1 Module 1| CONCEPT AND NATURE OF SELF: WHO AM I?

2 Module 1| CONCEPT AND NATURE OF SELF: WHO AM I?

PROGRAM OUTCOMES
In pursuance of the above-stated mission, the objectives of the College of Teacher Education are as follows:

a. explain the English language system, history and development comprehensively;

b. communicate effectively, fluently and creatively using the English language in any cultural and social
setting;
c. facilitate learning of the English language;
d. work efficiently in any setting across the globe;
e. display proficiency in job placement interviews;
f. participate in discussion with various language systems; and
g. produce well-written texts for research, academic and professional purposes.

COURSE TITLE UNDERSTANDING THE SELF!

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course deals with the nature of identity, as well as the factors and forces that affect the development
and maintenance of personal identity.

This course is intended to facilitate the exploration of the issues and concerns regarding self and identity
to arrive at a better understanding of one’s self. It strives to meet this goal by stressing the integration of the
personal with the academic-contextualizing matters discussed in the classroom and in the everyday
experiences of students-making for better learning, generating a new appreciation for the learning process, and
developing a more critical and reflective attitude while enabling them to manage and improve their selves to
attain a better quality of life.

The course is divided into three major parts: The first part seeks to understand the construct of the self
from various disciplinal perspectives: philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and psychology-as well as the more
traditional division between the East and West-each seeking to provide answers to the difficult but essential
question of “What is the self?” And raising, among others, the question: “Is there even such a construct as the
self”.

The second part explores some of the various aspects that make up the self, such as the biological and
material up to and including the more recent Digital Self. The third and final part identifies three areas of concern
for young students: learning, goal setting, and managing stress. It also provides for the more practical
application of the concepts discussed in this course and enables them the hands-on experience of developing
self-help plans for self-regulated learning, goal setting, and self-care.

COURSE OUTCOMES
In this course, you should be able to:
1. discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from various disciplinal
perspectives;
2. compare and contrast how the self has been represented across different disciplines and perspectives;
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3. examine the different influences, factors, and forces that shape the self;
4. demonstrate critical and reflective thought in analyzing the development of one’s self and identity by
developing a theory of the self;
5. explore the different aspects of self and identity;
6. demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self and identity;
7. identify the different forces and institutions that impact the development of various aspects of self and
identity;
8. examine one’s self against the different aspects of self-discussed in class;
9. understand the theoretical underpinnings for how to manage and care for different aspects of the self;
10. acquire and hone new skills and learning for better managing of one’s self and behaviors;
11. apply these new skills to one’s self and functioning for a better quality of life.

INTRODUCTION
This module will explain the nature, concept, and meaning of the self from different perspectives:
philosophical, biblical, psychological, sociological, anthropological, western and eastern thought. The nature of
self is a topic of interest among philosophers. Thus, the philosophical explanations of known philosophers were
used to discuss this topic. As a Christian dwelling country, we will also be comparing the Biblical view of the self
while considering the psychological factors in the psychosexual and psychosocial stages of self-development.
We will also consider other areas of discipline like the field of sociology, anthropology and the thoughts of people
in the western and eastern countries that have greatly influenced the self over the course of time in the post-
modern society. The lessons presented in this module will assist you as a student to identify one’s own self- to
gain self-knowledge. It intends to give a wider perspective in understanding the self.

MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES

In this module, you should be able to:
1. differentiate the various concepts of the self and identify their similarities;
2. discuss the conceptualization and representation of the self from various disciplines and perspectives;
and
3. develop a pleasant and wholesome attitude towards oneself.

LESSON 3 - ANTHROPOLOGICAL CONCEPT OF THE SELF

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. demonstrate the relationship between and among the self, identity and culture;
2. acknowledge both positive and negative effects of cultural biases to one’s identity; and
3. explain the different phases a person undergoes in identity development.

PRE-ASSESSMENT
Instruction: Choose the letter of your choice.
1. It includes Genes, hereditary factors, physical appearance and personality characteristics.
a. wisdom b. nature c. nurture d. society
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2. Anthropology states that the human experience is an interplay of “Nature” referring to _______.
a. Peer Pressure c. Genetic Inheritance d
b. Socio-cultural Environment d. Family Planning
3. Anthropology states that human experience as an interplay of “Nature” referring to GENETIC INHERITANCE
which sets the individual’s potentials and “Nurtures” which refers to ____.
a. Peer Pressure c. Genetic Inheritance d
b. Socio-cultural Environment d. Family Planning
4. _______refers to all understanding and knowledge of oneself. The components of self-concepts
include: psychological, physical and social attitudes, ideas and beliefs that one has.
a. Self-concept b. Self-identity c. Self-study d. Self-discovery
5. ____is the set of unwritten norms of conduct that guide the behavior of a group.
a. culture b. learning c. knowledge d. society

LESSON MAP

Sides of identity in any culture Three-phased Rite of Passage

1. Separation
❖ Egocentric
2. Liminality
❖ Sociocentric 3. Incorporation

This map shows the intersection of culture, identity, and self which the leads to the formation of identity
toolbox and the existence of identity struggle.
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CORE CONTENTS

ENGAGE: LET’S TRY!

Activity 1: Birds of the Same Feather group Together!
Instruction: The class will be divided based on their ethnicity / cultural identity. On a manila paper or using
power point presentation, answer the following questions: (Note: They can group themselves according to the
place where they came from)

a. What are the negative and positive assumptions of most people about my culture?
b. What I don’t want others say about my culture?
c. What are the obvious characteristics of my culture?
d. What are the characteristics that I like about of my culture?

Note: Each group will choose one representative who will report the group’s output to the class. Prior to the
presentation the group will perform a chant, cheer, or a song to introduce their cultural identity.

Rubric for Group Activity

Points Indicators
5 Shows eagerness and cooperation to the task,
participated actively, do great help to the
group
4 Shows eagerness and cooperation to the task,
good follower
3 Participated but late, with teacher’s
supervision
2 Activity was done but does not show
eagerness to participate or cooperate
1 No interest in participating the activity

EXPLORE: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW!

Anthropology is the study of human race, its culture and society, and its physical development
(Cambridge Dictionary). Practices among different societies reveal ways conceptualize what the self is and
how it relates to culture. Anthropology considered as one of the most complex areas of discipline, has explored
various meanings of culture, self and identity in the desire to come up with a better understanding of the self.
Anthropology is concerned with how cultural and biological processes interact to shape human experience.
Contemporary anthropologists believe that culture and self are complementary concepts that are to be
understood in relation to one another. Therefore, it could be understood that both biological and cultural factors
have significant influence on the development of self-awareness among individuals within society.

THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF SELF AND IDENTITY

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Culture- is the complex whole, which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. Thus, culture is diverse.
✓ It is how people make sense of their experiences and behave according to socially shared ideas, values
and perceptions.
✓ Culture provides patterns of “ways of life”
✓ Culture, self, and identity may have different meanings in different cultures.

Identity- in social anthropology, is used mostly in the context of “ethnic identity”, pointing out the sameness of
the self with others or sharing certain characteristics within a group (example: language, way of dressing, etc.)
✓ Identity is a disposition of basic personality features acquired mostly during childhood and, once integrated,
more or less fixed.
✓ The self is a cultural individual that has freedom but also expresses his/her specific cultural mold

Two sides of identity found in any person in any culture (every society works with both aspect):
1. Egocentric
➢ Individuals who have the inability to understand that
another person's view or opinion may be different than
their own.
➢ It represents a cognitive bias, in that someone would
assume that others share the same perspective as they
do, unable to imagine that other people would have a
perception of their own.
2. Sociocentric
➢ An individual is being
oriented toward or focused on one's own social group,
and has the tendency to regard one's own social group
as superior to others.

❖ From the similarities and differences in characteristics among individuals, people construct their social
identities.
❖ Identity toolbox- refers to the features of a person’s identity that he/she chooses to emphasize in
constructing a social self.
❖ Examples of characteristics: kinship, gender, age, ethnicity, personal appearance, socioeconomic status,
family membership, language, religious affiliation
❖ Personal naming- a universal practice with numerous cross-cultural variations, establishes a child’s
birthright and social identity. A name is an important device to individualize a person and legitimize
him/her as a member of a social group such as family. Personal names in all societies are intimate
markers of a person, which differentiates him/her from others.
❖ One’s identity is NOT inborn. It is something people continuously develop in life.
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Three-phased rite of passage

➢ A ritual that marks the changes in one’s status and identity according to Arnold van Gennep.
1. Separation phase- people withdraw or detach from their former identity and begin moving from one
place or status to another.
➢ For example, in a wedding, the bride walking down the aisle to be “given away” by the parents
to the groom implies the separation from one’s family to become part of a new one.
2. Liminality phase- a person transitions from one identity to another, during which people have left one
place or state but have not yet entered or joined the next. During the liminal state one's sense of identity
dissolves to some extent, as it is a period of transition.
➢ Example, the wedding ceremony itself is the process of transition of the bride and groom from
singlehood to married life.
3. Incorporation phase- a person reenter society, having completed the rite, the change in one’s status
is officially incorporated.
➢ Example, the wedding reception and parties that celebrate the wedding serve as the markers
that officially recognize the bride and groom’s change towards being husband and wife.
➢ Rites of passage help a person adjust from one social dimension of his or her life to the others.
➢ Identity struggles- there is a discrepancy between the “identity” a person claims to possess and the
“identity” attributed to that person by others. Individuals may also be confused in defining their personal
identity when there is a clash between self-identification and inherited collective identification emerging
from the cultural changes and conflicting norms and values in the postmodern society.

EXPLAIN: WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED!

Activity 2: Proclaiming my Name
Instruction: Ethnicity, religion, political affiliations, or even socioeconomic status may be associated with one’s
name. Analyze your personal name by answering the following questions (NOTE: you may also ask your
parents about this)

1. What is the meaning of your name? (You may use Google search if there is no particular meaning given
by your parents)
2. Who picked your name? What is his/her basis for giving you that name?
3. Do you personally like your name? If not, what name would you like to have if given a chance to change
it and why?
4. What naming practices do you have in your family? (You may also analyze the names of your siblings)
5. How do you think your personal name established your social identity?
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TOPIC SUMMARY
In this lesson, you have learned that:
▪ The self is continually influenced by cultural variation that depends on our inherited biological
characteristics and cultural environments.
▪ Every human being is born with a specific set of genetic potentials and limitations, which influence his
or her own construction of self.
▪ The self is also a result of the complex interplay of biological and cultural environments.

REFERENCES
Book:
• Go-Monilla, M.J.A., Ramirez, N.C. (2018). Understanding the Self. C&E Publishing.
Quezon City.
From the Web:
• Definition of Anthropology Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus ©
Cambridge University Press Retrieved from
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/anthropology retrieved on 11 August
2020
• Clarke, J., What It Means to Be Egocentric (June 2019), VeryWellMind, retrieved from
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-egocentric-4164279 Retrieved on
11 August 2020
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• Rite of Passage (July 2019). Politics and Social Sciences, Anthropology. New World
Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Rite_of_passage. Retrieved on 12 August
2020.