DATA CENTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF

LAOAG CITY, INC.

College of Criminal Justice Education
Ilocos Norte

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Define personality and discuss the different factors that affect personality development;
2. Distinguish personality between character.

Widespread interest in the nature of personality stems from the fact that it concerns the total person. It involves the
expression of man’s relations and interrelations with other persons, what he says and thinks in varied situations as well as
how well other people respond to his behavior. While to a layman, personally is expressed in the stimulus-value of
another individual-- how one reacts to him.
Definition and Characteristics of Personality
The term personality is taken from the Latin term Persona meaning “masks” which were first used in Greek drama,
and later adopted by Roman players. While it originally referred to masks used in comedy or tragedy to distinguish the
roles of Roman players and therefore, to the external and superficial aspects of the individual, it has now come to refer
more to the central and enduring aspects of the individual.
Hilgard defines personality as the arrangement or configuration of individual characteristics and ways of behaving
that determine one’s unique adjustment to his environment. It is an all-inclusive term that covers appearances, abilities,
motives, emotional reactivity and experiences that have shaped him to his present person.
Hence, personality involves characteristics like:
1. Physical 3. Emotional 5. Moral
2. Mental 4. Social 6. Spiritual
Factors in Personality Development
We are all familiar with the nature-nurture theory, i.e., heredity-environment factor which attempts to explain a lot of
controversial, heretofore learned and unlearned aspects of psychology. While personality hinges on both factors - the
learned and unlearned aspects, these still can be expanded to include more possibilities. Morgan, divides these factors into
four convenient terms:
a. Inherited Predisposition: This means that we are only predisposed, through heredity, to develop patters of
personality which are not set or fixed but which are only tendencies.
b. Abilities: These, too, may be inherited or acquired. One’s intelligence, inherited through genes and honed by
various experiences, makes one’s abilities distinctly one’s own.
c. Family and Home environment: These play a vital role in personality development. One’s early associations are in
the home. As the individual matures, the influence of the family group in emotional responses, beliefs, morals, social
interrelations, attractiveness, outlook, religious affiliations, etc. cannot be overemphasized.
d. Culture: The set-up of families is shaped by culture. This is the mold which the family consciously or
unconsciously fits the personality of the child. It is transmitted through language, mores, traditions, beliefs, of groups or
individuals. The culture of a place is as different as the people that comprise it. The cultural patters of the Americans are
different from that of the Filipinos because of geographical boundaries, climate and practices.

DCCP-LAOAG UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 1

 DATA CENTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF
LAOAG CITY, INC.
College of Criminal Justice Education
Ilocos Norte

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Personality Character
It is a range of enduring tendencies of an individual to Enduring and distinguishing mental and moral
think, feel and behave in a specific manner in diverse characteristics in an individual. It is the only factor which
situations. determines our reaction or response to the given event or
situation.
Who we seem to be? Who we actually are?
Personal and physical Mental and moral
Subjective Objective
Outer appearance and behavior of a person. Traits of a person that are abstract
May change over time Remains the same
Needs validation from society It does not need validation fro the society

ASSESSMENT: GROUP WORK!!

Cluster Work: Painting
“The Mask of Hidden Feelings and Emotions”
For this activity, your cluster has to come up with a painting that reflects on the meaning of the Latin term of the
word personality which is Persona. You may draw a huge mask or use the whole space of the canvas or sheet of plywood.
Considering that your cluster has more than 15 members, you can decide or choose what emotions or personality you
would like to paint. Remember, paint a mask or faces that you usually use to fake or hide your real emotions and feelings.
Materials: Canvas or Sheet of Plywood
Medium: Acrylic paint, Watercolor, Oil

For further explanation, watch the video discussion about this requirement in our Facebook Group page.
---------------------------------------------------------END OF THIS LESSON------------------------------------------------------------

Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Explore how one presents his or her self online;
2. Evaluate how one makes use of social media and any other online platform; and
3. Reflect on how to properly make use of social media sites as an extension of one’s self.

In today’s generation, it seems that the use of the Internet has been very much embedded in our daily lives. A
question pops in our head, and we immediately ask Google. Thinking how to spend the weekend and we simply stream
movies or series online. Add to this is the prevalent use of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites.
Living in this digital era creates another kind of world in the cyberspace. We are so absorbed in it that we may even
practically spend more time online that in the “real world.” Our social media accounts, online subscriptions, and any other
online activities have become a significant part of our daily live, so they can be considered an extension of ourselves.
I, ME, MYSELF, AND MY USER ID ONLINE: ONLINE IDENTITY
Aside from using social media as an instrument by which we can connect with friends and relatives, we may also use
the social networking sites as our “online diaries,” keeping our friend updated on our activities, whereabouts, plans,
DCCP-LAOAG UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 2
 DATA CENTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF
LAOAG CITY, INC.
College of Criminal Justice Education
Ilocos Norte

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

accomplishments, and even our problems. Thus, it can be said that social media use has become a central part of our lives,
especially among the youth. Social networking sites are now considered significant tools that foster psychological
development, especially between adolosence and adulthood (Steinfield, Ellison, & Lampe, 2008, as cited in Belk, 2013).
SELECTIVE PRESENTATION AND IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT
Before the birth of social media, we could only represent ourselves through face-to-face interactions. Now, starting
with Friendster, years back, and more so when Facebook was launched, we are able to present ourselves to other people
and to a much larger audience through social networking sites.
The photos we share, comments we make, posts that we like, and the status that we post or tweet, are ways by which
we present an image of ourselves to others. We can then easily judge personalities based on what people show online
(Belk, 2013). Likewise, others can also easily judge us based on what they see in our social media profiles.
The self is much more actively managed and constructed by what we do online. One feature of social media as a
means of identity representation is that we can choose what to show to people and what to hide from them. Our friend tags
us in a throwback picture, and we simply hide it from our timelines. We post a status that earn a lot of negative comments,
so we simply delete it. Some people tend to highlight the happy and positive events in their lives while concealing the
unpleasant ones.
WHY DO WE ENGAGE IN SELF-PRESENTATION? Here are some possible reasons.
1. Self-presentation reinforces the different social roles or identities we take on in the real world.
2. We may engage in self-presentation to gain social rewards.
3. Creating an impression toward others, will, in a way, also help us establish our identity.
There may be times when we consciously engage in self-presentation strategies and at times, the act itself may
become so reflexive. However, it is important to note that engaging in self-presentation does not mean that we deceive
other people and lie regarding our identity.
IMPACT OF ONLINE INTERACTIONS ON THE SELF
1. Virtual worlds serve as a tool for identity exploration. Social media allows us to explore and try out different identities.
2. Social media can impact our self-esteem. The feedback that we get from our social media friends can either boost or
undermine how we see and feel about ourselves.
3. Social media and other online platforms can provide “catharsis.” disclosing about ourselves in social media and any
other online sites can be a way by which we can release our thoughts, frustrations, and even problems.
BOUNDARIES OF THE SELF ONLINE
Weighing the positive and negative outcomes of social media use; how much of ourselves should we disclose
online?
Think before you click. The Internet provides us with a lot of information worth sharing and commenting. The
various social media sites and any other online platforms invite us to share even our most mundane experiences and
random thoughts to netizens. However, we have to caution ourselves against “oversharing.” this refers to our tendency to
share even the most private details about our lives and perhaps, those of other people.
Although we may have public social media accounts, at the end of the day, we still have our private lives to keep and
make secure. We are reminded to always think before clicking that button since just one click can change not just our life,
but that of others, too.

DCCP-LAOAG UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 3

 DATA CENTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF
LAOAG CITY, INC.
College of Criminal Justice Education
Ilocos Norte

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

ASSESSMENT
I.GROUP OR CLUSTER WORK: Video about Mental Health Awareness (Advocacy). Make use of the #TrustMe.
For further explanation, watch the video discussion about this requirement in our Facebook Group page.
II. INDIVIDUAL WORK
Boundaries of the Self Online
Conduct a survey to students in your area and ask them about things they think we can disclose and those that we
should not share online, do not forget to write your respondent’s name. Create a table with two columns for this activity,
first column for WHAT TO POST and second column for WHAT NOT TO POST.
1. What does the survey tell you?
2. What are the reasons people engage in self-presentation strategies?
3. Do you filter what you show on social media? Explain.
4. How do you choose what to show and what to hide from your friends?

Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1 .Define physical self;
2. Analyze the relationship between physical self and self-esteem;
3. Appreciate and respect one’s cultural standard of physical bodies; and
4. Understand the importance of beauty and how to preserve a beautiful self.

MAKE SURE YOU DON’T START SEEING YOURSELF THROUGH THE EYES OF THOSE THAT DON’T
VALUE YOU. KNOW YOUR WORTH EVEN IF THEY DON’T.
-Thema Davis-
As globalization arises, we watch and celebrate with both awe and disappointment the many people who are famous
and those who became famous because of their body change and modifications. Fat people want to become slim, white
people want to become black, and black people want to become white, not to mention the LGBT’s, who even want to
change their inner organs, such as, Zander Ford and Jake Cyrus in the Philippines and some other famous celebrities
worldwide, like Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and many more. Millenials admire the courage of these people who are so
brave to show who they really are, but some lambaste their decisions. Why do you think people would want to spend
millions of money, go to great lengths and endure physical pain just to change a part of their physical self? Obviously,
many want to look better, so they adhere to what they believe is the standard of what is beautiful and what is handsome.
In their, efforts, they somehow get acceptance, and this definitely boosts their self-esteem, which was absent in their past
physical selves.
THE SELF AS IMPACTED BY THE BODY
Physical self refers to the body, a concrete dimension, and a tangible aspect of the person that can be directly
observed and examined. The body is a marvelous container and a complex, finely tuned machine that we use to interface
with our environment and fellow beings. For Freud, the body is the core of human experience and the ego is foremost a
body ego.
DCCP-LAOAG UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 4
 DATA CENTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF
LAOAG CITY, INC.
College of Criminal Justice Education
Ilocos Norte

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Our physical self is fundamental in answering the most difficult question, “Who Am I?” We are sometimes guilty of
the fact that our first assessment of people is based on how they look. Or worse, we let our physical appearance define
who we are. We have created a culture of how we do and should look. The brand of our dress, our skin tone, our coca-cola
shape, our height and even the make up we use to make us appear “beautiful” greatly affects how our self-esteem is
formed. Self-esteem is all about how much we feel other people value us. If we have a positive body image, we like and
accept ourselves the way we are even if we do not fit in which media “ideals.” On the other hand, feeling badly about the
way we look can be devastating to our over-all confidence, affecting multiple aspects of our lives. Consider the pressing
issue of bullying, which is generally a cause of low self-esteem, not to mention a dose of idicule, thrown into the
physically challenged people. Consider the image below how body image and self-esteem are interralated.

BODY IMAGE
I don’t like the way I look
I wished I looked more like these
other people
There’s something wrong with me

MENTAL HEALTH
SELF-ESTEEM
Nothing ever works out
I don’t think I’m good enough
If I can’t handle the problem
Other people are better than me
i must be a failure
I should be able to do things
If this isn’t perfect, it’s a total disaster
-there must be something wrong with me
I feel overwhelmed and low
if I can’t
I don’t take time out to take care of
myself
“Don’t let your mind bully your body”
Many people have an obsession to have a beautiful face and body. This is so because the body heavily
influences our self-identity. “We are what we eat” we even claim. For many, as their body changes, so does the
image of themselves. It is very important to reframe the way we view, think, and talk about our physical selves.
Here are some tips:
1. Recognize that your body is your own, no matter what shape or size it comes in.
2. Identify which aspects of your appearance you can realistically change and which you cannot. Humans
by definition are imperfect. It’s what makes each of us unique and original.
“REAL PEOPLE ARE NOT PERFECT AND PERFECT PEOPLE ARE NOT REAL”
3. If there are things about yourself that you want to change and can, do this by making goals for
yourself. Meeting a challenge you set for yourself is a great way to boost self-esteem.
4. When you here negative comments coming from within, tell yourself to stop.
5. Try building your self-esteem by giving yourself three compliments every day.

Undeniably, our physical image or physical self is a marvelous creation. It is one of the core aspects of who we are as
individuals. Having an in-depth understanding of the physical self will help us answer the most difficult question “Who
Am I?” It is a fact that our physical appearance, our face, and our body shape greatly influence how we perceive others
and ourselves. Every culture has its standard metrics of beauty and negative effects on people who cannot cope with the
DCCP-LAOAG UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 5
 DATA CENTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF
LAOAG CITY, INC.
College of Criminal Justice Education
Ilocos Norte

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

metrics are very alarming. It is vital for us to show appreciation of our own physical bodies by constantly respecting and
accepting our body image. True enough our physical self helps us know who we really are.

ASSESSMENT:
Listen or read carefully (to) the lyrics of the song “I am Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera.
Analyze the message of the song, after which, make your own reflection about how you’ve appreciated more or
accepted yourself in spite of the different views and definitions of other people about what beauty is all about.

“Whether you believe in the universal standard or cultural standard of beauty, may this song remind you and
everyone else that you are beautiful in your own way.”

DCCP-LAOAG UNDERSTANDING THE SELF 6