MORAL ASPECT

Every person feels good when he senses that he is being trusted, given
responsibility to do certain things equal to and in line with his abilities, and held
accountable for his actions. The character of a person is the MORAL aspect of
personality.

The four major social institutions affecting character development. These are the:
The family, the peer group, the school, and the church.

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS INFLUENCING MORAL BEHAVIOR

1. The Family - is the major factor in the moral development of an individual.

Through family the child sees a standard picture of behaviour appropriate for
varying occasions.
2. The Peer Group - people react strongly to social approval or social acceptance.
We all wish to be accepted, especially by our peers. We dress and act like them.
We always want to be "in".
3. The School - moral training is incorporated in the curriculum, especially in the
elementary grades and high school. The prevalent disrespect for authority was
one of the reasons for emphasis on moral education.
4. The Church - listening to homilies or attending bible studies may improve if not
change the lowering standards of morality today.

MORAL BEHAVIOR

  Like a game, life is governed by rules. Without rules there can be no game.
Rules define the moves of player. Likewise, human behaviour consists in obedience to
rules. There are four approaches in the development of moral behaviour namely: the
psychoanalytic approach, the social group-approach, the learning theory approach and
the cognitive developmental approach.

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 A. The Psychoanalytic Approach - expresses the idea that when the superego
dominates the individual.
- He or she is good because he or she has a conscience that tells him or her to be
good.
- The Psychoanalytic Theory is the personality theory, which is based on the
notion that an individual gets motivated more by unseen forces that are
controlled by the conscious and the rational thought.
- Sigmund Freud is closely related to the psychoanalytic theory. According to him,
the human behavior is formed through an interaction between three components
of the mind, i.e. Id, Ego and Super Ego.

1. Id: Id is the primitive part of the mind that seeks immediate gratification of
biological or instinctual needs. The biological needs are the basic physical
needs and while the instinctual needs are the natural or unlearned needs,
such as hunger, thirst, sex, etc. Id is the unconscious part of the mind; that
act instantaneously without giving much thought to what is right and what is
wrong.

Example: If your Id passed through a boy playing with a ball, the immediate urge
to get that ball will drive you to snatch it by any means, this is irrational and may lead to
the conflict between the boys. Thus, Id is the source of psychic energy, a force that is
behind all the mental forces.

2. Super-Ego: The Super-Ego is related to the social or the moral values that

an individual inculcates as he matures. It acts as an ethical constraint on
behavior and helps an individual to develop his conscience. As the individual
grows in the society, he learns the cultural values and the norms of the
society which help him to differentiate between right and wrong.

Example: If the super-ego passed that boy playing with a ball, it would not
snatch it, as it would know that snatching is bad and may lead to a quarrel. Thus, super

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ego act as a constraint on your behavior and guides you to follow the right path. But if
the Id is stronger than super-ego, you will definitely snatch the ball by any means.

3. Ego: Ego is the logical and the conscious part of the mind which is
associated with the reality principle. This means it balances the demands of
Id and super-ego in the context of real life situations. Ego is conscious and
hence keep a check on Id through a proper reasoning of an external
environment.

Example: If you pass through the same boy playing with the ball, your ego will
mediate the conflict between the Id and super-ego and will decide to buy a new ball for
yourself. This may hurt you Id, but the ego would take this decision to reach to a
compromise situation between the Id and super-ego by satisfying the desire of getting a
ball without committing any unpleasant social behavior.

Hence, these are the fundamental structures of the mind, and there is always a
conflict between these three. The efforts to attain the balance between these defines
the way we behave in the external environment.

B. The Learning Theory Approach - says that we have been trained and
disciplined by our upgrading and by the examples of our parents into behaving
the way we should.

- Learning Theory describes how students absorb, process, and retain

knowledge during learning. Cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences,
as well as prior experience, all play a part in how understanding, or a world view,
is acquired or changed and knowledge and skills retained.
- Behaviorists look at learning as an aspect of conditioning and advocate a system
of rewards and targets in education. Educators who embrace cognitive
theory believe that the definition of learning as a change in behaviour is too
narrow, and study the learner rather than their environment—and in particular
the complexities of human memory. Those who advocate constructivism believe

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 that a learner's ability to learn relies largely on what they already know and
understand, and the acquisition of knowledge should be an individually tailored
process of construction. Transformative learning theory focuses on the often-
necessary change required in a learner's preconceptions and world view.
Geographical learning theory focuses on the ways that contexts and
environments shape the learning process.

C. The Social- Group Approach - claims that we have the way we do because
people expect us to behave that way.

a) Social cohesion approach

A social group exhibits some degree of social cohesion and is more than a simple
collection or aggregate of individuals, such as people waiting at a bus stop, or people
waiting in a line. Characteristics shared by members of a group may
include interests, values, representations, ethnic or social background, and kinship ties.
Kinship ties being a social bond based on common ancestry, marriage, or adoption. In a
similar vein, some researchers consider the defining characteristic of a group as social
interaction.

b) Social identification approach

Explicitly contrasted against a social cohesion based definition for social groups is
the social identity perspective, which draws on insights made in social identity
theory. Here, rather than defining a social group based on expressions of cohesive
social relationships between individuals, the social identity model assumes that
"psychological group membership has primarily a perceptual or cognitive basis". It
posits that the necessary and sufficient condition for individuals to act as group
members is "awareness of a common category membership" and that a social group
can be "usefully conceptualized as a number of individuals who have internalized the
same social category membership as a component of their self - concept".

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 D. The Cognitive- Development Approach - it emphasizes the importance of
intelligence in moral control. The more intelligent a person is, the stronger he or
she is morally.

- Cognitive development is a field of study

in neuroscience and psychology focusing on a child's development in terms of
information processing, conceptual resources, perceptual skill, language
learning, and other aspects of the developed adult brain and cognitive
psychology. Qualitative differences between how a child processes their waking
experience and how an adult processes their waking experience are
acknowledged (Such as object permanence, the understanding of logical
relations, and cause-effect reasoning in school age children). Cognitive
development is defined in adult terms as the emergence of ability to consciously
cognize and consciously understand and articulate their understanding. From an
adult point of view, cognitive development can also be called intellectual
development.
- Jean Piaget was a major force establishing this field, forming his "theory of
cognitive development". Piaget proposed four stages of cognitive development:
the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal
operational period. Many of Piaget's theoretical claims have since fallen out of
favor. Still, his description of the most prominent changes in cognition with age,
is generally still accepted today (e.g., how early perception moves from being
dependent on concrete, external actions. Later, abstract understanding of
observable aspects of reality can be captured; leading to, discovery of underlying
abstract rules and principles, usually starting in adolescence).

MORAL CODE

Moral refers to something that is concerned with determining what thoughts,

behavior, actions, traits, and characteristics are right and good and what are wrong and
bad. A code is a basically a set of rules. It follows that a moral code is a set of rules or
guidelines that a person or group follows in order to live a just and good life. Moral

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codes are heavily dependent upon culture. This is because each culture has its own
ideas of what is considered right and what is considered wrong. Moral codes dictate
many aspects of our lives, from how we act, to how we dress, and even how we treat
other people.

CLASSIFICATION OF VALUES

A. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION:
In general, values may be classified as personal, social, moral, spiritual and
behavioral values.

i) Personal Values

They refer to those, which are desired and cherished by the individual
irrespective of his social relationship. The individual determines his own standards of
achievement and attains these targets without explicit interaction with any other
persons. Examples: ambition, cleanliness, contentment, courage, creativity,
determination, dignity of labor, diligence, excellence, honesty, hope, maturity, regularity,
punctuality, self- confidence, self-motivation, simplicity, etc.

ii) Social Values

Social values refer to those, which are oriented and concerning to society. These
values are practiced because of our association with others. Unlike personal values the
practice of social values necessitates the interaction of two or more persons. Social
values are always practiced in relation to our neighbors, community, society, nation and
the world. Examples: accountability, brotherhood, concern for environment, courtesy,
dialogue, dutifulness, forgiveness, freedom, friendship, gratitude, hospitality, justice,
love, patience, repentance, responsibility, service, sharing, sportsmanship, sympathy,
team spirit, tolerance etc.

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 Social values are local, parochial, and temporary application. They may change
with the change of social circumstances. These are external relationships of the
individual with society. These values may also be considered as historically and
conditioned socio- political expressions of religion.

iii) Moral Values

Moral Values related to individual’s character and personality conforming to what

is right and virtuous. They reveal a person’s self-control. Examples: honesty, integrity,
sense of responsibility, compassion etc. The realm of moral values is rather a debatable
one. For example: According to the sage Yagnavalkya, as a moral value ‘dharma’
signifies the cultivation of the virtues of non-injury, sincerity, honesty, cleanliness,
control of the senses, charity, self- restraint, love and forbearance. It may be observed
that this includes both social values (values that refer to the good of others) and
individual values (values that serve to develop one’s own character and will).

iv) Spiritual Values

Spiritual values refer to ethical value. It arises from the inner depth dimension of
man. It bestows the capacity to see the false as the false and the true as the true. It is
like a key to the integration of man. The ultimate ethical value is called spiritual value.
Spiritual value is the awareness of itself.

All knowledge is structured in consciousness. This recognizes that

consciousness alone can be totally self- reliant so that pure mind or non-dual state of
mind is presented as an object to pure consciousness, then t reveals itself; or in other
words, non- dual mind perceives the spiritual value. Virtues that are associated with
spiritual values are: purity, contentment, scriptural study, devotion to God, spiritual
wisdom, dispassion, self- discipline, control of the senses, endurance, piety, sublimity,
meditation, tranquility etc.

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 v) Behavioral Values

Behavioral values refer to all good manners that are needed to make our life
successful and joyous. These are the values, which are exhibited buy our conduct and
behavior in our daily life. Behavioral values will adorn our life and spread cordially
friendliness and love all around.
Keeping in view the nature of professional requirements values can be classified
into several categories such as economic, social, political, spiritual, modern, aesthetic,
religious, material, academic, socio-political, global, environmental, cultural, moral,
professional values etc.

B. GANDHI’S CLASSIFICATION
In order to create new social order Gandhiji introduced NaiTalim in the year
1937, which is popularly known as Basic Education.

a) Truth
b) Non-violence
c) Freedom
d) Democracy
e) Equality
f) Self-realization
g) Purity of ends and means
h) Self-discipline

C. PLATO’S CLASSIFICATION

a) Truth
b) Beauty
c) Goodness

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D. PARKER’S CLASSIFICATION OF VALUE

a) Biological values
b) Economic values
c) Affective values
d) Social values
e) Intellectual values
f) Aesthetic values
g) Moral values
h) Religious values

E. GAIL M. INLAW CLASSIFICATION

a) Traditional and Cultural values

b) Economic values
c) Political values
d) Values in science and technology
e) Philosophical values
f) Values of the new life
g) Values of the black community

F. SPRANGER’S CLASSIFICATION

Spranger's classification was included in “The Patterns of People” where he

thought of the possibility of classifying values into six following types:

a) Theoretical values

It includes the deep interest of the individual to discover facts. This value reflects
the pattern of the scientist or the philosopher.

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 It reflects individual attention and tendency to discover the truth, and understand
the world around him. Persons who put this value in a higher level than other values are
characterized by an objective perspective in criticism, knowledge, and organization.
Usually they are the philosophers.

b) Economic values
It looks at the individual interest in beneficial and useful way reflected in the
manner of business people.
It presents the individual attention to every useful thing. People who meet this
value are characterized by a practical glance in evaluating things and people. This
depends on their benefits. Persons who embrace this value are highly engaged with
money and business.

c) Aesthetic values
It reflects the interest of individuals.
It recalls the individual attention and tendency to any beautiful form, image,
configuration, compatibility and consistency. It is unnecessary that all people who are
characterized by this value such as artists or innovators. They may be ordinary people
but they have sense to beautiful things.

d) Social values
It reflects people’s love, compassion and respect as it characterizes the good
person.
Social values are of great importance to society, they are the most significant
factors affecting the cohesiveness of society. Cohesion and unity form a cornerstone in
the formation of human relationships in communities. It is considered a significant factor
in the process of social interaction between individuals in the same society and other
societies, because social values are models favored by people.

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 e) Political values
It reflects the individual interest to access to power and control.
Political values mean enough amount of political wisdom to manage the country
affairs with the use of suitable styles, necessary tools, and the use of the international
and regional strategies and the collection of all of the administrative information to lead
a successful policy for the persuasion of the people and for running their affairs
successfully.
f) Religious values
It aims at understand the universe and the origin of Man.
Religion is what the individual thinks and believes in. In the culture of the East it
is the main core of life. There are three heavenly religions: Judaism, Christianity and
Islam. Islam copies whole previous religions by the treatment of all life affairs under
different circumstances. Therefore, it is the only religion Allah the Almighty accredits.
Religious values mean the way and the debt treatment extent to the life matters and the
extent of their application at the individual, societal, inspirational, and analytical domains
to get the public utility and benefit.

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 DIFFERENT VIRTUES TOWARD OTHERS

Character is reflected in our behaviors, and often our behaviors are influenced by
our beliefs. By defining our virtues, we solidify our beliefs about our values. Once
defined, we have a blueprint to guide our actions as we strive to live a virtuous life. Here
are 25 foundational virtues:

HONOR

Honor is respecting those over you and acting in a way that is deserving of
respect from those under you. Honor is the reputation and alliance that you earn from
those you serve and those who serve you.

COURAGE

Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the strength to move forward in the face of
fear. Courage is perhaps the most vital virtue to develop. When we feel the fear and do
it anyway we develop courage.

COMPASSION

The ability to step outside of yourself and perform an act of selflessness: this is
the foundation of compassion.  To be compassionate is to value others above yourself
for the sole purpose of contributing to the greater good.

RESPECT

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 The respect you show to others is a reflection of your self- respect. For this
reason, respect is something you do for yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to agree
with others, but you simply value yourself enough to give others respect.

LOYALTY

Staying true to yourself and standing by someone else’s side when they face
adversity is mastery of loyalty. Never giving up on someone, no matter how hard it gets,
for as long as it takes: that is the true measure of any great relationship.

HONESTY

You are only as good as your word.  If your word isn’t worth anything, then you
have lost a piece of your soul. Being honest is difficult, but it is the bedrock of character.
A house is only as strong as its foundation.

PRUDENCE

Prudence is the capacity to face reality squarely in the eye, without allowing
emotion or ego to get in the way, and do what is best for the team.

GRACE

Grace is giving something to someone who hasn’t earned it, doesn’t deserve it
and yet we give it anyway. Simply put, grace is giving someone dessert even though
they didn’t eat their vegetables.

FORGIVENESS

When we forgive we are giving up our right to collect on a debt. “An eye for an
eye will only make the whole world blind,” said Gandhi. When I no longer have the need
for revenge, then I have forgiven.

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HUMILITY

Humility is the leadership quality of taking the brunt of the blame when things go
south and giving away the majority of the credit when things go well. The leader who
practices humility will never ask anyone to do what they themselves cannot do. Humility
is leading from a position of service.

AUTHENTICY

Being true to yourself isn’t easy. Pulling off the mask that hides your flaws and
living in the fullness of who you are creates a contagion that gives others the courage to
do the same.

EXCELLENCE

Excellence is striving is to be better than the day before, never giving in to the
voice that says, “That’s good enough.” Instead, listen for the voice that says, “Now that’s
awesome!”

Excellence has a price tag, and the price is practice, practice, practice.

KINDNESS

There is strength in kindness.  A simple smile, a kind word or even an arm on a

shoulder can change someone’s life for the better and thereby change the world …
Kindness is your super-power.

GRATITUDE

Did you know you can’t be resentful and grateful at the same time? Try it. To be
truly grateful is to consider all the gifts you have been given and to understand that no
matter what, there is always something for which to be grateful.

PATIENCE

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 There is no truer act of love than patience … just ask anyone who has raised a
two-year-old.

COMMITMENT

Do what you say you’re going to do without excuse. Suit up, show up every day ,
and give your best effort.

TENACITY

Tenacity is the ability to stick it out and never give up, to keep going when things
are tough and there is no end in sight. This is the only way to live a life of contentedness
because regret only happens when we give up.

TACT

Be honest, but be tactful. Remember there is another human being on the other
end of your words. Strive to live by the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you.”

GENEROSITY

Maya Angelou said, “People won’t remember what you said or did, they will
remember how you made them feel.” Be generous with how you treat everyone … they
will feel amazing and so will you.

EMPATHY

Empathy is the ability to put aside your ego, step into someone else’s shoes and
experience their emotions. When we do this, we create connection. The number one
emotional need we all have is for connection.

CONTENTMENT

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 Dissatisfaction is the misconception that you need more than what you already
have. Contentment is a mind-set: it’s choosing not to look at lack but see the abundance
that already exists.

ASSERTIVENESS

Unapologetically go after what you want in life. Be assertive and let the world feel
the full weight of who you are. Live with passion … without being a jackass.

COOPERATION

The most important virtue for success is the ability to cooperate. If you can’t play
well with others you’re going to get kicked out of the sandbox. Learn to cooperate and
you’ll be successful.

ADAPTABILITY

“Improvise, Adapt and Overcome” is the mantra of the United States Marine
Corps. Adaptability is the ability to be flexible to change and gain the advantage in any
situation. Things that aren’t adaptable break … things that aren’t adaptable don’t
survive.

INTEGRITY

Integrity is the solidarity of our virtues; it is the quality by which we live out our
values and prioritize our principles. It is the culmination of character in action. To act
with integrity is to be a good man.

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 ONE’S PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE

We all have something we believe in or some code of ethics that we adhere to.
These codes or principles are what define us. They are our essence and they differ from
one person to another. The people who share some of these beliefs become our friends
and allies in whatever paths we choose to follow. I have my own philosophies in life,
which are summarized by the famous quotes below.

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have
to say something” - Plato

One of my philosophies in life is to speak less and listen more. There is a reason
why we have two ears and one mouth. Unfortunately, most people do not know when to
talk and when to stop talking. People who cannot keep their mouths shut are looked at
as arrogant and self-centered and people tend to avoid them.

It is no coincidence that people who seem to get into trouble the most are the
ones who tend to talk a lot. Furthermore, continuous verbal outbursts reveals people’s
inner most characters, without their knowledge making them very vulnerable to verbal
attacks.

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 You are also likely to burn more bridges talking than when you kept quiet.
Contrary to popular belief that people who are naturally quiet are cowards, maintaining
silence is actually a sign of maturity and courage. It is much harder to keep quiet than
talking, especially during arguments. Talking actually escalates debates into arguments
and eventually into fist fights.

Do not underestimate the adage “silence is power”. Opinions of people who talk
less are usually given more consideration than opinions from people who talk a lot. It is
a fact that during discussions, the person who keeps to himself is always given the
chance to speak last and everyone is always attentive to listen to them.

Listening is golden. According to Andrew Carnegie in his best-selling book, “How

to Win Friends and Influence People,” the best way to win friends is by lending your
ears to them. People feel appreciated more when you listen to them. They feel they can
trust you and before you know it, they will always want to be near you.

You are more likely to achieve in life when people trust and believe in you, than
an untrustworthy person who has all the talent and qualifications. Dalai Lama couldn’t
have said it better: “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if
you listen, you may learn something new.”

“Change your thoughts and you change your world”- Norman Vincent Peale

Thoughts play an important role in molding our behavior. Whatever we believe

about ourselves is usually made manifest into our virtual world. When we feed our
minds with negativity, we lose the motivation and drive to follow our dreams. When we
register to our subconscious minds that we are the best, we start believe so and this
somehow boosts our confidence to do the impossible. Most motivation speakers will tell
you that ATTITTUDE is what separates winners from losers, leaders from followers and
lions from sheep.

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 One of my favorite quotes is by Alexander the Great. He says, “I am not afraid of
an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led a lion.” I have made
it a daily habit to keep repeating these phrases each morning “I’m the best” “Today will
be a great day”, plus a series of other positive phrases to boost my energy and keep me
happy the whole day. I realized that people treat you better and with respect when you
love yourself and are confident in your own skin. Never put yourself down, because
people will gladly ensure that you stayed there forever.

 “And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to
achieve it”- Paulo Coelho

This quotes keeps me going whenever I’m overwhelmed with fear, especially
when I’m embarking on something new. When we want something with all our hearts
and we focus all our efforts in achieving it, we always get it. It doesn’t matter how
humble our beginnings are or how big our dreams are, in the end everything always
falls into place. This is nature’s way of showing us that it got our backs.

The most important thing is that we should be patient enough to allow nature to
take its course. Rome was not build in a day. In the same way, we cannot achieve our
dreams by making the first attempt only. If they were that easy, then dreams would not
be worth it.

Victory is much sweeter when you have to endure a lot to get it. Furthermore,
calm seas do not make skilled captains. It is through struggle and failure that we learn
about ourselves and life. These lessons are crucial to keep us on top when we succeed.

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure”- Paulo
Coelho

It is a biological fact that when our hearts fail, then we die. The same logic can
also be applied in our dreams. The heart represent what we love, what we aspire to be,

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our essence. When we fail to heed to what our heart wants, then our essence ceases to
exist and we are no different from dead people.

Instead of having a life, people are only making a living, because they are too
scared to follow their hearts. Most people are actually making decisions using their
heads instead of their hearts, which is the cause of their discontentment in life. While
the head gives us reasons why things will fail, our hearts show us the satisfaction we
will derive once we achieve our dreams.

More times than not, following our hearts is more gruesome and hard, however it
is more rewarding. Look at athletes, musicians, actors and entrepreneurs. They are the
most remunerated people on earth and not because they are lucky. No! It is because
they followed their hearts, put in all the work that was needed and waited patiently for
nature to take its course.

They failed many times, they got injured, but they never gave up. People who
follow their heads rarely do anything that is out of their comfort zones. They will
therefore take whatever is handed to them in form of jobs to stay secure. Their lives are
full of regrets and they never reach any level of self-fulfillment.

“Family is the most important thing in the world”- Princess Diana

I learnt this from my grandfather: the best gift that God can ever bestow upon you
is family. You can have everything on earth, but without family and people who love
you, then this world will be empty and meaningless. The best feeling on earth is
knowing that someone loves you, misses you and is concerned when you are not
around. Family members will always have your back no matter what. When you are
down they will be there to uplift you and when you need a shoulder to cry on, they will
be there to lend it to you.

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 When it is all said and done and you are on your deathbed, it is highly unlikely
that you will request to see your bank balance or your investment portfolio or that fancy
sports car. You will pray that your family members stand by your side to help you fight
the dreaded disease that is taking its toll on you. The worst feeling on earth is dying
alone and knowing that nobody is there to share the pain with you. One of my main
goals is to have a family that is not just united by blood, but by love, ties and bonds
strengthened by the almighty God.

“Just as candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life”

- Buddha

Above all, everything is vanity without God. In our quest for all the comforts that
life has to offer, we should never forget our creator. It does not make sense to conquer
the whole world and then lose your soul. Material things only satisfy our vane souls for a
short while then we feel empty as ever. Is it not funny that we yearn for things so much
that we believe when we get them our lives would be set? But once when get them, we
lose interest with them and we start coveting for other things.

Consumerism or our materialistic behavior is pushing us further away from God.

We have become so greedy that we will do anything to acquire wealth. We see
billionaires working even harder to acquire more money, even though they have more
than enough- but to what end? It is God who gives us all that we seek and all the wealth
on this earth belongs to Him. We are so blinded by riches that we do not think about the
afterlife. This life is temporary and short and the sooner we realize, this the better.

“There is no substitute for hard work” - Thomas A. Edison

Hard work is the only tried and tested method of getting success. We should
value the work of our hands and only reap where we have sowed. We should not seek
shortcuts or cheat our way to the top. We should always do everything to the best of our
abilities and patiently wait for God to do the rest.

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 Our blessings come at different times; some people get theirs early, while others
get them later in life. Irrespective of time, God’s timing is always perfect. Our problem is
that we lack what is referred to as delayed gratification.

When we want something, we want it now. We cannot patiently wait for it. It is
due to this reason that many of us are willing to stoop very low to acquire success. With
hard work, the law of compensation will one day work in our favor. We will earn much
more for less work to compensate for the days we worked more for less pay.

Philosophies in life give us a sense of purpose on this earth. They are like goals
that we strive to attain or principles that guide us through life. They differ from one
person to another; they represent who we are. Without them, life would be meaningless.

Although most people believe they do not have them, philosophies in life are
naturally embedded in our hearts. They are what guide us each day. Unfortunately,
many people have evil philosophies that are causing more harm than good.

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 TEN STRATEGIES OF MAN’S EGO DEVELOPMENT

EGO
- First person to use the term was Sigmund Freud.
- It is a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance. It is the part of you that
defines itself as a personality.
- Maturity and evolving through stages across the lifespan as a result of a dynamic
interaction between the inner self and the outer environment.
- Responsible for testing reality and a sense of personal identity.

Loevinger's stages of ego development are proposed by developmental

psychologist Jane Loevinger and conceptualize a theory based on Erik
Erikson's psychosocial model and the works of Harry Stack Sullivan in which "the ego
was theorized to mature and evolve through stages across the lifespan as a result of a
dynamic interaction between the inner self and the outer environment". Loevinger's
theory contributes to the delineation of ego development, which goes beyond the
fragmentation of trait psychology and looks at personality as a meaningful whole.

Development

Loevinger conceived of an ego-development system which closely

resembles moral development, but is broader in scope and uses empirical methods of
study. She created an objective test of mothers' attitudes to problems in family life,
which Loevinger called the Family Problems Scale. Although this first test did not yield

23
the expected results, she noted a strong similarity between authoritarian family
ideology and the authoritarian personality concept being developed at UC Berkeley in
the early 1960s. Loevinger noticed that the women who were at the extreme ends of the
authoritarian scale also tended to be the most immature. These women tended to agree
with such statements as "[a] mother should be her daughter's best friend", at the same
time endorsing punitive behavior. She also observed that a liberal, non-authoritarian
personality was not the opposite of a high authoritarian personality; anomie (a
disorganized and detached social style) was the opposite of high authoritarianism,
indicating a curvilinear relationship.

Loevinger theorized that this was because the Authoritarian Family Ideology
scale measured just authoritarianism, but a broader concept which affected the
other constructs she measured. By combining this theoretical framework with Sullivan
and Grant's interpersonal-maturity continuum, she created the concept of ego
development. Loevinger then developed the Washington University Sentence
Completion Test, the primary method of determining ego development on her scale.

Stages

Loevinger describes the ego as a process, rather than a thing; it is the frame of
reference (or lens) one uses to construct and interpret one's world. This contains
impulse control and character development with interpersonal relations and cognitive
preoccupations, including self-concept. Sullivan (1958) proposed four levels of
"interpersonal maturity and interpersonal integration": impulsive, conformist,
conscientious, and autonomous. Developing from that initial framework, Loevinger
completed a developmental model of nine sequential stages, each representing a
progressively more-complex way of perceiving oneself in relation to the world. Every
stage provides a frame of reference to organize and define experience over an
individual's life: "Since each new ego stage or frame of reference builds on the previous
one and integrates it, no one can skip a stage ... One has not yet acquired the
interpersonal logic."

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 As the adult ego develops, Loevinger considered the emergence of a sense of
self-awareness in which one becomes aware of discrepancies between conventions
and one's behavior. For some, development reaches a plateau and does not continue;
for others, greater ego integration and differentiation continue. Loevinger proposed eight
or nine stages of ego in development, six of which occur in adulthood: conformist,
conscientious-conformist, conscientious, individualistic, autonomous, and integrated.
She believed that most adults were at the conscientious-conformist level.

1. Pre-Social Stage

A baby has a very id-like ego that is very focused on gratifying immediate needs.
Earliest stage cannot have an ego because their thinking is autistic or delusional. They
tend to experience a cognitive confusion and emotional fusion between the caregiver
and the self. Ego begins to develop and is dominated by the process of differentiating
self from non-self.

2. Impulsive Stage

The child "asserts his growing sense of self", and views the world in egocentric
terms; "the child is preoccupied with bodily impulses, particularly (age-appropriate)
sexual and aggressive ones.” Immersed in the moment, they view the world solely in
terms of how things affect him or her. Impulses affirm a sense of self, but are "curbed by
the environment." When someone meets the child's needs, they are considered "good";
if they do not meet his or her needs, they are considered "bad" (often resulting in
impulsive retaliation, such as running away or running home).Discipline is viewed by the
child as restraint; rewards and punishments are seen as "nice to me" or "mean to me".
The child's "needs and feelings are experienced mostly in bodily modes," and "the
child's orientation at this stage is almost exclusively to the present rather than to past or
future."

3. Self-Protective Stage

The self-protective stage is "the first step towards self-control of impulses. The

Self-Protective person has the notion of blame, but he externalizes it to other people or
to circumstances. “At this level, the child "craves a morally prescribed, rigidly enforced,
unchanging order"; if maintained too long, "an older child or adult who remains here
25
may become opportunistic, deceptive, and preoccupied with control ... naive
instrumental hedonism". Although a degree of conceptual cohesion has been reached,
morality is essentially a matter of anticipating rewards and punishments (with the motto
"Don’t Get Caught").

4. Conformist Stage

"Most children around school age ... progress to the next stage, conformity.”
Individuals begin to view themselves and others as conforming to socially-approved
codes or norms.Loevinger describes this stage as having "the greatest cognitive
simplicity. There is a right way and a wrong way and it is the same for everyone ... or
broad classes of people”. One example of groups conforming at this age is by gender:
boys and girls; individuals are invested in belonging to, and obtaining the approval of,
groups.Behaviour is judged externally, not by intentions, and this concept of "belonging
to the group (family or peers) is most valued." "The child starts to identify his welfare
with that of the group"; for the stage "to be consolidated, there must be a strong element
of trust.” An ability to understand rules of the group appears; a group member's
disapproval becomes a sanction, in addition to the fear of punishment. Rules
and norms, however, are not yet distinguished. "While the Conformist likes and trusts
other people within his own group, he may define that group narrowly and reject any or
all outgroups, and stereotypes roles on the principle of social desirability: people are
what they ought to be."

5. Self-Aware Stage

Loevinger considered the Self-Aware (also known as Conscientious-Conformist)

stage the "model for adults in our society,” and thought that few passed the stage before
at least age twenty-five. The stage has two characteristics; "An increase in self-
awareness and the capacity to imagine multiple possibilities in situations ... [was] a
stable position in mature life, one marked by the development of 'rudimentary self-
awareness and self-criticism’”. “However, the closeness of the self to norms
and expectations reveal[s] the transitional nature of these conceptions, midway between
the group stereotypes of the Conformist and the appreciation for individual differences

26
at higher levels. "She believed that the level produces a "deepened interest in
interpersonal relations."

6. Conscientious Stage

At "the conscientious stage ... individuals at this level, and even more often at
higher levels, refer spontaneously to psychological development. “Internalization of
rules is complete by this stage, although "exceptions and contingencies are
recognized." Goals and ideals are acknowledged, and there is a new sense
of responsibility; guilt is triggered by hurting another, rather than by breaking rules. "The
tendency to look at things in a broader social context" is offset by a self-seen as apart
from the group, but from another's point of view; as a result, "descriptions of people are
more realistic ... [with] more complexities. “Standards are self-chosen, and are
distinguished from manners; people are seen in terms of their motives, not just their
actions. A conscientious person "sees life as presenting choices; s/he holds the origin of
his own destiny ... aspires to achievement, ad astra per aspera".

7. Individualistic Stage

During this stage, persons demonstrate a respect for individuality and

interpersonal ties. According to Loevinger, "To proceed beyond the Conscientious
Stage, a person must become more tolerant of himself and of others ... out of the
recognition of individual differences and of complexities of circumstances”. The
individualistic ego has a broad-minded tolerance of, and respect for, the autonomy of
oneself and others. With a new distancing from role identities, "moralism begins to be
replaced by an awareness of inner conflict" and the new stage is "marked by a
heightened sense of individuality and a concern for emotional dependence.” Subjective
experience is opposed to objective reality, inner reality to outward appearance: "vivid
and personal versions of ideas presented as cliches at lower levels". A growing concern
for psychological causality and development goes hand-in-hand with "greater
complexity in conceptions of interpersonal interaction."

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 8. Autonomous Stage

Loevinger described this stage as the "freeing of the person from oppressive
demands of conscience in the preceding stage." People at this stage are "synthesizers",
able to conceptually integrate ideas. The autonomous person "recognizes the limitations
to autonomy, that emotional interdependence is inevitable”, and may experience a
"confrontation with the limitations of abilities and roles as part of deepening self-
acceptance."

"Self-fulfillment becomes a frequent goal, partly supplanting achievement", and

there may be a greater "capacity to acknowledge and to cope with inner conflicts"(such
as that between needs and duties). "A high toleration for ambiguity ... [and] conceptual
complexity" (the capacity to embrace polarity, complexity and multiple facets, and to
integrate ideas) and "respect for other people's need for autonomy in clear terms" are
other features of the autonomous stage.

9. Integrated Stage

According to Loevinger, this stage is rarely attained. At the integrated stage,

"learning is understood as unavoidable ... the unattainable is renounced.” The ego
exhibits wisdom, broad empathy towards oneself and others, and a capacity to be
aware of inner conflicts (like the individualistic ego) or to tolerate them (like the
autonomous ego) and make peace with them. "Reconciling inner conflicts  ... [and the]
cherishing of individuality" are key elements of self-actualization, along with a formed
identity which includes "reconciliation to one's destiny."

Possible tenth stage

As differentiation increases, the model of ego development has found broader

acceptance among international researchers. Therefore, a new stage E10 has been
mentioned in reference to "Ich-Entwicklung", the German equivalent of Loevinger's
stages.

"Need to evaluate things and persons is abandoned. Merging with the world, no
more holding, but engaging in the flow of things. Playful alternation between
seriousness and triviality, intermingling of different states of consciousness, thinking in

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time cycles and historical dimensions, full acceptance of differences and people as they
are."

DIFFERENT BAD TRAITS AND WAYS OF OVERCOMING THEM

Have you ever wished that you acted (or reacted) differently? You are not alone.
Nobody is perfect. In fact, we spend most of our lives learning how to become better
versions of ourselves. If you wish to reinvent yourself, then the first thing you need to do
is expect that it can be done. You cannot turn into a different person altogether, but you
can choose to behave differently despite your tendency for a certain negative trait.

The next step is to meditate: turn your attention inwards. Focus your energies
into learning exactly who you are, and why you behave the way that you do. Use your
new-found awareness to transcend your negativity and shift to a more positive frame of
mind. Who do you think you are? Which of these negative personalities do you morph
into?

The Hulk
You instinctively react with anger. It empowers you to speak out and question
what is wrong. Sometimes, however, you forget to look at the situation from another
perspective and later regret lashing out when you’ve cooled down. If you feel angry all
the time, find the source of your anger. Try to calm yourself – use the relaxation

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techniques in meditation to slow yourself down. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the
person you are angry with. Only then should you attempt a solution.

The Vampire

You’re very dependent on other people’s support. You value how other people
are there for you when you’re feeling low, but you also wish that you could be less
needy and more independent. Look inside yourself and find the strength that would also
make you return the favor. All you need to do is find what you are able to give in return.

The Martyr

 You take on other people’s burdens. They depend on you, and somehow you
end up doing more work than everyone else. You are happy to be of help but
sometimes wish that you could rely on someone else to share the load. Why not look at
the strengths of the people around you? Another way of showing appreciation is to let
them do what they are good at. Delegate.

The Judge

 You tend to be very critical. You see things so clearly that you can’t help but
point out the flaws. People are afraid of what you will say, so they are not very candid in
your company. Try to balance what you say. You can give constructive criticism. Given
that you are able to see things as they are and as they should be, it should also be easy
for you to pinpoint when something is done right. Mention that too.

The Miser

You are a penny-pincher. You know what it means to live with poverty so you are
very careful what you spend. Your constant budgeting, however, turns people off.
Remember, not everyone shares your values or your experience. Allow people to make
their own choices. However, if you can point out a bargain, by way of suggestion rather
than insistence, they may just appreciate the advice.

The Professor

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 You have a knack for remembering information. Sometimes, however, people get
tired of your lecturing – even when what you say is something that they need to know.
They think you are condescending. Intelligence is an advantage, but it should be
tempered with respect. You can help others, but you cannot think for them. Try to learn
when to be forthcoming, and when to wait for others to ask your advice.

The Soothsayer

You are a pessimist. You are the first to shoot down an idea because of its
possible negative outcome. People find this irritating, especially because they would
rather look on the bright side and anticipate the positive. Are you basing your
projections on facts or possibilities? Are you the type to prepare for the worst and hope
for the best? Don’t forget the last part of the equation: hope.

The Vanishing One

 People say that you cannot be relied upon. They think that you are being lazy or
selfish for not joining in, or committing to something and then backing out at the last
minute. You really want to help but there’s just so much on your plate. Explain your
situation before you go; and remember to return and help out when you can. If you save
your affirmations for the times that you can actually deliver, then you can change your
reputation.

The People Pleaser

The People Pleaser tries to find their self-worth through constantly doing things
for other people. While it’s certainly nice to do things for others, the People Pleaser’s
motivation is often not generosity, but a need for validation and recognition, allowing
them to feel like they’re worth something. When the People Pleaser doesn’t receive the
validation and attention they believe they’re entitled to, resentment can set in, and they
blame others for not appreciating them. They then feel worse about themselves, and try
to fix this feeling by pleasing again – a never-ending cycle.

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 People Pleasers need to not be taken advantage of, which is usually how the trait
starts in the first place. If you have a relationship where there’s an imbalance of give
and take; you take too much and too often, it’s up to you to gently put your foot down.
People Pleasers need to learn to concentrate on themselves and their own lives, and to
not find their identity in others.

The Aggressor 

Uses blatant tactics to get what they need; intimidation, hostility, bossiness etc.
People often allow the Aggressor to get their way because it’s easier to avoid
confrontation than suffer their wrath. The Aggressor is an angry person who always
needs to be right. Underneath it of course, is someone who as a child was on the
receiving end of the type of behavior they now exude.

Avoid arguing with the Aggressor – be strong. Once you show them you cannot
be intimidated, they will back down. Be rational with them, look them in the eye, and do
not show weakness or fear – this is what they prey on.

The Baby 

Tends to see things in a negative light, and centered around themselves. They
whine and complain to get their way and simply – act like cranky babies to get attention.
The danger with interacting with the Baby, is that your inner baby may be engaged as
well.

Never perpetuate or agree with the Baby’s whining and complaining. Logically
show the Baby the bright side of things, and dismiss their negative dialogue, paying it
no mind.

The Passive Aggressor 

Manipulates people deviously. They gain their false sense of power by taking
shots at others, using sarcasm often disguised as a joke to make you feel badly about
yourself. They will never be direct with criticism, and mask themselves as more friendly
than they really are.

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 The Passive Aggressor needs to be called out, but calmly. They need to be told
that you are aware of what they are doing in terms of trying to make you feel bad, and
that their behavior is unacceptable and unnecessary. They will do anything to avoid
confrontation and being centre stage, so being direct with them is how you counteract
their behavior.

The Negator 

Does not accept anything positive because they have been let down so badly in
their earlier years. They distrust almost everyone, they are completely closed to
suggestion, and they only see the cup as half empty. The Negator is the one who will
tell you why something won’t work; they will never offer a solution or encouragement.

Don’t let your positive energy be sucked out by the Negator – stay positive
around them. Staying realistic and showing them the logical side of why things can work
and can be good is the way to deal with them. Inside, they want positivity, they’re just
afraid to risk the disappointment which characterized their childhoods – they’d rather
destroy something before it destroys them.

The key to dealing with these negative personalities is to not let yourself be
pulled down to their level of behavior, and to maintain your own identity. All these
behavioral traits are ways of getting attention and sign of insecurity. You’re actually
dealing with their wounded child, not their true personality. Showing them mature
behavior by example is the kindest and most productive way to help them.

If you have a few personal qualities that you want to change, you’re not alone –
many people would like to tweak their personality a little. The good news is that your
personality isn’t set in stone, and with some effort, you can change yourself for the
better. However, this process will take dedication and patience, especially if you are
older. You can get started by identifying which undesirable traits you want to get rid of
and which positive qualities you’d like to develop to replace them. After that, you can put
your new personality traits into practice until they become automatic.

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1. IDENTIFYING NEGATIVE TRAITS

1.1. Examine which aspects of your personality bother you. Be honest

with yourself. Which of your personality traits prevent you from living the
life you want?
 Personality traits that get you into trouble, damage your
relationships, or interfere with your productivity are probably
worth trying to change.
 If you want to change more than 1 or 2 of your traits, you might
find it helpful to make a list. For example, you might include
traits like lying, procrastinating, or self-doubt.
 Try taking an online personality test to identify specific traits.
The NEO Personality Inventory is a good option that is known
for its reliability.
1.2. Ask a friend or family member for their opinion. When you’re talking
with someone who knows you well, ask them what they think your faults
are. An outside opinion may help you see yourself more objectively. It’s
possible that you’re too hard on yourself, or that other people see
undesirable traits in you that you haven’t noticed.
 Ask someone you can trust to be honest with you. For example,
you might ask, “I’m trying to improve myself. Can you can help
me pinpoint a few negative traits I have that need changing?
 Only ask for another person’s opinion if you’re prepared to hear
anything they have to say, positive or negative.
1.3. Figure out how negative traits affect your life. Once you know which
personality traits you want to change, ask yourself why you dislike them.
Write down the ways your life would be better if you didn’t have these
negative qualities.
 Be specific. For instance, you could write, “Because of my
impulsive spending, I had to borrow money for rent twice last

34
 year. When I get my spending under control, I’ll be able to save
money and rely on myself.”
 Save this paper and reread it if your motivation starts to wane.
 You may even want to make a list of pros and cons for the trait
you want to change. This can help you to determine how the
trait is affecting your life and the lives of those around you.

2. SETTING PERSONALITY GOALS

2.1. Visualize your ideal self. Ask yourself what traits your ideal self has that
you don’t possess now. These are the qualities you will work on
developing to replace your negative traits.
 For instance, your ideal self might be more outgoing, punctual, and
tidy than you are right now.
2.2. Find people who inspire you. Ask yourself why you admire certain
people. Chances are good that they have some personality traits you
could cultivate in yourself.
 Consider people you look up to in real life as well as public figures
like athletes and celebrities.
 Try reading autobiographies or watching videos about inspirational
people on Youtube. This can help you to identify traits that these
people possess that you admire and would like to have yourself.
2.3. Ask yourself whether you can turn negatives into positives. Many
traits that are often considered negative actually have some positives built
into them. Look for ways to preserve the positive part of the trait while
minimizing the negative part.
 For instance, many shy people are good listeners, and many
aggressive people make natural leaders.
2.4. Choose just one or two traits to focus on at first. If you try to change
multiple personality traits at once, you won’t be able to focus on any of

35
 them. Instead, select just one or two of the most important qualities you
want to work on, and leave the others for later.
 Choose a goal that will make your later goals easier to achieve. For
instance, if one of your objectives is to stop being lazy and develop
a good work ethic, it would make sense to tackle that one first over
getting promoted at your job.

3. CHANGING YOUR HABITS

3.1. Create a plan. After you’ve decided on the specifics of your personality

goals, figure out how you will make them happen. Brainstorm specific
steps you can take to get rid of your undesirable personality traits and
build your new, positive qualities.
 For instance, if you want to conquer your shyness and become
outgoing, you could commit to greeting one new person every day.
 If you want to stop procrastinating, you might immediately break
down large projects into smaller, doable parts and then take action
on at least one.
3.2. Focus on a goal. Having a goal in mind for making a change can help to
keep you motivated. Try to focus on the larger positive aspects of making
the change rather than thinking about the negatives.
 For example, if you want to be a better public speaker, then try
writing down what greater goal this will accomplish for you. Maybe
being a good public speaker will allow you to become a personal
coach or will be a requirement in starting your own business in the
future. Write down whatever positive aspects you can think of to
help motivate yourself.
3.3. Be aware of your behavior. Instead of letting yourself run on autopilot,
get into the habit of paying attention to your thoughts and actions. Notice
which situations tend to make your unwanted personality traits come out,
and develop strategies for handling these situations differently.

36
  For instance, if you find yourself arguing when someone criticizes
you at work, an alternate strategy might be to take a deep breath
before you reply.
 To establish the habit of self-awareness, practice it for a week or
two before you start trying to change your behavior.
3.4. Use affirmations. Affirmations are statements that trick your brain into
thinking you’ve already achieved your desired outcome, which helps you
change your habits more quickly. This is called a “fake it til you make it”
approach and it is very effective. Come up with some inspiring affirmations
that reflect your goals, and repeat them to yourself several times a day.
 A couple of examples of good affirmations are “I feel confident and
secure in myself” and “I accept responsibility for the things I do.”
 Repeat your affirmations first thing in the morning, right before you
go to bed, and whenever you have an idle moment during the day.
 Make sure your affirmations are in the present tense, not the future
tense. For instance, instead of saying “I will be optimistic,” say, “I
am optimistic.”
3.5. Look for opportunities to practice your new behaviors. To change
your personality, you’ve got to perform a new behavior over and over until
it seems natural. This is a long process, so don’t miss an opportunity to
practice. Seek out situations that give you the opportunity to behave
differently than you’re used to.
 If you want more opportunities to practice your conversational skills,
for instance, you might resolve to go to lunch with your coworkers
more often.
 You can also find support from friends, family, or even by
connecting with new like-minded people. Try telling a close friend
about your goals to help keep yourself accountable, or join a group
such as by looking for a meetup in your area on Meetup.com.
 You might even consider joining a self-development organization to
get help developing your new habit. For example, a very useful and

37
 well-known organization is called Landmark Education.[13] These
can be expensive, but the money may be worth it depending on the
importance of the new habit.
3.6. Be patient. It can take months or years for your new personality to really
feel like you. This is especially true if you’re over the age of 30. Stay
persistent, even if you slip up or your progress is slower than you’d like. If
you stick with your goals long enough, your brain will eventually forge the
new connections you want.
 Keep in mind that developing a new habit will come with setbacks.
Try to develop a plan for dealing with setbacks to help you continue
to move forward and progress towards your goals.

References:

https://www.slideshare.net/RaiBlanquera/the-moral-and-spiritual-aspect-of-personality

https://businessjargons.com/psychoanalytic-theory.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_theory_(education)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_development

https://study.com/academy/lesson/moral-code-definition-examples.html

https://ezinearticles.com/?Classification-of-Values&id=382621

https://library.iugaza.edu.ps/thesis/92226.pdf

https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=xDkWN8uEtx4C&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=B.R.
+Goel+Classification&source=bl&ots=STmzNhR4p5&sig=ACfU3U2Thi7Ir7Yqs3TNzOX
HTUu6r8bWSw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiphYyg9KDlAhWSfd4KHT9UAFYQ6AEw
A3oECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=B.R.%20Goel%20Classification&f=true

https://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/25-virtues-found-in-the-best-of-men-fiff/
https://www.aresearchguide.com/philosophy-in-life.html

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loevinger%27s_stages_of_ego_development

https://m.wikihow.com/Change-Undesirable-Personality-Traits

http://operationmeditation.com/discover/overcome-negative-personality-traits-and-
become-a-better-you/

https://www.25dates.com/blog/negative-personality-types-and-how-to-deal-with-them/

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