UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
WEEK 7-11 | MIDTERMS | SEM 1 2022
BS Psychology | I1B | Professor Elden Jude Mendoza
WEEK 7 PHYSICAL SELF
Self Understanding is the individual’s
cognitive representation of the self which
consists of the substance and the content of
self-conceptions.
Puberty: A period of rapid physical
changes.
As a result of rising hormone levels, physical
changes are triggered in the body and the
reproductive organs begin to work; the Body
grows and develops into an adult.
The changes girls will notice between
9-16 years are;
(1) rapid growth in height and breasts
beginning to grow;
(2) hair growth under the arms and
between legs: hips becoming wider;
(3) a curvier appearance to the body,
outline due to fat being laid down under the
skin;
(4) a slightly deeper voice; and
(5) the menstrual cycle beginning with their
first period. These changes happen over 2-3
years.
The Impact of Culture on Body Image
and Self-Esteem: The Importance of
Beauty
Factors that Affect Perception of the
Physical Self
[ Personal Factors ]
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1. Introspection and Self-reflection.
Introspection is the process by which one
observes and examines one's internal state
(mental and emotional) after behaving in
certain ways.
2. Self-Perception Theory. This
explains that since one internal state is
difficult to interpret, people can infer their
inner states by observing their behavior-as if
they are outside observers. Physical
perception includes all aspects of one's
self-perception.
3. Self-concept. Self-concept is a
cognitive representation of self-knowledge
which includes the total of all beliefs that
people have about themselves. It is a
collection of all the individual experiences
involving one's characteristics, social roles,
values, goals, and fears. The physical
self-concept involves one's appearance.
4. Personal Identity. This is the
concept a person has about himself that
develop over the years. This includes family,
nationality, gender, physical traits as well as
the choices he makes.
[ Social Factors ]
1. Attachment Process and Social
Appraisal. People learn about their values
and lovability when they experience how
their mothers or caregivers care for them.
Caregiving that is consistent and
appropriately responds to the infant's needs
and promotes a positive self-concept;
caregiving that is neglectful and
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
WEEK 7-11 | MIDTERMS | SEM 1 2022
BS Psychology | I1B | Professor Elden Jude Mendoza
unresponsive creates a negative self-concept
believing that they are not worthy and that
others cannot be trusted.
2. Maintaining, Regulating, and
Expanding the Self in Interpersonal
Relationships. The sense of self is
continuously shaped through ongoing
interaction with others or with significant
relationship partners. They act as ‘private
audiences’ with whom people carry an
internal dialogue, yet not aware of the
influence of these private audiences.
3. The Looking-glass Self Theory. A
person's self grows out of society's
interpersonal interactions and the
perception of others. In the looking-glass
self, the self-image is shaped and reflected
in the social world. Other people's reactions
serve as a mirror in which people see
themselves the way they are perceived and
judged by others which later in life, are
internalized through a cognitively reflected
process. Reflected Appraisal- gained by
observing how people react towards an
individual. These will be internalized and
become part of the self-concept.
4. Social Comparison. Leon Festinger
introduced a way of understanding oneself
by comparing one's traits, abilities, and
opinions to that of others - Social
Comparison, a process of comparing oneself
with others in order to evaluate one's
abilities and opinions.
a. Upward Social Comparison. This
happens when an individual compares
himself to others who are better than him.
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(Example: comparing oneself to somebody
who’s better than him which may result in
feelings of inferiority, envy, or frustration.)
b. Downward Social Comparison.
This happens when an individual compares
himself to others who are in a worse
situation than he is in which may make him
feel better knowing that he is more
fortunate. (Example: bragging about one’s
social status in social media may result in
feelings of superiority and arrogance.)
5. Social Identity Theory (Collective
Identity). Tajfel and Turner emphasized
that people achieve an understanding of
themselves by being members of their
group. People have a need for a positive
social identity which is why they connect to
a wider social network. Social groups
include gender, ethnicity, religion,
profession, political membership, and
business organization. Self vs. Identity.
Self Identity
The entire person of an Who a person believes
individual. she or he is;
representing a synthesis
and integration of
self-understanding.
The total characteristics The traits and
or qualities of a person characteristics, social
are both known or relations, roles, and
unknown to others but social group
known to oneself. memberships that
define who one is.
Culture. A social system is characterized
by the shared meanings that are attributed
to people and events by its members.
Culture and Beauty: Young adolescents
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
WEEK 7-11 | MIDTERMS | SEM 1 2022
BS Psychology | I1B | Professor Elden Jude Mendoza

are forced to adhere to society's definition of Gender expression. How you

beauty lest they be labeled ugly or pangit'.
The Filipino Concept of Beauty
Eurocentrism. A tendency to interpret
the world in terms of European and
Anglo-American values and experiences.
Filipinos adhere to eurocentrism
thus: Need to have a fair complexion or
mestiza looking; Need to have tall noses,
and Should be considerably slim and tall.
demonstrate your gender through the way
you act, dress, behave and interact.
Biological sex. These are attributes such
as anatomy, chromosomes, and hormones
that are usually assigned at birth and inform
whether a person is male, or female.
Sexual orientation. Who you are
physically, spiritually, and emotionally
attracted to.

THE EXTENSION OF SELF

Types of Sexual Orientations
Russell Belk
Our properties are part of the self.
(1) Monosexual. Exclusively attracted to
members of only one gender, straight gay,
McClelland (1951): the physical
or lesbian. (Heterosexual Orientation,
properties that we own (clothes, gadgets,
Homosexual Orientation)
parts of our body such as hair, nails, etc.)
are part of self and we have power over
(2) Polysexual. Attracted to members of
them. The more control we have over them
multiple genders. (e.g bisexual)
the more it becomes part of who we are.
According to Prelinger, The things that
BISEXUAL
we own also own us.
Alternating Bisexuals. One relationship
According to Belk, the loss of our
at a time, the first might be exclusively
possession whether accidental or
straight, the next exclusively gay, and vice
deliberately lost, for whatever reason,
versa (monogamous).
means the loss of self as well. Returning the
Circumstantial Bisexuals. Primarily
lost possession is returning the lost self.
heterosexual but bisexual because of
circumstances.
WEEK 8 THE SEXUAL SELF Concurrent Relationship Bisexuals.
Have a primary relationship with one
Filipino LGBTQ+: The Diversity of gender, but may have multiple casual
Sexual Behavior relationships with partners of the other
gender.

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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
WEEK 7-11 | MIDTERMS | SEM 1 2022
BS Psychology | I1B | Professor Elden Jude Mendoza
Conditional Bisexuals. will switch
sexuality for personal gain.
Emotional Bisexuals. have intimate
emotional relationships with both genders
but only have sex with one gender.
Integrated Bisexuals. have two or more
concurrent primary relationships one with a
man and one with a woman.
Exploratory Bisexuals. testing the water
to see if they like it.
Hedonistic Bisexuals. will switch purely
for sexual pleasure.
Recreational Bisexuals. bi only when
drunk or high.
Isolated Bisexuals. had one-off sexual
encounters in the past.
Motivational Bisexuals. will go bi to
satisfy a partner.
Transitional Bisexuals. the one 'going
through a phase’
Pansexual (omnisexual). Sexual
attraction towards members of ALL genders
(not to be confused with sexes, which is
purely physical--gender has to do with the
psychological), including transgender,
transsexual, crossdressing, androgyne,
androgen, two-spirited, genderfluid, and all
other varieties of gender identifications, as
well as those who do not feel that they have
a gender.
Asexual. Do not experience sexual
attraction.
Gender identity. Refers to a person's
innate, deeply felt psychological
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identification as a man, woman, or some
other gender, which may or may not
correspond to the sex assigned to them at
birth (e.g., the sex listed on their birth
certificate).
Genderqueer. is most commonly used to
describe a person who feels that his/her
gender identity does not fit into the socially
constructed "norms" associated with his/her
biological sex. It is an identity that falls
anywhere between man/boy/male and
woman/girl/female on the spectrum of
gender identities.
Butch. Lesbians with more masculine traits
degree of masculinity displayed by a female
individual beyond what would be
considered typical of a tomboy.
Jock. A very active gay man who is
involved in sports and likes to take care of
his (fit) body.
Gender fluid. A person whose gender
identity or gender expression is not fixed
and shifts over time or depending on the
situation.
1. Biological Theory. Emphasizes the
influence of genes and hormones.
2. Psychodynamic Theories.
Emphasizes inner psychic conflicts of
children instead of external pressures.
3. Gender-Schema Theory.
(socio-cognitive) Schema is internal
cognitive networks shaped by socialization
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
WEEK 7-11 | MIDTERMS | SEM 1 2022
BS Psychology | I1B | Professor Elden Jude Mendoza

that organize and guide individual a meaningful existence was sufficient proof
perceptions. that one exist. It implies that the public is no
4. Queer Theory. Focuses on the longer defined by what it thinks but rather
construction of identity and examines how by what they own.
normalization is implicated in its
construction. It emphasized that 'one is not Shopping is an expressive and constitutive
born a woman but becomes one: gender is existential act (Kruger)
not so much something one is, no relation to
biological truths about the sexed body. it is The Views in Buying Behavior
something one does; It has no relation to
biological truths about the sexed body. (1) Biological View
Nucleus Accumbens and Dopamine:
Shopping is so addictive.
WEEK 9 THE MATERIAL SELF
Carpus Callosum. The bridge of nerve
tissue connects the left and right sides of the
Consumerism. The promotion of the
brain.
consumer’s interest. The theory is that
Studies have shown numerous physical
increasing the consumption of goods is
differences between male and female brains.
economically desirable.
Women have a thicker carpus callosum,
which allows women to use both sides of
“...The contemporary marketplace is
their brains to solve problems quicker, while
shaped solely by the craven needs of
men predominantly use the left side of their
lowbrow consumerism…” - Thomas
brains.
Byrne Edsall
In general, the left hemisphere is in
charge of performing logic computations
Barbara Kruger is an American
and processing facts, while the right
conceptual artist and collagist. Much of her
hemisphere is dominant in processing
work consists of black-and-white
visual imagery and interpreting context.
photographs overlaid with declarative
The different brain structure leads to
captions-in white-on-red Futura Bold
men tending to be mission-and
Oblique or Helvetica Ultra Condensed.
task-oriented shoppers, while women are
more likely to be discovery-oriented
She initiated the phrase, “I shop therefore I
shoppers who readily adjust their initial
am”, as a take to Descartes’ “I think
goals if this would result in a more satisfying
therefore I am”. The phrase means that
outcome.
provided someone is simply thinking; living

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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
WEEK 7-11 | MIDTERMS | SEM 1 2022
BS Psychology | I1B | Professor Elden Jude Mendoza

(2) Philosophical View

WEEK 10 SPIRITUAL SELF
Bernard Mandeville (15 November
1670 21 January 1733), (An Anglo-Dutch
According to the Bisaya, the Dungan
philosopher, political economist & satirist.)
is: described to be extremely delicate and
was Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He
light for the physical world; believed that
lived most of his life in England and used
these spirits inhabit a region above the
English for most of his published works. He
earth before inhabiting their chosen unborn
became famous for The Fable of the Bees.
human being.
The Fable of The Bees: or, Private
If an individual: gets sick - Dungan was
Vices, Publick Benefits (1714) consists
lost temporarily; if dies - Dungan was lost
of a satirical poem. It is a book where
permanently, go back to the region above,
Mandeville imagines a hive of bees that
and then chooses a new unborn being to
copies in its every detail and activity
inhabit.
everything seen in human society. Greed,
According to the Ilonggo: Dungan is
selfishness, and the pursuit of material
believed that when an individual is asleep
profit and pleasure dominate everyone in
the Dungan leaves the body to travel. Only
their activities and their conduct toward
when the Dungan comes back can an
others.
individual wake up.

(3) Psychological View

Rituals are symbolic expressions and acts
We are pleasure-seeking organisms.
performed in respect of spiritual beliefs and
Sigmund Freud. The concept of ID.
sacred laws. Filipino practice rituals as a
According to Mpinganjira, M (2014)
major part of becoming despite their
Men's motives for shopping appear to be
ambiguous nature.
more utilitarian, whereas women's shopping
motives tend to be hedonic Women tend to
The Spirit according to William
be more comprehensive. Men tend to favor
James: The spiritual self is the most
objective information.
intimate and subjective part of the self.
James diverted from the notion of spirit as
(4) Sociological View
ego. The spirit is our ability to think of
Conspicuous consumption, along with
ourselves as thinkers.
conspicuous leisure, is performed to
demonstrate wealth or mark social status.
The Search for Meaning according to
(Thomas Veblen, 1899)
Viktor Frankl: Logotherapy is of type
psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Viktor

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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
WEEK 7-11 | MIDTERMS | SEM 1 2022
BS Psychology | I1B | Professor Elden Jude Mendoza

Frank. Its main belief is that the primary
motivational force to life is the search for
meaning by engaging in the three ways to
search for meaning.
Three Ways to Search for Meaning:
(1) Purposeful Work. About having a life
goal. For as long as someone has a defined
life goal, they live a life with meaning.
(2) Courage in the Face of Difficulty.
This is about an individual's acceptance of
suffering, pain, and death as a part of life.
Trying to live with courage despite all life's
imperfections makes life meaningful.
(3) Love. This is "the only way to grasp
someone in the very core of their
personality."It enables us to see someone
with all their unrealized potential. When
someone loves us, they can make us aware
of these potentials and eventually make
them come to life. "The ultimate factor in
the meaning of life is love."
(d) someone naturalized in accordance
with the law.
A natural-born Filipino is someone born
in the Philippines and with Filipino blood.
A naturalized Filipino is a foreigner who
has undergone a judicial act that gave him
or her the privileges of a Philippine citizen.
Jus Soli - the legal principle that a person’s
nationality at birth is determined by the
place of birth. ( e.g. America)
Jus Sanguinis - a rule of law that a child's
citizenship is determined by that of his or
her parents. ( e.g. Japan, Philippines)

WEEK 11 THE POLITICAL SELF

The Flipino according to the 1987

Constitution is:
(a) someone who is a citizen of the
Philippines at the time of the adoption of
the Constitution;
(b) someone whose father or mother are
citizens of the Philippines.
(c) someone born before January 17, 1973,
of a Filipino mother, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of
majority.