THESELF REVIEWER FOR MA2

Topic 1: Eastern and Western Thoughts

1 | CONFUCIANISM

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher who lived from 551-479 B.C. and wished to be
an advisor to a noble. He taught and emphasized the importance of “correct
behaviors”, an art known as li. He traveled from region to region with a small group
of students (disciples).

Confucianism is an ethnic religion because it focuses primarily on work. Confucius

believed that any perception of the afterlife was beyond human comprehension. He
also rejected the idea of “sin” but viewed mistakes as an opportunity to do better
the next time.

GOAL: to be perfect and moral

2 | DAOISM [TAOISM]

The founder of Daoism is believed to be Lao-Tse who is rumored to have lived from
604-531 BCE. Since he lived in a time of chaos, he searched for a way to avoid
constant warfare and feuding. He started by combining concepts of psychology and
philosophy.

After years of studying, he found that the solution to his problem is like water -- flow
smoothly around obstacles rather than bumping up against them. He assured us
that if we adapt ourselves to the shape of the channel, we won’t get stuck. He used
the natural rather than the human-made world as a model to show us that it is part
of our nature to flow smoothly and with ease.

3 | MOHISM

Mohism was an influential philosophical, social, and religious movement that

flourished during the Warring States era (479–221 BCE) in ancient China. Mohism
originates in the teachings of Mo Di, or “Mozi” (“Master Mo,” fl. ca. 430 BCE), from
whom it takes its name.

GOAL: unified ethical and political order grounded in:

 ■ utilitarian ethic emphasizing impartial concern for all
■ active opposition to military aggression and injury to others
■ devotion to utility and frugality and condemnation of waste and luxury

4 | FÂ JIĀ [LEGALISM]

Fǎ-Jiā or Legalism is one of the six classical schools of thought in Chinese philosophy
that emerged during the Warring States period. This school of thought ignores
morality and seeks to answer how a society should ideally function. They examined
contemporary government, emphasizing a realistic consolidation of the wealth and
power of autocrats and the state.

GOAL: achieve order, security, and stability

5 | BUDDHISM

Buddhism is an Indian religion and dharma that encompasses a variety of traditions,

beliefs, and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to the Buddha.
It believes in the dharma wheel which refers to the idea of a law, or principle,
governing the universe. This wheel contains the noble eightfold path.

Noble Eightfold Path

1. The right view (understanding): Know about the current state of one’s body -
keep a positive outlook.
2. The right intention/resolve: Pay attention to health, seek information, and
empowerment in self-care skills
3. The right speech: Avoid spreading or listening to myths and misconceptions.
Always seek clarity and knowledge
4. The right action: Lifestyle modification and monitoring
5. The right livelihood: Avoid unhealthy habits such as sedentary lifestyle and
abstaining from alcohol, smoking, or substance abuse
6. The right effort: Stay sincere with your efforts. Take control of your mind –
nurture and develop good habits and let go of bad ones
7. The right mindfulness: Always be conscious/aware of what one is doing –
stay in the moment
8. The right concentration: Practice meditation and stress management
Topic 2: Invidualism vs. Collectivisim

INDIVIDUALISM (Western Thought)

Under the lens of western thought, the individual identifies primarily with self,
prioritizing the needs of the individual over those of the group. In individualism,
independence and self-reliance are greatly stressed and valued. In general, people
tend to distance themselves psychologically and emotionally from each other. One
may choose to join groups, but group membership is not essential to one’s identity or
success.

COLLECTIVISM (Eastern Thought)

Collectivism views the group as the primary entity, with the individuals lost along the
way. The survival and success of the group ensure the well-being of the individual so
that by considering the needs and feelings of others, one protects oneself.

Below are some of the characteristics of an individualist and a collectivist.

INDIVIDUALISM COLLECTIVISM

● Promotes individual goals, initiative, ● Each person is encouraged to be

and achievement. an active player in society, to do
● Individual rights are seen as being what is best for society as a whole
the most important. rather than themselves.
● Rules attempt to ensure ● The rights of families,
self-importance and individualism. communities, and the collective
● Independence is valued; there is supersede those of the individual.
much less of a drive to help other ● Rules promote unity, brotherhood,
citizens or communities than in and selflessness.
collectivism. ● Working with others and
● Relying on or being dependent on cooperating is the norm;
others is frequently seen as everyone supports each other.
shameful.

Topic 3.1: Physical Self

1 | WILLIAM JAMES
William James considered body as the initial source of sensation and necessary for
the origin and maintenance of personality.

However, James considered body subservient to the mind, for example, mental
concentration can be so tightly focused as not only to banish ordinary sensations,
but even the severest pain (James, 1890, Vol. 1, p.49).

2 | SIGMUND FREUD

In Psychology, Sigmund Freud's construction of self and personality makes the

physical body the core of human experience.

■ ego is first and foremost a body ego

■ emphasis on libido

3 | ERIK ERIKSON

According to him the role of bodily organs is especially important in early

developmental stages of a persons life. Later in life, the development of physical as
well as intellectual skills help determine whether the individual will achieve a sense of
competence and ability to choose demanding roles in a complex society.

For example, healthy children derive a sense of competence as their bodies

become larger, stronger, faster and more capable of learning complex skills.
However, as a stage theorist, Erikson is aware of the constant interaction of the body,
psychological processes and social forces. He acknowledges the classical Freudian
view of fundamental biological drives but insists that these drives are socially
modifiable.

Body Image - involves two key elements: a mental picture of one’s physical body
(including size, shape, and appearance), and one’s attitude toward the physical self
(such as thoughts, feelings and beliefs about one’s body).

- may change gradually and can be influenced by a number of social factors,

such as culture, the media, and interactions with family and friends. It also
often adapts to reflect new information, people, and experiences.

Body Shaming - occurs when:

 ● When you criticize your own appearance, through a judgment or
comparison to another person.
● When a person criticizes another person’s appearance in front of them.
● When a person criticizes another person’s appearance without their
knowledge.

Body Image and Media

● Media has a powerful influence on body image especially on what people
see in television, advertisements, pop culture icons and other media.
- attractive people with idealized features and bodies seem to present
an “ideal” body type, and advertisements often suggest everyone can
achieve a similar body, face, or look, if they only make the effort.

Unhealthy Body Image

● Being fixated on the idea of attaining a “perfect body” and engaging in
extensive or extreme behaviors such as excessive dieting and repeated
cosmetic surgery
● At risk of mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety and eating
disorders

Healthy Body Image

● Means that you truly accept and like the way you look right now.
● recognizing the individual qualities and strengths that make you feel good
about yourself beyond weight, shape or appearance, and resisting the
pressure to strive for the myth of the “perfect” body that you see in the media,
online, in your communities.

Topic 3.2a: Reproduction and Psychosexual Stages of Development

Sex - classification of a person as male or female, typically assigned at birth, based

on his or her external anatomy; primary sex traits
The table below summarizes the differences between male and female secondary
sex traits.
 MALE FEMALE

● External genitalia - penis ● External genitalia - size breast,

● Body - shoulders broaden, muscle
mass
● Hair - beard, back, chest, anus
● Mental - more aggressive, sexual
interest awakens
● Voice - vocal cords in size and/or
length; voice deepens
vagina
● Internal genitalia - size uterus
● Body - shoulders are narrow, hips
broad, thighs converge and
arms diverge broadly carrying
angle
● Hair - more scalp hair, less body
hair
● Voice - voice unchanged

Physiological Response

● They described that these four phases happened in a linear way, with one
coming after the other.
● The sexual response cycle wasn't complete without all four occurring (but
women are capable of multiple orgasms and has different response in the
resolution stage).
● Reproduction - is the process of perpetuating.

Psychosexual Stages of Development

● Sigmund Freud, personality development takes place in 5 psychosexual

stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.
 ● Each stage is characterized by the individual's expression of his or her sexual
energy (libido) in different ways and through different parts of the body.

Topic 3.2b: Sexual Self

● Sex is defined as the biological classification of a person as a male or female

assigned at birth.
● Gender, on the other hand, refers to the cultural meanings attached to being
masculine or feminine, which influence personal identity.
● SOGIE, which stands for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression,
to help us to describe the LGBT+ community.
● Sexual Orientation - A person’s sexual, emotional/romantic attraction to
another person. Categories of sexual attraction include: to the opposite sex
(heterosexual), to one’s own sex (homosexual), to both sexes (bisexual), to
anyone (pansexual), to everyone (omnisexual), to no one (asexual)
● Femme - not lesbians unless they are with a butch partner; Butch - lesbians
with more masculine traitsdegree of masculinity displayed in woman
● Gender Identity - one’s deeply felt, sense of oneself as male, female or
transsexual/transgender; may or may not correspond to a person’s sex;
internal and not necessarily visible to others.
● Transgender - identified with a gender other than a biological one.
 ● Transvestite - a person typically male, who derives pleasure from dressing in
clothes appropriate for the opposite sex
● Transsexual - a person born with the physical characteristics of one sex who
emotionally and psychologically feel that they belong to the opposite sex.

Family Planning - a health intervention program and an important tool for the
improvement of the health and welfare of mothers, children, and other members of
the family.

● Reproductive Health Law (RHLaw) of the Republic Act No. 10354, is a law in
the Philippines which guarantees universal access to sexual education,
maternal care, and different methods of contraception.

1 | RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD

Each family has the right and duty to determine the desired number of children
they might have and when they might have them. Beyond responsible parenthood
is responsible parenting which is the proper upbringing and education of children so
they grow up to be upright, productive, and civic-minded citizens.

2 | RESPECT FOR LIFE

The 1987 Constitution states that the government protects the sanctity of life.
Abortion is NOT a family planning method.

3 | BIRTH SPACING

This refers to interval between pregnancies (which is ideally 3 years). It enables

women to recover their health, improves women's potential to be productive, and to
realize their personal aspirations and allows more time to care for children and
spouse/husband.

4 | INFORMED CHOICE

This is upholding and ensuring the rights of couples to determine the number and
spacing of their children according to their life's aspirations and reminding couples
that planning size of their families have a direct bearing on the quality of their
children's and their own lives.
ARTIFICIAL FAMILY PLANNING AND BIRTH CONTROL METHODS

● Condom - serves as a barrier to stop bodily fluids and semen from entering
the reproductive system. There are two types of condom:
- Male Condom (external) - worn on the penis
- Female Condom (internal) - worn inside the vagina
● Injectables - prevent the release of a mature egg from the ovary. It also
thickens the cervical mucus in the neck (top) of the uterus, making it difficult
for the sperm to pass through which averts the meeting of the egg cell and
sperm cell.
● Intrauterine Device (IUD) - is a T-shaped device inserted by a physician to a
woman’s uterus to stop sperm cells from reaching and fertilizing eggs.
● Oral Contraceptives - are hormone-containing medications which inhibit
ovulation and prevent the sperm cells from penetrating through the cervix.
● Contraceptive Patch - works like oral contraceptives but instead of taking
orally, it is applied weekly on different areas of a woman’s body (skin).
● Vaginal Ring - is a small, soft, plastic ring that can be placed inside a
woman’s vagina. It releases hormones into the bloodstream that prevent
pregnancy.

Natural Family Planning

● Basal Body Temperature Charting - identifies the luteal phase (period after
ovulation) by monitoring a woman’s basal body temperature. Higher
temperature indicates fertile period.
● Cervical Mucus Monitoring - identifies beginning and end period of the fertile
period from cervical secretions.
● Calendar Calculation - works best for women who have regular period. Fertile
period is predicted based on menstrual dating. E.g. You had your period on the
4th of the month. Days 8, 9 and 10 are safe while 11-21 covers the fertility
window (chance to get pregnant)