Department of Education-Region

III TARLAC CITY SCHOOLS

DIVISION
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Email address: tarlac.city@deped.gov.ph/ Tel. No. (045) 470 - 8180

DISCIPLINES AND
IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL
SCIENCES
Quarter 2: Week 8
Learning Activity Sheets
 DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Name: ___________________________________________ Quarter 2 – Week 8

Grade & Section: ___________________________________ Date: ____________

BASIC CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE MAJOR

SOCIAL SCIENCE IDEAS

Background Information:
Aside from Structural-functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic Interactionism
there are other major ideas or principles that pervade the social sciences. These are
Psychoanalysis, Rational Choice, Institutionalism, Feminism, Hermeneutical
Phenomenology, and the Human-Environment System. These are time-tested
intellectual frameworks or theories that explain Man’s behavior, social relationships,
and political and economic endeavors.
One unique characteristic of Man, for instance, is his innate capacity for
volition. Man, as far as we know, is the only species on the planet to possess free
will – the ability to exercise conscious choice of action. But as social science
students we need to ask: how exactly do we exercise free will? How do we
consciously weigh our seemingly endless options or alternatives to come up with the
“best” decisions in everyday life? But come to think of it, are all human actions a
product of conscious choice? Are we really in control – on top of everything else –
when we make decisions? Or are we rather a victim of invisible psychic forces that
compel us to make seemingly voluntary choices?
As HUMSS students, interest in human behavior cannot be overemphasized.
The quest to translate into a workable scientific rationale all of Man’s actions and
socio-economic activities has been the focal point of the existence of all the social
science disciplines. In this learning material we are going to examine two of the most
prominent social theories: Psychoanalysis and the Rational Choice Theory.

A. Psychoanalysis in a nutshell
Founded by the Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud during the 1980’s,
Psychoanalysis is a system of theory and therapy that aims to treat mental,
emotional, and personality disorders in a clinical setting.
As a theory, Psychoanalysis makes use of psychoanalytic theory which is a
specialized psychological approach in understanding the organization and
development of personality through time.
Psychoanalytic theory is interested in the study of the mind, particularly of the
unconscious. According to Freud, there are three levels of the mind – the
conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious or the subconscious. By
understanding the nature and tendencies of each of these qualities of the
mind, we are able to access the inner depths of the human psyche.
 Psychoanalytic theory also postulates that the structure of personality is
divided into three components: The Id, the Ego, and the Superego. These
components of the personality are intimately tied together such that the
activity of one may have an adverse effect on the other.
The development of these personality components goes along with the
psychosexual development of an individual, according to Freud. It is along
these developmental stages of life, from infancy to adulthood, that the
individual personality of a person is formed. It is through these dynamic
phases of physical growth and psychological maturity that the Id, Ego, and
Superego are eventually established.
As a form of therapy, Psychoanalysis is a method of uncovering the mind,
specifically the unconscious. Psychoanalysts do this by a number of
psychological methods such as free association, dream analysis and hypnosis
among others.
The goal of psychoanalysis as a therapy process is to liberate the individual
from all repressed thoughts, emotions and experiences that could have
caused the psychopathological symptoms.

The Three Levels of the Mind

Psychoanalysis rests on the idea that there is an intimate relationship
between the three levels of the mind – the conscious, the preconscious, and
the unconscious/subconscious mind – which exerts tremendous (but often
subtle) influence on human behavior.
1. Conscious – the level of the mind that is self-aware; it is the mind that
is available to us whenever we think and perceive something. It is the
mind that we can control.
2. Preconscious – this is the seat of stored knowledge and memories. It is
halfway between the conscious and the unconscious.
3. Unconscious – the mind that contains all the deep-seated feelings,
thoughts, and instinctive drives that are beyond our awareness. The
unconscious is said to be the door-way towards the deepest recesses
of the human psyche.
The Structure of Personality
Freud contends that the structure of personality has three important
mechanisms: The Id, the Ego, and the Superego. How these three abstract
components interact with one another largely constitutes mental, emotional
and psychological health, or the lack of it, according to Freud.
1. The Id – operates according to the pleasure principle. It is the primitive
and unconscious part of the personality. The Id is the seat of our primal
desires. Its aim is to avoid pain and discomfort and is particularly driven
by aggression and sexual urges. Excessive adherence to the Id without
constraints can lead to dangerous psychological consequences.
2. The Ego – this is the rational part of the personality. It operates
according to the reality principle. The Ego is the mediator between the
Id and the Superego – the component of the personality that reconciles
the conflict between the two.
3. The Superego – operates according to the moral principle and hence, it
is the part that is able to differentiate between right from wrong. It is the
 reward and punishment mechanism of the personality – rewarding us
with positive feelings for doing good but punishing us with guilt feelings
for doing the opposite. It is said that the Superego is the seat of human
conscience.

The Psychosexual Development

Neuroses are troublesome psychological adaptations that are the result of a
faulty negotiation, otherwise known as repressions, between the Id, the Ego,
and the Superego and the origin of these inner conflicts, according to Freud,
can be traced all the way back in childhood. It is for this rationale that an
understanding of the growth and maturity of an individual, both on the physical
and psychological level, is imperative.
1. Oral stage (0-2 years old) – pleasure center revolves around the
mouth. An infant achieves instant gratification through oral activities
such as feeding, sucking, and biting.
2. Anal stage (2-3 years old) – pleasure center focuses on bowel and
bladder elimination. A child learns to respond to some of the demands
of society particularly that of self-control and discipline.
3. Phallic stage (3-7 years old) – pleasure zones are the genitals. It is at
this stage that the child learns the differences between males and
females and becomes aware of sexuality. It is also in this stage,
according to Freud, that a child copes with incestuous sexual feelings
toward a parent of opposite sex (Oedipus and Elektra complexes).
4. Latency stage (age 7 to puberty) – the stage where the child continues
to develop physiologically and psychologically while his/her sexual
urges remain relatively dormant. It is in this stage that gender identity
begins to form.
5. Genital stage (from puberty onwards) – the full realization of sexual
interest begins in this stage. The growing and maturing adolescent
shakes off old dependencies and learns to deal and gets sexually
attracted with the opposite sex.
Freud postulates that the natural dynamics between the Id and the Superego
(primal desires vs. ideal/moral principles) inevitably results in psychic conflicts
in the unconscious. And as an individual undergoes his/her psychosexual
development, these accumulated conflicts (neuroses) manifest themselves in
ways that adversely affect mental and psychological health.

B. The Rational Choice Theory in a nutshell

Rational Choice theory is an economic and sociological principle that
postulates that individuals make economic and everyday decisions, based on
logic and reason, that maximizes one’s personal utility. Rational choice theory
explains that aspect of Man’s behavior that deals with human action –
proposing that ultimately, the highest amount of satisfaction or fulfillment of
one’s individual desire is the most rational consideration in the
decision-making process.
As an economic principle, the rational choice theory conveniently explains
consumer behaviorism – the how and why a particular buyer, for example, will
choose a specific product over the other on the basis of the benefits it
 provides vis-à-vis the cost, risk or investment. The advertising industry, for
instance, has exploited all range of media technologies over the years by
coming up with highly creative and enticing advertisements just to be able to
gain some mental and psychological influence over targeted markets, hence,
influencing the consumers to choose their products over the competitors. The
rational choice theory, as an economic perspective, offers a simple, direct,
and pragmatic explanation to the utilitarian tendencies of human nature.
As a sociological principle, the rational choice theory shifts its focus from
consumer behaviorism to social behaviorism. The basic tenet of the rational
choice theory is that the agglomeration of social behavior results inevitably
from individual action. These individual actors, each of whom making their
respective subjective decisions, collectively constitute social phenomena. In
the social sciences this idea is otherwise known as Methodological
Individualism.
Hence, the following are the basic premises of the Rational Choice Theory:
1. Social and economic behavior is the result of individual actions
2. Individual actions are the result of individual choices and decisions
3. Individual choices are made based on prudent, logical reasoning
4. Human logical reasoning is benefit-oriented and is geared towards the
satisfaction of individual desire.

Learning Competency:
Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social science ideas
● Psychoanalysis
● Rational Choice
​Activity 1:
​Directions: Try to recall one of the earliest childhood memories that you have.
Describe that chosen memory in detail as hard as you can remember and write
anything that comes to your mind (free association) with regards to that particular
childhood memory.

My earliest childhood memory is ______________________________________

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*you may write at the back of this paper or on a separate sheet of paper in case the space provided above is not enough
 Guide questions:
1. How does that childhood memory make you feel? Do you consider it as
a good memory or a bad one?
2. What do you think made that particular childhood experience so
powerful that you are able to recall it at will anytime from your memory
bank?
3. As far as you can analyze, how do you think this childhood experience
of yours affected you, one way or another, as an adolescent?

​Activity 2:

Directions: Recall a particular experience in your life when you were put in a
situation where you have two choices between two equally good/bad choices. Given
that you have the chance to reevaluate your options and redo your decision, how will
you go about with your decision-making process? How can you be sure that your
choice will bring about the maximum benefits that you desire?

Using the S-W-O-T analysis table provided below, evaluate the strengths (S),
weaknesses (W), Opportunities (O), and threats (T) of the available choices of your
given problem. Write as many as you can identify for each of these SWOT
parameters and base from which you will decide on which of your two choices will
bring you maximum benefit or satisfaction.

My problem: ______________________________________________________
​ (sample problem: will I take up a business course or a medical course in college?)

Option #1: Option #2:

My S-W-O-T
analysis _______________________ ________________________
(sample option #1: Business course) (sample option #2: Medical course)

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

I choose option # _____ because:

 Activity 3:

​ irections: Read and carefully analyze the case of Martha narrated below.
D
Using the available details in the narration, rationalize Martha’s behavior using
Psychoanalysis and Rational Choice theories, respectively. Write a hypothetical
justification of Martha’s attitude towards men and relationships using the two social
science theories.

Martha is a smart, beautiful, and attractive young woman. She was a

consistent beauty pageant contender during her high-school and college years and
was a consistent honor student as well. Martha graduated summa cum laude from a
prestigious university and is now a rich, successful and famous practicing lawyer at a
very young age.

However, Martha is not as equally successful when it comes to relationships.

There are a number of wealthy, good-looking men who are interested with her and
would love to court her, but Martha doesn’t want to go too far as to develop any
romantic interest in them. For Martha, all men are basically the same – that they are
weak, deceitful, and difficult to be with.

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Reflection: ​Complete the statements below.

I have learned that Hermeneutical Phenomenology, as a social science

theory,is____________________________________________________________
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I have learned that Human Environment System, as a social science theory, is

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References:

Abulencia, et al. First Edition, 2017. Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences. Teacher’s
Guide. Department of Education. Pasig City: Haus of Serah Printing and Trading
Corp.

Dela Cruz, et al. 2016. Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences. Quezon City:
Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

Answer Key

Activity 1:
Answers may vary depending on the learner’s personal experiences, views and opinions. This activity is designed to
demonstrate to the learners how the meaning of a particular object, situation or event is extracted more clearly when it
is stripped of cultural and societal prejudices.

Activity 2:
Answers may vary. The quote chosen in this activity exemplifies the essence of Hermeneutical Phenomenology.
Learners are expected to come up with an in-depth analysis of the quotation that is indicative of a clear understanding
of the ideas presented in the philosophical method.

Activity 3:
Answers may vary. By contrasting and reconciling these basic human demands, the learners will be able to exhibit a
clear understanding and analysis of the basic precepts of the Human Environment System theory.

Prepared by:

NOEL M. GUTIERREZ
Teacher II