Understanding the

Self: Unpacking the

Self
Factors in the Development of the
Physical Self
Heredity (nature)
• The transmission of traits or characteristics
from parents to offspring
• It provides the raw materials of which the
individual is made up.
Factors in the Development of the
Physical Self
Heredity (nature)
• Through the genes, hereditary potentials
like physical, mental, social, emotional,
and moral traits are passed down to
generations.
Factors in the Development of the
Physical Self
Environment (nurture)
• Is the sum total of the forces or
experiences that a person undergoes from
conception to old age.
Factors in the Development of the
Physical Self
Environment (nurture)
• It also includes family, friends, school,
nutrition, and other agencies one is in
contact with.
The Beginning of Life

Fertilization
• Refers to the meeting of the ova (female)
and spermatozoa (male).
• Said sex cells are developed in the
reproductive organs called gonads—the
testes among males and ovaries among
females.
The Beginning of Life

Fertilization
• The fertilized egg cell known as zygote
contains all the hereditary potentials from
the parents. This zygote goes to the uterus
and continues to grow during the
gestation period of about 280 days or 36
weeks or 9 calendar months.
The Beginning of Life

 Each parent contributes one sex

chromosome to the offspring. A male
parent may pass either an X or a Y
chromosome, while a female always gives
the X chromosome.
The Beginning of Life

 When an X chromosome comes from the

father and meets the X chromosome from
the mother, the resulting combination is XX
which indicates a female offspring.
The Beginning of Life

 However, when the father produces a Y

chromosome which pairs with the X
chromosome from the mother, the
resulting combination is XY, signifying a
male offspring.
The Beginning of Life

 Bothmale and female chromosomes

contain several thousands of genes.
Genes are small particles in a string-like
formation. They are the true carriers of
hereditary characteristics of the parents.
The Beginning of Life

 Within the gene is a substance called

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which is the
code of heredity. It contains information
and instructions about the newly created
organism, and programs the traits that
should be inherited. Maturation is the
unfolding of the inherent traits.
Stages in the Life Span

 An individual undergoes definite stages of

development. In each phase, the child
experiences certain developmental
characteristics to prepare him/her for the
next.
Development Stage Age
Pre-natal period Conception to birth
Infancy Birth to end of the second week
Babyhood End of the second week to end of the
second year
Early childhood or preschool age Two to six years
Late childhood or elementary age Six to ten or twelve years
Puberty or preadolescence Twelve to thirteen or fourteen years
Adolescence Thirteen or fourteen to eighteen years
Early adulthood Eighteen to forty years
Middle age Forty to sixty years
Old age or senescence Sixty to death
Taking Care of My Physical Self

1) Balanced Diet
2) Water
3) Sleep
Concepts Related to the Self

 The self is made up of many self-

perceptions, abilities, and personality
characteristics that are organized and
consistent with one another.
Concepts Related to the Self

 Carl Rogers (1953), a psychologist and the

proponent of the self theory, contends
that self-concept plays an important role
in personality because it influences human
behaviors, feelings, and thoughts.
Concepts Related to the Self

 Self-concept refers to how pwoplw see or

describe themselves (Plotnik, &
Kouyoumdjan, 2014). It is the subjective
perception of who people are and what
they are like, or “the person I think I am or
the person I wish to be” (Rogers, 1953).
Concepts Related to the Self

 People with a positive self-concept tend

to act, feel, and think constructively and
optimistically. Overall, they think of
themselves in good light.
Concepts Related to the Self

 On the other hand, people who have a

negative self-concept will behave, think,
and act with pessimism. They do not
believe in their ability to do things or carry
out certain tasks.
Concepts Related to the Self

A positive or negative self-concept reflects

a dominant or prevailing trend of
positivism or negativism in the self. Hence,
if a person is labeled as having a positive
self-concept, it means that his/her
prevailing behavior and general outlook
of himself/herself are on the positive side.
Concepts Related to the Self

 Itdoes not men, however, that the person

does not have any low or negative
thoughts or ideas about oneself. It is just
the prevailing positive outlook that
characterizes a person as having a
positive self-image or self-concept, and
vice-versa.
Concepts Related to the Self

Two kinds of selves

1) Real self
• The image or picture of the self based on
a person’s actual experiences and
represents how he/she really or actually
sees himself/herself.
Concepts Related to the Self

Two kinds of selves

1) Real self
• It is what one thinks he/she is in terms of
personal characteristics and abilities.
Concepts Related to the Self

Two kinds of selves

2) Ideal self
• Is the self based on one’s hopes and
wishes. It reflects how one likes to see
himself/herself to be.
Concepts Related to the Self
 The person who knows you best—your
abilities, talents, personality, and
characteristics—is you. You know your
positive or high points as well as your
negative or low points.
Concepts Related to the Self
 Make sure to maintain or sustain your
strength. Likewise, strive to improve and
change your weaknesses or negative
points into something positive.
Concepts Related to the Self

 See to it that what you wish or desire to be

will further develop you own personality.
Your abilities and the positive aspects of
your personality should be put to good use
in helping improve the lives of others and
the community at large.
Concepts Related to the Self

 Besure that your dreams and desire to

enhance your personality and abilities are
rooted in your purpose to help other
people and will, in the long run, contribute
to developing good relationships.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Rogers (1953) states that there is usually a

contradiction or discrepancy between the
real self and the ideal self.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Thisdifference may result in discomfort

and personality problems which can be
resolved by paying more attention to
one’s actual experiences, working more
at positive experiences, and paying less
attention to the expectations of others.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Itis alright if the ideal self is slightly out of

reach, as it is just enough to stimulate the
person to improve himself/herself.
However, if the ideal self is unrealistically
difficult to reach, then it could lead to
feelings of failure.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Anobscure view of the self may also result

due to a wide discrepancy between the
real self and ideal self. Failure to achieve
the ideal self may lead to a “drop” in self-
concept.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Positiveregard is believed to be important

for the healthy development of one’s self-
concept and for successful interpersonal
relationships (Liebert & Spiegler, 1994).
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Positiveregard includes love, sympathy,

warmth, acceptance, and respect which
people crave from family, friends, and
other significant people.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Conditionalpositive regard refers to

positive regard received as a result of
acceptable behavior or living up to the
expectations and standards of others.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Unconditional positive regard, on the

other hand, refers to the love and
acceptance received by a person
regardless of who he/she is or what he/she
does.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Itis normally expected for people to have

discrepancies between their selves and
what they dream or wish to become.
Sometimes this variation results in
dissonance and may lead to increased
anxiety levels and discomfort. It also has
implications for setting unrealistic goals.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

A more objective view and assessment of

the available options and factors that
enable one to achieve the ideal self is
advised. The development of self-concept
starts from the home.
Self-Esteem

 Self esteem is the level of importance

attributed to oneself and one’s abilities.
One may put a high value or a low value
on his/her worth as a person.
Self-Esteem

 Inmany ways, self-esteem relates to a

person’s attractiveness and social
competence. It is likewise associated with
important positive or negative outcomes.
Self-Esteem

 For example, a high self-esteem is

correlated with healthy social
relationships, being emotionally and
socially adjusted, cheerfulness, and overall
happiness.
Self-Esteem

 On the other hand, a low self-esteem is

associated with negative outcomes like
depression, anxiety, antisocial behavior,
and poor personal adjustment (Murray,
2005; Trzesniewski et al., 2006).
Self-Esteem

 Self-esteem is distinct from self-concept as

the latter refers to the knowledge of
oneself or the image of a person’s views,
perceptions, or descriptions of
himself/herself in terms of certain
characteristics.
Self-Esteem

 One should strive to develop a high self-esteem

because it determines his/her kind of personal
and social relationships. Holding good feelings
about oneself results in flexibility and
adaptability to situations and people. On the
other hand, a low-self esteem may lead to poor
social relationships.
Self-Actualization

 Humans possess an inner drive to grow,

improve, and use their potential to the
fullest (Plotnik, 2014). The final stage in
completed growth is known as self-
actualization or self-fulfillment, a major
tenet in humanistic psychology.
Self-Actualization

 According to Maslow (1943), a self-

actualizing person has reached the
highest level or peak of his/her personal
development and has fully realized his/her
potential as a human being.
Self-Actualization

 The self-fulfilled person is generally happy,

generous with his/her time and effort to
help others, and strives for the common
good for his/her family, community,
country, and even humanity.
Self-Actualization

 In1943, Abraham Maslow formulated the

hierarchy of needs. It explains that
individuals’ actions are directed towards
goal attainment.
Self-Actualization

 The hierarchy is composed of five stages

of human needs and usually illustrated in a
pyramid. The levels are sequentially
satisfied according to the most basic
needs found at the bottom of the
pyramid, progressing onto higher-level
needs.
Self-Actualization

 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs contends

that people have to satisfy their basic
needs before moving towards satisfying
their social and personal needs.
Self-Actualization

 The rate of achieving higher-level needs

may vary among individuals. However, it is
possible for one to proceed to the next
higher-level need even if he/she is still in
the process of fully satisfying a lower level
need.
Self-Actualization

 Maslow also classified these needs into two general

categories: deficiency needs and growth needs (Plotnik,
2014). Deficiency needs refer to the physiological (sleep,
food) and psychological (safety, love, esteem) needs.
On the other hand, growth needs are those at the higher
levels (desire for truth, beauty, and justice).