The Self and the Person in Contemporary Anthropology

Anthropology means Anthropos ( human ) and Logos means ( Study )

Clifford Geertz
Culture is a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms
Contributed to social and cultural theory
He reflected on the basic core notions of anthropology, such as culture and ethnography

The Sub-disciplines of Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology - It explores the diversity of the present and the past. Ethnography and ethnology are two
different activities which can study and interpret cultural diversity.
Archeological anthropology - reconstructs, describes and interprets human behavior and cultural patterns through
material remains.
Biological, or Physical Anthropology - focuses on these special interest, human evolution as revealed by the fossil,
human genetics, human growth and development, human biological plasticity and the biology, evolution, behavior
and social life of monkeys, apes and other nonhuman primates.
Linguistic Anthropology - Universal features of language are analyzed and association between language and culture
are evaluated. It also studies how speech changes in social situations and over time.
Katherine Ewing In the modern anthropological perspective, the self is characterized in its most general, ordinary
and everyday use.
She described the self as the totality of what an organism is physically, biologically, psychologically, socially, and
culturally.
 The Self from The Perspective of Psychology
 William James (1842-1910) American Philosopher and Psychologist.
 Professor of Psychology and Philosophy at Harvard University
 One of the great pragmatists
 “Theory of the Self”
 Wrote a book entitled “The principles of Psychology”
‘ME’ AND THE ‘I’
• A separate object or individual that the person to when discussing or describing their personal experiences.James
called the
‘ME’self as the empirical ME.
Divided into three components: the material self, the social self, and the
spiritual self.
THE MATERIAL SELF - Consists of the things or objects that belong to the person or entities that a person belongs to.
THE SOCIAL SELF - Refers to the person is in a particular social situation.
THE SPIRITUAL SELF - Refers to the self that is more concrete or permanent when compared to the material and the most
subjective and intimate part of the self.
 THE ‘I‘ SELF
 Pure Ego = person’s soul or mind
 Comprises the totality of the person’s identity
 Global and Differentiated Self
Models
 Global Self - The groups of people that you interacts with everyday strongly influences you.
 The Differential Self - Murray Bowen (1913-1990) came up with the concept of a differentiated self. Togetherness
and Individuality.
 Carl Rogers (1902-1987) Proposed a personality theory known as the ‘Person-Centered Theory
 Two types of self-concept:
 The real self-concept - Refers to all information and perception the person has about himself ( Congruence )
 The ideal self-concept - Refers to what the person aims for himself to be.
 The Self-Discrepancy Theory
 Edward Tory Higgins (1987) Self-guides-internalized standards to which people use to compare themselves.
 Multiple Selves Theory - suggests that there exists in the individual different aspects of the self.
 A UNIFIED being is essentially connected to consciousness, awareness, and agency.
TRUE FALSE
Creative Lacks spontaneity
Spontaneously experiencing Dead and empty
Appreciate being alive The mask that hides the true person for fear of pain.
Recognizes his strengths At times, enable the person to form superficial but productive social
relationships.
 THE SELF AS PROACTIVE AND
AGENTIC
 THE SELF AS PROACTIVE AND AGENTIC
 Albert Bandura (1925 –2021) The Social Cognitive Theory
 suggested that human beings are proactive, self-regulating, self-reflective, and self-organizing.
4 FEATURES OF HUMAN AGENCY
1. INTENTIONALITY 4. SELF-REACTIVENESS
2. FORETHOUGHT
3. SELF-REACTIVENESS
The Self in Western Oriental and Eastern Thought
 INDIVIDUALISM identifies primarily with self, with the needs of the individual being satisfied before those of group.
 COLLECTIVISM consists of those aspects of the self that are based on memberships in social group or categories.
 SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION It is within a culture or group, social constructions emerge.

WESTERN SOCIAL CONSTRUCT

3 characteristics of the Western Social Construct of the self.
 Individualistic Self - The individualistic self is always conceived as the autonomous bounded entity.
 Self-sufficiency - The concept of self-sufficiency assumes that a successful person can meet their own requirements
without the help of others.
 Rational Self - There is no time for the self to be weak and emotional in western practice.
 UNPACKING THE SELF
 PHYSICAL SELF - Physical Self refers to the body, this marvelous container and complex, finely tuned, machine with which we interface with our
environment and fellow beings.
 LIFE SPAN - Development from conception to death.
 HERIDITY – Biological process of transmission of traits from parents off offspring.
 ENVIRONMENT - Refers to the factors to which the individual Is exposed after conception to death which includes learning and experience.
 BODY IMAGE - Refer to how individual s perceive, think and feel about their body and physical appearance.
 APPEARANCE- Everything about a person that others can observe such us height, weight, skin color, clothes , and hairstyle.
SELF-ESTEEM - A person’s overall evaluation of his of her own worth.
CAUSE OF POOR IMAGE EFFECT OF POOR BODY IMAGE
Emphasis on thin ideal body Body Dissatisfaction
Bullying and peer pressure Low self esteem
Media Body Modification
WHAT IS BEAUTY?
 Beauty is believing in yourself and remembering that you are worth it.
 Standards of beauty have change over time based on changing cultures values.
APPEARANCE
 Everything about a person that others can observe such us height, weight, skin color, clothes, and hairstyle.
SELF-ESTEEM
 A person’s overall evaluation of his of her own worth.
STANDARDS OF BEAUTY
 Clean and unblemished skin
 Thick shinny hair
 Well –Proportioned bodies
 Symmetrical faces
 COLLECTIVISTIC CULTURE
COLLECTIVISTIC CULTURE It emphasizes the needs and goals of the other person or the group as a whole over the needs and desires of each individual.

1. HOSPITALITY 7. BAHALA NA ATTITUDE 13. FILIPINO TIME

2. RESPECTING TO ELDERS 8. COLONIAL MENTALITY

3. CLOSE FAMILY TIES 9. MANANA HABIT

4. CHEERFIL PERSONALITY 10. NINGAS KUGON

5. SELF-SACRIFICE 11. PRIDE

6. BAYANIHAN 12. CRAB MENTALITY

FACTORS THAT FORMED THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1. FAMILY AND HOME ENVIRONMENT 6. RELIGION

2. SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT 7. ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ENV.

3. LANGUAGE AND CULTURE 8. MASS MEDIA

4. HISTORY 9. COLONIAL MENTALITY

5. THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM 10. LEADERSHIP AND ROLE MODELS

ESTABLISHING A DEMOCRATIC CULTURE

 DEMOCRACY- from the word “demos” for peoples rules.

 DEMOCRATIC CULTURE- is defined as the desire and ability of individuals in population to participate actively.

THE CITIZEN’S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 REGISTER AND VOTE

 UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND OBEY THE LAWS.

 RESPECTS THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.

 THE MATERIAL AND ECONOMIC SELF
THE MATERIAL/ ECONOMIC SELF
WILLIAM JAMES Pertains to the objects, places or even people which have the label "mine". This section focuses on how people
maintain extensions of themselves through material possessions and maintenance of particular lifestyles.
 WANTS - Synonymous with luxuries. People buy them for reasons that do not warrant necessity.
 NEEDS - These are important for survival. Food, clothing, and shelter are basic needs so people purchase them out of
necessity.
 UTILITY concerned with how things serve a practical purpose.
 SIGNIFICANCE concerned with the meaning assigned with how objects become powerful symbols or icons of habit and ritual
which can be quite separate from their primary function.
 ROLAND BARTHES - studied the concept of semiology or the study of signs. Acccording to him it is through objects, aside from
contributing to how individual identities himself/ herself.
The nature of Consumer Behavior
 Consumers buying and consumption behavior for the same product would often vary because of the present situation they
are in
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR - The study of buying units and exchange processes involved in acquiring, consuming and disposing of
goods, services, experiences and ideas.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE OUR DECISION TO BUY:
 Financial constraints
 Availability of items and services
 The influence of family and friends
 SPIRITUAL SELF
 Included to the other empirical selves is the defined as the inner most workings of the person mind,
the behavior ,beliefs and even morals that involves every aspect of the human as a person.
 William James 1890 – He said that the spiritual self “is the most enduring and intimate part of the self”.
MANIFESTATION OF SPIRITUAL SELF
 PERSONAL WILL
 INTELLIGENCE ANDABILITIES
 MORALS
 VALUES
THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION: BELIEF IN SUPERNATURAL BEING AND POWER
 RELIGION- refers to belief and behaviors related to supernatural being and power.
 WORLDVIEW- Is broader than religion
 SPIRITUAL- concern with the sacred in an individual manners
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY
RELIGION- Is an organized system of idea about spiritual reality, or the supernatural
SPIRITUAL - Concern with the sacred, as distinguished from material matters. In contrast to religion,
 THE CONCEPT OF "DUNGAN" SPIRIT OR SOUL
 Dungan by the ilonggos when the person is alive: "Kalag" or "Detached" , "Free" , when he is dead.
RITUAL AND CEREMONIES - Religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to
prescribed order
RITES -Refer to the spoken word used in ritual to convey meaning and value.
CEREMONIES - refers to movements or gestures expressing feelings or beliefs beyond the limitations of speech.
RELIGION, MAGIC AND WITCHCRAFT
RELIGION -is an organized set of beliefs, practices, rituals and symbols.
MAGIC -is the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.
MAGICIAN - the one who performs magic like casting spells /summoning spirit.
SORCERER - translated from the greek word pharmakos, and carriers it with the idea of medicine,magic potions,
drugs, and poison.
WIZARD - is one who taught to be acquainted with the secrets of the non material or unseen world.
NECROMANCER - the one who is seeking the dead. It's a term that includes all forms of attempt to make contact
with departed spirits.
KULAM - -Is the tagalog word for "voodoo" or witchcarft.
MANGKUKULAM - Is the person who perform the black magic or spells using voodoo doll on a victim.
ALBULARIO - or mananambal is a filpino pratitioner of traditional medicine.
MYTHICAL CREATURES OF LOCAL FOLKLORE
Aswang, Manananggal, Kapre, Dwende, Sirena, Syokoy, Enkanto, Sigbin, Tikbalang, TikTik, Tianak and more
 FINDING & CREATING MEANING:3WAYS OF DISCOVERING THE MEANING OF
LIFE.

-Viktor Frankl 1992 (“essence of existence”) He believed that humans were not simply the
product of heredity and environment.
1. By creating a work or doing a deed;
The first pathway is by creating work or doing deed, and it also can be said as the creative
value. According to Lewis, “The creative value encompasses all acts that give something to life
that would not otherwise exist.
2. By experiencing something or encountering someone.
By experiencing something or encountering someone (in love – caring for another person) By
the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering (in courage during difficult times)
3. By the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.
“If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an
eradicable part of life, even as fate and death.
 LEARNING TO BE A BETTER STUDENT
 REGIONS OF THE BRAIN – CEREBRUM, DIANCEPHALON, BRAIN STEM, CEREBELLUM.
 NEUROPLASTICITY – It is essential to remember that learning is a function of memory encoding
and consolidation.
 STAGES OF MEMORY
 ENCODING – Memory can encoded visually (picture), acoustically (sound) or
semantically(meaning).
 STORAGE – There is a difference in the way store STM and LTM. We can store a lot more in our
STM.
 RETRIEVAL – Data become a memory if we can retrieve it. Our STM and LTM retrieval is very
different.
 STM – Store and retrieval sequentially
 LTM – is retrieved by association.
SENSORY MEMORY
 Takes information from the environment through the human senses (sight,
hearing, touch, taste and smell)
WORKING MEMORY
 Or (WM) is a system responsible for retaining and using memories. This is what
you are conscious of, or what you are thinking about at any given moment.
LONG-TERM MEMORY
 can be explicit and implicit. For memories to become long term memories, they
need to be retrieved regularly.
METAGONIC & SELF- REGULATION
 Approaches aim to help pupils/students think about their own learning more
explicitly.
SELF-REGULATED LEARNING CAN BE INTO THREE ESSENTIAL COMPNENTS:
 COGNITION – the mental process involves in knowing, understanding, and
learning.
 METACOGNITION – often defined as “learning to learn”
 MOTIVATION – willingness to engage our metacognitive and cognitive skills.
 SELF-REGULATION
A series of steps – beginning with activating prior knowledge and leading to
independent practice before ending in structured reflection.
 TAKING CHARGE OF ONE'S HEALTH
Taking charge of one's health understanding the self.
 Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can help you keep your weight, blood
sugar level, blood pressure and cholesterol level in a healthy range.
Why is taking care of health important?
 Living a healthy lifestyle can help prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses. Feeling
good about yourself and taking care of your health are important for your self-esteem and
self-image.
How can you take care of your health?
 Take Care of Your Body
 Eat a healthy, balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fruit.
 Keep your immunizations up-to-date.
 Don't use tobacco, vape products, alcohol, or drugs.
 Exercise as often as you can.
 Stay aware of your emotions and moods.
 Get enough sleep.
 Wear proper protection at home, work, or play.
 What are the three keys to good health?
 Being physically active, eating a healthy and balanced diet and getting adequate amounts of
sleep are essential to long-term health and wellbeing.
What are stressors?
 The list of stressors is not only endless; it also varies from person to person. Good stressors can make you
feel both nervous and excited at the same time (the so-called “butterflies in your stomach”). It can make
you worry about being liked or accepted. On the other hand, bad stress can cause you to feel angry,
petrified, or depressed. It can make you feel constantly on the edge.
 What are signs and symptoms of stress?
 Low energy
 Headaches Upset stomach
 Aches, pains, and tense muscles
 Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
 Insomnia Frequent colds and infections
 Loss of sexual desire and/or ability
 Nervousness and shaking, ringing in the ear
 Cold or sweaty hands and feet Excess sweating
 Dry mouth and difficulty in swallowing
 COPING WITH STRESS
 Coping refers to the strategies you use to deal with real or imagined problems to protect
yourself against negative emotions.
 It refers to adaptive strategies you employ in an attempt to reduce stress.
 It helps you control your reactions and continue with your daily activities.
 Coping involves putting in conscious effort to minimize or tolerate stress.
1. Problem – focused coping • It targets on controlling or changing the sources of stress • It
tackles the source in a practical manner • Strategies include employing problem – solving
techniques; time management; getting relevant social support.
2. Emotion – focused coping • It involves lowering, if not eliminating, negative emotional
responses (i.e., embarrassment). • It is an option when the source of stress is external and
beyond the beyond the person’s control. • Strategies include distraction, talking out or
verbalizing your problem, prayer, and meditation.
3. Cognitive coping • It involves a conscious intellectual activity of managing stressful situations
• You use your mind to combat stress – inducing thoughts.
 STRESS AND THE FILIPINOS
The Social and Cultural Dimensions of Stress Excerpt from Stress and the Filipino by
Michael Tan
How to cultivate more self-compassion.
 Talk to yourself like you would talk to your best friend.
 Start a gratitude journal.
 Write yourself a love letter.
 Give yourself a hug.
 Let it go.
 Ask for help
Ways to show compassion
 Speak with kindness.
 Apologize when you've made a mistake.
 Listen carefully and without judgment.
 Encourage other people.
 Offer to help someone with a task.
 Be happy for someone else's success.
 Accept people for who they are.
 Self-care
 Is IMPORTANT to maintain a healthy relationship with YOURSELF. It means doing things to take
care of your mind, body, and soul by engaging in activities that promote well-being and
reduce stress. Doing so enhances your ability to live fully, vibrantly, and effectively.
What are the benefits of self-care?
 Self-care can improve your physical health.
 Self-care can reduce stress and anxiety.
 Self-care can boost your self-esteem.
 Self-care protects your mental health.
 Self-care can lead to better relationships.