The Material / Economic Self

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”.

 I Shop Therefore I Am: I have, Therefore I am?

Consumer Culture - a form of material culture facilitated by the market, which
thus created a particular relationship between the consumer and the goods or
services he or she uses or consumes.

People are slowly realizing that the power of consumption is stopping us

from finding true and sincere happiness.

The issue is about what we buy and what we choose to invest in.
 Consumption and Production
“Consume” is defined as “use up, to spend wastefully, to destroy” (Gusdorf,
1978). The definition shows that consumption has a negative connotation.
There is however positive side to consumption that is often neglected. Behind
consumption, there is production.

 Conscious Consumption
Consumers are often portrayed as “victims,” exploited by greedy companies.
However, you should take note that every person has “free will.” Therefore
choices are important. As a consumer free will comes with responsibility and
obligation. Conscious consumption is about practicing responsible buying
habit.
 Psychological / Sociological Consumption
Happiness seems attached to buying something. Consumption has been an
addiction.

 Identity and Consumer Culture

Identity is a symbolic idea. It is an image we built for ourselves through social
interaction. Thus, a person’s identity is dynamic and context-dependent.

Factors that affect identity:

Social relations of power, and
Symbolic image of the world.
Identity as we know it now derived is mainly from the work of psychologist Erik
Erikson in the 1950’s. (Psychological Development)
Identity may refer to:
a. A social category defined by membership rules, characteristic attributes, or
expected behaviors.
b. Socially distinguishing features that an individual takes pride in having.
(Fearon, 1999)
Slater (1997) outlined some main features and characters in consumer culture.
1. Consumer culture is a culture of consumption.
2. Consumer culture is the culture of market society.
3. Consumer culture is universal and impersonal.
4. Consumer culture identifies freedom with private choice and life.
5. Consumer needs are insatiable and unlimited.
6. Consumer culture is a privileged medium for building personal identity and
status
 The problem with Consumerism
1. It is intrusive.
2. It is manipulative.
3. It cannot provide many of the things that are important to us.
4. It restricts our choice and lives.
5. It affects our worldviews and characters.
6. It is unsustainable.

 Avoid the Trap

1. Exercise intellectual independence.
2. Consume less, live more.

*answer page 92 - 93
Me and My Faith
 Spiritual versus Religious
• 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.
• A religious person is someone who believes in a god or groups 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
Devine.

 Why is spirituality important?

- It can be a source of social support that may provide a sense of belonging,
security and community.
Contemplative Practice – can be broadly understood as a method to develop
concentration, deepen understanding and insight, and cultivate awareness and
compassion.

Examples of contemplative practices:

1. Meditation – mental exercise (such as focusing on one’s breathing or
repeating a mantra) for the purpose of reaching heightened level of spiritual
awareness. It can induce feeling of calm and clear headedness, as well as
improved concentration and attention.
2. Prayer – A spiritual communication with God (or an object of worship) as in
supplication, thanksgiving, adoration and confession. Prayer may elicit a
relaxation response, along with feelings of hope, gratitude, and compassion –
all of which have a positive effect on over-all being.
3. Yoga – A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline. In Hindu theistic philosophy, it
teaches the suppression of all mind and body activity so that the self may
realize its distinction from the material world and attain liberation.
4. Journaling – is another (but often overlooked) contemplative practice that can
help you become more aware of your inner life and feel more connected to your
experience and the world around you.
(Lin, Oxford, & Brantmeier, 2013)

 The Practice of Religion: Belief in Supernatural Being and Power

Religion is defined as ‘the belief in an worship of a superhuman controlling
power, especially a personal God or gods” (Oxford University Press, 2017)

 The Psychology Behind Religious Beliefs

A 1990 research conducted by Steven Reiss, professor emeritus of psychology at
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 human share (The 16 Strivings for God, 2016)
According to Reiss, the 16 basic desires that human share are:
1. Acceptance 5. Honor 9. Physical Activity 13. Social Contact
2. Curiosity 6. Idealism 10. Power 14. Status
3. Eating 7. Independence 11. Romance 15. Tranquility
4. Family 8. Order 12. Saving 16. Vengeance
 Four Dimensions of Religion
1. Belief – are generalized system of ideas and values that shape how members
of a religious group come to understand the world around them.
2. Rituals – are the repeated physical gesture or activities, such as prayers and
mantras, used to reinforce religious teachings, elicit spiritual feelings, and
connect worshippers with higher power. (Little, 2016)
3. Spiritual Experience – or feeling of immediate connection with a higher
power.
4. Unique social forms of community – emphasized that religious beliefs and
practices “unite in one single community called a church, all those who
adhere to them.” Emile Durkheim (1915 – 1964)
 Classification of Religion
Religious Classification What/Who is Divine Example
Polytheism Multiple gods Hinduism, Ancient Greeks and
Romans
Monotheism Single god Judaism, Islam, Christianity
Antheism No Deities Atheism, Buddhism, Taoism
Animism Nonhuman beings Indigenous nature worship, Shinto
(animals, plants, natural world)

 The Major Religions

• Judaism
• Christianity
• Islam
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
 Judaism
Judaism encompasses the religion, philosophy, and culture of the Jewish people.
It characterized by belief in one transcendent God who has revealed himself to
Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets.

 Christianity
An Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ,
who serves as the focal point of Christian faith. For Christians, the word of God is
written in the Bible.

 Islam
Religious faith of Muslims who worship Allah as the sole deity and believes
Muhammad is His prophet. The holy scripture of Islam is the Koran.
 Hinduism
Considered the world’s oldest religion, is still commonly practiced. Hinduism
combines the beliefs, philosophy, and cultural practice of India. Hindu
practitioners are guided by Vedic scriptures and believe in righteousness, the law
of cause and effect, and the cycle of birth and death.

 Buddhism
Refers to the teaching of Gautama Buddha, (originally a follower of Hindu faith)
experienced enlightenment, or Bodhi.
 Developing a Filipino Identity: Values,
Traits, Community and Institutional Factors
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)

The Malays made a large contribution to the Philippine history. The Malay
temperament is a basic factor of a Filipino personality. It can best be described as
“being nice and pleasant to others.”

The important role of family in Filipino culture stemmed from the strength of
Malay family clan that served as a strong security unit.
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.

The American shaped the modern Filipino culture, and this is primarily
manifested by the widespread use of English language in the Philippines today. It
was from these influences that formed the Filipino characters.

The brief occupation of the British (1762 – 1764) and the Japanese (1942 –
1945), however, had no cultural influence in the Philippines at all.
Psychologist, educator and (former) chairperson of the Commission on Higher
Education (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
 The home environment – Filipino children are taught to value family and give
it primary importance.

 The social environment – characterized by depending one another to survive.

This dependence on relationships and the struggle for survival make Filipino
group-oriented (1994).

 Culture and language – depict openness to foreign elements with no basic

consciousness of our natural core (Licuanan, 1994). The Filipino colonial
mentality, such as the importance of English language in our educational
system.

 History (Colonial History) – regarded as the culprit behind our colonial

mentality.
 Educational system – instrumental in molding the strengths and weaknesses
of the Filipino character. Schools are highly authoritarian. Early on, children
learn that well-behaved and obedient students are praised and rewarded. This
teaches passivity and conformity.

 Religion – taught us optimism and resilience; however, it is also instilled in us

a fatalistic attitude. Since religious communities are also highly authoritarian,
this further reinforced our being passive and a conformist (Licuanan, 1994).

 Economic environment – the hard life drove Filipinos to work hard and take
risks, such as living our families to work abroad. This is further develop our
ability to survive.

 Political environment (and government structures and systems are fraught

with problems.) – the absence of government presence enhances the
Filipino’s already extreme family centeredness (Licuanan,1994).
 Mass media – reinforced our colonial mentality.

 Leaders and role models – any person with authority is looked up to. Thus,
when our leaders violate the law and when there is lack of accountability for
leaders who break the law, the Filipino mindset is hugely affected in a
negative way (Licuanan, 1994).

 Strengths of Filipino Character

1. Pakikipagkapwa – tao;
2. Family orientation;
3. Joy and Humor;
4. Flexibility, adaptability, and creativity;
5. Hard work and industry;
6. Faith and religiosity; and
7. Ability to survive
 Pakikipagkapwa-tao – demonstrated in the Filipinos openness, helpfulness,
and generosity; in the practice of bayanihan or mutual assistance and the
famous hospitality.

 Family orientation – sense of belonging and security (extended family).

 Joy and Humor – Filipinos love of fiestas and social gatherings. Filipinos always
find a reason to smile and laugh.

 Flexibility, adaptability, and creativity – Filipinos are tremendous in adjusting

and adapting to any circumstances.

 Hard work and industry – most noticeable trait. Willingness to take risks and
work in other countries.
 Faith and religiosity – can be related to bahala na mindset. Bahala na
attitude could serve as a “kickstarter” or “pampalakas ng loob” to move him
or her into action.

 Ability to survive – Filipino can endure, make do, and get by on so little while
looking forward to the coming better days.
“matutong mamaluktot habang maikli ang kumot” a proverb aptly depicts
our survival instinct.

 Weaknesses of the Filipino Character

1. Extreme personalism 5. Colonial mentality
2. Extreme family-centeredness 6. Kanya-kanya syndrome
3. Lack of discipline 7. Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection
4. Passivity and lack of initiative
 Extreme personalism – we always want to get special treatment, element that
has led to the prevalence of graft and corruption.
“Palakasan system”

 Extreme family-centeredness – family is valued above anything and everyone

else. Thus, concern for the rest of the community and common good is less
important.

 Lack of discipline – can be characterized by the idiomatic phrase “ningas

cogon” another related term is “Filipino time”.

 Passivity and lacking initiative – strong reliance on leaders and the

government to solve the nation’s problems, but ordinarily, Filipinos also do
not feel the need to initiate or contribute to the solution.
 Colonial mentality – foreign element that are adapted and incorporated into
our image, and in the process we area also losing our cultural identity.
Colonial mentality is connected to our general feeling of inferiority, we think
foreigners specially westerners, are superior.

 Kanya-kanya syndrome – damped our sense of community and cooperation,

we trampled one another’s rights as a result. “Crab mentality”.

 Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection – expression that Filipinos are

“madaling makalimot” or have a short memory. This means as a nation, we
easily forget the mistake we made; hence we make the same mistake again.
This is the reason why traditional politicians or “trapo” are always reelected to
the office.
Me and My Digital Identity
The feeling of an inner self and 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.
The social world of a western-influenced society, like the Philippines, typically
consists of three domains:
• Family,
• School, and
• Neighborhood.

The emergence of the internet, however, adds the fourth domain the online life
– to the social world. The online life has definitely altered the dynamics of self-
identity specially for adolescents.

I, Me, Myself, and my user ID Online identity

The self that is constructed online is generally called the digital self. Analyses of
the experiences of online user (especially teenagers) have shown that
characteristics of the digital self are (Zhao, 2005):
Oriented inward, narrative in nature, retractable and miultipliable.
Self-presentation – people are able to present themselves online in the manner
they want to.

The basic kinds of people you interact with online are:

1. People you do not know at all;
2. People you know both online and offline; and
3. People you know only online.
 Self-promotion – is a proactive process in which a person actively says things
or takes action to show his or her competence to an audience.

 Integration – is the process by which someone tries to win the approval or

acceptance of another.

 Exemplification – involves a strategic self-sacrifice so that the observers may

recognize the dedication.

 Intimidation – is a strategy that involves showing of authority, power, or

potential to punish in order to be seen by observers as someone who could be
dangerous.

 Supplication – is an approach where the individual exploits his/her

weaknesses or shortcomings to receive help or benefits.
Impression management – is the attempt to control or influence any other
people’s perception. This could be their perception of a certain people (including
you), a material possession, or an event. There are two main motives of
attempting to manage the impression of others:
• Instrumental – this motive is to basically gain rewards and increase one’s self-
esteem.
• Expressive – This motivation is about attempting to be in control of one’s
personal behavior and identity,. It is a response to moral norms, expectations,
or restrictions, seeking to show others that he or she, as a person is different.

Impression-management Strategies
• Self-Promotion • Intimidation
• Ingratiation • Supplication
• Exemplification
Hyperpersonal Model – this theory suggested that the advantage of
computer-mediated communication is that a person can edit his or her self-
presentation, which in turn positively impacts impressions on the self; thus,
greater intimacy is possible (Gonzales & Hancock, 2011).

Social Networking was also found to be addictive

The addictive nature of SNS is supported primarily by mental preoccupation of
chronic SNS users who, as a result tend to neglect some other aspects of their
social functioning such as family and offline friends.

What makes us do addicted?

Private vs. Public Self
Private – refers to mental event in a person that are inherently unobservable by
others.
Public – behaviors that are open to the observations of other people.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIOUS USES OF THE TERMS “PRIVATE” AND “PUBLIC”

PRIVATE
Phenomenological experience
Acting only for self
Actors control access to
information regarding self
Acting in the interest of limited
number of people
PUBLIC
Observable behavior
Acting as agent for others
Information about self is not
controlled by others
Acting in the interest of the
community
Individual vs. Social Identity
Personal (individual) Identity – is the concept you develop about yourself that
evolves over the course of your life. This may include aspects of your life that you
have no control over, such as where you grew up or the color of your skin, as well
as choices you make in life, such as how you spend your time and what you
believe in.

Characteristics of personal identity:

• The emphasis is on the individual.
• It is created through differences in personal characteristics when comparing
the self with others.
Social Identity – is a person’s of who he / she is based on the group
membership(s). They asserted that the groups (e.g., social class, family,
basketball team, and so on), to which people belonged to were an important
source of pride and self-esteem. (Tajfel & Turner, 1979).

Characteristics of Social Identity:

• The emphasis is on what the person has in common with the members of his
or her group.
• It is created based on similarities with others.
Gender and Sexuality Online
Stereotype – “a fixed, overgeneralized belief about a particular group or class of
people” (Cardwell, 2014).