the ME.
● THREE COMPONENTS OF THE ME
⮚ The Material Self
-It refers to the physical body of the self, including
all other physical materials owned by the self.
⮚ The Social Self
-Are the attributes of the self as ascribed by others
(e.g., “she is kind”, “he is generous”)
-These can be “as many social selves as there are
individuals who recognize him and carry an image
of him in their mind”
-There can be multiple social selves and each of
these doesn’t even have to be in consonant with
each other all the time. It is possible that one’s
social sleeves are harmonious.
⮚ The spiritual Self
-It comprises the inner thoughts and dispositions
or generally the international frame of mind of a
person.
● REAL SELF VERSUS IDEAL SELF
-Wiilliam James’ distinction between the different
elements of the Self-I, Me-material, social, and
spiritual- demonstrates the multidimensionality
model of the self.
-Carl Rogers proposed the notion that people can
have an idea of who they are, yet can think of a
self which is ideal, who they aspire to be. This is
what they refer to as the Real Self and the Ideal
Self respectively.
-Real Self, how the person perceives their self to
be, or who they actually are.
-Ideal Self, how they would like to be.
⤷It is considered as an idealized version of the
self created out of experiences that include what
we admire in others, what society expects, and
even expectations from significant others
⤷It is a difference between what one is (the
actual) and what one wants to be (what one aspire
or pretends to be)
● REAL SELF AND POSSIBLE SELVES
-Possible Selves does not only include those other
selves that one hopes for (e.g. being accepted and
loved by others, being able to achieve one’s goals)
but also includes those that one doesn’t wish to
become (e.g. unemployed, socially ignored).
-The function of these opposing selves is to
motivate the perso n to direct their actions to
achieve their desired self and avoid being the self
that they Abhor.
● MULTIPLE SELVES VERSUS UNIFIED SELF
-While a number of psychologists have recognized
the multiplicity nature of the self, others believed
in a concept of a self that is integrated and unified,
for instance, defines the self as one that “…
includes all aspects of personality that make for a
sense of inward unity” (p. 38). Likewise, Lecky
(1945) presupposes a theory that revolves around
the concept of self-consistency wherein people are
motivated to maintain the integrity of the self by
exerting an effort to
preserve the consistency and unity of the self.
-In contrast, several social psychologists have
argued for a concept of self that takes into
account the multiple social roles one individual
may hold (Gergen, 1968; Mischel, 1973; Vallacher,
1980). People do have different roles depending
on the nature of the interpersonal interaction one
is particularly engaged in. These different selves
vary as a function of the different social roles in
various social contexts.
-People act differently depending on who they are
interacting with; like one acts in a different mans
referred to as enculturation. Ex: Manoner when
interacting with parents, or even differently when
talking to one’s dad as when you talk to one’s
mom. A person may project a different self when
they are with close friends, and probably a
different self when relating with classmates and
soon after may shift to another self when
interacting to their teacher.
-These interactions with various groups of people
entail different ways of dealing with each type of
group, therefore may also require different
character of selves for the different interactions.
This variety depends on the nature of the
interpersonal relationship a person has with these
individuals and that this is dependent on the role
one has relative to the other person. When one
interacts with either of one’s parents, one is taking
the role of a son/daughter, when with friends one
will take the role of a friend, and when interacting
with one’s teacher, one is taking the role of a
student. The self, then, adjusts itself to these
different roles thereby showing various versions of
the self.
LESSON 2: THE SOCIOLOGICAL AND
ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF
10/06/20
According to sociologist George Herbert Mead,
identity is how an individual sees him/herself in
relation to his/her interaction experiences with
the society.
● SELF IN THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PROCESS
-The self reflects how human adaptations with our
social environment increase our chances of
survival. This evolutionary process involves how
we establish our identity.
-Humans have an evolved capacity towards using
human social interactions as an efficient tool for
adaptation and survival. This powerful tool is
referred to as culture.
-refers to “a system of 1) shared beliefs, 2) values,
3) customs, 4) behaviors, and 5) artifacts that the
members of society use to cope with their world
and with one another, and that are transmitted
from generation to generation through learning”.
-Its classic conceptualization has five key qualities,
namely, culture is learned, shared,
symbolic,integrated, and adaptive.
⮚ Culture
-Culture is an ongoing event among people. The
moment one is born, one is already immersed in a
culture which eventually one will learn and make
use of in interacting with others. This learning
process i
⤷The process of enculturation is not experienced
by one individual but also by others in the social
environment.
-Symbols, in a culture, have the same meaning
across people in that particular culture. The
meanings of these symbols are learned as an
individual interacts with the social environment.
⤷For example, the image of Sto. Nino is seen as
an image of hope and providence especially by the
Cebuanos.
-Culture is complex for it is – a collection of ideas,
experiences, events at different times, and other
elements. As complex as it is, each element in the
culture has functions that facilitates the survival
and transmission of the culture from generation to
generation.
⤷The cultural experiences in our family and in our
religion integrate and serve the function of
maintaining a Filipino identity
-Culture is a constantly evolving process. It adapts
to the social and environmental pressure through
time and ensures its transmission to succeeding
generations.
⤷The social sanctions imposed in one’s culture is
one way to ensure that the cultural values are
being practiced.
⤷For example, Filipinos see pakikisama (getting
along with others) as a quality valued in our
interaction with others. A person who does not
engage in pakikisama is frowned upon by fellow
Filipinos, which is a form of sanction to that
person.
-Culture as learned, shared, symbolic, integrated,
and adaptive puts forward the idea that our self-
identity is not entirely shaped by what we believe
who we are but by what our ancestors have
transmitted through generations and by what are
being learned and shared in our social
environment.
-What we are now are multifaceted products of
our cultural adaptation.
● SELF IN THE SOCIOLOGICAL PROCESS
-Aside from the influence of culture in our self-
identity, our experiences in social interaction with
others and in the society also play important roles.
-The self as a two-way feedback.
-The looking-glass self by Charles Horton Cooley
suggests that individuals see themselves through
their interaction with others. Thus, one sees
oneself in the feelings, thoughts, and actions of
others.
-In the words of Sociologist George Herbert Mead,
“the self is social”
⤷This social self is learned by acquiring ideas on
what are the behaviors the society wants from the
self and the entire members of the society. These
expected behaviors are then followed by all the
members as if they are playing their roles in their
society.
⤷In Filipino traditional courtship, for example,
society expects that the man initiates the step for
courting whereas the woman is expected to wait
for the man and
engage in delayed responses.
⤷These expectations of what should and what
should not be done in different social situations
are known as norms.
⮚ In sociology, there are 4 types of norms:
〉 Folkways, refer to day-to-day behaviors that
people follow in social situations. Praying before
meals is a folkway valued by Filipinos.
〉Mores, on the other hand, is a norm that when
violated results to social sanctions. These are
norms that pertain to morality.
〉 Taboos, Are more stringent than mores such
that mentioning or engaging in such behaviors can
elicit extreme negative reaction from others in the
society. Incest, – sexual activity between family -Collectivism -Independent Self
members or ⮚ Individualism
close relatives, – is a taboo in most cultures. -The concept of giving priority to one’s own goals
〉Laws, written expectations of how an individual over group goals and defining one’s identity in
should behave in social situations. This type of terms of personal attributes rather than group
norms is enforced by an authority in the society. identifications.
Philippines, as one of the LGBT-friendly (lesbian, ⮚ Independent Self-Construal
gay, bisexual, and transgender) countries in Asia, -Construing one’s identity as an autonomous self.
has an anti-discrimination act against LGBT Emphasis on:
community 1) internal abilities, thoughts, and feelings
2) being unique and expressing the self
-In general, how one sees oneself through one’s 3) realizing internal attributes and promoting one’s
interactions with others and how society expects own goals
one to feel, think, and behave are sociological 4) being direct in communication (Singelis,1995).
factors that influence one’s self-identity. ⮚ Collectivism
-In contrast to the anthropological influence to -Giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often
one’s self-identity, the sociological understanding one’s extended family or work group) and defining
of the self focuses on how societal expectations one’s identity accordingly.
influence one’s identity ⮚ Interdependent Self-Construal
-One is not just influenced by the people and -Construing one’s identity in relation to others.
culture in one’s proximity but also by the people Emphasis on:
and culture, which are apart from one’s immediate 1) external, public features such as status, roles,
environment. -Globalization, or the process of the and relationships
technology-aided widespread of social capital and 2) belonging and fitting-in
information across the globe, has also influenced 3) occupying one’s proper place and engaging in
how one establishes one’s self-identity. appropriate action
-The most influential innovation in the 21st 4) being indirect in communication and “reading
century is the internet and how it changes the others’ minds.” (Singelis,1995).
process of socialization through the social media
applications. Such innovation forces one’s culture
to adapt and even change, – this is referred to as
the adaptive
culture.
-Even one’s feelings and thoughts are influenced
by the social media. For example, an experimental
study found that the newsfeed in an individual’s
Facebook account can influence their mood, such
that negative contents facilitates negative mood
-In general, the increasing and encompassing
social world is largely influential in establishing
one’s self-identity.
-The self is not only the product of how one
establishes it but a product of one’s interaction,
not only with proximate people and culture but
also with the globalized world.
LESSON 3: SELFIN EASTERN AND WESTERN
THOUGHT
10/13/20

● PURPOSE OF LANGUAGE
-American students were more likely to explain
that it allows self-expression, whereas Korean
students focused on how language allows
communication with others.
SELF: COLLECTIVISM AND INDIVIDUALISM ● OTHER’S OPINION TOWARDS THE SELF
● SELF AND CULTURE -60 percent of American students said they had
-Individual -Interdependent Self seriously dated someone even though their friends
disliked him or her, compared to only 27 percent
of Chinese students. Half of the Chinese students What matters Me-personal We-group goals
said they would stop dating someone if their achievement and solidarity;
parents disapproved, compared with less than and fulfillment; our social
one-third of my rights and responsibilities
American students (Zhang & Kline, 2009). liberties and relationships
● CULTURE AND SELF-ESTEEM
-Self-esteem in collectivist cultures correlates Disapproves Conformity Egotism
closely with “what others think of me and my of
group.” Self-concept in these cultures is malleable
Illustrative “To thine own “No one is an
(context-specific) rather than stable (enduring motto self be true” island”
across situations).
-For those in individualistic cultures, self-esteem is Cultures that Individualistic Collectivistic
more personal and less relational. support Western Asian and Third
-For Japanese students, happiness comes with world
positive social engagement—with feeling close,
friendly, and respectful. For American students, it
more often comes with disengaged emotions—
with feeling effective, superior, and proud
(Kitayama & Markus, 2000).
● HOLISTICS AND ANALYTICAL REASONING
-Holistic thought, involves an orientation to the
context or field as a whole. Characterized by
comprehension of the parts of something as
● MX C
intimately interconnected and explicable only by
● XCJKBSJK
reference to the whole.
● Sskjdbjk
-Analytic thought, involves detachment of the
● Djcvc
object from its context.
● Dhkc
● CAUSAL EXPLANATION AND PREDICTION
● Jkvcjks
-Americans are more to decontextualize the object
● Shvchj
from its context than are East Asians.
● Ddshc
-Americans would likely explain events by
● Sjcvkj
reference to properties of the object, and that East
● Hf jg
Asians would be inclined to explain the
● Jgcjg
same events with reference to interactions
between the object and the field.
⮚ TOPIC
-East Asians have holistic assumptions about the ⮚ TOPPIC
universe, dictating that all elements in the
universe are somehow interconnected. An object
cannot be understood in isolation from the whole.
-Westerners hold that the universe consists of
separate objects that can be understood in
isolation from one another.
-Choi, Dalal, Kim-Prieto, and Park (2003) – a
murder incident along with a list of 97 items of
information that might or might not be relevant to
the explanation.
● SELF-CONCEPT

Self-concept: Independent or Interdependent

Independent Interdependent

Identity is Personal, Social, defined

defined by by connections
individual traits with others
and goals