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UNDERSTANDING  Envy- feelings of hatred or

dislike at another person’s


THE SELF REVIEWER superiority (Schoeck, 1966)

• A value Conceptualization of
Materialism (Mpoula, 2017) 109
MODULE 5: THE Pursuit of possessions and
materialism’s role in consumption
MATERIAL AND choices eflects materialism as a
value . The importance of acquisition
ECONOMICAL SELF, to reach satisfaction Impossible to
SPIRITUAL SELF, THE achieve happiness (Fournier and
Richins, 1991 p. 411)
POLITICAL SELF AND
• Possessions and happiness
BEING A FILIPINO  Devotion of time and money
(Boven, 2005 pp. 132)
Lesson 1. The Material and  The importance of buying more
Economical Self ( Richins, 2003 p. 1)
 “…joyless material
possessions[….] resulting in
1. The role of Material Objects in
comfort but not pleasure” (as
Self-description and self- cited in Nicolac et al., 2009 p.
perception 189)

• Self- description- It is the way in 2. Implications of possessions or


which you describe or talk about lack of them for self-esteem and
yourself to the world. When you feeling of wellbeing (Vashishtha,
describe yourself to others as fun 2012).
and creative, this is an example of
your self- description • Possession and Self: When
knowingly or unknowingly,
• Self- Perception- An awareness internationally, we regard our
of the characteristics that constitute possessions as parts of ourselves
one’s self; selfknowledge.
• “ A man Self is the sum total of all
• Materialism and personality that he can call his, not only his body
“Materialism is a value that and his psychic powers, but his
represents the individual’s clothes and his house, his wife and
perspective regarding the role his children, his ancestors and
possessions should play in (a friends, his reputation and works, his
person’s) life.” (Richins, 1994 p. 522) lands, and yacht and bank account.
All these things give him the same
• Materialistic traits. emotions. If they wax and prosper,
 Possessiveness- control or he feels triumphant; if they dwindle
ownership of possessions (Blek, and die away, he feels cast down-
1983 p. 514) not necessarily in the same degree
 Non-generosity- unwillingness for each thing, but in much the same
to share (Blek, 1984 p. 291) way for all. “William James (1980).
• Possessions - The extended the 2 precedents: the spiritual
includes external objects, personal aspect (Valerio, n.d.).
possessions, personal, places and
groups possession, body parts, vital • Highlighting the mind-body-spirit
organs… (Which as “me” and also connection, the spiritual self is an
which as “mine”). Between what a ongoing, personal life journey,
men calls me and what he calls mine contextualize by the belief in a
the line is difficult to draw. We feel higher being, culture, relationships,
and act about certain things that are nature, and the discovery of
ours very much as we feel and act meaning in one’s life (Valerio, n.d.).
about ourselves. Our fame, our
children, the work of our hands, may There are several definitions that
be as dear to us as our bodies are have been formulated regarding
(James - 1890). External objects spirituality.
become a viewed as part of self
when we are able to exercise power • As cited by Puchalski (2014),
or control over them, just as we spirituality is the aspect of the self
might control an arm or a leg. The that is associated to an individual’s
greater the control we exercise, the process of seeking and expressing
more closely allied with self the meaning and how he or she is
object should become, (McClelland- connected to the self, to others, to
1951). the moment and to everything else
that composes his/her environment,
• Extended Self - Cannot including the sacred and significant.
differentiate between me and mine.
A product or a thing becomes a part • Beauregard and O’Leary (2007),
of personal well- being and it gets spirituality is any experience that is
attached to emotions, sentiments, thought to bring the experiencer in
later becoming the part of one’s contact with the divine; it is not just
personality. any experience that feels meaningful.
• Sinnott (2002), spirituality is also
• Wealth - essentially means a lot of posited as the individual’s personal
influential, famous and intellectual relation to the sacred or
people around you. It leads to your transcendent, a relation that then
social status and how seriously and informs other relationships and the
respectfully people treat you. This meaning of one’s own life.
leads to self- confidence.
• Myers and his colleagues (2000),
spirituality is the “personal and
Lesson 2. The Spiritual Self private beliefs that transcend the
material aspects of life and give a
1. RELIGIOUS AND RITUAL deep sense of wholeness,
SPIRITUALITY connectedness, and openness to the
• The concept of the “whole person” infinite.”
is usually associated to the idea of
human beings as having physical What do these definitions have in
and psychological aspects. common with regard to spirituality?
However, there is third aspect of
being human that is as important as • Spirituality talks about meaning
and purpose that go beyond the
physical realities of life. Going one grows older, he/she begins to
through development, people are form questions that are rooted in
inevitably programmed to make religious orientations, slowly
realizations about life, and those making realizations and insights until
insights are not always about his/her search for meaning and
observable phenomena or transcendence goes beyond his/her
environmental experiences. religious orientation.

• Spirituality is focused on a person’s DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN


connections to different aspects of RELIGIOSITY AND SPIRITUALITY:
his/her existence: to other people, to (Valerio, n.d.)
nature, and to sacredness and
divinity. In the pursuit of and 1. If religiosity is communal, then
applying meaning to one’s life, spirituality is individual.
relationships are created and
sustained not only with people but 2. In religiosity, beliefs and practices
with other life forms or with a higher are within religious groups, and
being. religious commitment, conservatism,
and skepticism are manifested.
• Spirituality talks about the sacred Spiritual attributes include the need
and transcendent. It is a general for spiritual quest, ecumenical
belief that in this vast universe, there worldviews, compassion, service,
is a force higher than the self. and inner peace.

• However, people are not born with 3. A person can possess spirituality
innate spirituality. It is something even he/she does not subscribe to
acquired as a result of various any religion. Spiritual models are
personal, social, and environmental present everywhere. They function
factors present throughout one’s for respondents as exemplars or
lifetime. In this regard, spirituality is spiritual qualities, such as
related to religiosity, which is often compassion, self-control, or faith.
used interchangeably with the former. Thus, a person can be spiritual
There are, however, distinct without being religious.
differences between the 2.
• What does spirituality bring to
RELIGIOSITY (Valerio, n.d.) one’s life?
 For many people, the search for
- It is defined as the adherence to a sacredness and transcendence
belief system and practices can bring positive consequences
associated with a tradition in which to life. A spiritual person finds
there is agreement about what is contentment and serenity in
believed and practiced. It is a formal his/her life circumstances.
attachment to the set of beliefs, Through spirituality, questions
values, and practices of a particular such as “Am I a good person?”
religious sect. It includes specific and “How can I live my life to the
practices, proscriptions (what fullest?” are answered. Most
should not be done and avoided), importantly, spirituality allows
and participation in a specific one to become resilient a midst
community that shares the same challenges and roadblocks that
beliefs and practices. However, as occur in daily life.
• How is spirituality enhanced? phenomenological and sensorial link,
 The best way of enhancing and the integration of practices
spirituality lies within the self. based on the notion that direct
Constant reflection and contact with the natural world has
meditation of life choices and healing potential.
decisions, developing empathy
and compassion toward other •Affinity with nature highlights the
people, and having faith in a emotional connection with nature,
higher being can enhance anchored on positive affective
spiritual intelligence. It is not experiences and authentic love for
about finding meaning in life, nature.
but rather, how meaning is
applied to life. •Ecopsychology is based on a
transpersonal and philosophical
2. CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE relationship with nature, highlighting
(Valerio, n.d.) beliefs and practices that promote
and enhance ecological, personal,
The Self and The Natural and community sustainability.
Environment
• The spiritual self is not only tied in 4. DISCOVERING LIFE’S
one’s connection with a higher being MEANING
and other people; it is also related to
how people relates to nature. Well-being and Life Satisfaction
• Religiosity aside, a significant
number of people have made a • Human beings are naturally
serious commitment to nature by inclined to assess their life, reflect on
taking care of animals, pledging the choice they have made, evaluate
advocacy for environmental issues, the consequences of such choice,
and practicing daily behaviours that and learn lessons from various
manifest a growing concern for the experiences
world. These are embodied in the
concepts of affinity with nature and • Well-being, being intrinsic in
Eco psychology. nature, is an inner, personal
construct, associated with self-
•Affinity with nature can be defined esteem, and self-understanding. It is
as the ties that bind people and how good one feels about
nature together. It can also mean himself/herself.
nature connectedness, defined as
the extent to which individuals • Life satisfaction is also intrinsic
include nature as part of their identity. but in this case, it is the general
If people feel that they are one with attitude towards life. When well-
nature, then destroying it can mean being and life satisfaction are
self-destruction and vice versa. present, happiness naturally flow.
 This can also refer to the desire
•Ecopsychology shares many to change one’s life, satisfaction
similarities with the concept of with the past, satisfaction with
having affinity with nature. It is the future, and significant other’s
concerned with the fundamental views of one’s life (Diener, et al.,
interconnections between humans 1999). It is also associated with
and the natural world through a quality of life.
1. Effective self-perception. Being
• However, in some cases, able to change their attitude about
happiness is generally regarded as themselves and engage in self-
the emotional result of life monitoring to minimize negative
satisfaction. Happiness can be attitudes.
subjective and temporal while life
satisfaction is more encompassing. 2. Realistic self-esteem and self-
acceptance. Self-valuation and self-
How is well-being and life respect.
satisfaction achieved?
3. Control of behavior. Behavior
Personal factors such as awareness and regulation.
personality (such as openness to
experience and extraversion), 4. True perception of the world.
cognition, physical health, and vigor Harboring healthy perceptions of
have been associated with well- their environment and place within it.
being and life satisfaction.
5. Sustaining relationships and
• Environmental conditions affection. Manifesting empathy and
contribute to individual life sharing of positive emotions with
satisfaction. others.

• Socio-economic status, home 6. Self-direction and productivity.


and social environment, Making sure their goals and
interpersonal relationships, and behaviors are aligned to their core
education also influence one’s well- values and conscious beliefs of
being and life satisfaction. themselves.

• Engaging in forward thinking  Within the context of


(enabling fore though and planning) spirituality, being cognizant of
and becoming community oriented one’s purpose in life, accepting
are only some of the things that can limitations and celebrating
be done to enhance the over-all strengths, enabling love and
quality of life. However, well-being concern for others, and
and life satisfaction are highly engaging in behaviors that
personal and relative. Similar to embody all these will lead one to
personal meanings attributed to and have well-being and life
generated in daily life, how one feels satisfaction.
about him/her and the life he/she
lives is dependent on how he/she Lesson 3. Filipino Identity
defines a meaningful life. Values, Traits, and
Constitutional Rights
What are the characteristics of
people who have a high level of
well-being and life satisfaction? Traits and Characteristics (Tiletile,
Literature has posited a variety of 2014)
qualities associated to such
individuals  Filipinos have one of the best
traits in the world which you
must know. Although they have
been colonized by several They can even make a livelihood
countries, core values from their from garbage dumps. We have
ancestors remained intact and survived many invaders, oppressors
are still applied up to this time. and natural calamities, and have
come out with hope and
determination to carve out our
Hospitable This is one of the most existence anew. Significantly, the
popular qualities of Filipinos. typical Filipino greeting is “Mabuhay!”
Foreigners who have gone to the
Philippines find themselves falling in
love for their hospitality. It’s a Camaraderie (Pakikisama or
different kind of values which already Kapwa- Tao) While this trait is true
existed thousands of years ago. to some extent, it must be noted that
camaraderie is present only among
Respectful This is often observed close friend and relatives.
not just from younger people but
also form older ones. Debt of Gratitude (Utang na Loob)
Debt of gratitude still persists in the
Strong Family Ties and religious Filipino psyche. You give a Filipino a
Filipinos value their families so much favor and he will surely remember it
that they tend to be so intact. even if he already returned the favor.

Generous and Helpful This is Good Traits of a Filipino


observed when one person has Pakikisama/ harmony, Joyous,
nothing and they tend to share what Highly Intelligent, Faithful, Loyal,
they have to them. Bayanihan, Being Optimistic, Self-
Hardworking Filipinos are reliance, Very Competitive, Very
hardworking people to the fact that Brave, Adaptability, Endurance.
they are willing to work several times
to almost whole day just to feed their Bad Traits of a Filipino
families. That’s how Filipinos are. Judgmental, Plastikan/ Backstabbers,
Nepotism/ favoritism, Crab Mentality,
Loving and Caring This is so true! Always late, Tsismoso/Tsismosa,
Filipinos are the sweetest and loving Pakialamero, Paasa, Habit Dirty
people in the world. Minded, Pilosopo, Too much
Strong Family Orientation Filipinos hospitability, Ningas Kugon, Lack of
possess a genuine and deep love for Historical Knowledge, Padrino
family which includes not simply System.
spouse and children; parents and
siblings, but also grandparents, The Constitutional Rights of
aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents Filipino Citizens (Dayang, 2016)
and other ceremonial relatives.
Flexible, Adaptable, and creative • Due Process Is a law that hears
Filipinos have a great capacity to before it condemns. This clause in
adjust and to circumstances and the our fundamental charter means that
surrounding environment, both no person shall be deprived of his
physical and social. life, liberty or property unless due
process is observed.
Ability to Survive Despite grinding
poverty, many Filipinos survive.
• Equal Protection of the Law This interference from the government,
refers to equality in the enjoyment of anybody or group.
similar rights and privileges granted
by law. • Liberty of Adobe and Travel It
refers to the freedom to choose
• Right against Unreasonable where one should reside, while
Searches and Seizures The right liberty of travel means the freedom
of the people to be secure in their to move from one place to another
persons, houses papers, and effects without the interference from
against unreasonable searches and anybody or government.
seizures of whatever nature and for
any purpose should be inviolable • Right to Information on Matters
and that no search warrant shall be of Public Concern The right of the
issued except upon probable cause people shall be recognized. Access
to be determined personally by judge to officials’ records, and to
after examination under oath or documents, and papers pertaining to
affirmation of the complaint and the official acts, transactions or
witnesses he may produce, and decisions, as well as to
particularly describing the place to governmental research data used as
be searched and the persons or basis for policy development. Shall
things to be seized. (Sec.2. Article 3). be afforded the citizens, subject to
• Freedom of Speech No law shall such limitations as may be provided
be passed abridging the freedom of by the law.
speech, of expression, or of press,
or the right of the people to • Right to Association Means the
peaceably assemble and petition the freedom of any Filipino citizen to
government for redress of organize and join any society or
grievances (Sec. 4, Article III). group, as long as its goals and
activities are not contrary to existing
• Clear and Present Danger Rule laws of the land.
Under this test, freedom of speech is
not an absolute right. A government • Right to Just Compensation
can punish a person for speech that Private property shall not be taken
presents a clear and present a for public use without just
danger leading to illegal acts. Thus, compensation.
the right can be curtailed by the
government when it can • Non- Impairment of Contracts No
demonstrate a close connection law impairing the obligations of
between speech and illegal action. contracts shall be passed. The
principal purpose of this is that of
• Right of Assembly It is the right safeguarding the integrity of valid
on the part of the citizens to contractual agreements against
congregate peacefully in a public unwarranted from the States in the
meeting to discuss issues and form of the law.
matters of interest to them.
• Free Access to Courts States that
• Freedom of Religion It refers to free access to the courts and
the right of a person to worship God quasijudicial bodies and adequate
in his own way and practice his legal assistance shall not be denied
religious beliefs without any to any person by reason of poverty.
Some expressions of emotion have
• Rights of a Person Under an automatic effect on others. When
Custodial investigation The right there is a difference in what a person
states that any person under communicates non-verbally versus
investigation for the commission of verbally, the other person will usually
an offense shall have the right to be respond to the nonverbal expression.
informed of his right to remain silent 2. Emotions Organize and
and to have a competent and Motivate Action
independent counsel preferably of Emotions prepare for and motivate
his own choice, if the person cannot action. There is an action urge
afford the services of the counsel, he connected to specific emotions that
must be provided one. And this right is hard-wired. “Hard-wired” means it
sometimes called Miranda rights. is an automatic, built- in part of our
behavior.
• Right of an Accused in Criminal
Cases The rights of the accused in 3. Emotions Can be Self-
criminal cases are outlined in greater Validating
detail in Section 14 of Article III. Emotions can give us information
about a situation or event. They can
signal to us that something is going
MODULE 6: THE on. Sometimes signals about a
situation will be picked
EMOTIONAL AND unconsciously, and then we may an
SOCIAL SELF emotional reaction, but not be sure
what set off the reaction. Think of
some times when emotions are self-
Lesson 1. The Emotional Self validating.

9 Simple Tips to Help You Manage


The Function of Emotions
Your Emotions (Rosenthal, 2011)
 Use your emotions and bodily
 According to Dialect Behavior responses to recognize when
Therapy (DBT), a combines you are stressed.
cognitive and behavioral therapy,  Write down your thoughts and
incorporating methodologies feelings about what is stressing
from various practices including you.
Eastern mindfulness techniques  Control whatever aspect of the
that until we begin to understand stress that you can
the functions of emotions, why  Don’t make mountains out of
we have them, what their effect molehills.
is on others, we cannot expect  Redefine the Problem
ourselves to change them.  Develop behaviors that distract
you from stress.
Major Function of Emotions;  Reach out to a friend or family
member.
1. Emotions Communicate to and  Exercise Regularly
Influence Others. We communicate  Meditate and Relax
our emotions to other with verbal
and nonverbal (facial expressions, Lesson 2. The Social Self
body gestures or postures) language. 1. What is the “Self?”
Self-awareness is a crucial aspect
of human development, often Social Comparison Theory
triggered by a slap on a newborn's suggests that we use social
backside or a sudden breath of air. comparisons to construct our self-
However, the scientific challenge lies concept especially when we have
in consistently discovering how and no other objective standard
when we develop self-recognition, available to us.
a concept that is challenging to
document reliably and validity. For example, if you are walking by
yourself on the beach, you may not
The Scientific Study of Self- even be thinking about your physical
Awareness appearance. But when someone
much more
 A 1977 study of well-known 2- to attractive walks by, the
3-week-old infants imitating uncomplimentary social comparison
a mouth opening, a finger moving, or can deliver a small shock to your
a tongue appearing previously contented self-concept.
between the lips
Upward Social Comparisons - we
 By 1989, the same research relate ourselves to someone who is
team had predicted imitation better than us.
among
infants who were less than 72 hours Downward Social Comparisons -
old (including a This occurs when we compare
42-minute-old infant). ourselves to someone who is worse
than we are.
 Four-month-old infants reliably
display a more distinct sense of The W.I.D.E. guide to social
self by smiling more and looking comparisons identifies four
longer at pictures of others factors related to our subjective
related to looking at pictures of processing of what we see around
themselves us:

 Infants mirror the expressions of • Who. We assess our abilities


adults while becoming automatically by comparing
conscious of themselves as ourselves to similar others.
independent beings. • Interpretation. How we interpret
and take social comparisons
Defining and Measuring the Self- influences our self-concept.
Concept • Direction. The direction of our
social comparison impacts our
 The self-concept is the personal selfconcept (upward & downward
summary of who we social comparisons)
believe we are • Esteem. Protecting our self-esteem
powers our self-concept.
 Social comparison theory
Social Identity Theory
 Social identity theory
The self is composed of two general
 Self-schema theory categories:
 the idea that our self-concept
(1) personal characteristics (serious, forms by observing our
funny, grumpy, tall, or rich), and own behaviors in a social world

(2) social role characteristics (son, Self-Discrepancy Theory: Are We


mother, musician, Catholic, or Trying to Juggle Three Selves?
accountant).
The Actual Self Our first self is our
Self-Schema Theory “actual self,” which is simply who we
think we are, right now. It includes
 A schema in general is a both our good and bad qualities, as
cognitive and memory well as the qualities we think other
structure for organizing the world people see in us. The actual self is
who we are currently, as if someone
 Self-schemas convert the raw took a snapshot of our evolving lives.
material from cultural A meaningful actual self can
social comparisons into the building acknowledge our strengths and
blocks of our admit our weaknesses.
self-concept
The Ideal Self We also have an
 also called “the architecture of “ideal self,” which is the person we
personality.” would like to become in the future. It
includes enhancing or adding
2. How do we Know the Self is positive qualities that we don’t think
Social? are maximized in the actual self, and
it means eliminating or at least
Here are three strands of evidence reducing negative qualities we have
representing that the self is social: right now. Our ideal self is our
(1) Our Self-Perceptions Depend On dreams and goals, the person we
The Behaviors We Display To strive to become. Importantly, our
Others, (2) Self-Discrepancy Theory ideal self is truly based on what we
Defines How Different Components want; even if that means secret
Of The Self Are Influenced By desires we’ve never been able to
Others, And admit to anyone else.
(2) (3) Our Sense Of Self Often
Comprises Other People. The Ought Self In contrast with the
ideal self, our “ought” self is what we
Self-Perception Theory think other people expect of us. The
ought self is based on our perception
 proposes that we get help of 145 what our social world hopes
answering the question, “Who for us, perhaps what our parents
am I?” by making implications about want us to do or be, what our friends
ourselves based on believe would be good for us, or
observing our own behaviors. even what our culture tells us is
proper and correct. The ought self
 theory suggests that we form our may influence how we dress, for
self-concept in very example, because we know what is
similar ways. expected of us. Interestingly, our
ought self might change based on
whom our reference is.
There are specific tactics
Self-Expansion Theory associated with impression
management.
 It is the idea that all of us have a
basic motivation to grow, Ingratiation: Other-Enhancements
improve, and enhance our self- and Opinion Conformity
concept This short-term impression
management tactic is intended to
 We all want to extent our increase liking and attraction by
greatest potential. complimenting the other person and
seeming to admire him or her. One
 specifically recommends that practice of ingratiation is other-
one common way we attempt to enhancement, praising the
“expand” our self-concept is interviewer. A distinction with the
through close social same goal is opinion conformity,
relationships. endorsing the interviewer’s
perceived attitudes or values.
 If we psychologically pledge with
others and feel that these Self-Promotion: Self-
individuals now become part of Enhancements and Entitlements
who we are, then their strengths, Self-promotion is another short-term
resources, knowledge, and skills impression management tactic that
can help us grow and have new customs positive statements about
opportunities. the self to convey competence. One
form of self-promotion is self-
Inclusion of the Other in the Self enhancements; that’s when you
(IOS) Scale, which presents people suggest that your actual
with a series of seven Venn accomplishments are more
diagrams with increasing overlap significant than they first appear to
between “self” and “other”. It has be. Another common form of self-
also been used to measure how 146 promotion is entitlements; that’s
much people see them as cognitively when you take praise for positive
including their social groups on a events even if you had nothing to do
larger scale. with them. These may be actual
short-term tactics, but they can
backfire. For example, taking credit
for someone else’s work may turn a
friend into a long-term enemy and
3. Why Do We Present Different loss your reputation with important
Selves In Different Situations? people.
People perform in slightly different
ways for family, friends, peers, Conspicuous Consumption
supervisors, professors, and store Depending on the type of job, getting
clerks. This tendency is called self- an advantage during a job interview
presentation theory or impression is a short-term tactic. But still there
management. These are ways that are impression management
we correct the self to gain social strategies with long-term goals.
influence by the impressions that we Others will try to influence the
make on others. impression they sort on others by
spending money on flashy or high-
status items, such as expensive competitive environment, they
homes, cars, clothes, and jewelry. compete. High self-monitors are
Publicly displaying the use of people who look around and assess
expensive products in an effort to their environment, then adjust their
impress others is called conspicuous self-presentation to get whatever
consumption. they want out of that particular
situation.
Brain Damage Can Limit Self-
Presentation Ability 4. Is the Truth Always the Self’s
Some people with advanced cases Friend?
of Alzheimer’s disease cannot pass
the mirror self-recognition test. They Optimal Margin Theory: Positive
look into the mirror and have no idea Illusions Can Be Beneficial
who is looking back at them
Alzheimer’s disease is not the only recommends a slight to moderate
tragic but suitable clue telling us how range of healthy distortions of reality.
the self and the brain are connected. A little bit of self-deception can make
us feel good but too much alteration
Self-Monitoring: Social of reality causes problems.
Chameleons Instead of the “cold, hard truth,” we
Self-monitoring recommends often wish to trust positive illusions,
awareness that we have a beliefs that depart from reality in
complicated self that needs ways that influence us to remain
monitoring. Some people outdo at optimistic.
being “social chameleons” that can
blend into almost any environment. We use three types of self-
Others just don’t seem to care. deceptions that help our own
There are benefits and drawbacks to positive mental health.
both approaches. (1) adhere to the belief we can
control our own lives more than we
• Low Self-Monitors. Some people can (control),
turn the same way no matter where (2) rely on unrealistically optimistic
they are or who is around them— view of the future (optimism), and
they are always shy, for example, or (3) determine meaning in critical life
always sarcastic. People who seem events, such as bereavement
to have little change in their (meaning).
personality or self-presentation
across time and situations are Self-Serving Cognitive Biases
measured low in self-monitoring. Cognitive distortions that improve
They pay little attention to how they our self-concept by making us
“come across” to other people and observe that we’re a little better than
act consistently no matter where we are, objectively, are called self-
they are. serving cognitive biases.
• High Self-Monitors. However, Let’s look at three specific
other people are high in self examples of how we alter reality,
monitoring, and their behavior is in just a little, to keep these self-
contrast: They change how they act serving views.
all the time, liable on the situation.
For example, cooperative 1. Biased Views of Our Own Traits
environment, they cooperate; in a We can confess fears, such as
speaking in front of a group, but we defines that self-compassion as self-
express ourselves that everyone esteem but without the “the self-
else shares our anxieties and, thus, enhancing illusions”. Self-esteem is
these problems are not “fatal flaws.” also distinct from narcissism, an
We ease ourselves by simply extreme self-love based on
enclosing our “best” and “worst” unwarranted belief in one’s
qualities in this way that makes us specialness virtual to others.
feel just a little better. Narcissism is mostly arrogance.
2. Biased Views of Our Own Self-esteem emphases on whether
Behaviors Another self-serving we respect ourselves as a person of
cognitive bias arises when we study worth; narcissism focuses on
causes for our own successes and whether we regard ourselves as
failures. Like stating negative traits more worthy than others. Self-
we possess, we can disclose that esteem is also different from self-
we’ve done bad things or failed at efficacy, the degree to which you
something but we often defend our trust that you are able of completing
view of the self by coming up with an a specific task or attaining a
excuse or justification for bad particular goal. Self-efficacy appears
behaviors. to be a good thing, at least most of
3. Biased Views of Feedback the time. Self-efficacy contributes to
About the Self A third self-serving self-esteem; benefits people cope
cognitive bias is the tendency for with failure in the workplace, and
people to view feedback about encourage resilience in the face of
themselves in a twisted manner. chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Many people appreciate taking little Self-esteem is not self-compassion,
quizzes about themselves on narcissism, or self-efficacy. It’s our
websites like Facebook, for example. estimation of our own worth, based
When you like the result, you might on our assessment of our self-
think, “Hey that was a great quiz! But concept.
if you don’t like the outcome, it’s
easy for you to understand how the Two Strategies for Measuring
questions were flawed. Self-Esteem Because self-esteem is
a complex, abstract, and subjective
4. What is Self-Esteem and How construct, it’s important to
Can We Measure It? understand about how researchers
operationalize it in scientific studies.
Defining Self-Esteem Self-esteem There are two general strategies for
is our subjective, personal evaluation measuring self-esteem: explicit,
of our self-concept. Earlier, we direct measures and implicit, indirect
learned that our self-concept is our measures.
perception of qualities, relationships,
beliefs, and opinions. When we 1. Measuring Explicit Self-Esteem
assess that self-concept and choose (Directly) Researchers frequently
that it is good, bad, worthwhile, use this technique, called reverse
worthless, or any other type of scoring, to inspire careful reading of
judgment, that’s self-esteem. each item on a scale; it stops people
from simply writing the same
For example, self-esteem is not the response to every question without
same thing as self-compassion, an really reading them. Read the
orientation to maintain for oneself. It
scoring instructions to confirm you the concept of self-
come up with the correct result. creation/presentation.
2. Measuring Implicit Self-Esteem
(Indirectly) Sometimes people are 1. What is a selective Self-
neither willing nor able to give Presentation? (Fleming, 2015) The
researchers a precise report. A process of creating a digital artefact
problem called social desirability which is carefully chosen
(one type of impression representation or expression of
management) may inspire one’s real world self. It is use to
inaccurate answering to topics that, control the impressions of others
if answered honestly, might trigger social interaction.
an uncomfortable response. For
example, social desirability might Types of Self-presentation
reassure dishonest boost to • Authentic - Goal is to create an
selfreport of taboo or personal image consistent with the way we
sexual behavior, family violence, or view ourselves.
out of favor political loyalties. When • Ideal - Goal is to establish an
this is the case, indirect or implicit image consistent with what we wish
methodologies may yield more were.
reliable, valid responses than direct, • Tactical - Goal is to establish a
explicit, self-report lines to collecting public image consistent with what
data. the others want or expect us to be.
3. Collective Self-Esteem
Collective self-esteem is our Impression Management
assessment of the value of the social A person influencing another’s
groups in which we are members. It person interpretation place or thing
is defined as “that aspect of an by controlling the information they
individual’s self-concept which receive. In tactical self-
comes from his knowledge of his presentation, a person cares only
membership in a social group (or about the impact of the image they
groups) together with the value and present to others, not about whether
emotional significance attached to that image is consistent with the real
that membership”. You have or ideal self.
collective self-esteem for the • People who engage in tactical self-
reputation of your college or presentation usually have an ulterior
university motive.
• They often want others to view
them positively to get rewards.
MODULE 7 THE
DIGITAL SELF Characteristics of Impression
Management
• Explains why our behavior can
Lesson 1. Selective Self change if we notice that we are
being watched or observed.
presentation and • It can change depending on who
Impression Management we are interacting with or what
Thompson’s (1995), Giddens’ (1991), personal information we need to be
and Hall’s (1992, 1996) concepts of providing to present ourselves in a
self-formation, self-identity, and way that will be acceptable to others.
identification respectively proposed
Thus, we can select only what we composed of electronic-stored in a
want to present and impress to digital storage device in location we
others, what we view beneficial to will never know. Complicate our
our personality, especially when we thinking about organizations.
create a digital self. We carefully b. Re-embodiment This is the
choose representation or expression “breakout if the visual” online,
of one’s real world to the online leading to a new “construction” and
world. definition of self in the virtual world
where online games, webpages,
Young people create/recreate photo, and video sharing sites are
their self-identity by means of possible. We are disembodied and
“impression management” re-embodied as avatars, sharing
(Gofman, 1959) identity with the chosen avatar
virtually. We may employ
2. Online Identity and “Self” in anonymous and pseudonymous
Cyberspace: (I, Me, Myself, and identities online and enact wild
My User ID Online Identity) fantasy identities in online games
Online Identity (Internet Society, n.d.) and virtual worlds.
The sum of your characteristics and c. Sharing Uploading, downloading
interactions. Sometimes the different and sharing, etc. provides free
representation of you are referred to access of information through web
as partial identities. surfing. In Facebook, social media
friends know more than the
How do you build your online immediate families about our daily
identity? activities, connection and thoughts.
Every website that you interact with Diaries that were once private or
what will collect its own version of shared only with close friends are
who you are, based on the now posted as blogs for everyone to
information that you have shared. read.
Thus, it is up to you on how you will d. Co-Construction of Self Digital
represent yourself as closely as who involvement in social in nature,
you are and what you do in a real life social interactions which help in
or selectively, to create a constructing our individual and joint
representation far from your real life. extended sense of self as the new
version of Cooley’s “Looking Glass
3. Impact of Online Interactions of Self Theory” known as the
Self (Margalit, 2018) When collaborative self. Friends also help
interacting with people, we to co-construct and reaffirm each
automatically make inferences about other’s sense of self through their
them without even consciously posting, tagging and comments.
aware of it. e. Distributed Memory The identity
is not to be found in behavior nor in
4. Extended Self in a Digital World the reactions of others, but in the
- Russel W. Berk (2013) capacity to keep a particular
narrative going, done by continually
a. Dematerialization Things are integrating events in the outside
disappearing before our eyes- our world into our ongoing story about
information, communications, photos, the self. Photos posted in the online
videos, music, messages, words, are world may not be accurate in giving
now largely invisible and immaterial- memories of the past since the
photos, blogs, etc. may just be when others may reshare with
selected representation of happy unintended audiences.
times, hence may not be sufficient to
tell our stories. Shared Digital Possessions and
Aggregate Self (Belk, 2013)
5. Boundaries of the Online Self
Setting boundaries to your Online When things are jointly owned, they
Self (Ben-Jospeh, 2018) are also likely to be more relevant to
• Stick to safer sites. the aggregate level of self-
• Guard your passwords encompassing those with whom they
• Be choosy about your online are shared. In the digital realm,
friends. however, we are part of imagined
• Remember that anything you put communities whose members may
online or post on a site is there not be personally known aside from
forever, even if you try to delete it. their pseudonyms and online
• Limit what you share contributions. A case in point is file
• Don’t be mean or embarrass other sharers who jointly assemble and
people online share ownership of a set of musical
files. This need not be so-called
Lesson 2. Self Revelation pirated music like that of Napster
 The sharing of information about and its successors. It could be a
self through online facilitated by group of friends who swap music in
the disinhibiting and person. It could also be a channel or
confessional effects means that group within YouTube or Vimeo.
it is now far easier to present Both the act of sharing and the
ourselves in ways that would sense of joint possession enhance
have been awkward at best in the sense of imagined community
pre-digital times. and aggregate extended self in a
 Madden and Smith report that digital age.
57% of American adults admit Moreover, the acts of sharing either
online “ego searching” for the files or information about the
information about themselves subject matter (e.g., a musical or film
more than search for information genre) on forums, in blogs, or via
about past (46%) or present ratings and comments on sites like
(38%) friends. Amazon and iTunes, create feelings
of group identity. Joint identity is also
Loss of Control (Belk, 2013) found in open-source software
collaborations like Linux. Thus, the
Sharing confidences with friends is possibilities of digital sharing online
not new, but the potential audience foster feelings of community and
is now far broader. As some have aggregate sense of self, even with
learned the hard way, appearing others we would not recognize in
literally or figuratively naked before person.
the world can come back to haunt us
in school admissions, hiring, Shared Sense of (Cyber) Space
promotions, and friendships. What (Belk, 2013)
was once private is now more likely
to be public. While we may exercise The sense of aggregate self can also
self-control, it is far harder to control extend to a shared sense of space
all our digital self-representations online. The overlap between digital
aggregate extended self among in reality sexuality is often
those seeking access rather than experienced as fluid.
ownership is apparent when we
consider cyberspace as a public Performing Gender Online
place that is occupied by a partially (Morgenroth and Ryan, 2018)
rotating set of participants. Although
there is ownership of property within Theorist Judith Butler (1990)
Second Life and retail web sites like conceptualized gender as a
Amazon.com have owners, on these performance. She explained that
sites there is a sense that these are popular understandings of gender
public access spaces. They invite and sexuality came to be through
interaction, comments, ratings, and discourse and social processes. She
other forms of Web 2.0 participation argued that gender was performative,
by anyone. Individuals may feel in that it is produced through millions
proprietary toward their blogs, web of individual actions, rather than
sites, 167 and social media spaces something that comes naturally to
and may even own a domain name, men and women.
but in most of these cases shared
access is sought more than Setting Boundaries to Your Online
ownership. The whole point of Web Self: Smart Sharing The following
2.0 and most digital devices is to guidelines will help you share
facilitate access and communication. information online in a smart way
The Internet and many digital that will protect yourself and not
devices free us from the constraints harm others. Before posting or
of time and place and create other, sharing anything online, consider the
virtual, times and places. Kozinets following: • Is this post/story
and Kedzior call this process of necessary? • Is there a real benefit
virtual place creation “re-worlding,” to this post? Is it funny, warm-
meaning taking us out of the hearted, teachable- or am I just
constraints of our physical space making noise online without purpose?
and providing us with new abilities: • Have we (as a family or
“The ability to remodel the virtual parent/child) resolved this issue? An
environment extends the identity issue that is still being worked out at
project far beyond the body. home, or one that is either
vulnerable or highly emotional,
Gender and Sexuality Online should not be made public. • Is it
According to Marwick (2013), while appropriate? Does it stay within the
the terms “sex,” “gender,” and boundaries of our family values? •
“sexuality” are often thought of as Will this seem as funny in 5, 10, or
synonymous, they are actually quite 15 years? Or is this post better
distinct. The differences between the suited for sharing with a small group
common understandings of these of family members? Or maybe not at
terms and how researchers think all? Here are additional for proper
about them yield key insights about sharing of information and ethical
the social functioning of gender. use of the Internet according to New
Sexuality is an individual expression (2014): • Stick to safer sites. • Guard
and understanding of desire. While your passwords. • Limit what you
like gender, this is often viewed as share. • Remember that anything
binary (homosexual or heterosexual), you put online or post on a site is
there forever, even if you try to
delete it. • Do not be mean or along the way, the more your brain
embarrass other people online. • will change and the more “plastic” it
Always tell if you see strange or bad will be.
behavior online. • Be choosy about
your online friends. • Be patient. Manage your own learning with
the Zimmerman’s Model
MODULE 8 (Zimmerman, n.d.)
Plan it, Practice it, evaluate it
MANAGING AND
CARING FOR THE Within each phase, there are
multiple opportunities for students to
SELF: A BETTER ME gather and effectively use feedback
AND MY FUTURE to improve their performance. During
the planning phase, students learn
GOALS to more accurately assess their
academic situation and choose
Lesson 1. Learning to be strategies that best address a
specific learning challenge. They
a Better Student also set achievable short- and long-
What Happens To Your Brain term goals. During the practice
During Learning? phase, learners implement the
According to to Dr. Pascale selected strategies and make
Michelon (2008) it was believed that ongoing adjustments to their plan as
as we aged, the connections in the they self-monitor their progress. Last,
brain became fixed, and then simply during the evaluation phase,
faded. Research has shown that the students evaluate the effectiveness
brain never stops changing through of each strategy in helping them
learning. Learning a new skill at any achieve their goals. Feedback from
age has a specific and definite the evaluation phase is then applied
impact on your brain that scientists to the start of the next cycle of
now know a lot about. After you learning.
learn something new, your brain is
never the same again. Each and
every time we learn something new Lesson 2. Goal Setting
our brain forms new connections and Goal Setting vs. Mind Setting
neurons and makes existing neural Personal Goal Setting (Mindtools,
pathways stronger or weaker. Some n.d.) Goal setting is a powerful
experts call these changes process for thinking about your ideal
“plasticity” in the brain. “Dendrites future, and for motivating yourself to
in your neurons get signals from turn your vision of this future into
other dendrites, and the signals reality. The process of setting goals
travel along the axon, which helps you choose where you want to
connects them to other neurons and go in life. By knowing precisely what
dendrites. These signals travel fast, you want to achieve, you know
often in only fractions of a second, where you have to concentrate your
and many of the signals are sent efforts. You'll also quickly spot the
without the brain being aware of the distractions that can, so easily, lead
action”. Your brain will continue you astray.
changing right up until the end of
your life, and the more you learn
A useful way of making goals more
powerful is to use the SMART goals. Individuals with a fixed mindset
SMART usually stands for: believe that their qualities (such as
S – Specific (or Significant). M – intelligence and other personality
Measurable (or Meaningful). A – traits) are “set in stone”– how God
Attainable (or Action-Oriented). R – made you is basically who you are.
Relevant (or Rewarding). T – Time- One’s traits are fixed — not
bound (or Trackable) something that can be practiced or
Goal setting is an important method developed. Individuals with a growth
for: mindset, on the other hand, believe
1. Deciding what you want to that effort or training can change
achieve in your life. one’s qualities and traits.
2. Separating what's important from
what's irrelevant, or a distraction. Developing A Growth Mindset
3. Motivating you. (Zimmerman, 2016)
4. Building your self-confidence, 1. Create a New Compelling Belief
based on successful achievement of Create a new compelling belief by
goals. believing your talents and skills can
be honed by applying oneself. It is
Set your lifetime goals first. Then, your consistent effort and enjoyment
set a five-year plan of smaller goals of one's chosen path in life that
that you need to complete if you are illuminates the road to mastery.
to reach your lifetime plan. Keep the 2. View Failure in a Different Light
process going by regularly reviewing Failure is the time to apply extra
and updating your goals. And effort to significantly improve your
remember to take time to enjoy the results. Failure is what you do and
satisfaction of achieving your goals understanding what you can learn
when you do so. from it. Remember, it is not who you
are as a human being.
How does mindset affect learning? 3. Sky Rocket Your Self-
Awareness Become acutely aware
Mindset Theory – Fixed Vs. of your many gifts and talents. Fully
Growth Mindset from Dweck comprehend your key strengths and
Theory weaknesses. Ask others for
feedback such as your closest
“Mindset” refers to implicit theories friends, family members, boss and
that individuals hold regarding the colleagues as they can offer slightly
nature of intelligent behavior; to the different views and give you an
degree that individuals attribute overall perspective on what to focus
intelligence to fixed traits, they hold a on and areas for development.
“fixed” theory of intelligence (that is, 4. Become a Curious Learner Act
a fixed mindset), and to the degree like a child does on a daily basis, live
that they attribute intelligence to in wonderment and discover the
learning, effort, training, and practice, beauty of life. Decide today, to
they hold a “growth” theory of continually focus on learning and
intelligence (that is, a growth growing. Begin by asking more
mindset). The terms fixed and questions and being more curious
growth mindset replaced the earlier about everyone you meet, the
terms for entity and incremental journey they have been on and what
theories of intelligence. they can teach you.
5. Challenges Are Your New Best excitement for others unwittingly
Friend As in life, it is the never attracts and returns success back to
ending mountain ranges like the them. For one can never receive
highest mountain in the world, what they resent. The bottom line is
Mauna Kea. When one chooses to like all wonderful things in life it takes
climb the mountain, they must time just as day moves into night,
overcome the insurmountable the moon shines bright and the stars
challenges in order to get to the top. light up the sky.
They choose to risk their life, help
others in their journey, and become Lesson 3. Matacognition
indestructible in body and mind.
Those with a growth mindset excel (Millis, 2016)
with challenges. Challenges propel Metacognition, simplistically
them forward towards their goals, it defined, can be described as
is the fuel that inevitably helps them “cognition about cognition” or
rise to the top. It is all about learning “thinking about thinking” (Flavell,
and taking positive action time and Miller & Miller, 2002, p. 175; Shamir,
time again. No matter how far they Metvarech, & Gida, 2009, p. 47;
fall, they continue to get back up to Veeman, Van Hout-Wolters, &
begin playing the game once more. Afflerbach, 2006, p. 5).
6. Love Takes You to The Top
Those with a growth mindset whom Basically, metacognition must be
naturally love what they do, rise to viewed as an ongoing process that
the top more organically. With some involves reflection and action.
of them having no aspirations to go Metacognitive thinkers change both
there, it is purely a spin-off from their understandings and their
doing what they absolutely love and strategies. The clearest definitions of
continuing to do so with all of their metacognition emphasize its nature
heart and soul even when faced with as a process or cycle.
adversity and challenges.
7. Tenacity That Ignites The Several authors (Nilson, 2013, p. 9;
tenacity forms part of their character Schraw, 2001; & Zimmerman, 1998;
and is an essential ingredient in 2000; 2002) narrow this process
becoming unstoppable. Giving up is down to three ongoing stages.
not part of their vocabulary, they
have a goal and won't stop until they The first stage, pre-planning,
arrive. Their tenacity is an essential emphasizes the need for reflection
ingredient to one's success, without on both one’s own thinking and the
it one will falter, slip and inevitably task at hand, including reflection on
fall to the lowest levels. This is what past strategies that might have
separates a novice from a champion. succeeded or failed.
8. Massively Inspired By Others Following this self-reflection, during
Those with a growth mindset love to planning, metacognitive thinkers
see others reach the echelons of develop and implement—put into
success. This add more fuel to their action—a plan.
blazing fire that is alight within and In the third and final stage—post-
helps them continue their journey. planning adjustments/revisions—
Watching others succeed liberates subsequent analysis following
their soul as to the possibilities of life. implementation leads to
Their genuine happiness and modifications, revised decisions, and
new future plans. In an excellent sequential processes that one uses
summary, Wirth states that to control cognitive activities, and to
“metacognition requires students ensure that a cognitive goal (eg:-
both to understand how they are understanding a text) has been met.
learning and to develop the ability to These processes help to regulate
make plans, to monitor progress and and oversee learning, and consist of
to make adjustments” (as cited in planning and monitoring cognitive
Jaschik, 2011, p. 2). activities, as well as checking the
outcomes of those activities. Thus,
Components of Metacognition metacognitive regulation is the
(Hendrick, 2014) regulation of cognition and learning
Metacognition is often simply defined experiences through a set of
as, “thinking about thinking”. In activities that help people control
actuality, defining metacognition is their learning.
not that simple. 180 Metacognition is
classified into 3 components: Metacognitive Experiences
Metacognition, or the ability to
Metacognitive Knowledge or control one’s cognitive processes
Metacognitive Awareness (self regulation) has been linked to
It is what individuals know about intelligence (Borokowski et al., 1987,
themselves and others as cognitive Brown, 1987, Sternberg, 1984,
processes, knowledge that can be 1986). Sternberg refers to these
used to control cognitive processes. executive processes as
Flavell further divides. “Metacomponents in his triarchic
theory of control, other cognitive
Metacognitive Knowledge into 3 components as well as receive feed
categories: back from these components.
• Knowledge of Person variables According to Sternberg,
refers to general knowledge about Metacomponents are responsible for
how human beings learn and “figuring out how to do a particular
process information, as well as task or set of tasks, and then making
individual’s knowledge of one’s own sure that the task or set of tasks are
learning processes. done correctly” (Sternberg, 1986).
• Knowledge of Task variables These executive processes involve
include knowledge about the nature planning, evaluating, monitoring and
of the task as well as the type of problem solving activities. Sternberg
processing demands that it will place maintains that the ability to
upon the individual. appropriately allocate cognitive
• Knowledge of Strategy variables resources, such as deciding how
include knowledge about both and when a given task should be
cognitive and metacognitive accomplished is central to
strategies, as well as conditional intelligence.
knowledge about when and where it
is appropriate to use such strategies. Flavell (1979) offered a model of
Metacognition with four components.
Metacognitive Regulation • Metacognitive knowledge
Metacognitive Experiences involve • Metacognitive experience
the use of Metacognitive Strategies • Goals (tasks)
or Metacognitive Regulation (Brown, • Actions (strategies)
1987). Metacognitive strategies are
Metacognitive Knowledge refers to progress as an individual learns and
the personal perspectives of one’s the second makes changes and
own learning abilities as well as adopts various strategies if a person
others. Metacognitive knowledge believes that they are not doing well
refers to one’s stored world (Nelson and Narens, 1994; Ridley, et
knowledge that “has to do people as al. ,1992).
cognitive creatures and with their
diverse cognitive tasks, goals, Metcognitive skills are:
actions and experiences. It consists • Task Analysis
of one’s knowledge or beliefs about • Planning
three general factors: his or her own • Monitoring
nature or nature of another as a • Checking or evaluation
cognitive processor, a task, its • Recapitulation
demands, and how those demands
can be met under varying conditions;
and strategies for accomplishing the
task (cognitive strategies that are
involved to make progress toward
goals and metacognitive strategies
that are invoked to monitor the
progress of cognitive strategies).
Metacognitive knowledge may
influence the course of cognitive
enterprises through a deliberate and
conscious memory search 182 or
through unconscious and automatic
cognitive processes. Metacognitive
knowledge may lead to a wide
variety of Metacognitive experience,
which Flavell describes a conscious
cognitive affective experience that
accompany and pertain to an
intellectual enterprise.

• Metacognitive experience is the


conscious consideration of
intellectual experiences that
accompany any success or failure in
learning.
• Metacognitive goals or tasks of
metacognition are the actual
objectives of cognitive endeavour,
such as reading and comprehension
of a passage.
• Metacognitive actions or
strategies refer to the utilization of
specific techniques that may assist
in understanding.
• Metamemory involves two
processes, the first process monitors

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