PERSONAL

DEVELOPMENT
 WHAT IS
PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT?
Pre-Test:

Direction: Write the word TRUE if the statement is

correct; otherwise, write FALSE.

1. Our self-knowledge cannot be influenced by our

past.
2. In determining our ideal self in the society, we
must see our behavior on an everyday basis.
3. Being private is irrelevant if we wish to continue
in developing our actual self.
4. Through studies conducted in history, our
parents have no important role in child-rearing
practices.

5. In bio-psychology and cultural psychology, the

crossing path of hereditary and environment are
irrelevant and shaping the self-concept.

6. Allowing ourselves to be molded by our

surroundings and be influenced by others is a
decisional aspect in reshaping our ideal self
7. We cannot change our behavior, hence our destiny when it comes
to familial or hereditary inclination.

8. In determining our self-concept, three categories of the self must

be considered.

9. In the early stages of development among children, oftentimes,

they are independent. Hence, they do not let their behavior be
influenced; neither do they need approval from their parents.

10. The self has no privacy, as often depicted in social media; we

allow ourselves to be seen as who we are and what we do
 WHAT ABILITY
OR SKILL DO
YOU WANT TO
IMPROVE MORE?
Self- Development: Knowing Oneself

Many of our millennial jump to conclusions about

themselves knowing more what, know and believe
they do about themselves and technology has
improved this definition through apps and media,
especially how they used these platforms in defining
themselves (Social Media and Doubt; Jacobson,
2020).
 Their social media profiles give a new meaning to who
they are as a person living in this digital age. However, this
does not answer the most and perhaps the fundamental
question, “Do you know yourself?” This question delves into
the fundamental entity of ourselves, the basic question of
understanding ourselves, not just through our expressions
in social platforms and the like but, deals in more “How
much do we know about our self?” in the process.
 Do you still remember your scores when you took
your NCAE in junior high school? Have you thought
about what you will do after your Senior High
School or beyond your college years? A great way to
refresh dreams and reminisce about your future is
to remember your “ideal self.” Psychologists call this
"future self." Below is a simple drill to refresh your
“current self.”
ACTIVITY 1:
My Self Through the Years
Instruction: Paste a picture of you when
you were in elementary, in high school,
and now that you are in senior high
school. Below the picture, list down your
salient characteristics that you
remember.
My Elementary Self My High School Self My Senior High
School Self
ANALYSIS: After having examined your “self” in its different
stages, fill out the table below:

Similarities in all Differences in my Possible reasons for

stages of my “self” “self” across the the differences in me
three stages of my
life
Follow up Questions:

1. How do you compare yourself now from before?

2. Do you think you can achieve more “now”, than that

you were small? Cite some examples.

3. There are many instances where in you can choose

who you can be as of now. Why this current “self”?
Explain.
 PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT
 The Self, in contemporary literature and even common
sense, is commonly defined by the following characteristics:
“separate, self-contained, independent, consistent, unitary,
and private” (Stevens, 1996).

When we talk about the self, being “separate,” it means it

is distinct, different and unique from others. It has its own
uniqueness that defines him/her from others. It has an
identity of its own, even twins, may it be fraternal, is very
much distinct from the other. When we are talking about “self-
contained,” we describe its existence as having its own
independence. It may exist with or without others; it is self-
containing of its own thoughts, characteristics and volition.
 For example, we make our profile pictures in social
media, carefully choosing a picture that expresses
more of our thoughts, that tells us of what we are, that
tells us what we are in real life. Although, in these
given times, it is easy to create another “self” or deceive
someone using a make-up “self”.
 Nevertheless, although it is relatively easy to make
another “self” in this age of social media and advance
technology, the “self” is very much consistent and
persisting. Every “self” has its own personality that is
enduring, that lasts during late adolescence. Its
uniqueness and its consistency allow it to be studied,
described and even measured (also means that a
particular self’s traits, characteristics, tendencies and
potentialities) are very evident and distinguishable from
other “selves.”
 The Self is unitary in that it is the center of all
experiences and thoughts that run a particular person. It
is the topmost executive in an individual where all
processes, emotions, and thoughts converged. Lastly, the
self is private. A person may sort out information, feelings
and emotions, and thought processes within the self. The
whole process is never accessible to anyone but the self.
This suggests that the self is isolated from the external
world. It lives within its own world.
 Having in its own world means, you can create or nurture what
you can be (ideal self) or maintain/improve your current self (actual
self).

The ideal self pertains to the image or aspirations of what you want
to become.

This may be similar in hoping characteristics that you do not

possess as of the moment, but may one day be part of who you are,
just like what Filipinos tend to watch in various talent shows. This
may be the ability to have a beautiful voice; or have different
achievements like the characteristics of your idols or other
international figures (Michael Jordan, Sarah Geronimo etc.)
 While the actual self as the term implies
“actual”, is your present self that you see on
the daily basis. It is the self that is constantly
keeping in touch in your everyday
experiences. It has the potential to improve or
develop as deemed by every individual. This
may also pertain to the gifts that you possess
that is innate in you when you were born.
 Combining these two categories of the self, it
established the distinction of the Self-Concept. This is a
collection of beliefs about one’s basic nature, unique
qualities, and typical behavior.

Although we may have so many dimensions in which we

describe ourselves such as “I’m grateful” or “I’m friendly”,
we have separate concepts of our physical, social,
emotional and intellectual selves; yet we are still referring
to one single entity that is unique and very distinct from
others (Don Hamachek,1992).
 Our various self-concepts are characterized by
relatively distinct thoughts and feelings. That is, we
may have considerable information about our
social skills and feel quite confident with regard to
them but have limited information about our
physical skills and feel less confident about this
aspect of our self. When a particular self-concept is
operating, its attendant thoughts and feelings will
strongly influence the way we process self-relevant
information (Fiske & Taylor, 1991).
 There are several factors that shape self-concept.
Among them are your own observations, feedback from
others and cultural values.

Your Own Observations In the process of self-

introspection, that may help you re-evaluate your
motivations and, in real-time, observing what you
do at this moment is one of the significant
information about your interest or dislike. During
early childhood, we start observing our behavior
and drawing conclusions about ourselves.
We are aware of what we do; we dislike; can and cannot
do. Although, when we are still children, our observations
are not entirely correct or sometimes subject to change
and entirely up to us, to retain or to improve. We even
compare our observed selves from others. In social
comparison theory, people need to compare themselves
with others in order to gain insight into their own behavior
(Festinger, 1954; Goethals & Darley, 1977; Wood, 1989).
The potential impact of such social comparison was
dramatically demonstrated in an interesting study (Morse
& Gergen, 1970).
Feedback from Others

Positive and negative criticisms also create an impact on self-

concept. People talk about us or how they discriminate us give an
important aspect in shaping the selfconcept. The amount of
criticism, feedback we sometimes freely give, helps shape the
current self-concept of what we choose to be or not. As we grow old,
the number of significant and non-significant people in our lives also
grows. Everyone contributes in reshaping the self-concept. Even our
ability to accomplish something or destroy our selves comes from
painful remarks or constructive criticism of others. In child-rearing,
especially the parents, has a unique and essential role in rei
nforcing and shaping the self-concept.
 As children, we receive direct feedback from them. Their constant
approval and disapproval set guidelines for what should be or not,
shaping and inputting the values and characteristics of the children
and, later, becoming what they are when they grow. The saying
“Kung ano ang puno ay siyang bunga”,is a testament output family
values instilled inchildhood rearing practices. Aside from children
comparing their actions from others, they also compare themselves
to their parents. That is why sometimes, even when our parents are
gone, we still have their characteristics and values; we
unconsciously accept this as our self-concept, along with their
approvals and disapprovals.
 Most of us, especially when we are young, take
this sort of feedback to heart. Thus, it is no
surprise that studies find an association between
parents’ views of a child and the child’s selfconcept
(Wylie, 1979). There is even more substantial
evidence for a relationship between children’s
perception of their parents’ attitudes toward them
and their self-perception (Wylie, 1979).
Cultural Values/ Cultural Guidelines
Self-concept is also indirectly influenced by
cultural values. In the study of Cultural
Psychology, in this age of technology and social
media, we accept our differences, especially on how
we accept the culture and beliefs of others.
Japanese society does not tolerate corruption; the
Philippines has always been influenced or has
always had that familial clinging of thinking and
protectiveness
 The Chinese have always thought to have a strong business
minded stand in their points of view. The society in which we are
raised defines what is “good” and “bad” in personality and behavior.
American culture tends to put a premium on individuality,
competitive success, strength and skills. These cultural values
influence how we interpret our behavior. In the Philippines, our
cultural values were shaped by historical colonization, which is
evident in our present society, particularly our strong family ties.
Another is cultural hospitality that is deemed acceptable as our
nature. Even the dismal corruption that has been the perennial
problem of the country also shaped the tolerance of Filipinos as a
way of answering societal problems..
 Having Self-knowledge stems from the actual – self. It derives
from our social interactions of society that provide insight into how
others react to us. It is the same as gaining feedback from others.
The reaction of other people is an essential aspect of gaining actual-
self or our self-image. Even our social roles are adjusted, on how we
view ourselves today, and how ideally (ideal self) what we would like
to be in the future. There is a negotiation that exists between the two
selves, which is complicated by numerous exchanges between the
ideal self and actual self. These exchanges are exemplified in these
social roles, and they are adjusted continuously and re-adjusted.