COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UNDERSTANDING
the
SELF

Period Covered: Week 1 – 6

(Preliminary Term)

Prepared by:

Diane Angelika Nicole Novicio

Instructors
 MODULE 1

LESSON TOPICS TARGET SCHEDULE

A PHILOSOPICAL
JOURNEY TO ▪ Socrates
DISCOVERING THE ▪ Plato
SELF ▪ St. Augustine of Hippo
▪ Rene Descartes
▪ John Locke
▪ David Hume Week 1-2
▪ Immanuel Kant
▪ Sigmund Freud
▪ Gilbert Ryle
▪ Paul Churchland
▪ Maurice Merleau-Ponty

THE SELF AS A SOCIAL ▪ The Self as Embedded

CONSTRUCT in Culture
▪ Mead’s Theory on the
Development of the
Self Week 3-4
▪ The Self in Western
and Oriental Thought
▪ The Self in the Modern
Society
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ▪ Self/Self-Concept
SELF ▪ Real & Ideal Selves
▪ Self-Esteem & Self-
Efficacy
Week 5-6
 Lesson 1
A PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNEY TO DISCOVERING THE SELF
Suggested Timeframe: Two Weeks

Topics Covered:

▪ Socrates
▪ Plato
▪ St. Augustine of Hippo
▪ Rene Descartes
▪ John Locke
▪ David Hume
▪ Immanuel Kant
▪ Sigmund Freud
▪ Gilbert Ryle
▪ Paul Churchland
▪ Maurice Merleau-Ponty

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

▪ Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of
the self from various disciplines and perspectives.
▪ Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across
different disciplines and perspectives.
▪ Examine the different influences, factors and forces that shape
the self.

Attract (Engage)

If somebody asks your friend who is __ (you), how would you like your
friend to answer that question about you?
 Research (Explore)

Make a timeline of your life by identifying 5 key events in your life that
have greatly shaped who you are. Identify the event, the year and what
were the changes (if any) in your looks and personality that occurred?

1. How did these events impact your life?

2. What do you think should be added in the list for people to really understand
you?
3. Do you think you have a good idea of who you are?
4. Do you feel misunderstood by people?
5. Ask your parents/ friends/ family members about an event in your life that they
will never forget. Compare their list to yours.

Implant (Explain)

Philosophy has always sought to answer life's difficult questions and has
relentlessly pursued answers to these no matter how seemingly futile the
quest may be. This unit will discuss selected philosopher's answer to the question,
“Who am I”? That question may be one of the most difficult to answer and has
garnered attention right from the start of man's self –reflection. But no matter how
difficult it is, we cannot just ignore the question and leave it unanswered. What we
do and our reaction to the world has a lot to do with how we see ourselves. In an age
where the pursuit of one's happiness and celebrating one's identity seem to be at the
forefront, that question still has no easy answer. Just what exactly are we?
What do we even mean by the “SELF?” Are we souls, organic bodies or merely a
figment of another's imagination? Are we just minds or a combination of body and
mind? Will I survive bodily death because I am more than a body or when my body
is dead, that's really the end? Or maybe, I am actually a robot controlled by some
entity?

The philosophical quest is aimed at unraveling who man is and his nature by looking,
not just on the everyday goals of man, but to determine-what ultimately is man, his
goals and his essence.

We will now take a look at how some great minds from our history approach that lack
a question. The illustrations in the figure below show a visual summary of the
discussion.

1. Socrates

Trivia: Socrates never wrote a book and most of the

things we know about him came from Xenophon and his
prized student-Plato. This is also the reason why it is
sometimes difficult to differentiate Socrates ' idea from
Plato's.

Born in Athens and married with several children, he is

also known as the market philosopher because of his
penchant for engaging youths in philosophizing in public
markets. (Law, S. 2007) He directed philosophy's
attention from the universe to an examination of our existence in the universe. The
question of who man is, was held in such high esteem by Socrates that he also said,"
An unexamined life is not worth living” (Plato's Apology, 38a 5-6).

Here, there is an urgent call to examine one's life, for it is in the examination that we
can know ourselves.For him, there was soul first before man's body. Man's existence
was first in the realm of ideas and exists as a soul or pure mind. This soul has
knowledge by direct intuition and all these are stored in his mind. However, once he
came to the material world or the world of senses, he forgot most of what he knew.
This resulted in lack of knowledge or ignorance which causes problems to man.

But, knowledge can be restored through the process of dialectic method- a sort of
intellectual midwifery trying to painfully coax knowledge out of man. This process,
which is also known as Socratic method is an exchange of question and answer that
ultimately aims to make the person remember all the knowledge

2. Plato.

If we are ever to have pure knowledge of anything, we must get rid of the
body and contemplate things by themselves with the soul by itself (Phaedo
66a)

He was born into an aristocratic Athenian family which is

involved in the rule of Thirty Tyrants. He also later in life
founded the Academy, now considered as the prototype of the
modern university. (Law, S., 2007) An important part of his
philosophy is the dichotomy of the Ideal world or the world of
Forms and the Material world.

The world of Forms is the permanent, unchanging reality as

opposed to the world of Materials which keeps on changing.
The Material world is what we see around us, and for Plato,
this- where we live, is just a replica of the real world found in
the world of Forms.

This dichotomy is reflected in his idea of the nature of man. He believed that human
beings are composed of two things, a body and a soul. It is the soul which is the
true self-the permanent, unchanging Self. The changing body, however, or what we
see in the material world on the other hand, is not the real self but only a replica of
our true Self. This is the reason why it is constantly changing- getting older, changing
shape, etc. The soul exists before birth and leaves room for the possibility that it
might survive bodily death.

The body is seen as some sort of a prison. We can free ourselves from the
imprisonment of our bodily senses through contemplation. Contemplation entails
communion of the mind with universal and eternal ideas. We continue to exist even
in the absence of our bodies because we are Souls only.

3. Augustine

"But my sin was this, that I looked for pleasure, beauty, and truth not in
Him but in myself and His other creatures, and the search led me instead
to pain, confusion, and error. "-(Confessions, AD 397-400)

This self-confessed sinner from North Africa, who later became

the Bishop of Canterbury was greatly inspired by Plato. In his
younger years, he abandoned his early Christian faith because
he found it difficult to reconcile a loving, all-knowing and all-
powerful God with the evils in the world (Law, S., 2007). His
encounter with the Neo-Platonists and the idea of the world of
Forms gave him a philosophical strongpoint for the idea of God
and paved way for his return to the folds of Christianity.

Taking his cue from the two worlds of Plato, he now

differentiated what is the real world and the temporary world.
According to him, (AD 426) our world (world of materials) is not
our final home but just a temporary home where we are just
passing through. Our real world is found in the world where there is permanence and
infinity- that’s the world where God is. Only God is fully real-as the unchanging,
permanent being and he sees God as the ultimate expression of love.

When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which
Thou hast ordained; What is a man, that Thou art mindful of him and he son of man,
that Thou hast visited him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,
and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over
the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet. (Ps 8:3-6)

Thus, out of love, God created man. Man is in fact, created in the image of God. He
has an immortal soul whose main pursuit is to have an everlasting lite with God. In
this world, man pursues happiness, but this can only be achieved in God alone. He
also goes on to say that moral law exists and is imposed on the mind. Reason makes
us recognize these laws and thus, we can discern the distinction between right and
wrong. There is an Eternal Law which should be universally followed because this is
coming from the Eternal Reason or God Himself. This eternal law is the law of
conscience and this conscience is that small still voice that tells us instinctively
whether our actions are morally good or bad.
4. Rene Descartes

I think, therefore; I am. (Discourse on the Method, 1637)

Considered as the Father of Modern Philosophy this

Frenchman was also a brilliant mathematician (note:
Cartesian Geometry).I think, therefore, I am or also known
as Cogito (Cogito ergo sum), emphasizes the
consciousness of his mind which leads to an evidence of
his existence- despite the fact that he is doubting the
existence of everything physical, including his own body.
This has led him to the conclusion that his essence lay in
being a purely thinking being, because even if he can doubt
whether he has real body or it’s just a trick of his senses,
one thing he cannot doubt is that he is thinking. This, in a
way, echoes the dualism of Plato (Discourse, 1637).

The mind and the body are separate and very distinct from one another but he also
believes (this time now, he veers away from Plato) that the mind is conjoined with
the body in such an intimate way that they causally act upon each other. For example,
when I talk about myself, I talk about my body. The way I act and how I should
perform something necessarily includes the use of my body. I cannot act without my
body. And though I say MY body, it is not mine as possessing something different
from me, like a cup of coffee. This body, in a way is also me because I cannot separate
myself from it. In the same way that I say I have a mind. When you encounter my
mind, it is already me that you are encountering, so I am my body and my mind, but
these two are still distinct from each other.

5. John Locke

What worries you, masters you. (An Essay Concerning Human

Understanding, 1689)

Trivia: He is known as the “Father of Classical

Liberalism” because of his contribution to the formation of
human rights.

He is the first of the great British empiricist philosophers and

is widely credited for laying the foundation of human rights
and his commitment to the idea that the sovereign should
be the people and not the monarch. The influence of
Descartes in his work is seen in his dualism. However, unlike
the first few philosophers discussed, he thinks (1975) that
our identity is not locked in the mind, soul or body only. He included the concept of
a person's memory in the definition of the self.

He subscribes to the memory theory that holds we are the same person as we were
in the past for as long as we can remember from that past. I am connected to that
past for as long as I and another person can remember that and still be aware of the
present. Thus, as long as somebody remembers or as long as my memories are
around, I am around.

6. David Hume

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never
pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them. (Hume, Treatise
of Human Nature, 1738)

Just like Locke, he is an empiricist and regarded the senses

as our key source of knowledge. He (1738) does believe in
the existence of the mind and what's inside the mind is
divided into two: impressions and ideas. Impressions
are those things we perceive through our senses as we
experience them. Like when I see the sky, and my sense
of sight tells me I am looking at a blue sky. That is now my
impression. On the other hand, ideas are those things that
we create in our minds even though we are no longer
experiencing them. For example, even when I'm already
inside my room and can no longer see the sky, I can still
think of the idea of the sky and might even combine that
idea with another idea. Thus, I can think of blue sky, clouds and maybe some passing
airplanes as well. Whenever we think of simple ideas, it must have as a basis a simple
impression.

His idea of the self follows this philosophical pattern. In his Treatise on Human Nature,
Hume (1738), argues that when he looks into his mind, he finds a stream of
impressions and ideas, but no impression corresponding to a self that endures
through time.

The self keeps on changing, like how one looks, one feels, one thinks- they constantly
change. He concludes that the self is nothing over and above the stream of
perceptions we enjoy. An "enduring self” is just a fiction produced by our imagination.
(Law, 2007). There is no permanent and unchanging self. A person is a bundle of
perception. “I” will be constantly changing because the different experiences one has
for every constant change will affect and re shape that person. Thus, we cannot
observe any permanent self because we continuously undergo change. In conclusion,
there is no self.
7. Immanuel Kant

“All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the
understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than
reason.” (The Critique of Pure Reason, 1781)

For his idea of the self, Kant (1781) believes that

man is a free agent, capable of making a
decision for himself. His philosophy centers and
revolves around the inherent dignity of a human
being. As a free agent, man is gifted with reason
and free will.

The necessity of his being free is tested in his

decision to be moral. An individual has the free
will to be moral or not. A moral person is one
who is driven by duty and acts towards the
fulfillment of that duty. Thus, for us to know
what is our duty, we have to rationally deliberate
on it and not expect that a higher authority will
hand it automatically to us, and certainly we
cannot let the arbitrariness of emotion guide us.
Only a free agent will be able to make a rational deliberation, hence he alone is the
moral agent of himself.

It is also because we acknowledge that each. individual is capable of thinking that we

must give them respect by treating every individual as ends in themselves and never
as a means. This means that every person should not be exploited and used.. Hence,
it's easy for us to see his views on slavery, prostitution, bribery, etc- which reduces
man to a thing and therefore, considered as morally wrong acts. In refuting Hume's
idea that there is no self, he said (1781) that since man is gifted with reason and free
will, man can organize the data gathered by the senses. From these data, and the
way we organize the data, we can now have a good idea of a man.

8. Sigmund Freud

“The ego is not master in its own house." (Letter to his fiancée, Martha
Bernays, 2 June 1884)

His works center on the mind and its development. One of his famous ideas was the
tripartite division of man's mind- the id, ego and the superego. The Id represents
man's biological nature, (The Charnel House, 2015) the impulses and the bodily
desires. The Superego represents the ethical component
of the personality and provides the moral standards by
which the ego operates.

In a man's stages of development, the id and the

superego will find themselves clashing against each other,
with the superego trying to control the impulses of Id and
the Id trying to satisfy its urges. The winner of this inner
battle will be manifested in the Ego, which is the self.

Hence the quote above. Things are not in control of the

ego, but the ego only manifests the winner between the
two. If ego behaves, then superego won. If ego
misbehaves, then Id won. This battle is all taking place in
the subconscious. The realm of the ego is found in the
conscious.

9. Gilbert Ryle

“Minds are things, but different sorts of things from bodies.” (The Concept
of the Mind, 1949)

For Descartes, the mind is found a non-physical entity within

the body, which then produces human behavior. This to him
is the because error, a talk about the mind is simply a talk
about behavior. The mind is not distinct from the body, but
rather refers to certain aspects of our bodies.

In fact, Ryle (1949, p130) he claims of exorcising the dogma

of the Ghost in the Machine, referring to the Cartesian
category. Ryle gives this example (p132). Suppose that your
parents went to your university and ask you to tour them
around. You show them the library, the rooms, the gym.
However, they look disappointed and so you ask them what
is wrong. They answer that they ask you to tour them around
the university, instead you show them the library, rooms,
etc. They do not realize that the term university refers to the whole thing and not
one specific building. This is how Descartes made the category a mistake. Like the
university, the concept of the mind expresses the entire system of thoughts,
emotions, actions, and so on that make up the human self (Ryle, 1949).

The mind is not like a specific, separate entity but is certainly a part of our body.
Ideally, the separation of mind/soul and body could be possible, but in practice- this
is hardly the case. The only way by which we can know how the mind is working is
through the behavior of the person, hence we can only know a person through how
a man behaves, their tendencies and reactions in certain circumstances.

10. Paul Churchland

"We do have an organ for understanding and recognizing moral facts. It is

called the brain." (A Neurocomputational Perspective, 1989)

Known for his Eliminative Materialism, this American

professor from the University of California, in partnership
with his wife, believes that the self is the brain. With the
advent of science and learning more about the nuances of
the brain, it becomes clear to Churchland that the term
"mind, our moods, emotions, actions, consciousness are
deeply affected by the state of our brain. That by
manipulating certain parts of our brain, our feelings,
actions and physical state are successfully altered. It is
only a matter of time before we can fully comprehend how
the brain works for us to understand how it creates the Self.

11. Maurice Merleau-Ponty

"We know not through our intellect but through our experience."

This French philosopher is known more for his existentialist

philosophy. This naturally reflects on his idea of the self. For
him (1962), a person is defined by virtue of movement and
expression. To be a self is to be more than one's body. It
includes all the things that I will do with my body, how I will act
on it and how I will make it act in consonance with other human
beings. I am the sum of all that I make my body do. This
includes the interpretation of the past and how I actually make
decisions in the present.

The self is grounded on the experiences from the past, the

possibilities for the future and the present cognition. He (1962)
approaches the idea of self as a continuous flow of movement
and expression from infancy to adulthood. Our perception of
who we are is strictly tied to our own bodily development. For example, an infant can
have awareness of itself only when it learns to control its eye movement and learns
to interpret the data provided by the external (as opposed to its internal self) world.
The self is a product of our conscious human experience. The definition of self is all
about one's perception of one's experience and the interpretation of those
experiences.

Set Out (Elaborate)

In your own words, state the what “self” is for each of the following
philosophers. After doing so, explain how your concept of “self” is
compatible with how they conceived the “self”.

1. Socrates

2. St. Augustine

3. David Hume

4. Gilbert Ryle

5. Plato
 Evaluate:

What pattern have you created in your life? It may be your daily pattern,
pattern in decision making or the pattern of what types of people you
choose to be part of your life. Analyze it carefully because we might be
‘automatically' living and not examining our lives.

ESSAY RUBRIC
Did not answer question. 0 pt
Answers are partial or incomplete. Key points are not 10pts
clear. Question not adequately answered.
Answers are not comprehensive or completely stated. 11-14 pts
Key points are addressed, but not well supported.
Answers are accurate and complete. Key points are 15-18 pts
stated and supported.
Answers are comprehensive, accurate and complete. 19-20 pts
Key ideas are clearly stated, explained, and well
supported.
REFERENCES:

Books:

Chaffee, John (2015). The Philosopher’s Wat: Thinking Critically about Profound
Ideas. 5th Ed. Boston: Pearson.

Ganeri, Johnson (2012). The Self: Naturalism, Consciousness, and the First-Person
Stance. New York: Oxford University Press

Palean, E.D.V et al. (2018). Introspection: Understanding the Self. Mandaluyong

City: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.

Plato (2017). The Republic. Germany: BookRix.

Augustine, AD 426 (2012). City of God, Books XI-XXII. Translatil. Translation by

William Babcock. New City Press

Online References:

Brayley, E. (2014). Hume. Retrieved from:

http://www.timothyministry.com/2014/11/david-hume-and-problem-of-evil.html

Cubas, N. (2013). The Self. Retrieved from

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Self.jpg

IFPS (2016). Plato. Retrieved from

https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/A
ugustine_of_Hippo.html

Troscianko, J. (2016). Churchland. Retrieved from:

<https://sfcmadrid.wordpress.com/tag/churchland/
 Lesson 2
THE SELF AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT
Suggested Timeframe: Two Weeks

Topics Covered:

▪ The Self as Embedded in Culture

▪ Mead’s Theory on the Development of the Self
▪ The Self in Western and Oriental Thought
▪ The Self in the Modern Society

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

▪ Articulate what culture means to the self as part of the society
▪ Attribute self-understanding and behavior to cultural factors
▪ Compare how the self is perceived and constructed from the
Western and Eastern point of view
▪ Create a position paper on a current issue and identify how own’s
culture may influence their stand

Attract (Engage)

Our lives as Filipinos are guided by various superstitions. From the

moment one was born, as they are growing up, and even at their death,
there will always be superstitions that could be associated with it. Do
you believe in superstitions? What superstition have greatly affected your life so
far?
 Research (Explore)

Aside from believing in superstitions, Filipinos are fond of celebrations.

What celebration or festivity is unique in your locality? Why do people
celebrate them? What is the importance of having such festivities?

Implant (Explain)

Knowing the self requires understanding our society and its culture, and
how it provokes us to make decisions which are culturally influenced
and socially constructed. It is one big chunk to helping analyze our self-
understanding. It is quite impossible to ultimately know the self without
comprehending the culture of our society.

The self, as a social being is influenced by his culture. As products of it, we mirror
the values, traditions, and beliefs that our society holds dear. These concepts are
embedded in the culture of our people – the impact of which permeates in the very
soul of the social self.

The Self as Embedded in Culture

Culture has been a very important part of our lives. Ever since we are born, we are
exposed to various practices and actions reflective of our culture. When we were
children, our parents taught us what we should and should not do, laying the
foundation for the values that we have today. Growing up, we meet different people
that changes our perceptions and widens our perspectives on certain aspects of our
society. Hence, culture has been one of the forces that shape our views and
inherently, molding our personalities as well.

Sir Edward B. Tylor, founder of cultural anthropology, classically defined culture as

“that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws,
customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired as a member of society”.
Anthropology is the inclusive study of the human race, its culture and society. On
the other hand, sociology is defined as the scientific study of human life, social
groups, whole societies and the human world whose subject matter is our own
behavior and social beings in a relationship with many other people. Although these
disciplines are viewed as independent, both may contribute to our understanding of
the social context we are moving in and may provide insights on how this affect our
understanding of ourselves. Anthropology sheds light on the nature of man relative
to his cultural context, while sociology enhances our understanding of the self in
relation the social relationships and the behaviors found in our society.

Experts describe culture as having two aspects: material and nonmaterial culture.
Material culture consists of human technology – all things that people make and
use. Everything that we see, from the gadgets that we have, to the food that we
cook and eat, to the clothes that we wear, are all parts of our material culture.
Thus, material culture also refers to those tangible objects that represent one’s
culture. For example, the Badjaos, an ethnic group in Mindanao, have houseboats
which represents their identities of being sea dwellers and excellent fishermen.

Nonmaterial culture, in contrast, refers to the intangible aspects of our culture

inclusive of our beliefs, values, norms, and symbols. For example, pakikipagkapwa-
tao, or the openness and and feelings of oneness with others, is an inherent Filipino
value. This guides us to treat other people with dignity and in a way, influences us
to be more emphatic and responsive to the needs of others. Our nonmaterial
culture also influences how we view or use our material culture. For instance, a
group that values conservatism may not be welcoming of technology and may
choose not to use electric or mobile gadgets as a means to preserve their own
practices.

One distinct characteristic of culture is that it is dynamic. Because humans have the
capacity to create and innovate, the developments that humans make do not only
affect a specific aspect of their life but in a way also changes the culture around
them. Smartphones before had been purchased because of their utility or function.
Nowadays, smartphones have become a status symbol. Owning a specific model
and brand of smartphone give a person a sense of fulfillment at some point.

Although material culture may be vulnerable to changes over time, nonmaterial

culture tends to be more unchanging. For instance, as Filipinos, we still hold dearly
to our values of hospitality and religiosity. This is very evident in how we celebrate
our localities’ patron saints. During these celebrations, only the finest of dishes and
kitchenware were served and given to our visitors.

This would also imply that our traditional values could affect our stand on current
issues. Globally, there have been movements to downplay conservatism, a
previously favored value, in favor of self-expression, if not equality for all,
regardless of color, race, or even gender preferences. For example, countries have
been making legal jurisdictions on same-sex marriage. This shows that in this day
and age, equality and freedom from discrimination are seen as human values that
are ought to be accorded to everyone regardless of their gender identity and sexual
preference.

To conclude, the self is linked to their culture. Understanding one’s self must also
mean an understanding of the social context that person is a part of. Furthermore,
when our culture changes, the social self is put into a conflict of whether upholding
their values or change their worldviews and behaviors.

Mead’s Development of the Stages of the Self

As mentioned, the self emerges as part of the society. George Herbert Mead
theorized that an individual sees themselves as the focus of everything, until such
time that the self emerges because of the influence of those who play a prominent
role in their self-development.

He argued that for the self to emerge, it has to go through three distinct stages:
preparatory, play, and game stages. The first stage, the preparatory stage, is when
children learn through imitation. As children start to imitate, they eventually learn
the importance of communication and social interaction. The second stage, the play
stage is when children realizes the importance of social interaction and is evident in
the tendency of children to pretend to be somebody else. You may have a memory
of you as a child pretending to be your parents, or doctors, or chefs, and so on.
Mead also argued that during this stage, children are now capable of role-taking, or
taking the perspective of others. In other words, if a child is pretending to be a
doctor, they will do what they think doctors do based on how they know it. During
the game stage, children now start to understand the attitudes, beliefs, and
behaviors of what Mead referred to as the generalized others – or the society as a
whole. They begin to realize that they need to behave in a way that corresponds
not only to how they think they should behave, but to how the society thinks they
should behave. They also begin to realize that other people must have opinions
about them and these opinions depend on how they behave and what they say. In
response, they start to monitor their behaviors based on how they think others will
respond to their behaviors. However, they are not concerned about everyone’s
reactions but only of the reactions of the significant others in their lives – or people
who have important relationships to them.

Mead’s theory provided a valuable insight on the relationship of our society to the
forming of our self. It implies that as social beings, we are aware of the
expectations our society have on us and that we are trying to form our self in a way
that we meet the expectations of people around us who we deep are important to
us.

The Self in the Western and Oriental Thought

Western and Eastern countries have different cultures. Since culture affects how we
view and construct our self, it will be likely that individuals coming from these
countries will have two different personalities.
The most prominent argument regarding the difference between the Western and
Eastern cultures is the distinction between having an independent (individualistic)
and interdependent (collectivistic) self, with the self in the Western cultures being
independent, while the self that exists in Eastern cultures are more collectivistic.

In an individualistic culture, the self is a separate entity from the community and
decides for themselves. The ultimate goal of the self is to self-actualize, which
means to achieve one’s potentials, not minding the expectations of the social group
where the self is a part of. The self is independent in the sense that they rely on
their own strength and recognizes the importance of free will for his own good.

On the contrary, the self in a collectivistic culture sees themselves as part of a

group, be it their nuclear family, their friends, and even their co-workers. Thus, the
person does not decide only for themselves but considers the opinion and reactions
of other people. The table below show other differences between an individualistic
and collectivistic culture.

Source: https://fiproject200.weebly.com/differences-in-societies.html

The Self as a Product of the Modern World

The current age is characterized by globalization, the internet, and fast-evolving

technologies. Communication, whether for personal or business purposes, happen
borderlessly through video conferencing, email, or instant messages. There is a
current trend of shifting from traditional face-to-face transactions to virtual and
online activities. Smartphones and gadgets get updated almost annually.

These changes forced us to confront our traditions, challenge our pre-existing belief
systems, and expose the strengths and weaknesses of our own world views. The
digital environment now allows us to curate a version of our self – which may or
may not reflect our true identity.

Set Out (Elaborate)

Answer the following questions below.

1. According to statista.com (2020), as of 2019, there were almost

74 million Facebook users in the Philippines. Facebook is an example of social
networking sites that allow users to create their profile and share and post
updates which their “friends” can view. What do you think are the
advantages and disadvantages of having an online identity in terms of
understanding our self? Cite personal examples where this medium led to
your own self-discovery.

2. In the Western context, when a person turns 18, the age when he is
perceived to make mature decisions, they are given the freedom to live on
their own, be independent, and orchestrate a life of their own. Do you think
this practice could be applicable to collectivistic cultures? How do you think
this could help you to have more self-discovery and understanding?
 Evaluate:

Choose one social issue prevalent in the country today. What is your
stand on this issue? How do you think your culture influenced your
answer?

ESSAY RUBRIC
Did not answer question. 0 pt
Answers are partial or incomplete. Key points are not 10pts
clear. Question not adequately answered.
Answers are not comprehensive or completely stated. 11-14 pts
Key points are addressed, but not well supported.
Answers are accurate and complete. Key points are 15-18 pts
stated and supported.
Answers are comprehensive, accurate and complete. 19-20 pts
Key ideas are clearly stated, explained, and well
supported.
References:

khanacademymedicine. (2015, January 23). George Herbert Mead- The I and the
me | Individuals and society | MCAT | Khan Academy. Retrieved from
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMNaQjtXSGc

Palean, E. D., Nazario, M. D., Valero, J. G., & Descartin, I. L. (2018). Introspection:
Understanding the self. Mandaluyong: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.

Sanchez, M. (2020, July 19). Number of Facebook users in the Philippines from
2017 to 2019 with a forecast until 2025. Retrieved from Statista.com:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/490455/number-of-philippines-facebook-
users/#:~:text=As%20of%202019%2C%20there%20were,would%20be%2
0around%2088.1%20million.

Valdeavilla, R. (2018, April 25). A guide to the indigenous tribes of the Philippines.
Retrieved from Culture trip:
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/a-guide-to-the-
indigenous-tribes-of-the-philippines/
 Lesson 3
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF
Suggested Timeframe: Two Weeks

Topics Covered:

▪ Self/Self-Concept
▪ Real & Ideal Selves
▪ Self-Esteem & Self-Efficacy

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

▪ Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of self
from a psychological perspective.
▪ Examine the different influences, factors, and forces that shape
the psychological self
▪ Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across
the psychological perspective
▪ Demonstrate ethical and reflective thought in analyzing the
development of one’s self and identity by developing a theory of
the self
▪ Create your own definition of the “self” based on the definitions
from psychology.

Attract (Engage)

Activity 1 (Johari Window)

Fill out the window. Write down traits or things that are both
known to you and known to others, both known to you but not known to
other, both not known to others, both not known to you but known to
others, and both not known to you and not known to others.

Known to Self Not Known to Self

Known to others Known to others
 Not Known to Not Known to
others others

Known to Self Not Known to Self

Activity 2 (Mental Mapping)

Write your name on the rectangle/box in the middle and write the words
you associate with yourself in the circle.
 Research (Explore)

Do a research and list ten (10) things to boost your self-esteem or

improve your self-concept. Cite your sources. Analyze which of those tips
are more likely to backfire and make someone conceited or narcissistic
and revise them to make the statements both helpful to the individual as well as
society in general.
 Implant (Explain)

Self / Self-Concept

According to Carl Rogers, the self or our self-concept “is an organized,

consistent set of perceptions of and beliefs about oneself. These perceptions and
beliefs that comprise our self-concept are called self-schemas. Self-schemas are
formed by numerous factors that we may be aware or unaware of, some of which
are:

1. Past experiences
2. Personality traits
3. Abilities
4. Physical features
5. Values
6. Goals
7. Social roles
8. Own observations
9. Feedback from others

Looking into each of the factors/self-schemas that affect our self-concept, what
similar trait do you think may be the reason why our self-concept can be fluid? One
possible answer is that all factors are dynamic, ever changing in a way that it grows,
improves, or lessens as we go through life everyday and expose ourselves to various
interactions and media content. Our self-schemas “influence not only current
behavior but also future behavior.”

Real & Ideal Selves

Rogers asserted that we have two selves:

1. Ideal self – person we want to be; idealized version of ourself; how I should
be
2. Actual self – who we actually are; how I see me

One notion of both selves are results of our self-schemas. Our ideal self is essential
in guiding and motivating us to behave in a way that would lead us to be the best
version of who we want to be. “Possible selves are one’s conceptions about the kind
of person one might become in the near future”. The ideal self can be a helpful
motivation in guiding the real self to strive and continue improving.

In achieving the ideal self or any goal, numerous studies emphasize the importance
of visual imagining exercises. It is best that we know as accurate as possible who we
want to become or achieve. Being as specific as possible is beneficial in visual
imagining so we may vividly see our ideal self taking shape.
Sometimes, however, possible selves are negative and represent what you fear you
might become. Though negative, this can still help us in figuring out the ideal self we
want to become. However, it is best to keep in mind to focus on the positive and the
person or goal to be achieved and not the person or goal to be avoided.

At this point, hopefully, you already have an idea of your ideal and real self. Looking
into your ideal and real self, how aligned are they? According to Rogers, the
congruence or incongruence between the ideal and real self has effects on our self-
esteem.

When we feel good about ourselves, it is said that there is congruence or alignment
or there is a small gap between our real self and ideal self. This gives us confidence,
satisfaction and a sense of self-actualization or fulfilment leading to a high self-
esteem.

However, when we are disappointed or frustrated about ourselves, it is said that there
is incongruence or misalignment or disparity or a huge gap between our real and
ideal self. This results to us being distressed, anxious, leading to a low self-esteem
or self-worth and be defensive in our actions. In cases wherein the gap between the
real and ideal self is immense, this may cause instability to one’s psychological well-
being.

This gap causes anxiety, and to deal with it, we use two defenses: denial and
perceptual distortion. The process of defense consists of the selective perception or
distortion of the experience and/or the denial to awareness of the experience or some
portion thereof.

Self-Esteem & Self-Efficacy

Self-esteem refers to one’s overall assessment of one’s worth as a person, one’s self-
worth. People with high self-esteem succeed more, have better relationships, and are
happier compared to those with low self-esteem. Our self-esteem refers to how we
value our selves and perceive our worth as a person.

Self-efficacy is how one performs. It is directly correlated with self-esteem. When our
self-efficacy or our performance improves, our self-esteem improves which will lead
to congruence. However, an increase in self-esteem does not always lead to increase
to self-efficacy most especially if no effort was exerted to improve performance. This
is why we have to continuously remind ourselves to be motivated and put that
motivation into action.

For self-esteem and self-efficacy to increase, we have to learn to give unconditional

positive regard to each other. Hopefully, we have experienced being provided with
unconditional positive regard so we may also be able to give the same to others.
 Set Out (Elaborate)

Go back to the activities number 1 & 2 and answer the following

questions.

1. What are your realizations from what are listed on each window? (for
activity #1)
2. What are your realizations based on the words you have written about
yourself? (for activity #2)
Evaluate:

Construct an essay regarding your ideal and real self.

REFERENCES:

Books:

Elmore, K. et al (2012). Self, Self-Concept and Identity. Handbook of Self and

Identity. 2nd Ed. Edited by Mark R. Leary And June Price Tangney; 69-95. New
York: The Guilford Press.

Jhangiani, Rajiv & Hammond, Tarry (2014). Principles of Social Psychology. 1st Ed.
Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
License.

Palean, E.D.V et al. (2018). Introspection: Understanding the Self. Mandaluyong

City: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.

Shope, A. & Bradley, C. (2017). Self, Attitudes, and Emotion Work: Western Social
Psychology and Eastern Zen Buddhism Confront Each Other. USA, NY:Routledge

Weiten, W et al. (2014). Adjust. Student Edition. USA, NY: Wadsworth, Cengage
Learning

Online References:

Cherry, K. (August 25, 2017). Carl Rogers Biography (1902-1987). Histories and
Biographies. Retrieved from https//www.verywellmind.com/carl-rogers-biography-
1902-1987-2795542

Nathan, S. (March 12, 2018). The best sort of investment is always on the self.
Analysis. Gulf News. Retrieved from http://gulfnews.com/business/analysis/the -
best-sort-of-investment-is-always-on-the-self-1.2186479

Self-Esteem: A Help Guide. (2018). Harley Therapy: Psychotherapy and Counselling

in London. Retrieved from https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/self-esteem-help-
guide.htm

Winch, G. (November 2014). Why we all need to practice emotional first aid.
TEDxLinnaeus University. Retrieved from
https//www.ted.com/talks/guy_which_the_case_for_emotional_hygiene?referrer=pl
aylist-the_importance_of_self_care