COLLEGE of ARTS &

SCIENCES,
and EDUCATION
Columban College, Inc.
1 First Street, New Asinan
2200 Olongapo City, Philippines
Tel. No. (047) 222-3329 local 122; TelFax No. (047)
MIDTERM LEARNING
222-7782 MODULE
E-Mail Address: ccicasen2020@gmail.com
Facebook Account: Cased Columban
GED 101 – Understanding
Website: the Self
www.columban.edu.ph

Revised by:
Dr. Adelwina M. Pineda
Copyright 2021
Unauthorized reproduction of this Learning Module is strictly prohibited.

1
Module 2.
I. Man’s Physical Self

Have you tried looking at yourself in the mirror? Did

you see a beautiful being looking back at you,
someone who is contributing to life, who is accepting
and loving… who is connected to a bigger picture that
fills you with joy, or did you see someone who didn’t
fit the “image” of who you think you are “supposed”
to be, and walked away feeling “less than” from your
OWN self-concept image?

If someone asked you to describe yourself, what

would you say? Our body image takes such a
battering that feeling beautiful can be hard –
sometimes we just can’t see beauty in ourselves at all.
We think our self-esteem is in serious need of a boost.

Try to examine these two pictures: How are they similar? Different?

This was based on a Dove commercial that appeared many years ago, where a forensic artist was
sitting behind a curtain, in a big warehouse, and a woman was sitting on the other side,

2
describing to the artist what she looked like. After completing his drawing of the way in which
she describes herself, she leaves, and another woman comes in, who was sitting in the waiting
room with the first woman.
He now asks this other woman to describe the previous woman, who was a stranger. He
completes that drawing of her and puts both drawings side by side.

The unattainable standards of beauty – in magazines, TV, adverts, on social media- makes
a person undervalue the true beauty that is already within. In this advertisement, more
than half of women globally agree that when it comes to how they look, they’re their own
worst critic. The perception that we have of ourselves is far less positive than it should
be. The meaning of “beauty” in terms of the body is quite relative, and it changes over
time. (Physical Self-Esteem: Accept Your Body, 2016). For example, during the
Renaissance, beautiful women were larger. In Arab culture, girls who are too thin are not
sought out by men for marriage. And there are dozens of other examples. Being confident
about the beauty that each of us holds is the first step to living happier and more
confident lives. When we embrace the nature of all life, we take on a deeper meaning of
our individual lives. We live in our bodies, yet our bodies do not define who we are. We
are more than the physical self that we have.

There are three aspects of the self: they are the physical or tangible aspects as they relate
to the body, the intellectual and conscious aspects as they relate to the mind, and the
emotional and intuitive aspects as they relate to the spirit. All three aspects of the self
work together in perfect harmony when attention is paid to all three simultaneously.
Many individuals put a strong emphasis on the physical aspect of the self. The body is
tangible, obvious, and we respond to it easily. More time and money is spent on
enhancing the physical component than either of the other two aspects. This does not
mean, however, that the body is healthy or strong. The body provides a place to house
the spirit (often experienced as feelings) and the mind (often experienced as thought).

Erik Erikson claimed that experience is anchored in the ground-plan of body (Erikson,
1963). According to him the role of bodily organs is especially important in early
developmental stages of a persons life. Later in life, the development of physical as well
as intellectual skills help determine whether the individual will achieve a sense of
competence and ability to choose demanding roles in a complex society. For example,
healthy children derive a sense of competence as their bodies become larger, stronger,
faster and more capable of learning complex skills. However, as a stage theorist, Erikson
is aware of the constant interaction of the body, psychological processes and social forces.
He acknowledges the classical Freudian view of fundamental biological drives but insists
that these drives are socially modifiable.

3
  Environmental Conditioning
 As you grow up, you are exposed to environmental influences that shape
your physical self, including those from your social networks, societal
expectations, and cultural practices.
 Family, being your first social group, forms a crucial foundation of your
development, including that of your physical self.
 As you grow older, you get exposed to a larger social group with new
practices and standards. As a result, you may begin engaging in acts that
would make you attractive and acceptable to others.
 One aspect of physical beauty is a person’s body type. Contemporary
media has portrayed slim bodies as the ideal body type for women and
muscular bodies for men. Thus, adolescents indulge in activities that would
enable them to achieve these ideal body types.
 However, some adolescents may resort to unhealthy habits just to achieve
the ideal body type. It is important to remember that physical beauty is only
skin-deep; that what matters is feeling good about oneself and embracing a
healthy perception of one’s physical worth.

 Achieving Physical Well-being

1. Healthy eating. Following a healthy diet results in healthy skin, ideal weight, and
better stamina.
2. Embracing a healthy lifestyle. Physical activities such as walking, running, going
to the gym, and engaging in sports also contribute to a healthier body.
3. Maintaining proper hygiene. Taking care of your body by consistently following
a hygiene regimen can also help you feel good about yourself.
4. Being confident. Be secure in yourself, embrace a positive outlook toward various
situations and problems, and love and accept who you are.

Start to accept your body

See and look at yourself in the mirror.
1. Focus your gaze on your hair, your face, your torso, your legs. Linger on the parts you like the
most (your nose, your shoulders, your eyes, etc.).
2. Then look at the parts you don’t like. But this time, instead of criticizing them, try something
else: accept them. It might seem easy in theory, but not so much in practice.
3. Pay attention to what your body part does.
4. Don’t forget about all the people who want to have a body like yours, because they exist

4
 Reflect and Analyze

Get a copy of your whole-body picture. Give yourself a chance to gaze over it. What are the things
you don’t like about your body? What are the parts you cherish the most? What are your
realizations?

Looking Closer at My Body

Identify from which parent have you inherited the given attributes.

Father Mother Both Neither

Height
Body
Size/Structure
Shape of face
Eyes
Nose
Ears
Lips
Color of Hair
Skin
Complexion
Feet Size

In terms of physical features, who do you resemble more, your father or mother? What about
your temperaments? ________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

II. Man’s Material Self

Even if we own a lot, it is easy to get caught up in the idea of getting new stuff and it is a
human behavior. Materialism is that insatiable desire to own things and a belief that
when those desires are fulfilled we’ll achieve happiness. We are living in the world of
sale and shopping spree. Almost everywhere, including the digital space, we find

5
promotions of product purchase. Product advertisements are suggestive of making us
feel better or look good. What makes us want to have those products are connected with
who we are. What we want to have and already possess are related to our self. “We regard
our possessions as parts of ourselves. We are what we have and what we possess.” –
Belk,1988. Our wanting to have and possess has a connection with another aspect of the
self, the material self.
The MATERIAL SELF is primarily about our bodies, clothes, immediate family, and
home. We are deeply affective by these things because we put so much investment of our
self to them.
BODY - The innermost part of our material self. We are directly attached to it and we
can’t live without it. We strive hard to make sure that this body functions well and good.
We also have preferential attachment to certain parts because of its value to us.
CLOTHES – “any time we bring an object into the surface of our body , we invest that
object into the consciousness of our personal existence and make it a part of us”
(Watson,2014).Our clothes affect our attitude and behavior. It is a form of self-expression.
We wear clothes that reflect us.
HOME – it is our earliest nest of selfhood. Our experiences in life are sometimes recorded
and marked in our home. The home is an extension of our self, we directly connect
ourselves to it. “We regard our possessions as part of ourselves. We are what we have
and what we possess” – Belk, 1988 The identification of the self to things started in our
infancy stage. As we grow older, putting importance on our material possessions
decreases. We value more things like happiness, significant events, accomplishments,
and people in our lives.
The possessions that we dearly have tell something about who we are, our self-concept,
our past, and even our future.

Store up your treasures... “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21.

6
 Material Inventory

In what goods or services do you invest as a component of your material self:

body, clothing or accessories , family and home by completing the table below.

Body Family and Home

Clothing/Accessories
Items Price Items Price Items Price

III. Man’s Sexual Self

This section tackles one of the most crucial aspects of human development, the sexual self. It
highlights biological and environmental factors that shape sexual development. Tips on
regulating sexual behavior are also provided.

The Biology of Self

• At birth, the sexual genital (penis for male, vagina for female) is a biological feature that
distinguishes males from females. Moreover, during puberty, observable changes in the human
body also known as secondary sexual characteristics begin.
• When physiological changes are triggered within the adolescent’s reproductive system,
he or she is likely to experience sexual urges, become more sensitive to sexual stimuli, and feel
sexual arousal.
• Humans are likely to engage in sexual activities to satisfy sexual urges. However, the kind
of sexual activities they engage in may vary.
• A person should be aware of his/her sexuality and sexual attributes in order to make
responsible decisions. Adolescents need to realize the importance of having informed choices.

The sex chromosomes of humans define the sex (male or female) and their secondary sexual
characteristics. From childhood we are controlled by our genetic make-up. It influences the way
we treat ourselves and others. But aside from our genes, our society or external environment
helps shape our selves.
Marieb (2001) explains that the gonads (reproductive glands that produce the testis or ovary)
begin to form until the 8th week of embryonic development.

7
In the earliest stages of human development, the structures of males and females are alike and
said to be in the indifferent stage. The formation of the male and female structures depends on
the presence of testosterone.
The release of testosterone causes the formation of duct system, followed by the external genitalia.
While the formation of ovaries cause the development of the female ducts, and external genitalia
is not produced.
Interventions in the development may cause abnormalities, such as being pseudohermaphrodite
or hermaphrodite, as well as cryptorchidism.
Puberty is the period of life at 10 – 1 5years old when the reproductive organs develop to their
adult size and become functional because of the rising levels of hormones (male = testosterone,
estrogen = females).
Reproductive capability continues until old age in males and menopause in females.

Sexual Identity and Gender Orientation

• Biological sex is one’s assignment upon birth and is dependent on physical feature. On
the other hand, gender is an identity that is learned and embraced by individual.
• Gender roles refer to societal expectations of how men and women should act. Everyone
has a basic idea of gender roles: men are assumed to be strong and dominant while women are
perceived to be submissive and demure.
• Sexual identity and gender orientation underlie one’s concept of self. A person expresses
his or her sexuality through individuality; one’s belief and behavioral lifestyle are based on his
or her own perceptions of sexuality.

The Consequences of Sexual Choices

• Sexual intercourse (copulation) is the reproductive act in which the male organ (penis)
enters the female’s reproductive tract (vagina). Adolescents couples who engage in sexual
intercourse are usually overwhelmed by the sensations they feel during the act.
• However, if the woman is fertile during the time of intercourse, pregnancy is likely to
occur and it lasts approximately nine months before the birth of the child. Having a child entails
a big responsibility and should not merely be a consequence of an impulsive moment. Physical
risks to having an early pregnancy may impact an adolescent’s development, including
miscarriage, emotional stress, and health risks to both mother and infant.
• Aside from pregnancy, another consequence of impulsive and careless sexual
intercourse is the risk of acquiring sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). Among common STDs
are:
• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• Genital Warts

8
• The most alarming sexually transmitted disease is the acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It can be transmitted by
contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and HIV-infected blood or blood-
contaminated body fluids.
 Erogenous zones - refer to parts of the body that are primarily perceptive and increase
arousal when touched in a sexual manner. Some commonly known erogenous zones are
the mouth, breasts, genitals, and anus.
Two major factors that determine human sexual behavior are:
1 ) inherited sexual response patterns that evolved as means of ensuring reproduction that
becomes part of each individual
2) degree of restraint/ influence exerted by society in expression of his sexuality.

Types of (sexual) Behavior

1 ) Solitary Behavior – self-gratification or self-stimulation that leads to arousal and climax.
Usually done in in private but also in a socio sexual relationship. Begins at beginning of puberty
and usually involves fantasies.
2) Socio-sexual behavior – begins in childhood, motivated by curiosity such as showing or
examining genitalia.

Nervous System Factors

The autonomic system is involved in controlling the involuntary responses. With the initiation
of sexual stimuli, the efferent cerebrospinal nerves transmit messages to the brain. The brain
will interpret the message and dictate the immediate response of the body. The hypothalamus
and limbic system are responsible for regulating sexual response.

Sexual Problems may be classified as physiological, psychological, and social in origin.

Physiological – abnormal development of genitalia or part of the brain connected to sexual-
response.
Psychological – caused by social inhibitions, attitudes, ignorance, and sexual myths held by
society.
Source: Understanding the Self (Alata, Caslib, Serafica, Pawilen, 2018.)

It is important that everyone makes responsible decisions with regard to sexuality and sexual
behavior. Responsible sexual behavior entails the following:
• Respect for one’s body. It means taking care of one’s body and avoiding activities that
undermine one’s worth and respect.
• Maturity in thoughts and deeds. It refers to being objective, rational, and calm, instead
of being swept by one’s emotion.
• Being guided by one’s personal beliefs and core values. Everyone, especially an
adolescent, should always be grounded by his/her personal principles and self-worth.

9
• Being future-oriented. Instead of focusing on the present, a person should always weigh
his or her present actions with possible consequences in the future.

I Am Attracted to…

Relationships usually starts with physical attraction. It is natural to feel attracted to another
person. What are the factors that “turn you on” to another person? List down five physical
and attitudinal or behavioral traits that you find appealing.

Physical Traits Attitudinal/Behavioral Traits

IV. Man’s Political Self

Besides identifying our definitive “Filipino values and traits”, let us try to understand
how these characteristics came about, and evaluate the positive and negative aspects they
may bring. Filipino Hospitality – we welcome our guests and tourists as if they are our
own brothers and sisters; we make them feel at home.
Respect for Elders – Filipinos greet their elders with “Mano po” and use “po” and “opo”
in conversations. Not addressing older people properly is rude or impolite. We refer to
them also as kuya, ate, tito, tita, lolo, lola ,manong, aling, etc.
Close Family Ties – we maintain a tight relationship with families regardless of age. And
we are fond of reunions during birthdays, holidays, fiestas year-round. Nursing homes
are not an option for families on treating their parents/grandparents.
Cheerful Personalities – we have a habit of smiling a lot, no matter how we may feel
inside. Smiling and humor are coping strategies for us in times of tragedy and calamities.
There’s always positivity.
Self-sacrifice – this is an extension of our hospitality. We go out of our way to help friends
,families, and loved ones. We work abroad, stop going to school, and endure a lot of
hardships for loved ones.

10
Bayanihan – the spirit of communal unity and cooperation. It is about giving and helping
without expecting reward.
“Bahala Na ”Attitude – our version of “Hakuna Matata”. Relying on divine favors and
luck to get ov er difficult times instead of finding concrete solutions. Not exerting enough
effort to succeed.
Colonial Mentality – lack of patriotism and attitude of favoring foreign products instead
of our own. Not only concerning goods, but also the desire to look more foreign and keep
up with foreign living/beauty standards.
Maňana Habit –our term for procrastination. Dawdling things which could have been
done at an earlier time. A poor habit off laziness that results in heavier workloads.
Ningas Kugon – the attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly losing eagerness soon
after experiencing difficulty.
Pride – we hold on to our pride like to is more precious than keeping a good relationship
with others. We find it hard to apologize and wait for the other party to apologize first.
Crab Mentality – a toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the achievement of
another. They pull each other down and smear their reputation rather than bringing them
up.
Filipino Time –a common attitude of arriving late to commitments, especially if they are
meeting someone close to them. We do not observe punctuality.
QUESTION: are these Filipino traits present in us by nature, or by choice?

FILIPINO MARKERS What are the hall marks of being a Filipino? What makes us truly
relish in our being a Filipino?
Proverbs or Salawikain – sayings that convey lessons and reflections on Filipino practices,
beliefs, and traditions. Proverbs can be classified in 6 categories:
- expressing a general attitude toward life and laws governing life
- ethical proverbs recommending and condemning certain virtues
- expressing system of values
- general truths and observations about life & human nature
- humorous proverbs and
- miscellaneous proverbs
Superstitions – we subscribe to sets of superstitions passed down from past generations.
Some are influenced by other cultures, but they have been retold according to our own
experiences.
Myths and Legends – due to our rich culture and history, numerous myths and legends
have sprung about things that are beyond one’s imagination. These stories aim to explain
origin of things or teach a valuable lesson.
Heroes and Icons – people who are reminders of patriotism and nationalism as they have
sacrificed their lives for our country’s freedom and progress. It could also be people who
have elevated the identification of Filipinos in a worldwide cultural perspective.

11
QUESTION: Which among these Filipino markers would you surely pass down to your
children in the future? Which would you not teach as much?

HOW TO BE A GOOD FILIPINO

The problem now is how to truly become one and how you can be useful to the
development and progress of our country. The following are few ways on how to be a
good Filipino:
1. Be an active Filipino citizen – be aware of current events and participate in programs
that aim for the country’s progression and development. By exercising your right to vote,
you also become an active citizen. Every Filipino citizen of legal age have a chance to
choose the right leaders for the Philippines who are genuine in helping and caring for the
Filipino people.
2. Study of the Philippine history – the road to our history is long and bloody, and by
learning and fully understanding the events you will learn so much as to why it is so
important for you to love your country with your life, extend help to your fellow
Filipinos, and recognize abuse of political power.
3. Support local products – when you buy local products, you do not only support
manufacturers and businessmen, but you also strengthen the local economy because
there will be more demand of local products. Supporting local products also display our
creativity, innovativeness, and resourcefulness.
4. Speak the Filipino language – Jose Rizal highlighted the importance of speaking a
national language as a way of displaying love for one’s country. It has been a decade-
long debate whether to use Filipino as the instructional language in schools etc.
5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with dissent – despite the
positive features provided by the internet, it has also made the spread of fake news very
common. It is part of being a good Filipino to understand and verify what you read
online, especially in social media, before actually believing and it and even sharing it. It
is also a responsibility of every Filipino to recognize disagreement in political views, be
tolerant, and argue intelligently.
Source: Understandingthe Self(Alata, Caslib, Serafica, Pawilen, 2018.)

I Am A Filipino

Using your creativity, how will you encourage the Filipinos of this generation to embrace
the Filipino values and concern for the Filipino nation.

12
 V. Man’s Spiritual Self. Religious Practices and Beliefs, Finding the meaning of life.
SPIRITUALSELF – is the most intimate, inner subjective part of the self. It connects to the
satisfaction of having an ability to argue and discriminate, of one’s moral sensibility and
conscience. The ability to use oral sensibility and conscience may be seen through the
expressions of religion, its beliefs and practices.
Cultural rituals are also manifestations of what people believe in. Seeking the meaning of life
is a journey that the spiritual self is on.
RELIGION – a set of cultural beliefs and practices that usually include: - a belief in
anthromorphic supernatural being; such as spirit/gods - a focus on sacred supernatural, with
a feeling of reverence and awe - presence of supernatural energy that is found on supernatural
as well as physical beings and objects - performance of ritual activities - articulation of
worldview and moral codes through narratives/’stories - prov ide creation of social bonds
and social control within a community.
RITUAL – the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by tradition or sacred law. A
specific, observable mode of behavior exhibited by societies. It is possible to view it as a way
of defining/describing humans.
3 Fundamental characteristics of rituals:
1. A feeling of respect, awe, admiration, in relation to the sacred
2. Dependence upon a belief system expressed through myth
3. Symbolic in relation to its reference

SOME WORLD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Buddhism Beliefs – Buddhism believes that life is not a bed of roses. There are suffering,
pain, frustrations. When people suffer, they want to experience the goodness of life and avoid
disappointments. This can be resolved by practice of meditation, acquiring wisdom, and
deeper understanding and acceptance of things as they are. Buddhists also believe in the non-
violence principle. And the acquiring of wisdom through the reflection of Dharma.
Customs & Practices – two types of meditation practices:
samatha: mindfulness of breathing and development of loving- kindness vipassana: aims at
developing insight into reality.
Christianity Beliefs – Christians believe in the holy trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God
the Holy Spirit. Eternal life after death will be achieved through faith in Jesus Christ, God the
Son, who came into flesh to spread the Good News. He died on the Cross for the sins of
humanity.
Customs and Practices – Sacrament of Baptism and Communion are practiced by Christian
churches. Baptism symbolizes birth in Christian World, while Communion is an act of
remembrance of Christ’s love. Christmas and Resurrection are two major celebrations in
Christianity.
Hinduism Beliefs – Hinduism covers a wide range of traditional beliefs and religious groups,
so there is no single founder or leader. Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death
and rebirth, governed by Karma. It is a concept where the reincarnated life will depend on how
the past life was spent. Vedas are sacred scriptures of Hindus.

13
 Customs and Practices – Diwali is the festival of lights while Navrati is the festival of nine
nights, which celebrate the triumph of good over evil.
Islam Beliefs – Muslims believe in Allah, their “One God”. They believe in the unity and
universality of God. Muslims have a strong sense of community. Islam means “willing
submission to God” The Holy Book of Islam is called the Quran.
Customs and Practices – Muslims believe in the 5 pillars of Islam:
1. Shahadah – “There is no God but the one true God and Mohammed is his messenger.
2. Salat – the prayer that is practiced 5 times a day,
3. Zakat – monetary offering for the poor. 2.5% of Muslim’s assets.
4. Hajj – y early pilgrimage to Mecca.
5. Sawm– fasting during Ramadan
Judaism Beliefs – the Jews believe in the God of Abraham ,the God that liberated slaves from
Egypt to Canaan, the promised Land. Jews believe in the coming of Messiah, the Savior. Their
sacred scripture is called Torah.
Customs and Practices – five major festivals observed by Jews:
1 . Rosh Hashanah : the New Year
2. Yom Kippur : Day of Atonement
3. Pesach : Passover
4.Shavuot : Pentecost
5. Sukkot : Tabernacles. The Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday evening at sunset and is an
important time when families gather for the Sabbath meal.

CONCLUSION: Religions, rituals, etc. are all part of expressing the spiritual self. How to
manifest the belief is dependent on the person.

Religious Practices

The Digital Self: Uncovering

Recall a ritual/ceremonial practice you have experienced or witnessed and briefly describe the
experience.

Digital Ritual
Citizenship
Practice
Description
This section explores the impact of technology on the society. It focuses on how
Ceremonial Practice
technology use enables people to become digital citizens, how it sustains
relationships Description
and forge collabirations with other people, and what kind of digital
identities are being forged while outlining the responsible use of technology.

14
VI. Man’ s Self in the Digital World

This section examines the role of technology and the internet in shaping an individual’s social
self, with emphasis on the use of social media platform and membership in virtual communities.
This section highlights the crucial role of the internet in forming the self and identity of millennial
learners.

 The Self in the Age of Technology

 Social media is defined as the websites and applications that make it easier to
create and share information, ideas, and interests. It also allows people to create
other forms of self-expression via virtual communities and networks.
 Through the use of social media, people may act differently since interaction in
social media do not happen face-to-face and there is no physical presence required.
This is called online disembodiment. With this, people are less likely to display
their real “selves” to others, especially to strangers.
 Digital Identity
 People generally have role identities. These are the characters and roles an
individual creates as a member of a particular social group. Following this
definition, “self” is composed of identities ranked by importance. The greater the
commitment of an individual to a particular identity, the greater the importance
of this identity.
 In an online environment, one’s role identity is vitally important in order for
him/her to project himself/herself in the said environment. Amidst the
technological tools and channels surrounding individuals and online activities
that people engage in, one’s online identity enables him/her to participate in a
virtual society.
 However, participation in virtual environments may entail changes that may affect
a person’s sense of self. In some cases, people present themselves differently in
online interactions as compared to the face-to-face interactions they engage in.
 Online Disinhibition Effect
 When people adopt fake identities, they are likely to engage in behaviors that they
would not do in real life interactions, known as online disinhibition.
 There are 2 main categories of behaviors that fall under online disinhibition:
1. Benign disinhibition. It occurs when people tend to self-disclose more on
the internet than they would in real life or go out of their way to help
someone or show kindness.

15
 2. Toxic disinhibition. People take part of this when they use rude language,
bully or threaten others on online platforms, and go to websites with
contents of violence, crime, and pornography.

 Managing Responsible Online Behavior

 How can one behave responsibly online? The following are some suggestions:
1. Do not post or send anything that will embarrass you.
2. Avoid posting statements when experiencing strong emotions.
3. Do not hang out with the “wrong crowd” online.
4. Do not hang out with the “wrong crowd” offline.
5. Be careful in oversharing, especially confidential information that may be used
irresponsibly.
6. Respect other people in the online community.

 The millennial generation is known to be the generation of digital natives because

millennials were born in an era of rapid technological advancement. As a result, daily life
is almost always dependent on the functions of technology, especially the internet which
provides people with a venue of presenting their identities through social media platforms.
 The advent of technology comes with a corresponding challenge: to ensure that technology
is used properly. This is the essence of digital citizenship, which refers to the norms of
appropriate and responsible behavior towards technology use. Digital citizenship is
anchored in 3 general principles: respecting, educating, and protecting oneself and others.
Digital citizenship serves the purpose or regulating human behavior in a highly-
technological and digital world.
 A major concern of living in the digital era is how technology shapes one’s sense of self and
identity. One concept that is related to the concept of the digital self is online disinhibition.
It is defined as the lack of restraint one feels when communicating online in comparison to
communicating in person.
 Some individuals lose their inhibition in social interactions because there is an aspect of
being present only in the virtual, a sort of anonymity. Anonymity may serve as an option
for individuals who are naturally shy and introverted to express their thoughts, without
threat to their self-esteem.
 Nowadays, however, people are more inclined to show their own personalities via online
channels. The internet becomes a multi-media venue for showcasing personal traits,
qualities, and even experiences. The values and beliefs he/she upholds are also expressed
in his/her online behavior. Thus, technology, through the development of virtual spaces
and communities accessible through the internet, can be a basis of evaluating the
consistency of the self.

16
 The permeating nature of technology has also influenced various technological and online
behaviors people manifest. Within the concept of digital citizenship, there are 9 themes that
cover these behaviors:

 The themes listed above emphasize the proliferation of technology in the world and how
they are used for specific purposes. Suffice it to say, technology is here to stay. There is a
need to adapt to the dynamic changes that technology entails.
 Technology offers limitless opportunities; its presence is inevitable. However, technology
need not control the society and people’s lives. An individual must define himself/herself
based solely on his/her terms.

17