UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

UTS 100
MIDTERM TOPICS
INSTRUCTOR: Gemma Guadalupe
ADAPTED FROM: POWERPOINT/LECTURE

MIDTERM TOPICS GREGOR MENDEL

1. Physical Self
2. Sexual Self ● Austrian monk
3. Material Self
4. Digital Self
● Father of Genetics
● Studied the plants and determined the Laws of
Modern Genetics
THE PHYSICAL SELF
Genetics - the field of biology that studies how
● “You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably characteristics/traits are passed from parent to child. Has
flawed. And you are beautiful.” - Amy Bloom a hand on our physical appearance. Evidence that we are
● There’s always a pressure in society to look good, our parents’ children.
and to seek a visually better version of ourselves.
● First figured out how genes are passed from
● We often get so caught up with the ways we can
parents to offspring in plants, including humans.
make sure that we look beautiful and nice, that
● His experiments on pea plants showed that genes
sometimes, we frown at our natural looks, our
are passed intact from generation to generation
dark complexion, short stature, etc.
and the traits are not blended.
● The social pressure of looking perfect gave rise to
● Mendel’s discovery was that it is through the
many beauty products and enhancement
genes that traits were passed to offspring through
procedures, being patronized by a large portion of
several generations.
the population, no matter how expensive they
● Our biology dictates that our looks result from the
might be, just to fit in, to be accepted, and to be
genes transferred to us by our parents.
beautiful.
● In the global society where fairer skin and a size -Skin tone - hair color - height - physical features
zero for women redeemed attractive if not
stunning, we can only expect ourselves to follow ● When heredity is at work, we find ourselves being
and abide by the mantra, “beauty is power”, no the mirrors of our patients, which was the result of
matter how destructive it might be for us. their DNA's at work in us, even looking like carbon
● Our physical selves have become so dependent copies of them
on the judgment of our appearance, and not with ● Gardened and grew peas in the mid-1800s
the celebration of it.
● Nature and nurture 7 Different Traits of Peas:
● Particularly how we look, and how standards of
1. Height
beauty, both in local and global contacts have
2. pod appearance
affected our self-acceptance.
3. seed texture
● We also look into the different cultural standards
4. position of flowers-
of beauty and how it affects our self-concept,
5. flower color
self-esteem, and body image, and we realize that
6. pod color
beauty, in all shapes and sizes, is meant to be
7. seed color
celebrated.

● Humans are diploid organisms that make

WHO DO I LOOK LIKE haploid gametes
● diploid = 2 of each type of chromosomes
● Science - explain that our parents are very much
● humans have 46 total chromosomes or 23 pairs
instrumental in understanding why we look how
● haploid = one of each type of chromosomes
we look.
● sperm and egg only have 3 individual
chromosomes
CULTURAL STANDARDS OF BEAUTY
● Different cultures have different standards of
beauty.
● Lakoff and Scherr (1989), in their book Face
Value: The Politics of Beauty, explain this
perfectly saying that... “beauty was not just a
product of wealth, but a commodity in and of itself.
In other words, it was no longer a matter of
looking to wealth to find beauty, but of looking to
beauty to find status. Now; beauty could give the
illusion of wealth.”
● In the Philippines, the construction of local
standards of beauty can be traced from our
colonial influences.
● Skin color signifies the value of the people in
society.
● Lighter-skinned individuals are considered
higher in terms of social status, and therefore, in
the social rank compared to those with brown or
dark skin (Rondilla 2012).
● Our concept of physical selves as Filipinos is
largely associated with our skin color.
● Historically, our people were colonized by
fairer-skinned races- the Spaniards, the
Americans, and the Japanese.
● The colonization of our country by these
white-skinned people lasted for more than three
centuries.
● We were forced to believe that they were more
superior people, more civilized, and even how
they looked were deemed as standard beauty-a
very
● Eurocentric perspective which has influenced
our concept of attractiveness even today.
● Free as we are claiming we are, still our mindset
is still a slave to the white culture.
● Their whiteness has become a goal for most
Filipinos and even our television and movie
personalities here mirror their looks.
THE FILIPINO OBSESSION WITH BEAUTY:
THE CASE OF XANDER FORD
● The Filipinos' obsession with beauty translates not
only to women but also to men.
● Take the case of Xander Ford, previously known
● as Marlou Arizala, a former member of Hasht5- a
teen boy band that became an online sensation,
not because of their attractiveness, nor talent, but
because of the disgust and animosity they receive
for their ‘ugly’ faces.
● Xander’s decision to alter his physical appearance
was not without the pressure of the society to look
good, if not better.
● He was not spared from bullying since he became
an internet sensation because, by our standards,
he is simply unattractive.
● His decision to go under the knife was because of
a lookist culture that dictates that happiness is
only afforded to good-looking people (Estrada,
2017).
● As our society puts a premium on Eurocentric
centric standards of beauty, we victimize our own
people for looking otherwise.
● For Xander Ford, it was good that he was
sponsored by a cosmetic surgery clinic unlike
many who shell out thousands if not millions just
to look physically appealing.
● Xander Ford’s cosmetic surgery perhaps can be
called a success.
● Estimated cost: PHP 435, 000
● Not all surgeries are deemed safe.
Dr. Samuel Eric Yapjuanco & Jose Javito Mendiola
● conducted three procedures on a 29 year old
businesswoman Shiryl Saturnino, but the latter
died in the process of liposuction (March 25,
2017)
● Reports from the Phil. National Crime Laboratory
says that Ms. Saturnino died of fat embolism- a
condition where there was fat in the blood vessels
which entered into the lungs of the victim, making
it hard for her to breathe (Sallan, 2017).
● Truth is, women have been evaluated based on
their appearance more than men (Wade, 2017).
● They have been valued and devalued based on
how they look.
● It is for this reason that many of them fall prey to
even unnecessary cosmetic surgeries due to that
desire of wanting to look good, if not perfect.
● Health concerns are foremost to be considered
before going through these kinds of surgeries.
● There are those who feel that there is always a
need for them to alter whichever part of their body
because they feel that they do not look beautiful,
even if you tell them that they already are.
● This perspective seems to be the case not only for
a lot of millennials but for those who are suffering
from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
● Those who are suffering from BDD are so
obsessed about their appearance, thus think
about their flaws, real or not, incessantly and
uncontrollably.
● Those who are diagnosed with the disorder are
very much preoccupied by a perceived physical
flaw that is either absent or so trivial that only the
one suffering from it sees it as a problem, being
so much distressed about it, that daily routines are
affected (Wilhelm, 2006).
● Those who are suffering from this disorder are so
self-anxious that they seek cosmetic surgeries to
finally solve their body issues.
● Dr. Yapchangco explains this obsession of
millennials with plastic surgery, in the case of
millennials saying, “they want to be more pleasing,
to be more beautiful.
● They consider that having a beautiful face and
body is always an edge in most aspects of life,
especially in getting into their chosen career”
(Sallan, 2017).
A HEALTHY IMAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM IN PERIL
● Our society has not only placed so much
importance on looking beautiful but also has done
a great job in commercializing the same.
● Even Americans are in trouble for wanting to be
physically appealing.
● Our standards have become so unbearable that
● our society mocks us for looking imperfect.
● This has caused us many of us to lose confidence
in ourselves and break that one last strand of
self-esteem that we do have.
● When women in particular get called out for being
heavy, if not obese, they are not called as such by
people to remind them to get healthy for their own
good, but just vilify their looks, and magnify their
imperfections.
● This, in turn, results to not only having a strong
desire for the bullied to get thin but with it also
comes that fear of gaining weight, thus, restricting
themselves from food intake.
ANOREXIA
● Under actual is defined as “a serious mental
illness where people are of low weight due to
limiting their energy intake. It can affect anyone of
age, gender, or background. As well as restricting
the amount of food eaten, they may do lots of
exercises to get need a food eaten.“
● Some people with anorexia may experience
bingeing (eating large amounts of food at once)
and then purging.
● This is not the only suffering of those who have
been criticized for their weight
● Body Shaming, which is criticizing yourself or
others because some aspect of physical
appearance (Vargas, 2014), has resulted in the
loss of self-confidence of those who have been
thin-shamed or fat-shamed.
BODY IMAGE DISTURBANCE (BID)
● is an important aspect of several pathologies in
psychology, particularly eating disorders.
Two components of BID:
1. The perceptual component refers to how we
accurately perceive our body size, known as body
size estimation.
2. Attitudinal component which refers to how we
think and feel about the size and /or shape of our
body, which if not correctly processed, will result
to body dissatisfaction.
● Stice and Whitenton (2002), found out that body
dissatisfaction is also linked with mental disorders
including depression and anxiety among
adolescents.
● This is very much alarming since statistics have
shown how much of today’s generation has fallen
prey to body image disturbance.
FILTERED SELF
● The advent of social media put pressure on us to
look even better.
● On Instagram, the most famous photo-sharing
application known to us to date, we post our most
physically appealing self, and more often than not,
we use filter applications, where we can hide our
imperfections, creating, and recreating a self that
is better approved by our online friends.
● Instagram, together with many other
photo-sharing applications, give us the freedom to
 alter our looks, and present our physical selves,
not just the way we want it, but the way our
society approves it.
● Today’s youngsters are sadly the victims of such
since we live at a time when our self-approval
depends on the likers, shares, and even
comments of our social media posts.
● When our filtered photos look better than the
unfiltered ones, and the virtual world agrees, we
tend to keep everything that way.
● There is that possibility, however, that we approve
of the filtered us, the more that we disregard our
real, unfiltered physical selves.
BEAUTY IN DIVERSITY
● Cultural concepts of beauty should be celebrated.
● Practices that enhance attractiveness, yet, are
severely harmful to our health, should be stopped.
● Explained by Sheila Jeffreys (2005), that it is not
enough to know that there are a lot of beauty
enhancement practices that are detrimental to
women’s health.
● For Sheila Jeffreys, women should stand against
the cultural requirement on what they should do
with their bodies.
● A celebration of beauty in diversity requires, as
she calls it, a culture of resistance.
● This is a culture that turns away from the dictates
of what women in society should look like to be
called beautiful.
● Embracing our physical selves entails affirming
each other regardless of our skin color, stature,
and body mass index.
● There is a need to defend those who do not fall
under the idyllic image of thin and beautiful.
● We should never allow ourselves to be victims of
this since we are supposed to celebrate the
authentic us, where we do not need to hide our
physical flaws and resist the demands of a
depreciating image-driven society.
EMBRACING YOUR PHYSICAL SELF
● In a society that worships perfection, embracing
our physical selves is not going to be easy.
● Still and all, being positive about how we look can
definitely work miracles.
● In the book of Psalms in the sacred Scriptures, we
are considered as the masterpiece of the Creator
of the universe, carefully, precisely, and worthily
created (Psalm, 139:14, NIV).
● The significance of self-acceptance is necessary
in embracing our physical selves.
● We need not worry if the way we look does not
live up to the standards set by our society.
● We have to be reminded that our health is
foremost in all these.
● Remember that body size, shape, skin color, and
stature are never correct indicators of a healthy
life.
● There is nothing more important than to learn to
accept and embrace who we are, with all the
beauty, flaws, and imperfections because this is
● the only way that we can live in peace and at
peace with ourselves.
It would be impossible to live a contented life if we are not
happy with our physical selves. We need to be reminded
that our looks are a testament that we are a byproduct of
our parents' love for each other. This is something that
every time we look in the mirror, we need to remind
ourselves that we are full of our parents’ care and
acceptance. Nonetheless, as we embrace our looks, we
need to help others affirm their distinct beauty inclusive of
its flaws, its scars, and all of its imperfections. We need to
be a part of a culture of resistance in a society that
dictates beauty in physical perfection.
THE SEXUAL SELF
● Our sexuality is part of who we are.
● Whether we feel comfortable talking about it or
not, it is undoubtedly an aspect for ourselves that
the earlier we properly learn about it, the better we
can understand who we are and who we can
become.
● This topic will try to deal with sexuality from an
academic and scientific perspective relevant to
understanding who we are so we know better how
to take care of and protect ourselves and even
those we love.
Sexuality is commonly defined as “the ways people
experience and express themselves as sexual beings”
● World Health Organization (WHO) defines
sexuality as a “central aspect of being human
throughout life and compasses sets, gender
identity, eroticism, sexual orientation, irritation,
pleasure, intimacy, and reproduction. Sexuality is
experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies,
desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors,
practices, rules, and relationships.”
● While sexually and include all of these
dimensions, not all of them are always
experienced or expressed (WHO,2006.)
 SEX EDUCATION
● Asking about or admitting ignorance on the topic
of sexuality in the Philippine culture seems to be
taboo or degrading.
● Ignorance has to be addressed through proper
education. If Filipinos would continue to learn,
whether formally or informally, about proper sex
education, then it may be indirectly passed on to
young children through teaching proper hygiene or
through being discerning of a child’s actions,
reactions, questions, or comments about sex.
● Sex education is not to promote sexual
intercourse but to promote good sexual health and
safety from sexual violence.
● “Withholding information about sex and sexuality
will not keep children safe; it will only keep them
ignorant” (Hauser, 2013)
SEX VS GENDER
● Not synonymous
SEX - refers to a person’s characterization as female or
male at birth, typically based on the appearance of the
external genitalia or other biological characteristics
including chromosome.
- Refers to the biological and physiological
differences between men and women.
- Sex has two main two categories: male and
female.
- Sex remains the same regardless of time and
culture.
- Sex is created by reproduction needs, that is,
biological features
GENDER - refers to social characteristics that may be (or
not be) aligned with a person’s sex and adopted by an
individual as their gender identity.
- Gender refers to the social and cultural
differences between men and women.
- Genders have two main categories: masculine
and feminine.
- Gender roles and expectations may differ across
time and culture.
- Gender distinctions are created by social norms
GENDERBREAD PERSON
Gender Identity (Mind)
- Gender identity is how you in your head think
about yourself. It's the chemistry that composes
you (e.g. hormonal levels) and how you interpret
that that means.
- Woman – Genderqueer – Man
Gender Expression (Feel)
- Gender expression is how you demonstrate your
gender based on traditional gender roles through
the ways you act, dress, behave, and interact.
- Feminine – Androgynous – Masculine
Biological sex (Genitalia)
- Biological science refers to the objectively
measurable organs, hormones, and
chromosomes.
- Female has vagina, ovaries, XX chromosomes.
Male has penis, testes, XY chromosomes.
Intersex has a combination of the two.
- Female – Intersex - Male
Sexual Orientation (Heart)
- Sexual orientation is who you are physically,
spiritually, and emotionally attracted to based on
their sex flash gender in relation to your own.
- Heterosexual – Bisexual – Homosexual
IS IT NATURAL FOR EVERYONE TO BECOME
SEXUALLY AWARE?
“It’s natural for everyone to become more sexually aware,
but it doesn’t mean you are ready to have sex” (Cole
2009)
Puberty is the one to three-year process of hormonal and
physical change that causes the young person to reach
sexual maturity, girls usually entering it about a year (or
two) earlier than boys” (Pickhardt, 2010).
Female
- Face = you may get pimples
- Sweat = your armpits sweat
- Menstruation = your period begins
- Height = you get taller
- Breasts = your breasts grow
- Hair = hair grows in your armpits, on your legs,
and between your legs.
Male
- Height = you get taller
- Face = you may get pimples
- Privates = your penis and testicles get bigger
- Voice = your voice deepens
- Sweat = in your armpits sweat •
- Hair = hair grows on your face, arms, legs, chest,
armpits, and between your legs
 FACTORS IN HOW INDIVIDUALS REACT UNDER
CHANGES DURING PUBERTY
● Though expected to transpire, puberty is not a one
size fits all experience.
● It could manifest in varying rates and
specific ages.
● Every individual “develops and reacts in
different ways” due to factors like:
- Stress, weight, nutrition, hormonal activity,
and inherent characteristics. (Cole, 2009)
- On average, the pubertal growth spurt for
girls starts at 9, and peaks at 11 1⁄2; for
boys, it starts at 11 1⁄2, and peaks at 13
1⁄2
- During this time, one’s secondary sex
characteristics develop.
● Depression, not immediately addressed, leads to
graver problems like mental instability even
suicide.
● Young men are more likely to be arrested than
anyone else in society.
● Statistics show that for most boys, criminal
behavior begins around the age of 13, peaks at
17, and disappears in early adulthood. (Cole,
2009)
● All adults have gone through puberty but not all
adults have gone through sex education.
● May the current and next generations be better
guided and protected through quality and free
education.
THE RELEVANCE OF DISCUSSING THE
EROGENOUS ZONES

SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS AT PUBERTY ● Being aware of the erogenous or sexually

stimulating zones of both sexes seems to be
Male
interesting or awkward when discussed in class or
- Voice becomes much lower (breaks)
even at home with parents or elders.
- Hair starts to grow on chest, face, underarms, and
● But, this is definitely relevant and beneficial for
in the pubic area
protection against sexual behavior.
- Body becomes more muscular
● Erogenous zones are usually discussed in
- Penis becomes larger
magazines, on the net, and in casual
- Testes starts to produce sperm
conversations with friends and adults.
Female
- Breasts grow, nipples enlarge. -
- Hair develops underarms and in the pubic area
- Hip becomes wider
- Uterus and vagina become larger
- Ovaries start to release eggs and period begins
(menstruation)

“The emotional region of the brain develops maturity

ahead of the part controlling the rational thought”
(Cole, 2009)

● Emotions tend to take over which makes the

transition to adulthood and sexual maturity
more challenging.
● Since most teenagers are not oriented on the
drastic transformations and temporary
emotional takeover, sentiments and anxieties are not
communicated and handled well- which may be construed
by adults/relativeS as mere drama, attention seeking, and ● We all need to be aware of the importance of how
rebelling maneuvers. to take care of ourselves, protect ourselves, our
● Choosing sanitary napkins, panty liners, brassiers, loved ones, and young children from the reality
shaving products, acne solutions, or deodorants that we are still working and eradicating sexual
become huge tasks. violence.
● Mishandled stress, sadness, shame, low
self-esteem, unmet expectations, from school,
work, family, and peers, may lead to depression.

“You’re NOT a victim for sharing your story. You are a
survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And
you never know who needs your light, your warmth,
and raging courage.” ( Alex Elle )
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
● According to WHO (2012), sexual violence is any
sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act,
unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts
to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s
sexuality using coercion, by any person
regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any
setting, including but not limited to home and
work.
WHAT TO DO TO PREVENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE
● In our own ways, we can prevent sexual violence,
one little step at a time.
● Be aware, watchful, and not paranoid.
● Educate others on how they can protect
themselves.
● Increase media literacy.
● Filter what ideas you expose yourself to.
● Talk to people who can help and report to
concerned agencies based on Republic Act 9262.
RA 9262 (VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & CHILDREN)
● R.A. NO. 9262 addresses the violence committed
against women and their children in keeping with
the fundamental liberties guaranteed under the
constitution and the provision of the Universal
Declaration of human rights, the convention on the
elimination of all forms of discrimination against
women, convention and the rights of the child and
other human rights instrument.
WHAT CONSTITUTES SEXUAL VIOLENCE?
● Refers to any which is sexual in nature committed
against women or her child such as:
- rape
- sexual harassment
- acts of lasciviousness
- sex object
- sexual suggestive remarks
- physical attacking the sexual parts -
forcing to watch obscene publications or
indecent shows or to do indecent acts, or
forcing to engage in prostitution.
WHERE TO REPORT?
• DOH • DSWD • Philippine Commission and Women •
Commission on Human Rights • Council for the Welfare of
Children • Department of Justice • Philippine National
Police • National Bureau of Investigation
DIVERSITY OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION
● We will always have our own personal stand,
belief, and preferences and it is just logical to
expect others to have their own.
● Being able to respect diversity, can help in
effective, ethical, relational, and professional
communication.
Sexual Orientation refers to our sexual preferences
toward males, females, or both (Cole, 2009, King, 2014).
 ● Most of us already have awareness of the
existence of diverse sexual behaviors due to a
person’s sexual preference.
● We may not be able to fully understand but we
have to give respect.
Gender Identity is one’s concept of being male, female,
both, or neither and is “entirely determined by socialization
(nurture), not biological factors (nature)” (King, 2014).
● In the acronym LGBT which stands for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender, “LGB” pertains to
sexual orientation.
TYPES OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION
● Homosexual (gay/lesbian)
- They are sexually attracted to members of
the same sex.
● Bisexual
- sexually attracted to people of both sexes.
● Heterosexual (straight)
- Sexually attracted to members of the
opposite sex.
● Pansexual/Omnisexual
- can be sexually attracted to any sex or
gender identity.
● Asexual
- not sexually attracted to any sex or
gender.
● The “T” in LGBT, which stands for transgender or
gender non-conforming, pertains to gender
identity.
● Genderqueer
- a person who does not subscribe to
conventional gender distinctions but
identifies with neither, both, or a
combination of male and female genders.
- do not identify as either male or female
● Cisgender/CIS
- gender identity consistent with the sex
they were assigned at birth.
● Transgender/TRANS
- gender identity does not match the sex
they were assigned at birth.
● Agender
- people who do not identify with any
gender.
● Non-Binary
- people who do not identify as a boy or
girl-they could identify as both, neither, or
as another gender entirely.
- is someone who doesn't identify with the
sex that was assigned at birth (trans) and
also has a gender identity that can't be
categorized as exclusively male or
female.
● A transgender is different form from a
transexual.
● A transexual is one who transitions from one
sex to another by undergoing several surgical
procedures.
● Though we may have experienced “having
feelings towards or fantasies about people of
the same sex, it doesn’t mean you are gay or
bisexual, it can be part of emerging sexual
awareness” (Cole, 2009)
● Sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and gender
identity are independent concepts.
● All could be fluid or changing.
MATERIAL SELF
COGITO ERGO CONSUME:
Consumer Culture and the Material Self
● According to William James, the material self
pertains to the objects, places, or even people
which have the label “mine”.
● Such possessions are viewed as extensions of
individuals' identities.
● For instance, your clothes reflect certain aspects
of your personality and you designate them as
“my wardrobe”.
SELF IN A MATERIAL WORLD
● Material possessions signify some aspects
of one’s sense of self and identity
● Parents buy necessities for their family
because it is symbolic of their need to
provide “security”
● The possession of material things also
indicates one’s status in the society
WHAT IS MATERIAL SELF?
● All of the physical elements that reflect who
you are. Possessions, car, home, body,
clothes.
EXAMPLE

● The material self is comprised of:
our body, clothes, immediate family, and home.
WHY WE DEVELOP AN ATTACHMENT OF THE
THINGS WE BUY?
NEEDS: things that are essential and necessary in life
WANTS: things we don’t need but want to have
HOW DO I DECIDE WHAT TO BUY

● We develop an attachment with most of the “BUYING IS A PROFOUND PLEASURE”

things we buy because we accord the same - SIMON DE BEAUVOIR
to the resources that enable us to
accomplish the transaction.
● This rationalizes our feeling of sadness
upon, for instance, losing some of our
personal belongings in a fire, or having the
entirety of our shoe collection be swept away
in a flood.
● This is what William James, in the face of
material loss, considers the “shrinkage of
the personality”.
● This is why we “die a little” every time we
lose some of our possessions.

BEST BUYS:
Consumer Culture and the Self

“NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF CONSUMPTION”•

● We consume because we need to.

● Essentials like food and clothing are bought,
and so is shelter.
● In our every waking moment, we transact for
goods and services.
● In supermarkets and shopping malls, we give
away what is essentially the material
manifestation of our labor (money) in exchange for
a myriad of items, some of which are consistently
made aware through commercial advertisements.

Survival Needs: Air, Water, Sleep, safety, food, clothing,

shelter
● People are now, more than ever, better informed
of their needs. We are under stack on all fronts.
● But the irrefutable fact is this:
○ Consumption has become so pervasive
that it now seems second nature to all of
us; part of our identity, even.
○ The role of products and services in our
lives are now above their literal purpose,
for they have become the means through
which we express our “lifestyle.”
○ Brands are anymore just mere coverings
on deeper identities but have become
surrogates to who we are (barber, 2007).
 THE CALVINIST PRINCIPLE
● Throughout his life, the Protestant theologian John
Calvin has passionately argued against The
Catholic doctrine’s promotion of asceticism
Asceticism is rigorous self-denial, particularly the
rejection of the pleasures of the world. Asceticism comes
from the word ascetic, which comes from Greek roots
meaning monk, and practice or exercise).
● For Calvin, it is through the consumption of
material goods that people can truly fulfill God’s
desires (Van Tassel and McAharen, 1969).
● He is firmly behind the belief that consumption
and wealth accumulation are divine acts.
● He specified that these must only be done in
moderation.
● To avoid the extremes of either complete material
abstinence or excess, one must play it right down
the middle.
● He also added that a person’s hard work justifies
his/her consumption.
● Thus, the rich are assumed to be the industrious
lot whose wealth is willed by God.
● Naturally, the same logic applies to the opposite:
the poor do not work as hard, so their social
status, and eventual deprivation of the Divine
beneficence (i.e. wealth), are believed to be
righteously imposed out.
THE MARXIST PERSPECTIVE
“No production without a need. But consumption
reproduces the need” – Karl Marx
● The Marxist thought, however, has positioned
consumer culture within the complex
entanglements of the capitalist economic model.
● If some academic disciplines consider
consciousness as the factor that determines
society, he suggests the opposite:
○ It is the society that determines
consciousness.
○ More specifically, economic, imperatives
dictate how we think or decide.
○ The material life, with its modes of
production, defines the processes of
the self; social, political, or spiritual
(Marx, 1964).
● But there is irony in all these.
● Although the consciousness of the proletariat is
heavily decided for them by the ruling class, the
latter prevents the former from developing what is
referred to as class consciousness, which is
considered a means to a revolutionary end.
COMMODITY FETISHISM
● A fetish is a substitute object of desire
● Sexual desire might be displaced onto garments
worn by the individual whom one cannot, for
whatever reason, directly desire or have.
● Karl Marx said that commodities can be
fetishes.
● Displaced desire is the desire for freedom.
● You are alienated (estranged, separated) from
the fruits of your labor. The products you help
make are too far from your control for you to
recognize them as your own.
● In return for your labor, you get dollars, which are
only a small percentage of the value you have
added to the product.
ALIENATION
● The alienation that Marx refers to comes into
being through the relations of production found in
capitalist society.
● The commodities that workers produce through
their labor is not their own but ultimately belong to
another and is produced for another. Here
alienation is manifested in the product that work
produces.
● Work becomes completely separate (or “alien”)
from the individual, as it contains little to no
need-satisfying value.
● This, therefore, leads to worker apathy, and
eventually to alienation from one’s labor.
● Because labor is devoid of its intrinsic importance,
the worker turn to consumption, for it is only
through it that they experience enjoyment.
● Capitalists are naturally aware of this, so they
double down on advertising to maintain this cyclic
mindset:
● That the purchase of things provides fleeting
escape from the alienation to which they are
subjected (Berger, 2010).

SPIRITUAL SELF
● Consists of all your internal thoughts and
introspections about your values and moral
standards:
○ It is the essence of who you think you are
○ A mixture of your spiritual beliefs and your
sense of who you are in relationship to
other forces in the universe.
● For example, there are certain things or a
particular that you do not like in class and there
are some things or people that you like to work
with.
● In general, the spiritual self includes the concept
of values, beliefs, and morals or attitudes, which
can be demonstrated in your belief or disbelief in
the existence of god, to name an example.
SPIRITUALITY
● Derived from Latin word “spiritus” which refers to
breath or wind.
● Spirituality
● Faith
● Religion
● Refers to that part of human being that seeks
meaning less through intra, inter, and
transpersonal connection
● Involves a belief in a relationship with some higher
power, creative force, divine being or infinite
source of energy
● A feeling of being “generally alive, purposeful and
fulfilled”
Meaning: having purpose, making sense in life
Value: having cherished beliefs and standards
Transcendence: appreciating a dimension that is beyond
the self
Connecting: relating to others
Becoming: which involves reflection, allowing life to
unfold, and knowing who one is
Spiritual Needs: need for: love, hope, trust, forgiveness,
being respected and valued, dignity, fullness of life,
values, creativity, connecting with higher power, belonging
to a community
CHARACTERISTICS OF SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING
- Sense of inner peace
- Compassion for others
- Reverence for life
- Gratitude
- Appreciation for unity and diversity
- Humor
- Wisdom
- Generosity
- Ability to transcend self
- Capacity for unconditional love
THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION
● Religion is defined as “the belief in and worship of
superhuman controlling power, especially a
personal God or gods. (Oxford Uni Press, ‘17)
● A “particular system of faith and worship” (uni of
Minessota Human Rights Center, ‘03, ‘16)
● Religion, however, may be best be understood as
a systematic “attribution of human characteristics
or behavior to a god, animal, or object”
● The practice of religion is restricted more than the
belief as this will affect other people.
● It may include worship, rites, rituals, sacrifices,
fiestas, etc.
● There will be also dances, meditation,
celebrations, matrimonial, funeral, baptismal
services or other more practices as provided by
the human culture.
● These acts become religious practices when they
are considered sacred by the practitioners
depending on their belief.
● It is not always easy to recognize which is profane
and sacred as what will be categorized as such is
dependent on the religion.*
● Most countries would regulate religious practices
and limit such practices.
ELEMENTS OF RELIGION
All religions have the following elements:
BELIEF
● Sensation of the brain and belongs to faith not to
reason
○ Examples: belief in one God, death, life
after death, heaven and hell
RITUAL
● All religions observes ceremonial practices called
rituals
○ Examples: Christmas, Holy, Namaz, Eids
EMOTIONS CHRISTIANITY

● Rituals produce emotions of home, fear, respect, ● The early Hebrews who eventually developed into
and humbleness the Jewish religion became the foundation of
Christianity
ORGANIZATION
Philosophy: God is the Creator of the universe. There is
● Religion is well organized with belief, emotions one God, Who is Three Persons– Father, Son, and Holy
and rituals Spirit
● Without organization, no religion can survive
ISLAM
SACRED OBJECTS
● The name given to the religion preached by the
● Every religion has some scared objects which prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) in the 60s A.D.
they believe most important or supernatural
○ Example: cows and idols, Hindus, holy Philosophy:
books, tasbee
● all powers related to only Almighty ALLAH, believe
SYMBOLISM in 5 Fundamentals.
● Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of
● The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities testing and preparation for life to come.
of religion ● Muhammad (S.A.W) did not found Islam, Islam
was created by Allah at the beginning of time, and
SECT
in fact, Muslims regard Adam as the first Muslim
● Every religion has small groups of followers
HINDUISM
differing from the main religion called sects
○ Examples: ● One of the world’s oldest religions
■ Islam - Shia and Sunni
■ Christianity - Catholics & Philosophy:
Protestants
■ Hindus - Saivism, Shaktism, ● Hindus believe in many gods, numbering into the
Vaishnavism, & Smartism thousands
● They recognize one supreme spirit called
Brahman (the Absolute)
FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION ● The goal of Hindus is to someday join with
Brahman
● Religion fulfills the psychic needs of the individual
BUDDHISM
and creates social solidarity in his/her group life
● Religion removes fear and anxiety ● Founding person of Buddhism is Guatama, the
● Create relation between Man and God (universe) Buddha
● Gives judgment of right and wrong
● Protection of values Philosophy:
● Religions creates purity and cleanliness
● Make individual socialize ● Love without conditions
● Create relations with other institutes ● Compassion or feeling at one with the person
who is suffering
● Sympathetic joy celebrate the happiness of
MAJOR RELIGIONS OF WORLD others and do not resent their good fortune
● Impartiality treat everyone equality
FIVE MAJOR RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD:
JUDAISM
1. Christianity: 1.9 Billion
● A religion of just one people: the Jews
2. Islam: 1.1 billion
● Was the first to teach belief in only one God
3. Hinduism: 800 million
● 2 other important religions developed from
4. Buddhism: 325 million
Judaism: Christianity and Islam
5. Judaism: 13 million
Philosophy:
● Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a
deliverer) to unite them and lead them in His way.
● Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
● The Jewish people do not agree; they anticipate
His arrival in the future
NO RELIGION/NOT TO RELIGION
● There is a big number of people who do not
believe, support, or accept any religion.
They are: secular and atheist
14. Status
15. Tranquility
16. Vengeance
● Reiss claimed that we all share the same 16
goals, but what makes us different is how much
we value each one.
● Reiss claimed that we all share the same 16
goals, but what makes us different is how much
we value each one.
● Religious beliefs provide people with certain ways
of thinking to help them cope with ultimate
questions that cannot be explained in any other
way.

SECULAR
MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING
● Beliefs are non-religious viewpoints
● They are based on natural law, and have nothing ● VIKTOR FRANKL
to do with God, gods, or religion
“When we are no longer able to change a situation -
● A country founded on secular beliefs does not
we are challenged to change ourselves” - VF
have a natural religion
● Help each other is a secular motive VIKTOR FRANKL
ATHEIST ● A psychiatrist who was imprisoned for 3 years in a
concentration camp during World War II provides
● A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the
3 ways of discovering the meaning of life
existence of God or gods
● His book, Man’s Search for Meaning was a
● There is no supernatural power, this universe
reminder of that life which, maybe because of his
works itself
training- he was able to provide a scientific
observation and analysis of what made men
exposed to such atrocities and horrors, survive.
THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND RELIGIOUS BELIEF
● As a psychiatrist, he was able to come up with
psychology on survival that helped him endure his
● A 1990 research conducted by Steven Reiss,
experience and this he called Logotherapy.
posited a theory on why people are attracted to
religion. FINDING AND CREATING MEANING
● A 1990 research conducted by Steven Reiss,
posited a theory on why people are attracted to ● The search for the meaning of life can be an
religion. exasperating experience wherein the answers is
not readily given to us.
The 16 basic desires that humans share: ● Some people go through life endlessly seeking for
1. Acceptance the purpose and reason of their existence.
2. Curiosity ● Some people might not even discover that in their
3. Eating lifetime.
4. Family ● This has never been more apparent than in our
5. Honor search for our spiritual self, especially since we
6. Idealism are talking of something that is more often
7. Independence intangible and difficult to prove.
8. Order ● This is the reason why some people would turn
9. Physical activity towards religion, magic, or even witchcraft.
10. Power ● According to him (1969), the main motivation why
11. Romance men continue to live is the will to meaning.
12. Saving ● A person must see meaning in his life.
13. Social contact
 ● This meaning is unique for every individual and it
gives a task that only an individual alone can do at
a given moment.
● This may vary from time to time as well as from
person to person.
● It is this kind of significance that gives his own will
to meaning.
LOGOTHERAPY TECHNIQUES
Therapist – helps to find meaning
Three main techniques:
1. Dereflection
2. Paradoxical intention
3. Socratic dialogue
DEREFLECTION
● Humans find meaning and satisfaction through
engagement in some work
● Neurosis and psychosis, an individual becomes so
preoccupied with himself and his internal
processes that he forgets the basic external
orientation
● Attention is redirected or deflected away from self
onto others. That is, ignore symptoms to stop
reflecting on himself and orient attention to the
world around him.
Examples:
An impotent is so focused on his sexual difficulties
that he loses sight of the person he is in bed with and
consequently has no chance of becoming sexually
aroused. This man might be encouraged to love and
instead keep his attention on his partner and not his
problem
An old lady complains of feeling lonely as her
husband dies. She may be encouraged to focus her
attention onto religious activities, music, social work,
cooking, gardening, or the other such things of her interest
that gives meaning to her life.
PARADOXICAL INTENTION
● Wishing for everything you are afraid of
● Client is encouraged to stop fighting against
problems and instead, to evoke mind a strong
wish and intention to do, or experience just what is
most terrifying and embarrassing to him
● Aim: to undermine the client’s vicious circle by
trying to replace his fear/shame/depression with
more positive attitude
● Humor is inherent in paradoxical intention
Examples:
Insomniac is asked to try as hard as possible to
stay awake
A person who is obsessed with organizing things.
Is asked to keep things as messy as possible.
A person who has fear of sweating is asked to
deliberately show people how much he can sweat.
Ascher and Pollard and Frankl warned that this technique
should not be used without proper assessment. It should
not be used in suicidal cases.
SOCRATIC DIALOGUE
● Therapist enters into dialogue and debate with the
client and poses questions in such a way that
patients become aware of their unconscious
decisions, their repressed hopes, and unadmitted
self-knowledge
● Client’s own words are used as a method of
self-discovery
● It helps to find and the freedom to fulfill meaning
● It allows the client to discover what they already
knew.
Example:
A middle-aged woman spent much of her life
caring for elderly parents and consequently feels
depressed that she wasted her life.
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
● LOGOTHERAPY helps to discover a higher
purpose in life
● Gives ultimate solutions
● best technique to survive and come out of worst
situations in life
● A very positive approach to life
● Criticized for similarities with religion. Based on
faith, not science.
● According to Rollo May, logotherapy techniques
are authoritarian.