THE NATURE OF HUMAN

NATURE
PREPARED BY: GROUP III
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

AT THE END OF THE LESSON THE STUDENT MUST BE ABLE TO:

• Discuss the different representation and conceptualization

of the self from the various disciplinal model.

• Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in analyzing

the development of one’s self and identity by developing a
theory of self.
 JOURNEYING BACK TO SELF

Coleman and Hammen gave beautiful account of the human nature in

the following:
• Human nature is anything a group of people share, certain emotions
and feelings: love, hate, honesty, dishonesty, peace, war, working,
loafing; all can be dubbed with the name human nature.

• To men, human nature means just that being ‘human’ with the ability to
experience great joy, sensual pleasure, sorrow, etc. The basic things in
life are these.
 JOURNEYING BACK TO SELF

• I feel that most people are selfish and self centered, that they don’t
think of the consequences, just their immediate satisfaction.

• Human beings are basically good in nature; helpful, generous, but if he

is deprived of his share through some unintentional circumstances, he
may likewise try to deprive others.

• Describing human nature is something that comes out naturally, like

making mistakes or thinking of oneself first. Human nature is hard to
understand.
 ONESELF, FREE OR DETERMINED

• Is man really free? Or his behavior determined by forces beyond his

control. Some philosophers believe that human beings are pawns of
fate. Aeschylus and Sophocles are pervaded by the ancient Greek belief
that men and women are pawns of fate. The Calvinist doctrine of
predestination, which holds that at birth every individual has already
been elected to salvation or condemned to damnation. Is a later
example of philosophic or religious determinism is essentially
predetermination-events are determined by what has happened before.
“What will be, will be.” And we are only puppets who play our parts as it
is written with no chance of altering the script.
DIFFERENT PSYCHOLOGICAL MODELS
THE PSYCHO-ANALYTIC MODEL

• This model is based on the pioneering works of Sigmund

Freud. The major principles are based on the clinical study
of patients undergoing psycho-analysis, a method which
relies heavily on the method of close association in which
the patient is asked to provide an unrestricted account of
whatever comes to mind leaving nothing out.

• Id, ego, and superego. Fundamentals to this model is the

concept that behavior results from the interaction of three
key subsystem within the personality.
A. The id contains the innate, primitive, biological drives
such as hunger, thirst, and aggression.

THESE PRIMITIVE DRIVERS ARE SEEN AS BEING OF

TWO TYPES:
1. Constructive drives, primarily of sexual nature, which
provides the basic energy of life, or libido.

2. Destructive and aggressive urges which are more obscure

but tend toward self-destruction and death.

THE PSYCHO-ANALYTIC MODEL

THE PSYCHO-ANALYTIC MODEL

B. The ego mediates between the demand of the id and the realities
of the external world. Although the primary purpose of the ego is that
meeting id demands, it must do so in such the way as to ensure
individual survival. This require the use of reason and other
intellectual resources dealing with the realities of the external world
as well as the exercise of control over id demands.

C. The superego. Theses refers to the outgrowth of learning

taboos and moral values of society. It is what we refer to as
conscience and is concerned with the good and the bad, the right
and the wrong. It serves as an additional inner control coming into
operation to cope with the uninhabited desire of id.
 THE BEHAVIORISTIC MODEL

• This originates from the early work of John Watson who insisted that if
psychology were ever to become science of behavior, it must limit itself to the
study of events that could be observed objectively.

• Starting from the basic assumption, Watson changed focus of psychology from
inner psychic processes to outer behavior which objectively observable.
Through objective observation of such behavior and the stimulus conditions,
the psychologist could predict human behavior.
• However, this view was expanded by B.F Skinner and other
psychologists. This model makes allowance for behavior which good or
evil, rational or irrational, depending upon the individual’s
conditioning. Rather than attitude the causes of behavior to inferred
constructs, such as an ego and a superego, the behaviorist look for
THE HUMANISTIC MODEL

• This model is characterized more by its positive growth than by coherent

set of principles and personality development and functioning. Several
psychologists contributed to this model: Aliport, Maslow, and Rogers.
This model disagrees with both the psycho-analysis and behaviorist
model, although influence by both.

• This model views the self as a unifying theme.

• Carl Rogers gave important contributions to the development of this
theory in delineating the self-concept:
1. Each individual exists in private world of experience of which he – the I,
me or myself – is the center;

2. The most striving on the individual is toward the maintenance,

enhancement and actualization of the self.

3. The individual reacts to a situation in terms of his unique perceptions of

himself and his world – he reacts to reality as he perceives it and in ways
consistent with his self-concept.

4. Perceived threat to the self is followed by defense – including the

narrowing and rigidification of perception and coping behavior and the
introduction of self-defense mechanism such as rationalization.

5. The individual’s inner tendencies are toward health and wholeness, under
normal conditions, he behaves in rational and constructive ways and
chooses pathways toward personal growth and self-actualization or
fulfilment.
 THE EXISTENTIAL MODEL

• This model has its origin from philosophy and literature than from science. It
stemmed from the writings of Heidegger, Jaspers, Kierkegaard, Sartre and Rollo
May.

• The task of existentialism is to make individual to stand on his own, to shape his
own identity, and to make his existence meaningful – to make his life count for
• something.
A basic theme in existentialism is that man’s existence is given, but that makes
out of it - his essence – is up to him. It is his responsibility to shape the kind of
person he is to become and to live a meaningful life.

• The individual essence is created by the choices. As Sartre puts it: “I am my

choice.” In choosing what he is to become, the individual is seen as having
absolute freedom; even refusing to choose represent a choice.
 
A SYSTEM APPROACH TO
UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR

LIVING SYSTEMS CAN BE SIMPLE OR COMPLEX.

HOWEVER, ALL HAVE CERTAIN PROPERTIES IN
COMMON:
1. Structural Properties – each living system possesses parts of
subsystem which are independent and whose combined action enable
the system to function as an integrated unit.

2. Integrative Properties – Living systems have built-in tendencies to maintain

their organization and functional integrity.

3. Field Properties – Each lower level system is part of a higher – level system.
Living system are “open system” for they are not self-sufficient but not
continue to exist only if they can maintain favorable transactions with their
surroundings.
 THE HUMAN SYSTEM POSSESSES OTHER SPECIAL
CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Self-awareness- Only the human race
seems to have evolved to a high level
of reflective consciousness or self-
awareness.
2. Modifiability of action. Man’s mental
ability enable him to learn, reason out,
and imagine with unlimited flexibility to
cope with prevailing new situations.
3. Use of symbols. Man’s unique mental
endowment enables him to deal with
ideas, symbols, particularly of those
absent, or imaginary objects, events
4. Concern with information, values and
meaning. Man is given the chance to make
choices as to what goals to adopt and what
means to use.
5. Complexity and transaction with field.
Man is always in contact with his
environment.
6. Self-direction. These various properties
of human beings-reflective, self-awareness,
modifiability of action, use of symbols,
concern with the information, values and
meaning, and complexity of transactions
ACTIVITY:

A. List down qualities that must be possessed by every day individual in his
process of becoming more and more human.

B. Explain in your own words the following statement:

 Social interaction and group affiliation are vital factors in creating our
self concept.
 Self-awareness can be too much that we are concerned about being
observed and criticized by others, also known as self-consciousness.
 Self-concept is basically what comes from your mind when you are asked
about who you are.