PSYCH 101-L3-WEBINAR CONTENT (1) Attributed to Paul and

OUTLINE LESSON 3: WHAT SCIENCE SAYS Patricia Churchland, is

ABOUT THE SELF concerned with the association
of the brain and the mind.
At the end of this lesson, you should be able
to: (2) In order to understand the
workings of the human mind,
1. Define and explain the different scientific people must first understand the
standpoints about the self human brain, its functions, and
wave activity.
2. Synthesize and evaluate these perspectives
of the self (3) They further argued that the
philosophical notions of free will,
3. Come up with a comprehensive definition of
common sense, and
self according to scientific point of view
conscientiousness must be
explained in the context of
neuroscience as advances in
this field seemingly converge with
how people think, feel, and
A. SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES OF THE behave.
SELF
(4) Human consciousness, world
➢ Science has invested much of its efforts views, beliefs, and other
in understanding world phenomena, attributes are distinctly connected
especially in explaining how basic life to brain physiology and
forms have evolved to more complex functioning.
organisms, such as human beings.
Science is defined as the intellectual (5) Thus, how the members of
and practical activity encompassing the the millennial generation, for
systematic study of the structure and instance, process information,
behavior of the physical and natural imbibe beliefs and values, and
world through observation and manifest behaviors in their
experiment. Scientific approaches to the specific contexts have a
study of the self are classified into two: neurological basis.
PHYSICAL SCIENCES and SOCIAL
SCIENCES. (6) A related standpoint was
proposed by Maurice Merleau-
Ponty, who aimed to unite
idealism with empiricism. With his
specific theorem “we are our
bodies,” he attempted to
incorporate the physical and
the psychological aspects of the
self.

1. Biological/Physiological Science
a. NEUROPHILOSOPHY
 (7) For Merleau-Ponty, the
understanding of the world
should not be unidimensional; the
“ is a product of both idealist
and realist standpoints of the
self”
b. PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY
(1) Psychoneuroimmunology
describes the shaping of the self
as similar to how the human
immune system functions.
(2) The human body is made up
of nucleotides, the composition
of which makes up the DNA.
(3) In the context of the immune
system, the human body
“rejects” harmful foreign
matter and builds up on the
existing molecules, leading to a
healthy bodily system.
(4) However, at times, foreign
matter that enters one’s system
can be helpful to body
maintenance and thus become a
permanent fixture within the
body.
(5) In the context of the self,
individuals capitalize on their
innate attributes and are likely
to reject environmental factors
assumed to be harmful to the
body and its well-being.
(6) In discovering oneself, a
person is likely to imbibe
external experiences that are
seen to be helpful and reject
those that he or she does not
like or derive pleasure from.
(7) Natural science is a fountain
of information in understanding
oneself, especially in the fields of
biology, medicine, cognitive
neuroscience, and even
chemistry. However, the journey
to self-understanding will not be
complete without examining the
effects of social factors in
development.
2. Social Sciences
a. PSYCHOLOGY,
➢ is defined as the study of human (3) Humanistic perspective
behavior, sees the self as a theoretical draws its assumptions from the
construct. In fact, the development of observed criticisms of
the so-called science of the self roots psychoanalysis and behaviorism.
from various theories and principles. In It believes that every individual
many theories (e.g., social and has the ability to reach self-
personality psychology), the term “self” actualization and
has been used as an object of several transcendence, and that each
psychological constructs (e.g., self- person is inherently good or
awareness, self-construal, self-esteem, possesses something that is
self-efficacy, self-regulation, etc.) good. The humanistic
perspective deviates from the
(1) Psychoanalysis, as psychoanalytic framework as it
proposed by Sigmund Freud, focuses on the strengths and
focuses on the “unconscious” inherently good nature of people,
as a core element of the self. instead of the repressed desires
Freud likened the human of the unconscious in
psyche to an iceberg, whose psychoanalysis. From
small tip represents the behaviorism, it posits that man
awareness of the individual has a choice and free will and
and large part submerged that he is able to overcome
underwater is the environmental boundaries
“unconscious,” influencing through human agency.
behavior unbeknown to the
person. (4) In studying the self, all three
schools of thought in psychology
(2) Behaviorism, another school explain the nuances of selfhood.
of thought, maintains that the
study of behavior should be
made from an observable and
measurable perspective. It b. SOCIOLOGY,
largely attributes behavior to
➢ meanwhile, is the study of the
environment conditioning. A
collective behavior of people within
revised framework of the
society and focuses on social
behavioristic perspective is the
problems encountered by
social cognitive theory, which
individuals. It does not see a person on
considers behavior as a function
his or her own, but rather, the impact of
of the environment and internal
social institutions and relationships
attributes.
within society on one’s thoughts,
feelings, and behavior. It provides tools
for understanding the human experience
and society.

c. ANTHROPOLOGY
➢ is the study of human beings and ➢ describes and analyzes the production,
their ancestors through time and space distribution, and consumption of goods
and in relation to physical character, and services.
environmental and social relations,
and culture. (1) The manufacture and
consumption of goods, the
(1) In studying the self, state of finances and
anthropology examines the purchasing power, and their
developmental advancements equitable distribution to
society has made and how they society shape the self.
have impacted people who
existed within that society. (2) Economic activities affect
people’s value system and sense
(2) The millennial generation, for of self.
example, witnessed the birth of
the internet. Having experienced
the transition between the analog
and the digital technologies, they
are more adept in using these
tools.
(3) Thus, to understand one
generation, the events and
milestones that define this age
must be taken into account.
B. SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF THE
SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES
d. POLITICAL SCIENCE,
1. From the biological perspective,
➢ in contrast, is concerned with the
a. The acquisition of one’s physical
participation of individuals in
features can be very hereditary: either one
establishing a government and making
inherits them from the father’s side or the
political choices.
mother’s side.
(1) It is not particular about
b. The medical condition of a person, on
political affiliations but rather, the
the other hand, can be rooted from a
factors involved in how one
combination of heredity, neuroscientific or
arrives at his or her political
neuro-immunological factors.
choices and behavior.
c. The healthy lifestyle of a person can
(2) In studying the self, one’s
be genetic and or rooted on social factors.
participation in government,
ideologies, and advocacies are 2. A person can be HUMANISTIC or
seen as significant contributors to BEHAVIORIST.
his or her selfhood.
a. Humanistic if he:
e. ECONOMICS
(1) Believes that everyone has
control over their lives
 (2) Believes that we cannot be
conditioned by society
(3) Believes that we are fully
aware of our behaviors
(4) Think all people are good.
(5) Believes that everyone can be
a saint.
b. Behavioristic if he does not agree
with the above-mentioned statements.

C. MY OWN SCIENTIFIC DEFINITION OF

THE SELF
1. On the basis of what science says about the
self, come up with a comprehensive
definition of the self.