1 Module 2 | Unpacking the Self: The Many Sides of Me

Introduction

This module was written and designed to explore the various aspects that make up the self
such as physical, sexual, emotional, social, moral, and spiritual. All of these aspects are equally important in
understanding the self. The physical self requires the study of physical development that happens in each
stages of life including the genetic and environmental factors that influence its development. The lesson on
sexual self-outlines the maturation process of the reproductive system, sexual orientation, and the methods
of contraception. In any social interaction, emotions may arise that could either be positive or negative. One
should learn how to manage these feelings to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications. Another
goal in this module is to help you examine the effects of social factors on individual behavior, attitude,
perception and motives. As an intellectual being confronted with everyday choices one must exercise
decision-making skills without compromising his/her moral standards will also be tackled. And lastly, this
module will present a lesson on the spiritual aspect and the role of individual spirituality in understanding of
self.

Module Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. explore the different aspects of self and identity;
2. demonstrate critical and reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self and identity;
3. identity the different forces and institutions that impact the development of various aspects of self and
identity; and
4. demonstrate one’s self against the different aspects of self that are discussed in class.

Lesson 1: Physical Self: The Beautiful Me

LESSON LEARNING OUTCOMES

In this lesson, you should be able to:

1. determine the condition of your physical self;
2. recognize the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the physical development
of self;
3. examine the impact of factors that affect body image and self;
4. develop a positive body image;
5. explain the importance of a good health.
2 Module 2 | Unpacking the Self: The Many Sides of Me

PRE-ASSESSMENT
Instruction: Identification. Write your answers in the blank space provided. If written in your notebook, copy
the sentences and underline your answer.
1. _________________ refers to the body and its ability to perform its functions gradually changes
through the years.
2. ________________ and _______________ is the product of heredity and environment.
3. _______________ refers to the biological process of the inheritance of traits from parents to
offspring.
4. _______________ refers to the factors the individual is exposed to throughout life which include
learning and experiences.
5. ______________ refers to how individuals perceive, think, and feel about their body and physical
appearance.
6. A _________ contains all the hereditary potentials from the parents.
7. _________ is also called the code of heredity.
8. _______________ it is during this process that life begins.
9. An eating disorder in which a person refuses to eat for fear of gaining weight is called
_____________.
10. ________________ is a disorder when the person induces purging after binging on large quantities
of food.
11. _______________ refers to everything about a person that others can observe such as height,
weight, skin color, clothes, and hairstyle.
12. Eating or consuming the right amount of food, at the right time and in the right proportion, this is the
definition of ___________________.
3 Module 2 | Unpacking the Self: The Many Sides of Me

LESSON MAP

ENVIRONMENT PHYSICAL HEREDITY

(NURTURE) SELF (NATURE)

BODY IMAGE

SELF-ESTEEM or SELF
CONFIDENCE

The map above shows how environment and heredity affect physical self.

CORE CONTENTS

ENGAGE: How ready are you?

Activity 1: I Got if from my Mama or Papa?

Instruction: Look at yourself in front of the mirror and think of your

physical (external) characteristics and traits (internal) that you
have. Which among them you got from either your parents by filling
out the chart below.
4 Module 2 | Unpacking the Self: The Many Sides of Me

My characteristics/traits My characteristics/traits My characteristics/traits

most similar to my most similar to my NOT similar to my any
FATHER MOTHER of my parents

P
O
S
I
T
I
V
E

N
E
G
E
T
I
V
E

Analyze the chart by answering the following questions:

a. Are there more positive traits than negative traits written on your chart?
____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_____________________
b. What type of traits have you written on the chart? Which traits are observable and which are not?
____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_____________________
c. Are you happy and satisfied for having those traits? Why or why not?
____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_____________________
Criteria:
8 points max - factual, complete, accurate, concise, comprehensive, and efficient relay of ideas.
2 points max - statements and responses structure and grammar
5 Module 2 | Unpacking the Self: The Many Sides of Me

EXPLORE: Discovering New Concepts

Factors in the Development of Physical Self

1. Heredity (nature)- transmission of traits or characteristics from parents to children/offspring. It
provides the raw materials of which the individual is made up.
2. Environment (nurture)- the sum total of the forces or experiences that a person undergoes from
conception to old age. It also includes family, friends, school, nutrition, and other agencies one is in
contact with.

The Beginning of Life

Fertilization- refers to the meeting of the female sex cell (ovum) and the male sex cell (spermatozoon) this
happens within 24 hours and it is during this process that life begins.
Testes- male organ that produces the male sex cells called spermatozoa (singular: spermatozoon)
Ovaries- female gonads that produces the ova (singular: ovum)
Zygote- is the fertilized egg that contains all the hereditary potentials from the parents. This goes to the
uterus and continues to grow during the gestation period of about 280 days or 39 weeks or 9 calendar
months.
Gene(s)- these are small particles in a string-like formation, the true carriers of hereditary characteristics of
the parents.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)- it is a substance that is inside the gene, which is the code of heredity. It
contains information and instructions about the newly created organism, and programs the traits that should
be inherited.
Appearance- refers to everything about a person that others can observe such as height, weight, skin color,
clothes, and hairstyle.
Body image- refers to how individuals perceive, think, and feel about their body and physical appearance.
Body image is the biggest concern of today, especially
in our local communities, and how society perceives us.
Body image is both internal — personal, and external —
society.
This includes:
• How we perceive our bodies visually
• How we feel emotionally about our physical
appearance
• How we talk to ourselves and others about our
appearance
• How other people view our appearance

Body image can affect both the adolescent’s physical and psychological well-being. Adolescents worry about
different parts of their bodies. Adolescent boys and girls tend to experience negative self-image because they
are in a stage of development that is probably confusing to them. However, girls are more concerned than
boys about their physical appearance and overall body image. The greatest concern that girls’ express about
their bodies is how they conform to idealized notions of beauty.
6 Module 2 | Unpacking the Self: The Many Sides of Me

The way adolescents react to their physical appearance depends in part on sociocultural factors. The
emphasis that peers, parents, or the media put on ideal body types which is slim or thin leads girls to
experience body dissatisfaction (Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008; Dunkley, Wertheim, & Paxton, 2001). For both
boys and girls, bullying and peer pressure are associated with greater body dissatisfaction (Webb & Zimmer-
Gembeck, 2014). Television, advertising, music, movies are full of women who are thin, thus constructing
that the ideal body shape is slim. Some girls and young women compare themselves to models and
actresses in advertisements. The result is that they try to change their physical appearance either through
cosmetic surgery, dieting, or excessive exercise. For girls, in particular, too much concern with thinness and
the ideal body shape may result in body dissatisfaction. Girls who have higher body dissatisfaction are likely
to experience depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders (Demello, 2014).
Anorexia- an eating disorder in which a person refuses to eat for fear of gaining weight which can result in
severe starvation and death. Women aged 12 to 20 are mostly afflicted with this.
Bulimia nervosa- the person induces purging after binging on large quantities of food (Feldman, 2010).

Taking Care of My Physical Self

Building a positive body image is learning that healthy attractive bodies come in all shapes and sizes,
that doesn’t influence on our personality traits. And in order to do this you should take very good care of your
physical self, making sure that the important areas are well attended to like balanced diet, water intake, and
proper sleep.

Balanced diet- is eating or consuming

the right amount of food, at the right
time and in the right proportion. One’s
food intake should contain the
necessary nutrients essential for
growth and survival.

Essential Food Nutrients (CarProFaVitMin)

✓ Carbohydrates- for energy and supplying heat to the body
✓ Protein- for building and repairing broken and worn-out tissues
✓ Fats- maintaining heat & energy for the body
✓ Vitamins & Minerals- for healthy skin, hair, and aids in normal functioning of the body

Water- plays a key role in all biochemical reactions that happen in the body. It transports nutrients to cells,
assists in removing waste products from the body, regulates body temperature and protects joints, tissues
and the spinal cord. If our body is well rehydrated our body can function properly.
7 Module 2 | Unpacking the Self: The Many Sides of Me

Sleep- allows our mind and body to recover. An individual needs at least 8 hours of sound sleep a day. One
very important requirement for a refreshing sleep is a firm mattress, quiet environment, proper ventilation and
a dim light. Research shows that having enough rest by proper sleeping habits can extend human life span.

EXPLAIN: Looking into thy womb

Activity 2: Video clip showing
INSTRUCTIONS: Watch the video clip entitled “How Sperm Meets Egg” by Parents on Youtube or use the
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFfqLs94iHc. Fill out the blank spaces below as you are watching.
1. Your due date is calculated on the _____________ of your last menstrual period. Conception
(pregnancy) occurs after two weeks from this day and that’s when your truly considered pregnant.
2. During a menstrual cycle one of your ovaries matures an ______ with a ___________
3. If both ovaries release an egg, you may have an __________________ also known as
______________
4. The egg travels down the ____________ pushed by tiny hairs and awaits the arrival of the
__________
5. About a teaspoon’s worth of semen enters the vagina containing roughly ______________ sperm
6. Only about __________ sperm successfully reached the egg
7. _____________ occurs when one sperm penetrates the egg combining their genetic material
8. The sperm and egg each contain ____________________ holding all of the information that
determines your child’s _______ and contributes to the child’s genetic make up including _________,
__________ and ___________
9. Within 24 hours of fertilization, the egg, now called a ________ divides into two cells
10. if the cells split into two separate groups instead of remaining attached you’ll be doubly blessed with
____________
11. About _________ after fertilization, the zygote has become a ball of 32 cells resembling a miniature
raspberry.
12. A few days later, it reached the _________ as a ball of roughly 500 cells surrounding a fluid filled
cavity.
13. On day 7, the ball of cells burrows into uterine wall during a process called ___________
14. The cells on the outside of the ball create the ___________ and the ___________, which nourishes
your developing baby.
15. By _________, the fertilized egg has grown into an __________ with more than 2 trillion cells.

Processing questions:
1. Based on the video clip, can you identify the factors that may affect the development of the fetus
inside the womb?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________
8 Module 2 | Unpacking the Self: The Many Sides of Me

2. What are your insights from the video clip with regards to your physical traits?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________

TOPIC SUMMARY
In the module, you have learned that…..
• As a vessel of the self, the physical well-being of a person must be maintained.
• This lesson explained the stages of development of the physical self, starting from the creation.
• The body’s ability to perform its functions gradually changes through the years.
• Physical growth and development is the product of heredity and environment.
• Heredity is the biological process of the inheritance of traits from parents to offspring. Environment
refers to the factors the individual is exposed to throughout life which include learning and
experiences.
• Body image refers to how individuals perceive, think, and feel about their body and physical
appearance.
• Taking good care of the physical self can greatly affect one’s outlook on his/her body image such as
proper nutrition, enough sleep and water intake and being physically active.

• REFERENCES
Books:
• Brawner, D.G., Arcega, A.F. (2018). Understanding the Self. C&E Publishing, Inc. 839 EDSA, South
Triangle, Quezon City.

• Go-Monilla, M.J.A., Ramirez, N.C. (2018). Understanding the Self. C&E Publishing. Quezon City.

From the Web:

• Torissi, J. (2018). Body Image- Self-esteem- Influence of Society. Medium. Retrieved from
https://medium.com/@juliettorrisi1/body-image-self-esteem-influence-of-society-565df66ac155.
Retrieved 13 July 2020.
• Wendt, M. (2019). Everything You Need to Know to Stay Healthy: the 6 essential nutrients and their
benefits in one infographic. Versus. Retrieved from https://versus.com/en/news/everything-you-need-
to-know-to-stay-healthy. Retrieved 13 July 2020.