MODULE 6: THE PHYSICAL SELF
the combination of chromosomes and genes
Physical self – refers to the body
Physical efficiency – generally peaks in early
adulthood between the ages of twenty and thirty
- slowly declines in the middle age
Adolescence – begins with the onset of puberty
Each individual goes through a succession of
developmental stages through his/her lifespan
Life span – the development from conception to
death
Stages in the life span – Elizabeth B. Hurlock
1. Prenatal – fertilization to birth
2. Infancy – birth to 2 weeks of life
3. Babyhood – 2 weeks of life to 2nd year
4. Early childhood – 2-6 years old
5. Late childhood – 6-10 or 12 years old
6. Puberty – 10 or 12-14 years old
7. Adolescence – 14-18 years old
8. Early adulthood – 18-40 years old
9. Middle adulthood – 40-60 years old
10. Late adulthood or senescence – 60 to death
Two Factors Affecting Physical Growth and
Development
Heredity – the biological process of the
inheritance of traits from parents to offspring
Environment – the factors and individual are
exposed to throughout life which includes
learning and experiences
Environmental factors such as diet, nutrition,
and diseases play an important role in an
individual’s physical development
Sex and other physical traits are determined by
during fertilization when the egg and sperm cells
unite.
Chromosomes – threadlike tissues that carries
the genes, and are usually found in pairs
There are 23 pairs of chromosomes – classified
as autosomes or trait chromosomes (22 pairs)
and gonosomes or sex chromosomes
The sex of the offspring depends on the pairing
of the sex chromosomes (23rd) from father and
mother.
Genes – basic carrier of hereditary traits and are
classified as
dominant (strong genes) and
recessive (weak genes)
Theory of physiognomy – suggests that a
person’s physical characteristics such as facial
features and expressions and body structures
could be related to a person’s character or
personality.
According to ancient Chinese practice of face
reading – the face is a three-dimensional
reflection of “who we are and how life has
affected us”. This practice is rooted in the
5 Element theory – makes use of the elements
of water, wood, fire, earth and metal as
archetypes for everything occurring in the
natural world.
Each element is correlated to seasons, colors,
shapes, sounds, as well as facial features,
body types, the body’s major organs, and
behavioral tendencies.
Face readers observe how facial features and
markings correspond to a person’s mental,
emotional, and physical makeup.
In ancient Greece, Hippocrates developed a
Theory based on the prominence pf body
fluids – it suggests that an excess of or
deficiency in any of the four bodily fluids in a
person influences their personality,
temperament, and well-being.
Sanguine type – has the prominence of red bile
- tend to be impulsive, cheerful, happy, and
optimistic
Melancholic – prominence of black bile
- tend to be depressed and pessimistic
Choleric – prominence of yellow bile
- easily angry, jumpy, and temperamental
Phlegmatic – has excess phlegm
- tend to be sluggish, dull, and slow
William Sheldon, 1940 developed a
Body-type theory – based on physical
characteristics
3 Body types
Endomorphic – body type is soft and plump
- perceived to be easy going and sociable
Mesomorphic – characterized by a strong
muscular body
- perceived to be energetic, adventurous,
assertive, and courageous
- competitive and tend to be dominant
Ectomorphic – tall and thin
- tend to be retrained, quiet, introverted, and
artistic
The Wisdom of Your Face (Jean Haner) –
suggests that people with
Oval-shaped faces - generally hospitable and
tactful
Round-shaped faces – friendly, kindhearted,
and selfless
Square faces – witty, analytical, and great
leaders
Heart-shaped faces – patient and intuitive by
nature
Long-shaped faces – perfectionists and tend to
be aggressive
Triangle-shaped face – creative, artistic,
sensitive, and determined
Diamond faces – very detail-oriented and like to
be in control
People with full and thick eyebrows – tend to
be confident, assertive, and goal-oriented
Large or highly-defined jaws – have strong
values and firm beliefs
An earlier study by Squier and Mew (1981)
suggests that persons with
Long and angular-shaped faces – tend to be
more responsive, assertive, and genuine than
persons with
Short and square-shaped faces – tend to be
more restrained, conforming, and shrewd
Body image – refers to how individuals
perceive, think, and feel about their body and
physical appearance
- related to self-esteem which is a person’s
overall evaluation of his/her own worth
- can affect both the adolescent’s physical and
psychological well-being
Appearance – refers to everything about a
person that others can observe such as height,
weight, skin color, clothes, and hairstyle.
- through appearances, an individual is able to
show others the kind of person he or she is
Adolescent boys and girls tend to experience
negative self-image because they are in a stage
of development that is probably confusing them
Girls are more concerned than boys about their
physical appearance and overall body image
For both boys and girls, bullying and peer
pressure are associated with greater body
dissatisfaction
For girls, too much concern with thinness and
the ideal body shape may result in body
dissatisfaction
Girls who have higher body dissatisfaction
are likely to experience depression, low self-
esteem, and eating disorders
Anorexia nervosa – eating disorder in which
the person refuses to eat for fear of gaining
weight which can result to starvation and death.
Bulimia nervosa – the person induces purging
after binging on large quantities of food.
Body modification – through this, some people
desperately change their physical appearance

Forms of Body Modification

Tattooing – injects ink onto the skin to draw a

design

Body piercing – another type of body

modification
- lets people wear jewelry through different
piercings in their body such as the ears, nose,
and tongue, among others.

Tattooing and piercing have been practiced

across the globe since ancient times.

Traditionally, tattooing and piercing were

considered signs of one’s strength, bravery,
and social status.

Cosmetic surgery – another form of body

modification
- includes surgical and non-surgical procedures
to restore, reconstruct, or alter body parts.

These forms of body modification involve health

risks.
MODULE 7: THE SEXUAL SELF Uterus – a hollow organ where the fertilized
embryo grows to become a fetus
Reproductive system – is a system of sex
organs designed for reproduction and sexual Cervix – located in the lower part of the uterus
function and a passageway between the uterus and the
vagina that expands during childbirth
Primary sex characteristics – physical
characteristics present at birth Fallopian tubes – carry the fertilized egg from
the ovary to the uterus
- these are the characteristics that distinguish
male from female Pregnancy starts from fertilization and end at
- in females (vagina, uterus, ovaries) birth, for an approximate duration of 260 days
-in males (penis, testes/testicles, scrotum,
Male reproductive system – penis, testes,
prostate gland)
scrotum, prostate gland, seminal vesicles, vas
- primary sex characteristics develop as the deferens, and epididymis
embryo grows in the womb as a result of the
Penis – is the organ through which males urinate
chromosomes contained within the embryonic
and deliver sperm cells into vagina during sexual
cells as well as hormonal influences.
intercourse
- in women, the ovaries produce estrogen and
- its is made up of sensitive tissues and nerve
progesterone as well as small amount of
endings
testosterone.
Prostate gland and seminal vesicles – sperm
Estrogen – promotes female reproductive
cells travel thru this before reaching the penis
capacity and secondary sex characteristics
- produce semen and nourish the sperm cells
Progesterone – stimulates growth of the female
reproductive organs and prepares the uterus for Testes/testicles – located in a loose pouch-like
pregnancy sac of skin called the scrotum are responsible
for the production of sperm cells and male sex
Secondary sex characteristics – develop during
hormones
the onset of puberty
Vas deferens – transports the sperm-containing
Female reproductive system – clitoris, vagina,
fluid called semen
uterus, fallopian tubes, and two ovaries
Epididymis – is a set of coiled ducts connected
Clitoris – made of erectile tissue swells with
to the vas deferens where the sperm cells are
blood and hardens when a woman is sexually
stored
aroused
Ejaculation – is the release of sperm cells from
Vagina – a muscular tube that serves as the
the penis
receptacle for the penis and carrier of the sperm
to the uterus Each ejaculation approximately contains 300 to
500 million sperm cells
- it is also a birth canal where the fetus passes
out of a mother’s body Sperm cells can live up to 48 hours inside the
uterus
Two ovaries – produce, store, and release the
egg cell during ovulation
Human sexual arousal is complex. It may be
produced by direct stimulation of the body’s
erogenous zones on the areas of the body that
provides pleasure.
Erogenous zones – areas of the body which are
highly sensitive and produce sexual responses
when stimulated
Self-stimulation – one of the most basic forms
of sexual stimulation that causes sexual pleasure
or orgasm
The 4 phases of sexual response – William
Masters and Virginia Johnson
- they use the term sexual-response cycle to
describe the changes that occur in the body as
men and women become sexually aroused
Excitement phase – the beginning of sexual
arousal and can last from one minute to several
hours
Plateau phase – the changes in the body
continues
Orgasmic phase – contractions of the muscle in
and around the penis stimulate the release of the
semen which contains sperm cells
Resolution phase – the body returns to its
normal state after orgasm
Initial attraction is influenced by social norms,
physical attractiveness, and processes of
interpersonal exchange.
Social norms – influence attraction in several
ways such as in determining who are appropriate
as lovers and spouses
Physical attractiveness – refers to the degree to
which a person’s physical traits are regarded as
aesthetically pleasing or beautiful
Social exchange theory – attraction is the result
of an exchange process
People tend to view relationships as the result of
the rewards and costs they entail. As the
relationship develops, the sharing of activities
and information contributes to increased
attraction, liking, trust, and, love.
Romantic love – includes a complex
combination of different emotions such as fear,
anger, sexual desire, joy, and jealousy.
- has strong components of sexual attraction and
infatuation, and is often experienced in the early
stage of a love relationship
Psychologist Robert Sternberg – three
components of love
Intimacy – refers to the feelings of closeness,
connectedness, and bondedness
Passion – refers to the drives that lead to
romance, physical attraction, and sexual
consummation
Commitment – refers to the decision to love
and the commitment to maintain that love
Love – is classified based on the combination of
any of these components
Helen Fisher – biological anthropologist and
is expert in the science of human attraction
suggests the important ingredients of romantic
love:
Lust – driven by the desire for sexual
gratification
Attraction – often associated with sexual
attraction
Attachment – occurs when individuals desire to
connect with another person intimately
- it may also be called affectionate or
companionate love
Sexual orientation – refers to a person’s sexual
identity anchored on what gender they are
attracted to
Heterosexuality – the most common sexual Genital herpes – can cause itching and tingling
orientation in which one is sexually attracted to sensations, abscesses, and blisters in the genital
members of the opposite sex area

Homosexuality – sexually attracted to the same - there is no cure for herpes

sex
Genital warts – are caused by the human
Homosexual males – gays papillomavirus and women with human
Homosexual females – lesbians papillomavirus are prone to cervical cancer.

Bisexuality – attracted to both opposite and Contraception – refers to methods that are used
same sex to prevent pregnancy

Transgender – people are those who believe
they were born with the body of the opposite sex
Sexually transmitted infections/diseases
(STI/STD) – are contracted to primarily through
sexual contact.
Bacterial infections are treatable with antibiotics
but those caused by viruses are more difficult to
treat and are often incurable such as HIV/AIDS
Common methods – condoms, intrauterine
device or IUD, birth control injection, and oral
contraceptive pills
Reproductive Health Law – a law that
guarantees universal access to methods of
contraception, fertility control, sexual education,
and maternal care.

HIV/AIDS infections – are caused by direct

contact with body fluids such as thru blood
transfusion, breast feeding, and sexual
intercourse

- it attacks the immune system and the infected

person eventually dies

Gonorrhea – caused by gonococcal bacteria

which attack the lining of the mucous membrane
such as the mouth, throat, vagina, and urethra
- can be treated by penicillin or other antibiotics

Syphilis – infects the genital areas and other

parts of the body including the brain and can
cause paralysis or even death when left untreated

Chlamydia – caused by the bacterium

chlamydia trachomatis

- In men, it can cause swollen testicles and a

burning sensation during urination
- In women, it can cause sterility if left untreated
becos it damages the uterus, ovaries, and
fallopian tubes
MODULE 8: MATERIAL SELF
Self – composed of the material self which is the
manifestation of one’s identity thru his material
possessions
Body – basic component of the material self
Clothes – another component of the material
self
- clothes represent the self
- the style and brand of clothes becomes
significant symbols, particularly among
adolescents
- the clothes they tend to wear are greatly
influenced by their peer groups becos
adolescents are anxious to conform to what their
peer groups find fashionable and attractive
The material component of the self can include
one’s house, car, pets, and other things that he or
she considers as his/her possession.
Pets could also symbolically define a person’s
identity. A person’s pet could be an expression
of one’s social status, pride, and prestige, as in
owning a dog or cat of a very expensive breed
Regardless of how much or how little material
possessions people have, they remain valuable
becos these possessions are symbolic of one’s
social status
The more expensive the material possessions,
the more people are impressed
Russel Belk – suggests that material possessions
act as an objective manifestation of the self
Material possessions can be a reflection of hard
work and success
The lack or loss of material possessions can be
disruptive to one’s mental health
People tend to judge others thru their material
possessions
Materialism – refers to giving more importance
to material possessions than intangible values.
Materialistic person – is one who is
excessively concerned with the acquisition of
material possessions
Compulsive buying disorder (CBD) – the
strong desire for material possessions could lead
to this psychological dysfunction or impairment
in function
- characterized by an obsession with shopping
and buying behaviors that can cause adverse
consequences
Developmental evidence suggests that
identification with material things begins quite
early in life but remains high throughout life as
people seek for happiness
Lack or loss of these material possessions could
lead to anxiety, insecurity, and depression in
people who are overly materialistic
Consumer culture – a social system in which
consumption is dominated by the consumption
of commercial products.
- denoted a social arrangement in which the
relations between lived culture and social
resources, and between meaningful ways of life
and the symbolic and material resources on
which they depend on, are mediated thru
markets.
A consumerist society is one in which people
spend a great deal of time, money, and energy to
‘consume’ commercial products, goods, and
services
Consumerism – is the consumption of material
goods and services in excess of one’s basic
needs.
- closely tied to materialism
People tend to be happier and more motivated
when their wants and needs are met.
MODULE 9: SPIRITUAL SELF
The spiritual aspect of the self is the inner
essence, the part of the self that connects the
person to the sacred, the supernatural, and the
universe.
The spiritual self – enables the person to
experience a feeling of oneness with a higher
being and the universe and gives a deeper
purpose or meaning of one’s life.
- understanding and nurturing the spiritual self is
as important as with the other aspects of the self.
- spiritual self develops thru interaction,
observation, and imitation.
The family, school, and church play a very
important role in a child’s spiritual development.
Spirituality – begins at an early age but
develops throughout life as people continuously
interact in the environment.
- root meaning of spirituality is from the Latin
word spiritus meaning breath or life force.
- spirituality generally refers to meaning and
purpose in one’s life, a search for wholeness,
and a relationship with a transcendent being.
The sacred transcendence could refer to a higher
being
The term spirituality originally developed in
early Christianity.
Christians used the term Spirit to describe the
Holy Spirit.
Worship – is regarded as an essential act to
realize the ultimate meaning of transcendence
and human life.
- acts of worship may include prayer, reading the
Bible, attending sacraments, and doing
sacrifices.
- through acts of faith, hope, and love, man is
able to encounter God and understand God’s
words of salvation.
Spirituality is connected with religion
Religion – is an organized system of ideas about
the spiritual sphere or the supernatural along
with associated ceremonial practices by which
people try to interpret and/or influence aspects
of the universe otherwise beyond their control.
One’s spirituality may be expressed thru religion
and participation in religious rituals and
ceremonies.
Spirituality and religion fulfill numerous social
and psychological needs, such as the need to
explain human sufferings and death.
Spirituality and religion may be a source of love,
hope, and affection.
Thru the practice of religious activities such as
prayers, people may find comfort, security, and
stability in times of sufferings, loss, insecurities,
and uncertainties.
In Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for
Meaning – he begins sharing his personal
experiences in the Nazi concentration camp.
Three major phases on how a prisoner passes
thru in the concentration camp
➢ The prisoner was first in a state of shock
which was followed by the
➢ Phase of developing apathy and lastly,
➢ The psychology of the prisoner after
liberation.
Apathy – is the blunting of the emotions and the
feeling that one could not care anymore.
- it is a protective shell from the brutalities in the
camp
During the last phase, the prisoners experienced Frankl is fond of quoting Nietzsche, “He who
Depersonalization – or a state in which has a why to live can bear almost any how”.
everything seemed unreal, unlikely, as in a
Spirituality is also associated with animism.
dream.
- beliefs about the sacred also include the
Logotherapy – is the pursuit of human
primitive concept about animism or the belief
existence as well as on man’s search for such
that creatures, objects, and places possess certain
meaning.
spirits.
According to logotherapy, the striving to find a
Animism is also the belief that things and places
meaning in one’s life is the primary motivational
are alive and grounded by a supernatural order.
force in man.
In the Philippines, indigenous peoples are
In logotherapy, one can discover the meaning of
known to practice animism.
life in three different ways:
Being linked with folk belief, animism cultivates
By doing a deed – in doing a deed, the way of
among people a consciousness of the
finding meaning in life is thru achievements or
environment that they are in, thus making them
accomplishments.
more mindful of how they act according to the
By experiencing a value – the second way of different things they come in contact with.
finding meaning in life is by experiencing
somethi8ng or someone, such as loving a person.

Frankl imparts that the salvation of man is

through love and in love.

Love finds its deepest meaning in one’s spiritual

being – the inner self.

By suffering – the third way of finding meaning

in life

- according to Frankl, it is thru sufferings that

man encounter the central theme of
existentialism:

to live is to suffer, to survive is to find

meaning in the suffering.

If there is purpose in life at all, there must be a

purpose in suffering and in dying.
But no one can tell another what this purpose is.

Each one must find out for himself/herself, and

must accept the responsibility that his/her
answers prescribe.

If he/she succeeds, he/she will continue to grow

in spite of all indignities.
MODULE 10: POLITICAL SELF
Kendall defines politics as a social institution
through which power is acquired and exercised
by people and groups.
In Aristotle’s work, Politics, he describes the
role that politics and the political community
must play in bringing about the virtuous life in
the citizenry.
He observes that “man is by nature a political
animal”.
Politics – is an important part of human
development because it promotes ideologies
about democracy, citizenship, human rights,
freedom, family, health, and other social issues.
Politics exists in all human societies,
It serves as the mechanism by which individuals
develop power and understand proper
functioning of a democratic society as a citizen.
Citizenship – is the most basic identification
with the nation.
The term denotes the membership of a citizen in
a political society.
As a citizen, a person enjoys full civil and
political rights, including protection inside and
outside the territory of the state.
Stevens, Anglin, and Justin – cite that in some
people, politics is a central component of their
identity.
The political community where people belong
offers and opportunity for them to define
themselves and provide opportunities to satisfy
their needs for affiliation.
The political self organizes one’s beliefs,
attitudes, and affiliations and aids in the
processing of politically relevant information.
People use their political values and belief
systems to define themselves as unique
individuals of society.
The political self organizes self-relevant
information about politics.
It constitutes knowledge about the Constitution,
government, and governance.
The political self helps in defining the structure
and functions of the government, in telling and
understanding the relationship between the state
and the citizens, and in describing their rights,
freedom, and obligations as citizens.
The political self exemplifies the ideals and
aspirations of the people, embodies the rules and
principles of the State, and determines the status
and power of the people.
Identity – one important component of political
self
- the person’s understanding of who and what
he/she is
Citizenship becomes a salient basis for political
self.
The political self is often defined by citizenship.
In Ma. Serena Diokno’s book Democracy and
Citizenship – mentions that citizenship is the
most basic identification with the nation and, as
such, is oriented towards the state and its
expressions in law and policy.
The institutions which influence the values of
citizenship are the family, church, school, media,
government, and non-governmental
organizations.
The political self and identity are developed
through socialization, through the ways people
learn the knowledge, norms, values, motives,
and roles appropriate to their positions in a
group or community.
Social interaction may significantly influence a
person’s understanding of politics, and perhaps a
person’s political actions in the future.
Thru social interaction, people learn the status,
duties, rights, and power necessary to interact
successfully with other people in the group or
community.
Throughout life, as individuals meet new people
and join new groups, the political self is
influenced and modified by the opinions,
comments, and suggestions of other people.
The origins of political self
The family has a hierarchical structure which
requires each member to perform his/her role.
Each position carries a set of rights,
responsibilities, and expextations
Political socialization – the lifelong process by
which individuals gain knowledge about politics.
Cognitive theory – another theory in political
self
- suggests that the mental activities of
individuals are important determinants of
behavior.
For example. Individuals interpret the meaning
of politics and then choose and decide the
actions they will make.
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 and
communication.

From an early age, individuals are taught to obey Theory of political participation – political
and treat parents with respect and conform to participation can be defined as citizen’s actions
their rules. or activities anchored in politics.

This shows that authority is necessary in the - any activity concerning the government or
development of the political self and identity, governance of the state is an example of political
which is established by the parents. participation.

Schools have the responsibility to teach the - in order for political participation to work in a
values that develop the students to become society, a covenant of mutual trust and respect
patriotic and morally upright citizens. among members of the society must exist.

The Church shapes the ideals of citizenship and

democracy through their preaching.

Theories of Political Self

Social learning theory – a person can acquire

learning through observation and imitation.

In imitation, the learner watches the behavior of

another person and then performs the behavior
in a similar way.

Observation and imitation are important in a

process known as