GE1 : Understanding the Self

Week 7 Module

Your Let’s Check, Let’s Analyze and Nutshell will be in Quipper.

What I attached in the study guide is for your reference only.

_____________________________________________________

BIG PICTURE
Week 7: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit you are
expected to:
a) Analyze different forces and institutions that impact the development of
various aspects of the self and identity.

Metalanguage :

Unpacking the Self –The self in you which deals with your bo. This word
'unpack' has become quite fashionable in the past thirty years, meaning, explain
yourself; what you said or wrote is full of ambiguity and short on detail.
Regarding the concept of the self, to unpack that, it can only mean discovering
that we have many, not just one.
Physical Self - refers to the body, this marvelous container and complex, finely
tuned, machine with which we interface with our environment and fellow beings.
The Physical Self is the concrete dimension, the tangible aspect of the person
that can be directly observed and examined (Sanjay Singh, India)
https://www.all-about-psychology.com/the-concept-of-physical-self-in-
psychology.html
Material/Economic Self - According to William James, pertains to the objects,
places, or even people which have the label “mine”. Such possessions are
viewed as extensions of individuals' identities. For instance, your clothes reflect
certain aspects of your personality and you designate them as “my wardrobe”.
 Digital Self - is the persona you use when you're online. Some people maintain
one or more online identifies that are distinct from their “real world” selves;
others have a single online self that's more or less the same as the one they
inhabit in the real world. https://evonomie.net/digital-identity/your-digital-self-
how-to-present-yourself-online/
Spiritual Self - The third category in James's scheme is the spiritual self. 2 The
spiritual self is our inner self or our psychological self. It is comprised of our self-
perceived abilities, attitudes, emotions, interests, values, motives, opinions,
traits, and wishes. Many aspects of the spiritual self are evaluative.
https://carleyschweet.com/spiritual-self-care/

Essential Knowledge :

1. UNPACKING THE SELF :

1.1. The Physical Self - refers to the body, this
marvelous container and complex, finely tuned,
machine with which we interface with our
environment and fellow beings. The Physical Self
is the concrete dimension, the tangible aspect of
the person that can be directly observed and
examined (Sanjay Singh, India).
1.1.1. According to William James, American
philosopher and psychologist, the physical
self/body is an initial source of sensation and necessary for the origin
and maintenance of personality.
1.1.2. In Psychoanalytical school, Sigmund Freud’s construction of self
and personality makes the physical body the core of human
experience.
1.1.3. What is beauty? How beauty is
appreciated varies through time,
culture, and the various perceptions
about the world. Beauty is defined in
so many ways, but in its simplest sense, beauty can be described as
happiness. Every person is unique. Our individual experiences and
memories tie to form our versions of beauty. We have different sizes,
shapes, colors, heritages and roles. Hence, our body is simply a shell
 that allows us to radiate our experiences where beauty gets to shine
through. No culture, company, or concept could ever truly define
beauty. As what Helen Keller said, “The best and most beautiful
things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be
felt with the heart.”
1.1.4. The two most debated views about beauty are:
Beauty is objective.
Beauty is subjective.
1.1.5. Before the 18th century, most Western philosophical views on beauty
treated it as an objective quality. For example:
- St. Augustine asked whether things were beautiful because it gave
delight, or whether it gave delight because it was beautiful. He
believed it to be the latter.
- Plato connected beauty as a response to love and desire. He
asserted that beauty exists in the realm of forms, and that objects are
found beautiful because they are a reflection of the idea of beauty
that already exist in the realm of forms.
- Aristotle asserted that the chief forms of beauty are order,
symmetry, and definiteness that can be demonstrated by
mathematical sciences.
1.1.6. By the eighteenth century, however, beauty was associated with
pleasure as a personal preference. Some philosophers who hold this
view are:
- For David Hume, “Beauty is no quality in things themselves. It exists
merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind
perceives a different beauty. One person may even perceive
deformity, where another is sensible of beauty; and every individual
ought to acquiesce in his own sentiment, without pretending to
regulate those of others” (Hume, 1757, 136)
- For Immanuel Kant, “The judgement of taste is therefore not a
judgement of cognition and is consequently not logical but
aesthetical, by which we understand that whose determining ground
can be no other than subjective” (Kant 1790, section 1).
- For Francis Hutcheson, “The perception of beauty does not depend
on the external sense of sight; however, the internal sense of beauty
operates as an internal or reflex sense. The same is the case with
hearing; hearing music does not necessarily give the perception of
harmony as it is distinct from the hearing” (Inquiry I. I.X.).9
1.1.7. The Psychology of Beauty – Research found that person who is
perceived as attractive makes more money than a person of below-
average looks. In politics, voters who are not actively engaged in
social and political issues choose candidates based on “looks” 90%
of the time. These study result can be attributed to a cognitive bias
called the “halo effect”. A cognitive bias is an error in reasoning,
evaluating, remembering, or any other mental process that is often a
result of holding on to one’s preferences and beliefs regardless of
 contrary information. The halo effect also know as the physical
attractiveness stereotype and the “what is beautiful is good principle”
refers to the tendency of people to rate attractive individuals more
favorably for their personality traits or characteristics as compared to
those who are less attractive.
1.1.8. Culture has a significant impact on how a person feels about himself
or herself, as well as his or her body image. Cultural traditions can
either be a positive or negative influence on body image and on self-
esteem. Body image is generally defined as how one thinks and feels
toward one’s body (Yam, 2013; Cash & Smolak, 2011).
1.1.9. Self-esteem was coined by William James in 1800. Self-esteem
in terms of an attitude concerning one’s worth as a person
(Rosenberg, 1965). Self-esteem is about how you value yourself and
how you feel others value you.
- Self-esteem is important because it can affect your mental health as
well as how you behave.
- A self-image problem happens when your looks do not match your
beauty stabdards. For example, if you believe that being thin is sexy
and attractive, yet you are not thin (in fact you are on the heavier
side) then you might believe you are unattractive (even though there
are others who find you attractive). The problem here is with your
own beauty standards and not with your looks. To have a positive
self-image and higher self-esteem you must fix your false belief about
physical attractiveness first.
2. The Material Self - According to William
James, pertains to the objects, places, or even
people which have the label “mine”. Such
possessions are viewed as extensions of
individuals' identities. For instance, your
clothes reflect certain aspects of your
personality and you designate them as “my
wardrobe”.
2.1. In this age of digital technology, everything in our society is based upon
the idea that consumption should be as easy as possible. We say, “Money
makes the world go round.” We take instantaneous loans using our
cellphones, and not many minutes of our lives pass by without some kind of
coomercial message barraging our consciousness. These ads carry the
message that we become happy by buying, buying, buying. Often we even
consume just for the sake of consuming. Shopping has become leisure and
a way to pass time. Our homes and our lives are more than full of things,
stuff, gadgets, widgets, devices, etcetera. Consequently, our consumption
also contributes to our garbage problems, pollution and the depletion of our
natural resources.
2.2. Comparing ourselves with others (wanting to be like them or be in their
position) will lead us to constantly feeling dissatisfied and never happy with
what we have. This is also what consumerism wants because it makes
 people active consumers on a regular basis. Thus, consumerism not only
affects our behavior; it also affects our thinking process.
2.3. The problem with consumerism :
a. It is intrusive
b. It is manipulative
c. It cannot provide many of the things that are important to us.
d. It restricts our choice and lives
e. It affects our worldviews and chracters
f. It is unsustainable.
2.4. Avoid the Trap – consumerism is intrinsically woven into the fabric of
modern society. Society needs a cultural shifts to move away from the
culture of consumerism. Social changes do not happen overnight, therefore,
it is best to take immediate steps in your own life to release yourself from
the grip of consumerism.
a. Exercise intellectual independence. Be aware of how
consumerism controls your life. Try to defend yourself from unwanted
external pressures. Ignore advertising. Think for yourself. Question
all information given to you, and start looking for information yourself.
b. Consume less, live more. Stop and think about the influences of
consumerism in your life. Then, think about what really matters to you
and how you want to live it. Strive to live the life you want, not how
others think you ought to live.
3. Spiritual Self - The third category in James's scheme is the spiritual self. 2 The
spiritual self is our inner self or our
psychological self. It is comprised of our self-
perceived abilities, attitudes, emotions,
interests, values, motives, opinions, traits,
and wishes. Many aspects of the spiritual self
are evaluative.
Spiritual is defined as “relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as
opposed to material or physical things.” Religion and spirituality are both paths
to God; however they are different in their approaches. A religious person is
someone who believes in a god or group of gods and consciously adheres to
the beliefs of his/her religion. A spiritual person, on the other hand, places little
importance on beliefs and traditions and is more concerned with growing and
experiencing the Divine.
3.1. Why is spirituality important? – Sense of meaninglessness and lack
of purpose in life can be significant factors in causing anxiety, depression,
and phobias; however, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that
spiritual pracices are associated with better health and well-being. Many
spiritual traditions encourage participation in a community. Spiritual
fellowship (such as attending church or a meditation group) can be a source
of social support that may provide a sense of belonging, security, and
community. Strong relationships have been proven to increase well-being
and bolster life expectancy, which is perhaps why one study found a strong
 association between church attendance and improved health, mood, and
well-being.
3.2. Contemplative practice is good for students like you. Contemplative
practice can be broadly understood as a method to develop concentration,
deepen understanding and insight, and cultivate awareness and
compassion. These practices can have profound impact on students
experiences both in college and beyond. Contemplative practices like the
following:
a. Meditation – mental exercise (such as focusing on one’s breathing or
repeating a mantra)
b. Prayer – a spiritual communion with God (or an object or worship)
c. Yoga – a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline.
d. Journaing – writing during difficult times may help you find meaning
in life’s challenges and help you become more resilient in the face of
obstacle.
3.3. The Psychology behind Religious Belief – a 1990 research conducted
by Steven Reiss, professor emeritus of psychology at the Ohio State
University, posited a theory on why people are attracted to religion. Religion
he said, attracts so many followers because it satisfies all 16 basic desires
that humans share (The 16 Striving for God, 2016).
According to Reiss, the 16 basic desires that humans share are:
1. Acceptance 7. Independence 13. Social contact
2. Curiosity 8. Order 14. status
3. Eating 9. Physical activity 15. tranquility
4. Family 10. Power 16. vengeance
5. Honor 11. Romance
6. Idealism 12. Saving
Reiss added that religious beliefs and practices are designed to meet these
16 desires. Religious beliefs provide people with certain ways of thinking to
help them cope with ultimate questions that cannot be explained in any other
way.
4. The Political Self – In general, when discussing national identity, the focus
tends to be on being a citizen of a country. The
role of culture on identity should never be
underestimated. “The Filipino identity is not static.
A Filipino self-image can be as varied as his or
her background. It goes without saying that all
Filipinos are alike regardless of all these. His
consciousness of being a Filipino psychologically
defines him as one, no matter how he sees and
defines the Filipino” (Enriquez, 1977).
4.1. The Filipino culture is a mix of both eastern and western cultures. The
beliefs and traditions of pre-colonial Philippines were mainly an indigenous
Malay heritage (Baringer, 2006). When the Spaniards colonized the islands,
the Hispanic culture influenced the natives. Christianity became the
 dominant religion, and a western based social and political organization was
established in the Philippines. Americans shaped the modern Filipino
culture, and this is primarily manifested by the widespread use of the English
language in the Philippines today. It was from these influences that formed
the Filipino character. The brief occupation of the British (1762-1764) and
the Japanese (1942-1945), however, had no cultural influence in the
Philippines at all.
4.2. According to psychologist, educator, and former chairperson of CHED,
Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, wrote that the strengths and weaknesses of the
Filipino character are rooted in factors, such as:
1. The home environment; 6. Religion;
2. The social environment; 7. The economic environment;
3. Culture and language; 8. The political environment;
4. History; 9. Mass media; and
5. The educational system; 10. Leadership and role models.
4.3. The Filipino traits, the strong and weak aspects of the Filipino character
are:
Strengths Weaknesses
1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao 1. Extreme personalism;
2. Family orientation 2. Extreme family-
centeredness;
3. Joy and humor 3. Lack of discipline;
4. Flexibility, adaptability, and creativity; 4. Passitivity and lack of
initiative
5. Hard work and industry; 5. Colonial mentality
6. Faith and religiosity; and 6. Kanya-kanya syndrome;
and
7. Ability to survive 7. Lack of self-analysis and self-
reflection
5. Digital Self - According to William James, pertains to the objects, places, or
even
people which have the label “mine”. Such
possessions are viewed as extensions of
individuals' identities. For instance, your clothes
reflect certain aspects of your personality and you
designate them as “my wardrobe”.
The digital self is the persona you use when you're
online. Some people maintain one or more online identifies that
are distinct from their “real world” selves; others have a single online self that's
more or less the same as the one they inhabit in the real world.
5.1. The feeling of an inner self and an outer self generated the impulse to
reveal oneself to others in a believable manner. University professor and
author Lionel Trilling’s (1997) analysis of literature about the self and its
relationship with others distinguished sincerity and authenticity. Sincerity
refers to the exposure in public of what one feels privately. On the other
 hand, an authentic person is one who takes action based on some internal
standards and takes responsibility for this freely chosen action.
5.2. The emergence of the internet, however adds another domain to the
social world in the Philippines. The online life has definitely altered the
dynamics of self-identity, especially for adolescents.
5.3. I, Me, Myself, and my user ID online identity – The self that is constructed
online is generally called the digital self. Analyses of experiences of online
users (especially teenagers) have shown that the characteristic of the digital
self are (Zhao, 2005) :
- Oriented inward - Retractible; and
- Narrative in nature -Multipliable
5.3.1. The digital self is oriented inward toward the world of thoughts and
feelings because others cannot see the online user’s over attributes.
It is narrative in nature because online users will only come to know
the person primarily through what that person tell them. It is
retractable because others are unable to link the online self-claims to
the offline identities. Finally, it is multiplicable because people can
interact with one another in different domains of the online world at
relatively the same time.
People are able to present themselves online in the manner that they
want to. This process is called self-representation. Research
suggests that self-representation tends to be superficial. A study
found that the students and nonstudents between 18-39 years old
were more likely to disclose their interests online rather than their
beliefs and feelings (Attrill & Jalil, 2011). This constraints the
feedback that one receives, and thus, influence the self.
The basic kinds of people you interact with online are:
a. People you do not know at all;
b. People you know both online and offline; and
c. People you know only online.
5.3.2. In the online social domain, it is entirely acceptable to contact and be
contacted by complete strangers. For example, you need not be
introduced to talk to a stranger in a chat room, or to read and
comment on a blog, an FB post, or a tweet of someone you are not
personally acquinted with. However many of the people you interact
with in the digital world are those you know both online and offline
although your familiarity with these people vary considerably. Finally,
there are person you interact with only online.Through frequent
interactions you get to know one another without meeting in person.
Regardless of how much you have known them online, their offline
identity largely remains unrevealed or unverified. People you have
become familiar with only online are strangers and acquaintances at
the same time. They are strangers because you have never seen
them in person; you do not know what they really look like; and
probably you wil not even recognize them when you meet face to
face. Through online communication, however you have come to
 know a lot about them, including the personal secrets they reveal to
you, making you feel a certain level of intimate acquaintance with
them.
What makes us so addicted? – The social world is socially constructed through
interactions between people: roles, rules, categorizations, stereotypes, and so on.
Social networks have the power to amplify this human nature. They have broken
barriers of distance and time; of presence and visibility. They expand the possibilities
of sharing and playing identities. They fulfill the mostly deeply felt human need of
finding a psychological distinctiveness and self-definition in a social context. Social
validation is an important part of being human. Hence, a Facebook “Like” or s Twitter
“Favorite” is a signal that makes us feel good and makes us want to crave for more.