Module # 5 The Spiritual and Moral Self
THE SPIRITUAL SELF  WHAT DO THESE DEFINITIONS HAVE IN COMMON
1. WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOSITY?
 Spiritual Self – 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.
o The ability to use oral sensibility and
conscience may be seen through the
expressions of religion, its beliefs and
practices.
o Cultural rituals are also manifestations of
what people believe in. Seeking the
meaning of life is a journey that the
spiritual self is on.
There are several definitions that have been
formulated regarding spirituality.
• Puchalski (2014), spirituality is the aspect of the
self that is associated to an individual’s process
of seeking and expressing meaning and how he
or she is connected to the self, to others, to the
moment and to everything else that composes
his/her environment, including the sacred and
significant.
• Beauregard and O’Leary (2007), spirituality is
any experience that is thought to bring the
experience in contact with the divine; it is not
just any experience that feels meaningful.
• Sinnott (2002), spirituality is also posited as the
individual’s personal relation to the sacred or
transcendent, a relation that then informs
other relationships and the meaning of one’s
own life.
• Myers and his colleagues (2000), spirituality is
the “personal and private beliefs that
transcend the material aspects of life and give a
deep sense of wholeness, connectedness, and
openness to the infinite.
WITH REGARD TO SPIRITUALITY?
 Spirituality talks about meaning and purpose
that go beyond the physical realities of life
 Spirituality is focused on a person’s
connections to different aspects of his/her
existence: to other people, to nature, and to
sacredness and divinity
 Spirituality talks about the sacred and
transcendent.
 Spirituality is acquired as a result of various
personal, social, and environmental factors present
throughout one’s lifetime.
 Spirituality is often interchangeably referred with
Religiosity but they have distinct differences.
 Religiosity is defined as the adherence to a belief
system and practices associated with a tradition in
which there is agreement about what is believed
and practiced.
 It is a formal attachment to the set of beliefs,
values, and practices of a particular religious
sect. It includes specific practices,
proscriptions (what should not be done and
avoided), and participation in a specific
community that shares the same beliefs and
practices.
 HERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGIOSITY AND
SPIRITUALITY:
 If religiosity is communal, then spirituality is
individual.
 In religiosity, beliefs and practices are within
religious groups, and religious commitment,
conservatism, and skepticism are manifested.
Spiritual attributes include the need for
spiritual quest, ecumenical worldviews,
compassion, service, and inner peace.
 A person can possess spirituality even
his/she does not subscribe to any religion.
Spiritual models are present everywhere.
They function for respondents as exemplars
or spiritual qualities, such as compassion, self-
control, or faith. Thus, a person can be
spiritual without being religious.
2. RELIGION: RITUALS AND CEREMONIES Baptism
• Eternal life after symbolizes
 Religion – a set of cultural beliefs and practices death will be birth in
that usually include: achieved through Christian
faith in Jesus Christ, World.
• a belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being;
God the Son, who
such as spirit/gods came into flesh to Communion is
CHRISTIANITY
• a focus on sacred supernatural, with a feeling of spread the Good an act of
reverence and awe News. He died on the remembrance
Cross for the sins of of Christ’s
• presence of supernatural energy that is found on
humanity love.
supernatural as well as physical beings and objects
performance of ritual activities Christmas and
• articulation of worldview and moral codes through Resurrection
are two major
narratives/’stories
celebrations in
• provide creation of social bonds and social control Christianity
within a community
 Ritual – the performance of ceremonial acts • Hinduism covers a
prescribed by tradition or sacred law. A specific, wide range of
traditional beliefs Diwali is the
observable mode of behavior. and religious groups, festival of
so there is no single lights
WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEIR BELIEFS AND PRACTICES founder or leader.
HINDUISM
• Hindus believe that
RELIGION BELIEFS CUSTOM &
existence is a cycle of
PRACTICES
birth, death and Navrati is the
• Buddhism believes that rebirth, governed by
life is not a bed of festival of nine
Karma. It is a nights, which
roses. There are concept where the
suffering, pain, celebrate the
reincarnated life will triumph of
frustrations. Samatha: depend on how the good over evil.
• When people suffer, mindfulness of past life was spent.
they want to breathing and • Vedas are sacred
experience the development scriptures of Hindus.
goodness of life and of loving
BUDDHISM avoid disappointments. kindness • Muslims believe in Shahadah –
• This can be resolved by
“There is no
Allah, their “One
practice of meditation, Vipassana: God but the
God”. They believe in
acquiring wisdom, and aims at one true God
the unity and
deeper understanding developing and
universality of God.
and acceptance of insight into Mohammed is
things as they are.
• Muslims have a
reality. strong sense of his
• Buddhists also believe ISLAM messenger.”
community. Islam
in the non - violence
means “willing
principle. And the Salat – the
submission to God”
acquiring of wisdom prayer that is
through the reflection
• The Holy Book of
Islam is called the practiced 5
of Dharma. times a day,
Quran.

Zakat –
• Christians believe in Sacrament of monetary
MUSLIM BELIEVES IN THE 5
the holy trinity: God Baptism and offering for
PILLARS OF ISLAM: 
the Father, God the Communion the poor. 2.5%
Son, God the Holy are practiced of Muslim’s
Spirit. by Christian assets.
churches. Hajj – yearly
 pilgrimage to  Environmental conditions contribute to
Mecca. individual life satisfaction.
 Socio-economic status, home and social
Sawm – environment, interpersonal relationships, and
fasting during education also influence one’s well-being and
Ramadan
life satisfaction.
Rosh
• The Jews believe in Hashanah: the
the God of Abraham, New Year
 CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HIGH
the God that LEVEL OF WELL-BEING AND LIFE SATISFACTION
liberated slaves from Yom Kippur:
Day of  Effective self-perception.
Egypt to Canaan, the
promised Land. Atonement  Realistic self-esteem and self-acceptance.
• Jews believe in the  Control of behavior.
coming of Messiah, Pesach:  True perception of the world.
the Savior. Passover  Sustaining relationships and affection.
• Their sacred  Self-direction and productivity.
scripture is called Shavuot:
JUDAISM Torah. Pentecost THE MORAL SELF
1. MORALITY
Sukkot:  Dilemma is a problematic situation in which a
Tabernacles. difficult choice must be made.
FIVE MAJOR FESTIVALS  Moral is related to the sense or a standard that
OBSERVED BY JEWS • The Jewish determines what is right and what is wrong. It
Sabbath
distinguishes correct from incorrect, or
begins on
appropriate from inappropriate.
Friday evening
at sunset and  Morality refers to the system of beliefs and
is an values that ensures that individuals will keep
important their obligations to others in the society and
time when behave in ways that do not interfere with the
families gather rights and interests of others. (Gerrig &
for the Zimbardo, 2002).
Sabbath meal. 2. MORAL REASONING
• Moral reasoning refers to the judgments people
make about what courses of action are correct or
incorrect in particular.
3. DISCOVERING LIFE’S MEANING
• Well-being it is being intrinsic in nature, is an • Jean Piaget and the Stages of Intellectual
inner, personal construct, associate with self- Development
esteem, and self-understanding. It is how good
one feels about himself/herself.
• Life satisfaction it is the general attitude towards
life. When well-being and life satisfaction are
present, happiness naturally flow.
• Happiness is generally regarded as the emotional
result of life satisfaction. Happiness can be
subjective and temporal while life satisfaction is
more encompassing.
 HOW WELL-BEING AND LIFE SATISFACTION • Lawrence Kohlberg Stages of Moral Development
ACHIEVED?
 Personal factors such as personality (such as • Heinz Dilemma “A woman is dying of cancer. There is
openness to experience and extraversion), a special new drug that might save her but the
cognition, physical health, and vigor have been pharmacist wants to have a big profit so he charges a lot
associated with well-being and life satisfaction. of money for it. Her husband, Heinz, can’t afford it and
has tried everything from fund raising to begging the
pharmacist to no avail, so he steals the drug. WAS HE
WRONG?”
o Kohlberg was interested behind the reasoning 3. PARENTING STYLES AND PRACTICES
of the answers rather than the answers • Environmental influence- it is characterized by forces
themselves. outside of the individual like how he/she has been
raised or reared by his or her parents.

 PARENTING STYLES
1. Authoritarian – parents attempt to shape,
control, evaluate the behavior and attitudes of
their children in accordance with an absolute
set of conduct standards that usually comes
from religious or respected authorities. They
use harsh discipline and punishment.
Obedience is a virtue.
2. Authoritative- parents direct their children’s
activities in a rational and intelligent way.
They are supportive, loving and committed;
support a give-and-take relationship; discuss
their rules and policies with their children; and
encourage children to present their viewpoints.
3. Permissive- parents are less controlling and
behave with an accepting and non-punishing
attitude towards their children’s desires,
actions, and impulses. They use reason rather
than direct power.

 EFFECTS OF PARENTING STYLES

1. Children reared under autocratic parents tend
to be withdrawn, fearful, and dependent.
These children may suffer from low self-
esteem. They may carry these traits until
adolescence or adulthood.
2. Children raised by authoritative parents have
children who are independent, reliable,
rationale, and confident. These children
generally feel good about themselves.
3. Children who are raised by permissive tend to
not put structure and order in things that they
do.
4. Uninvolved parents are detached and
indifferent to the needs of their children. As
such, as children grow up feeling unloved and
cannot follow instructions. Some also fall prey
or resort to substance abuse as a form of
distraction or a way to get attention.
 Module # 6 The Material/Economic Self
1. “I SHOP THEREFORE I AM: I HAVE,
THEREFORE I AM?”
 Materialistic/ Economic Self- 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.
 Empirical Self- various ways people answer the
question “Who Am I?”
 William James categorized the empirical self into 3
categories:
 Material Self – tangible objects people, places
that carry the designation my or mine. These
are entities that are clearly an intimate part of
who we are (Ex. My pets, my iPhone, my
hometown, my thesis).
 Social Self – According to Andersen & Chen
(2002) this is how we are regarded and
recognized by others. Social self includes
individuals that we regard as “ours” (ex.
Parents, siblings, romantic partners, close
friends, and colleagues.)
 Spiritual Self – this is our emotions, attitudes
and beliefs. A person is said to have a belief,
from the time the belief is first acquired to the
time it is discarded or lost. (ex. We say things
like “I can’t buy that”, “I inherited a view”.
“We regard our possessions as part of ourselves.
We are what we have and what we possess” –
Belk, 1988
2. SHAPING THE WAY WE SEE OURSELVES:
THE ROLE OF CONSUMER CULTURE ON OUR
SENSE OF SELF AND IDENTITY
 Consumer Psychology- “A study that deals with
activities that directly involved in selecting,
obtaining, and using products and services and
ideas to satisfy needs and desires, including
decision processes that precede and follow
these actions.” (Davis and Palladino, 1995)
 Consumer Behavior- “The study of the buying
units and exchange processes involved in
acquiring, consuming and disposing of goods,
services, experiences and ideas.” (Mowen,
1995)
 THE NATURE OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
 Consumers differ from others; their own
purchasing behaviors would also vary from one
product category to another
 The number of effort and amount of time
spend in deciding
 Consumers buying and consumption behavior
for the same product would often vary
because of the present situation they are in
 Possessions, tell a lot about their owners (status
symbol). Thus, one’s sense of self and identity is
influential on how an individual chooses to
purchase his/her wants and how he/she makes
economic decisions that will address his/her
personal and social needs
 Factors that influence our decision to buy: financial
constraints, availability of items and services, and
the influence of family and friends.
 However, the most important factor is determining
whether these items and services fall under
 Wants. Synonymous with luxuries. People buy
them for reasons that do not warrant necessity.
 Needs. These are important for survival. Food,
clothing, and shelter are basic needs so people
purchase them out of necessity.
 IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING MATERIAL
GOODS, PEOPLE GENERALLY CONSIDER 2 THINGS:
 Utility. Concerned with how things serve a
practical purpose.
 Significance. Concerned with the meaning
assigned to the object. It is also concerned with
how objects become powerful symbols or icons
of habit and ritual which can be quite separate
from their primary function.
 MATERIALISM AND HAPPINESS.
What is the value of materialism (Fournier &
Richins, 1991)?
 Pursuit of possessions and materialism’s role in
consumption choices reflects materialism as a
value
 The importance of acquisition to reach
satisfaction
 Impossible to achieve happiness
 POSSESSIONS AND HAPPINESS.
 We tend to devote time and money for things
we want to buy. (Boven, 2005)
 We give importance to buying more (Rinchins,
2003)
  And in effect we experience “…joyless material
possessions… resulting in comfort but not
pleasure.” (Nicolao et al, 2009)
“Materialists believe that acquiring things will
make them happier and they tend to act on this
belief by buying more” (Watson, 2003)
 THE PROBLEM WITH CONSUMERISM:
1. It is intrusive
2. It is manipulative
3. It cannot provide many of the things that are
important to us
4. It restricts our choices and lives
5. It affects our worldviews and characters
6. It is unsustainable
 Many people these days (the most vulnerable is the
younger generation) happiness is attached to
buying something
 Consumption has become an addiction many
people have forgotten that there are things in life
that can bring true happiness, such as spending time
with family and/or friends; to have “me” time; enjoy
nature; to read etc.
 What should we invest instead? We should invest
on experiential purchases
 Some material possessions can be perceived as
experiences (Boven, 2005)
 Material possessions with sentimental value
can provide more happiness (Boven & Gilovich,
2003)
 HOW TO AVOID THE TRAP OF
CONSUMERISM/MATERIALISM
1. Exercise intellectual independence
2. Consume less, live more
3. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMERISM AND ITS
IMPORTANCE
• Responsible Consumerism, or Ethical
Consumerism- is when customers make
intentional purchases of products, opting for
those that have minimal to no negative impact
on humans, animals, and the environment.
• Sustainable Development – is the idea that
human societies must live and meet their needs
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. The
“official” definition of sustainable development
was developed for the first time in the Brundtland
Report in 1987
 HOW TO BE A RESPONSIBLE CONSUMER
1. Look at where your products are made
2. Buy sustainably, locally, or DIY
3. Know the supply chain policy of brands
4. Campaign for worker’s rights
5. Consume less
 Module # 7 The Political Self
1. FILIPINO VALUES AND TRAITS
• Core Filipino Value: Kapwa Kapwa, meaning
'togetherness', is the core construct of Filipino
Psychology. It refers to community; not doing
things alone.
 KAPWA HAS TWO CATEGORIES:
▪ Ibang Tao (other people)
▪ Hindi Ibang Tao (not other people).
PIVOTAL INTERPERSONAL VALUE
 Pakiramdam- Shared inner perceptions.
Filipinos use damdam, or the inner
perception of others' emotions, as a basic
tool to guide his dealings with other people.
SOCIO-PERSONAL VALUE
 Kagandahang Loob: Shared humanity- This
refers to being able to help other people in
dire need due to a perception of being
together as a part of one Filipino humanity.
 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.
 The use of po and opo in everyday
language can be found commonly in the
Tagalog region.
 CLOSE FAMILY TIES – we maintain a tight
relationship with families regardless of age. And we
are fond of reunions during birthdays, holidays,
fiestas year around. 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 (part of our resilient
character). 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.
 BAYANIHAN – the spirit of communal unity and
cooperation.
 FILIPINO ACCOMMODATIVE VALUES
 Hiya: This is loosely translated as 'shame' by
most Western psychologists. However, hiya is
actually 'sense of propriety'
 Utang na Loob: Norm of reciprocity. Filipinos
are expected by their neighbors to return favors
whether these were asked for or not—- when
it is needed or wanted.
 Pakikisama and Pakikipagkapwa: Smooth
Interpersonal Relationship, or SIR as coined by
Lynch (1961 and 1973). This attitude is
primarily guided by conformity with the
majority
 FILIPINO CONFRONTATIVE VALUES
 “Bahala Na” Attitude – This attitude loosely
translated into English as ‘fatalistic
passiveness’. he is determined to do his best,
hence the term bahala na, which actually came
from the phrase bahala na, meaning 'I will do
all my best, let God take care of the rest'.
 Relying on divine favors and luck to get
over difficult times instead of finding
concrete solutions. Not exerting enough
effort to succeed.
 Lakas ng Loob – This attitude is characterized
by being courageous in the midst of problems
and uncertainties.
 Pakikibaka- Literally in English, it means
concurrent clashes. It refers to the ability of the
Filipino to undertake revolutions and uprisings
against a common enemy.
 SOME FILIPINO “NEGATIVE” VALUES
 Colonial Mentality – lack of patriotism and
attitude of favoring foreign products (also
beliefs and attitudes) 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.
2. FILIPINO MARKERS
 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.
3. POLITICS, CITIZENSHIP AND THE SELF
 Politics - refers to the actions or activities
concerned with achieving and using power in a
nation or society. It is also defined as the ways
that power is shared in an organization and the
ways it is affected by personal relationships
between people who work together.
• As Aristotle stated, “man is, by nature, a political
animal.”
 Politics as imbibed by man implies several
things:
 Politics is concerned with power. Power
inequalities can be observed within
societies. The one who holds power
holds influence.
 Politics functions based on a particular
social economic and cultural context.
The nature of politics and political
systems is dependent on the culture of
the state. Political claims made by
advocates are influenced by their
geographical location and ideology.
 The political is also personal. One’s
personal choices reflect his/her
personal politics; both are
indistinguishable.
 Politics goes hand in hand with the
society. Politics pervades the structure
of society, and thus influences
inhabitants in their beliefs, ethics, and
behavior.
 However, the political self is not only shaped by
one’s political affiliation or beliefs. One’s sense of
accountability should be manifested in promoting
certain advocacies through healthy political
engagement. This is aligned with the concept of
active citizenship.
 Active citizenship refers to the structured forms of
engagement with political processes and
everyday forms of participation in society. It is
also defined as the process of sharing decisions
which affect one’s life and the life of a community
in which one lives. Participation is the fundamental
right of citizenship.
 Active citizenship is anchored on one’s
cognitive and behavioral engagement to
participate in formal and informal political
activities.
 Active citizenship is a practice of democracy.
 Active citizenship is a social construct. It fosters
social relatedness and belongingness.
 Active citizenship is also associated with the
“sense of community.”
 Active citizenship may facilitate ethnic pride
and provide a voice to the woes of their social
group.
 For the younger generation, active citizenship can
contribute to their social development. Engaging in
such activities can also enhance efficacy and
competence of the younger generation, as they are
considered to be the “future leaders” of the
society. The participation of the youth in nation
building activities enhances their value orientation
and fosters integrity, compassion, and the sense of
justice, which are crucial to the holistic
development of a citizen of a nation.
 Active citizenship helps an individual embrace
his/her individuality through the choices he/she
makes and the behavior he/she manifests.
 The political self is a result of various personal and
environmental factors that impact the individual.
The participation of the youth in political discourse
and social activities can result in cultural and
political paradigm shifts that may be felt even by
future generations. Thus, the future begins now.

 HOW TO BE A GOOD FILIPINO CITIZEN

1. Be an active Filipino citizen.
o 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
3. Support local products
4. Speak the Filipino language
5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in
engaging with dissent