Personal Development

LESSON 1 WEEK January 18-26, 2024 DURATION 270 minutes

TOPIC KNOWING ONESELF

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. express his/her understanding of personal development;

2. share his/her perception of oneself by illustrating symbols representing his/her past, present, and
future self;
3. identify his/her personality traits by responding to a short personality test; and
4. create a video commercial that allows him/her to explore character strengths, talents, and
experiences and emphasize his/her uniqueness among the others.

PREPARATION

ACTIVITY: SELF-MADE MAN

The Self-made Man is a Bronze Sculpture by Bobbie Carlyle

(1987).

What insights can you draw out from this piece of art?
What does this sculpture imply?

Self Made Man is said to be Carlyle's best known work

depicting man carving himself and his future from the raw stone
from which he emerges. How does this relate to the concept of
personal development?

In this chapter, you will be guided in understanding what

personal development and relate its concepts with your own
experiences as an adolescent.

RADIATE POSITIVITY: The only person you are destined to become is the person you decided to be. -
Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet
 ENGAGEMENT

ACTIVITY: MY PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE SELF

This activity aims to gather your thoughts and feelings about who you are and how you perceive
yourself in the past and at the present time and who you would like to be in the future.

1. Choose a symbol that best illustrates (a) how you describe yourself in the past, (b) how you
perceive yourself at the present time and (c) who you would like to be in the future (15 points)
2. You have an option to copy the symbols online (cite the source) or digitally/manually draw these
symbols. Add your response to the processing question below.
3. Below is a sample template. You may edit your output in any editing software you prefer. The page
size is 8.5’’x11’’ and the orientation is either portrait or landscape.
4. Save your output in jpeg or pdf format with a file name PastPresentFuture_Last Name, First Name

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

EXPLANATION (10 POINTS)

How do these symbols relate with your progress as an individual?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

RUBRICS
15 POINTS 10 POINTS 5 POINTS

Three symbols are presented. Only two symbols are presented. Only one symbol is presented.

10 POINTS 8 POINTS 6 POINTS

Substantial, specific, and/or

illustrative content demonstrating
strong development and
sophisticated ideas. Sharp, distinct
controlling point made about a
single topic with evident
awareness of task
Sufficiently developed content with
Limited content with inadequate
adequate elaboration and
elaboration or explanation. No
explanation. Apparent point made
apparent point but evidence of a
about a single topic with sufficient
specific topic.
awareness of task.
 EXPLORATION

Human nature is very complex. There is no one singular school of thought in any form of scientific
study, including Psychology, which can completely and satisfactorily define human nature. Although
similar to many other living organisms that go through biological processes and development,
humans possess unique attributes. Human beings have the sole capacity to reflect upon itself, and in
the process, develop self-awareness, become motivated, and then desire to grow and change for the
better; and are prompted to mature and improve until it reaches its desired level of development. It is,
therefore, natural for human beings to develop toward maturity and fullness (Rogers, 1961).

What is human development and what factors influence it?

Developmental scientists identified the following aspects or domains of human development

according to Papalia and Feldman (2012).

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
It covers the growth of the body and the brain, motor
and sensory skills, and even physical health.

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
It covers our capacity to learn, speak, understand,
reason, and to create.

PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
It includes our social interactions with other people,
our emotions, attitudes, self-identity, personality,
beliefs and values.

Human development is also influenced by the following factors.

HEREDITY
Heredity or the inborn traits passed on by the generations of offsprings
from both sides of the biological parents' families.
ENVIRONMENT
Environment is the world outside of ourselves and the experiences that
result from our contact and interaction with this external world.
MATURATION

Maturation is the natural progression of the brain and the body that
affectthe cognitive, psychological and social dimensions of a person. The
influence of physical maturation over a person's development is most
pronounced during his childhood and adolescence stages.

CHECK THIS OUT: Personal Development

https://bit.ly/2J3fjbi
 REFLECT: Is it Personality Development or Personal Development?

The word personality and personal is defined differently.

PERSONAL PERSONALITY

▪ belonging or relating to a particular ▪ the set of emotional qualities, ways

person of behaving, etc, that makes a
▪ made or designed to be used by person different from other people
one person ▪ attractive qualities that make a
person interesting or pleasant to be
Example: with
I can only tell you what I know from
personal experience. Example:
We all have different personalities.

Lastly, the word development is defined as

▪ the act or process of growing or causing something to grow or become more advanced
▪ the act or process of creating something over a period of time.

From these definitions, we can see that there is a major difference between personal and personality.
Thus, if we integrate the words personal and development, we will generate a new concept -
Personal Development.

Personal development may be defined as a

process in which persons reflect upon
themselves, understand who they are,
accept what they discover about themselves,
and learn (or unlearn) new sets of values,
attitudes, behavior, and thinking skills to
reach their fullest potential as human beings.

Defining the “SELF”

Have you ever asked yourself this question: Who am I? If you have, you are not alone. Adolescence
is the time when young people start to ask questions about themselves, about their future, and even
about their religious and political beliefs. During the adolescent stage of development, the young
person grapples with his or her identity. This may seem very philosophical to some, but to know
oneself is the first step in personal development.

The “self” is identified in various contexts such as in psychology, sociology, or religion. The “self” is
the essence of a person: his thoughts, feelings, and actions, experiences, beliefs, values, principles,
and relationships. The “self” includes a person's life purpose, meaning, and aspirations.

REFLECT: How is the concept of “self” expressed or explained by Filipinos?

Knowing yourself means understanding your strengths and weaknesses, your passions and fears,
your desires and dreams. It means being aware of your peculiarities and inclinations, your likes and
dislikes, and your tolerances and limitations. Knowing yourself means knowing your purpose in life.
Self-awareness leads to the following.

Self-acceptance Commit to self-enhancement

Deeper understanding of the self Appreciate talents and maximize potentials

Establish sense of individuality Aid to decision making

Set personal goals Relate with and understand others

Recognize strengths and weaknesses Acknowledge personal core values

Knowing yourself is the development of understanding you as the human being on profound levels. It
is an irregular road that you must be prepared to discover (Serrano, 2016). Spending time to know
yourself more and more gives you the avenue to acknowledge the realities of your life, reflect on the
areas of uncertainties and commit to a lifetime progression that entails time, effort, and attention.

Since our approach to personal development is holistic, we will integrate the various definitions of
“self” from the philosophical, spiritual, and psychological realms, but we will focus and give more
emphasis on its psychological definition. If the “self” is defined as the cognitive and affective
representation of one's identity, it is then defined in terms of human characteristics such as behavior
and thought. In Psychology, the term personality is referred to as the set of behaviors, feelings,
thoughts, and motives that identifies an individual. Personality is the essence of who we are and is
the embodiment of one's physical, psychological, cognitive, affective, and spiritual self. Therefore,
when we speak of the “self”, we will describe it in personality terms.

Personality psychologists have different viewpoints. One definition

states, “personality refers to the unique and relatively enduring set of
behaviors, feelings, thoughts, and motives that characterize an
individual” (Feist and Rosenberg, 2012). Two key components of
personality are highlighted in this definition: the uniqueness of an
individual's thoughts, feelings, and behavior; and their being relatively
enduring, or being consistent, over different situations and over time.

Gordon Allport defines personality as “a pattern of habits, attitudes,

and traits that determine an individual's characteristics, behavior, and
traits” (Sanchez, Abad, and Jao, 2012). This definition does not
emphasize uniqueness and consistency, nevertheless, still captures
aspects of personality.

Personality is influenced by both nature (heredity or genetic make-up) and nurture (environment).
There is no single gene that creates a trait. It is always a complex combination of genes,
environmental exposure and experiences, and cultural backgrounds.

CHECK THIS OUT: What is personality?

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/personality
 MAJOR PERSONALITY PERSPECTIVES

The study of personality is one of the major topics of interest in Psychology where numerous theories
attempt to explain, describe, and evaluate patterns and differences of personalities among individuals in
various perspectives.

The psychoanalytic perspective of personality

emphasizes the importance of early childhood
experiences and the unconscious mind. This
perspective on personality was created by Sigmund
Freud who believed that things hidden in the
unconscious could be revealed in a number of different
ways, including through dreams, free association, and
slips of the tongue.
Theorists: Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Carl Jung,
Alfred Adler, Karen Horney

This illustration on the

right describes the
stages of
psychosocial
development
according to Erik
Erikson. His theory is a
response to Freud’s
perspective on
personality. Erikson
believed that an
individual’s personality
developed in a series of
stages.

Get to know more of

this theory through the
link provided below.

CHECK THIS OUT: Erikson’s Stages of Development

https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740

Meanwhile, Alfred Adler believed that a person’s birth order plays a role in one’s personality.

1. OLDEST CHILD/FIRST BORN

The oldest child generally receives a good deal of attention. The child tends to be dependable and
hard working and strives to keep ahead. When a new brother or sister arrives on the scence,
however, she finds herself ousted from her favored position. Most often, the child reasserts one’s
position by becoming a model child, bossing younger children, and exhibiting a high achievement
drive.
2. SECOND CHILD
The second child of only two is in a different position. From the time the child is born, he/she shares
the attention with another child. This competitive struggle between the first two children influences
the later course of their lives. If one is talented in a given area, the other strives for recognition by
developing other abilities. The second-born is often opposite to the firstborn.
3. MIDDLE CHILD
The middle child often feels squeezed out. This person may assume a “poor me” attitude and can become a problem
child. However, especially in families characterized by conflict, the middle child may become the switchboard and the
peacemaker, the person who holds things together. If there are four children in a family, the second child will often
feel like a middle child and the third will be more easy-going, more social, and may align with the firstborn.
4. YOUNGEST CHILD
The youngest child is always the baby of the family and tends to be the most pampered one. Youngest children tend
to go their own way, often developing in ways no others in the family have attempted and may outshine everyone.
5. ONLY CHILD
The only child shares some of the characteristics of the oldest child (for example, a high achievement drive), and she
may not learn to share or cooperate with other children. The child will learn to deal with adults as well, as they make
up her original familial world. Often, the only child is pampered by her parents and may be the center of attraction.

This perspective of Adler explains how an individual’s position in the family have a great deal to do with how adults
interact in the world. It influences the way one interacts or relates with others and tends to build a picture of oneself
with regards to one’s social relationships.

The humanistic perspective of personality focuses on

psychological growth, free will, and personal awareness. It
takes a more positive outlook on human nature and is
centered on how each person can achieve their individual
potential.

Theorists: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow

One’s potential; what one

wants to be

Self-steem, confidence,
respect, recognition

Family, friendship, intimacy,

sense of connection

Personal security, resources,

employment, stability, property

Air, water, food, sleep,

clothing, reproduction

REFLECT: In the context of your personal ideals, perspectives, experiences and values, how can you attain
self-actualization?
 The social cognitive perspective of personality emphasizes the
importance of observational learning, self-efficacy, situational
influences, and cognitive processes. Observational learning
indicates the importance in the learning process of observing
other people’s behavior.

Theorist: Albert Bandura

CHECK THIS OUT: The Bobo Doll Experiment - Albert Bandura on Social Learning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lYsmt9qUVI

The trait perspective of personality is centered on

identifying, describing, and measuring the specific traits
that make up human personality. By understanding these
traits, researchers believe they can better comprehend the
differences between individuals.

Theorist: Hans Eysenck, Raymond Cattell, Robert

McCrae and Paul Costa

BIG FIVE or FIVE FACTOR MODEL

Psychologists Costa and McRae (1992) developed a categorized scheme that described personality.
Based on their research, they discovered the existence of universal and widely agreed upon dimensions
of personality. They called it the Big Five or Five-Factor Model. These dimensions or tendencies are
openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. For it to be
easily remembered, it uses the acronym OCEAN. These dimensions may be described using its most
positive traits.
planning, organizing,
hardworking,
controlling, persevering
curiosity, interest,
imagination, creativity
to new ideas
sociable, talkative,
active, outgoing,
fun-loving

calm, relaxed,
comfortable friendly, warm,
trusting, generous,
kind-hearted

REFLECT: Why is personality explained in different perspectives?

 REFERENCES

Caral, L. et al (2017). Senior High and Growing Up. A Comprehensive Worktext in Personal
Development for Senior High School. Cebu, Philippines: University of San Carlos Press
Cleofe, M. (2016). Personal Development. Makati City, Philippines: Diwa Learning Systems, Inc.
Corey, G. (2011). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. California, USC: Cengage
Learning. p.108-109
Santos, R. (2017). Personal Development. Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store, Inc. (RBSI)
Serrano, A. (2016). Personal Development. Manila, Philippines: Unlimited Books Library Services &
Publishing Inc.
Cherry, K. (November 26, 2019). The 4 Major Personality Perspectives. Retrieved on October 29,
2020 from https://www.verywellmind.com/personality-perspectives-2795950

Images:
https://www.lasvegasbuffetclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/selfmademan.jpg
https://unsplash.com/photos/3VTZloIMFP0
https://www.iberdrola.com/wcorp/gc/prod/en_US/comunicacion/superacion_personal_mult_1_res/Su
peracion_Personal_746x419_EN.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/aa/ba/a6/aabaa64e343d0d7ca52df0b75268ba26.jpg
https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/luJzFVjtfBsCuRanONrj18FQxA4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():m
ax_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4136760-article-what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-
5a97179aeb97de003668392e.png