Unpacking the Self

Political Self
PART I
What is Political Self?
• Political self discusses how one’s own
political views and values form
through life experiences.
• It is not just about finding an ideology
or label to follow, instead, it is
applying one’s conscience and intellect
in political matters to determine what
is tolerable and what is not.
What is Political Self?
• It can be developed through
socialization, learning of new
knowledge, norms, and values.
• The political self is influenced and
modified by the opinions, comments,
and suggestions of other people.
What is Politics?
• Is the activity through which people
make, preserve, and amend the
general rules under which they live.
• It is the set of activities that are
associated with making decisions in
groups, or other forms of power
relations among individuals aimed for
the betterment of people being
governed.
Theories on Political Self
Social Learning Theory
• A person can acquire learning
through observation and imitation
• Observation and imitation is
important in a process known
political socialization
Theories on Political Self
Social Learning Theory
•Political Socialization is the
lifelong process by which
individuals gain knowledge
about politics
Theories on Political Self
Cognitive Theory
•Suggest that mental activities (e.g.
knowledge, perceptions, ideas) of
individuals are important determinants
of behavior (e.g. political attitude)
•Example: Individuals interpret meaning
of politics and then choose and decide
the actions they will make
Theories on Political Self
Theory of Symbolic Interaction
•Suggests that behaviors are
products of communication,
meaning, and symbols
•People give meanings to symbols
and they express these meanings
through language communication
Theories on Political Self
Theory of Symbolic Interaction
•Example: Children develop
their political attitudes
according to the symbols and
meanings that their parents
communicate to them
Theories on Political Self
Theory of Political Participation
•Defined as the citizen’s action or
activities anchored in politics
•The extent and scope of political
participation may be an important
criteria for assessing value or
quality symbols and meanings that
the people ascribe to politics
Theories on Political Self
Theory of Political Participation
•Example: An ordinary Filipino
citizen must be allowed to take part
in the policy and decision making
process regarding the
administration of the country which
is in accordance to the democratic
nature of the Philippine Society
Origin of Political Self
Family
•The family has a hierarchical structure
through hierarchy of positions, status,
and power.
•Example: Father acts as a leader and
establishes rules to maintain order in
the family. This shows that authority is
necessary in the development of
political self and identity.
Origin of Political Self
School
•The school’s responsibility is to
teach moral, spiritual, and
political values that will help
the students to become
patriotic and morally upright
citizen
Origin of Political Self
School
•Example: UTS subject, GMRC, ROTC
are contributors for the formation
of political self. Also, the school is
similar to family, where the teacher
acts as the leader in classroom that
sets the rules and regulation to
maintain order in class.
Origin of Political Self
Church
•It helps shape ideals of
citizenship and democracy
through religious teachings,
values, and tradition
Origin of Political Self
Peers
•Interaction with the peers
encompasses and emphasizes
the equal distribution of
power, rights, and privileges
among members of the group
Origin of Political Self
Mass Media
•Key to the source of
information on politics Family,
School, Church, Peers and
moral behaviors that influence
political behavior and political
self
Origin of Political Self
Democracy
•A government in which the
supreme is vested in and
exercised by the people directly
or indirectly through a system of
presentation, usually involving
periodical held free elections.
Origin of Political Self
Democracy
•Although democracy has
several flaws, it also uniquely
posses a number of features
that most people would
consider desirable.
Origin of Political Self
Democracy
Democracy helps prevent cruel and
vicious autocrats from ruling
It fosters human development i.e.
health education, personal income and
any other indicators more fully than do
other forms of government
Democracy helps protect fundamental
individual rights and interest
Origin of Political Self
Democracy
Democratic societies provide
people the maximum opportunity
to take moral responsibility for
their choices and decisions
Democratic societies offer a
relatively high chance of political
equality
Developing a Filipino Identity
•Citizenship or being a Filipino
serves as a cognitive and
motivational basis for ones beliefs
and behavior. Thus enhancing the
practice of citizenship and
democracy is crucial to the
awareness and understanding of
self and community
Developing a Filipino Identity
•The level of individual,
community and institutions are
primary factors that contributes
in building an identity:
- Instrumental
- Morals
- Transformative
Developing a Filipino Identity
Instrumental
•An individual act in accordance
with rules and identities
consistent with supportive of
democratic processes
Developing a Filipino Identity
Morals
•Values and beliefs embody and
reinforce democratic principles
Developing a Filipino Identity
Transformative
•Includes process of self-
reflection and redefinition of
individuals, institutions, and
communities
Filipino Culture
•The Filipino culture is a mix of
both eastern and western
cultures.
Filipino Culture
•The beliefs and traditions of pre-colonial
Philippines were mainly an indigenous
Malay heritage.
•The Malay temperament is a basic factor of a
Filipino personality. It can best describe as
"being nice and pleasant to others".
•The important role family in Filipino culture
stemmed from the strength of the Malay
family clan that serves as a strong security
unit.
Filipino Culture
•When Spaniards colonized the
Islands, Hispanic culture
influenced the natives.
Christianity became dominant
religion and a western-based
social and political organization
was established in the Philippines.
Filipino Culture
•The 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 this influence
that forms the Filipino character.
Filipino Traits and Values
The Filipino Hospitality
•A Filipino trait that is known everywhere if the
Filipino's brand of hospitality Respect for Elders
•Example: "Mano Po" Constantly using “po" and
"opo"
•Wide array of references; Kuya, Ate, Tita, Tito,
Lolo, Lola, Manong, Aling Close Family Ties
•Example Fond of reunions; Holidays, Birthdays
and Fiestas
Filipino Traits and Values
Cheerful Personality
•Filipinos have a habit of smiling
and laughing a lot. Smiling has
been a coping strategy for
many Filipinos
•Example: Maintaining positive
outlook after calamities
Filipino Traits and Values
Self- Sacrifice
•Self sacrificing attitude of
Filipinos can be seen as an
extension of the Filipino
hospitality
•Example: OFW - modern day
Filipino heroes
Filipino Traits and Values
Bayanihan
•The spirit of communal unity
and cooperation of Filipinos
•Example: Cleaning the Manila
Bay
Filipino Traits and Values
“Bahala na” Attitude
•Filipino Version of “Hakuna
Matata”
•A phrase originated from the
“Bathala na” which mans
leaving everything into God’s
hands
Filipino Traits and Values
Colonial Mentality
•Regarded as the lack of patriotism and
attitude where Filipinos favor foreign
product more than their own.
•Attributed to the centuries of
colonization of Filipinos had experience
•Example: Patronizing Hollywood films
than Local Films Food products or Korean
language than Filipino Language
Filipino Traits and Values
Mañiana Habit
•Filipino term for
procrastination derive from the
phrase called "mamaya na"
•Example: Delaying of doing
school works
Filipino Traits and Values
Ningas Kugon
•Ningas means flame and kugon means
cogon grass refers to the attitude of
eagerly starting things but quickly losing
eagerness soon after experiencing
difficulty
•Example: Engineering students losing
interest to study more in the difficult
subject like calculus or physics
Filipino Traits and Values
Pride
•Most Filipino hold their pride
as if they are precious than
keeping a good relationship
with family and loved ones
Filipino Traits and Values
Crab Mentality
•Toxic trait of Filipinos where
one resents achievement of
another, instead of feeling
happy for that person
Filipino Traits and Values
Filipino Time
•Filipinos attitude of arriving
late at commitments, dinner or
parties especially if they are
meeting someone close to
them