San Jose Community College

San Jose , Malilipot, Albay

Module 2, for Understanding The Self
Introduction:
Psychology
The psychology of self focuses on the representation of an
individual based on hi\her experiences.
These experiences are either from the home, school and other
groups , organization or affiliations he/she engaged in. Seemingly,
the self is one of the most heavily researched areas in social and
personality psychology, where concepts are introduced that
beyond our physical attributes, lies our psychological identity.
Questions of “ who am I ?” or “what am I beyond my looks?” are
thoughts of many that continuously search for a deeper sense of
self which can be traced back from some time of human history.
“Drawing on caves suggests that sometime during the dawn of
history, human beings began to give serious thought to their
nonphysical , psychological selves. With the advent of written
history , writers would describe this awareness of self in terms of
spirit , psyche, or soul.”

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson ,the pre-service
teachers should be able to:
LO I THE SELF AS A COGNITIVE CONSTRUCTION
1.1. demonstrate critical and reflective thought
in analyzing the different psychological theories in the
study of the “self”
1.2 expound the self as a cognitive
construction
LO 2. Physical Self: Image Matter
2.1. understand the value of one’s physical
image
2.2. identify the varied components of the
physical self
 2.3. determine ways to care for the physical
self

INFORMATION SHEET I
THE SELF AS A COGNITIVE CONSTRUCTION
Cognitive construction is a cognitive approach that
focuses on the mental processes
Rather than the observable behavior. This approach
will assist individual in assimilating new information to
their existing knowledge and will enable to make the
appropriate modification to their existing intellectual
framework to accommodate their new information.
1. William James and the Me-Self, I-Self
With the initiative of Wilhelm Wundt, the father of
Scientific Psychology =, scientific methods in studying
what Aguirre et al. (2011) mentioned as phenomenon
of the consciousness, urged interest in further studies
of the self and its role in human behavior. It is in this
time that William James’ classical distinction between
the self as knower (or pure ego) and the self as known
(or the empirical self) provides a useful scheme within
which to view the multitudinous aspects of self-
functioning.
W. James suggested that “The total self of ‘Me ,
being as it were duplex” is composed of “partly object
and partly subject.” As aa consequence, he
differentiated between the self as knower, or the “I”
and the self as known , or “Me”. He referred to the “I”
as pure ego and suggested that this component of self
is consciousness itself. The “Me” on the other hand ,
is one of the many things that the I may be conscious
of , and it consists of three components, physical or
material , one social and one spiritual
Material self- consists of things that belong to us or
that we belong to. Things like family , clothes, our
body , and money are some of what make up our
material selves.
Social Self – our social selves are who we are in a
given social situation. For James people change how
they act depending on the social situation that they
are in. James believed that people had as many social
selves as they had social situations they participated
in.
Spiritual Self – is who we are at our core. The spiritual
self is more concrete or permanent than the other two
selves. The spiritual self is our subjective and most
intimate self. Aspects of an individual ‘s spiritual self,
include things like his /her personality, core values,
and conscience that do not typically change
throughout a lifetime.

2. Global versus Differentiated Models

There ad been postulation that one’s self may be
fragmented into different parts and different selves
which may be in conflict or needs regulation from each
other. Although W. James gave a very interesting
perspective on the self, and was even among the first
writers to coin the term “Self – Esteem , other theories
emerged to study on the selfhood as an integrated part
of one’s psyche. In the past 30 years, self-esteem has
become deeply embedded in popular culture (Brown &
Marchall ,2006). It is a person ‘s overall self-
evaluation or sense of self-worth.
Global Self-esteem (Trait self-esteem) is a
personality variable that represents the way people
generally feel about themselves. It is relatively
enduring across time and situations. According to
research Global self-esteem is a decision people make
about their worth as a person.
State Self –esteem (feeling of self-worth) refers to
the temporary feelings or momentary emotional
reactions to positive and negative events where we
feel good or bad about ourselves during situations or
experiences.
 Domain Specific Self-esteem (self evaluations) is
focused on how people evaluate their various abilities
and attributes. This is making distinction or
differentiation on how good or bad people are in
specific physical attributes, abilities and personal
characteristics.
3. Real and Ideal Self Concepts
The self as the regulating center of an individual
‘s personality and self-processes under the guise of id,
ego, and superego functioning ,rocked.
Psychology as the biggest breakthrough in
understanding the psychological self. From the
milestone, prominent psychologist followed with their
own perspective of the self to contest the roles and
functions of ego as the self. These were the
landmarks of Contemporary Psychology and the
understanding of the internal processes of man.
A group of psychologists called for renewed attention
to inner experience , internal processes, and self-
contrasts.
These perspectives assert the overall dignity and
worth of human beings and their capacity for self-
realization.
Karen Horney with her Feminine Psychology
established that a person has an ideal self , actual
self, and the real self. She believed that everyone
experiences basic anxiety through which we
experience conflict and strive to cope and employ
tension reduction approaches. Hall et al. mentioned
that Horney believed people develop a number of
strategies to cope with basic anxiety. Because people
feel inferior, an idealized self-image – an imaginary
picture of the self as the possessor of unlimited
powers and superlative qualities, is developed. On the
other hand , the actual self, the person one is in
everyday life, is often despised because it fails to
fulfill the requirements of the idealized image.
Underlying both the idealized self and the actual self is
the real self, which is revealed only as a person begins
to shed the various techniques developed to deal with
basic anxiety and to find ways of resolving conflicts.
The real self is not an entity but a force that impels
growth and self-realization.
Carl Rogers with his Person-Centered Theory,
established a conception of self, involving the real self
(a.k.a. Self-concept ) and Ideal Self. The Real Self
includes all those aspects of one’s being and one’s
experiences that are perceived in awareness (though
not always accurately ) by the individual . It is the
part of ourselves where we feel, think , look and act
involving our self-image. On the other hand, the ideal
self revolves around goals and ambitions in life is
dynamic, the idealized image that we have developed
over time. This is what our parents have taught us
considering: what we admire in others, what our
society promotes, what we think are in our best
interest 4. Multiple versus Unified
Selves
Postmodern psychology contends that man has an
identity that shifts and morphs in different social
situations and in response to different stimuli, as
Kenneth Gergen argues that having a flexible sense of
self in different context is more socially adaptable
than force oneself to stick to one self-concept.
Theorist believed that there is no one answer to the
question, “Who am I?” as one person can undergo
several transitions in his life and create multiple
versions of himself. However, there is still the
contention of the importance of mental well-being of
maintaining a unified, centralized , coherent self.
Multiple Selves, according to K. Gergen, are the
capacities we carry within us from multiple
relationships. These are not discovered but created in
our relationships with other people
 Unified Selves as strongly pointed out in
Traditional Psychology emphasizes that well-being
comes when our personality dynamics are congruent,
cohesive and consistent. It is understood that a
person is essentially connected with selfhood and
identity. In a healthy person the ego remains at the
helm of the mind, coherent and organized, staying at
the center.
5. True versus False Selves
Donald W. Winnicott distinguished what he called
the “true self” From the “false self” in the human
personality , considering the true self as based on a
sense of being in the experiencing body and the false
self as a necessary defensive organization, a survival
kit, a caretaker self, the means by which a threatened
person has managed to survive.
True self has a sense of integrity, of connected
wholeness that harks to the early stage. False self is
used when the person has to comply with external
rules such as being polite or otherwise following
social codes to maintain the relationship. The Healthy
False Self is functional, can be compliant but without
the feeling that it has
Betrayed its true self. The Unhealthy False Self fits in
but through a feeling of forced compliance rather than
loving adaptation (changingminds.org 2016). False
Selves , as investigated by Heinz Kohut (1971), can
lead towards narcissistic personality, which identifies
with external factors at the cost o one’s own
autonomous creativity.
6. The Self as Proactive and Agentic
Social Cognitive Theory takes an agentic view of
personality, meaning that humans have the
capacity to
exercise control over their own lives. People are self-
regulating , proactive, self-reflective, and self-
organizing and
that they have the power to influence their own
actions to produce desired consequences. People
consciously act
on the their environment in a manner that permits
growth toward psychological health. An adequate
theory of
personality, according to G. Allport must allow for
proactive behavior.
Agent self- The agent self is known as the
executive function that allows for actions. This is
how we, as individuals, make choices and utilize
our control in situations and actions. The agent
self, resides over everything that involves
decision making, self-control, taking charge in
situations, and actively responding. A person
might desire to eat unhealthy foods, however, it is
his/her agent self that allows that person to
choose to avoid eating them and make a healthier
food choice.
Human agency is not a thing but an active
process of exploring, manipulating and
influencing the environment in order to attain
desired outcomes. According to Albert Bandura,
the core features of human agency are intentional
(acts a person performs intentionally) forethought
(setting goals, anticipation of outcomes of
actions, selection of behaviors to produce desired
outcomes and avoiding undesirable ones),
Self-reactiveness(monitoring progress toward
fulfilling choices), and self-reflectiveness
(examination of own functioning, evaluation of the
effect of other people’s action on them). These
lead to self-efficacy, the belief that they are
capable of performing actions that will produce a
desired effect.
Self-Efficacy lies in the center of Bandura’s
Social Cognitive Theory. It is the measure of
one’s ability to complete goals. People with high
self-efficacy often are eager to accept challenges
because they believe they can overcome them,
while people with low self-efficacy may avoid
challenges, or believe experiences are more
challenging than they actually are (appsychtextbk
wikispaces.com2014).

INFORMATION SHEET II
PHYSICAL SELF: IMAGE MATTER

Our personality as well as our

identity is not only influenced by internal factors
such as one’s brain and emotions but it is
influenced as well by our physique. Our image is
a reflection of our lifestyle and the kind of lives
we lead. It is important to remember that what
we see may not necessarily be accurate but
perception matters much. Everyday interaction
with people results in their observation and
formation of opinion about our attitude, behavior,
practices, mannerisms, etc. These assumptions,
whether accurate or not affect, our self-concept
as well s self-esteem.
Evidently, human life and behavior has
deteriorated and many suffer from
counterproductive behavior and disengagement in
varied venues such as the workplace. Young
people now have become more susceptible to
stress and have become physically weaker with
the onset and utilization of technology which does
not entail much physical exertion at home, in th
school and even in the workplace.

The Dynamics of Physical Health

According to the Biopsychosocial
Model of Health (BPS) physical weakness is
caused by a complex interaction of biological ,
psychological (thoughts, emotions and behavior)
and sociocultural factors (socio-economic, socio-
environmental, and cultural). It reiterates that
physical health is result of the interplay between
biological, psychological and social factors rather
than purely biological components involving
viruses, bacteria and the like.
This theory shows how three elements
influence and affect the over-all physical image
and condition of an individual. Genes that may
possess characteristics such as the presence of a
physically strong body or otherwise may interplay
with one’s socio-economic status. This may
determine how well
Such individual values a healthy lifestyle.
Furthermore, the psychological factor
contributing to the physical image may bring
about health practices involving the personality of
being a” health buff” or in contradiction a “couch
potato”. Our attitude towards our physical image
manifests in our interests and hobbies. That is
why those who prefer to join trekking groups and
marathon groups instead of enrolling in cooking
lessons shows the kind of image we would like to
project.
 B
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Promoting Physical Image

Personal Hygiene
The physical self is a significant component in one’s image
and personality. Being clean and hygienic creates a good image and
allows one to feel good about the “self”. It is not necessary to be
following the hype in fashion but the requirement to be neat and
well-groomed at all times.
The skin plays a major role in one’s appearance. It creates
an impression that implicates certain attitudes and habits. Aside from
functioning as an outer covering, the skin maintain body temperature
as it contain as well the nerve endings that feed the nervous system
with the stimulus from the external environment. Taking care of the
skin entails the following:
1. Taking a regular bath or shower
2. Applying deodorant
3. Avoiding only food
4. Preventing acne by facial cleaning
5. Sleeping at least 7-8 hours per day
6. Drinking 8 glasses of water each day
7. Avoiding too much exposure to sunlight
8. Using waterproof sunscreen with 15 SPF or higher
9. Avoiding sunlight at 10-2 o’clock pm.
10. Taking vitamin C (anti-oxidant)
!!. Avoiding cigarettes
12. Taking Vitamin E
13. Moderate use of cosmetics
14. Avoiding harsh substances
15. Using facial cream \lotion to hydrate the skin
The Hair follicle and root are embedded in the skin. It is
basically made of dead cells. As new ones are formed old ones are
pushed outward through the surface of the skin and die. As one’s
crowning glory’ taking care of the hair entails simple habits and
practices which includes the following daily routine.
1. Brush or comb hair at least twice a day to maintain body and
shine as it releases natural oil from the roots.
2. Wash hair everyday with gentle soap and shampoo to prevent
dryness
3. Use enough hair conditioner
4. Have an intensive treatment atleast once a week
5. Use your own comb or brush to prevent getting parasites from
others

The Teeth affect our appearance and our image. Decaying

teeth turns off people as it results to” foul breath “.
More so, gaps in our teeth results to speech problems. Indeed our
teeth contribute a lot to our appearance and appeal.
Smiling entails a good set of teeth.
Hence here are some ways to maintain and show that
contagious smile.
1. Maintain a regular oral care.
2. Brush teeth after meal and before bed time.
3. Use a mouthwash.
4. Use floss on hard-to-reach spots.
5. Maintain a healthy diet especially veggies and fruits.
Good Grooming
It is a common notion that first impressions last’s . It is
necessary to take pride in our appearance and to dress appropriately
as those “significant others’ serve as our audience and critic. Careful
grooming and observance of proper clothing in specific occasions is an
important practice in building one’s self-esteem.
One should adhere to the basics and appreciate the following
tips:
1. For the Gentlemen
a. Be clean. Take a shower, cut nails, and pamper skin.
b. Select the right wardrobe for the right event.
c. Have a sense of style. Wear clothing that feels comfortable but
elegant.
d. Wear clean and shiny shoes that complement your attire.
e. Smell good by wearing mild perfume scent.
2. For the Ladies
a. Bathe, be clean and fresh always as it exudes confidence.
b. Polish nails to add femininity and art.
c. Apply light make-up using that suits te event.
d. Choose the appropriate attire that suits the event.
e. Use a mild feminine perfume scent tht fits your personality.
f. Wear clean shoes or sandals.
g. Choose the best bag or clutch that complement your clothing.
h. Bring only essentials in your bag
i. wear a smart face , chin up and keep proper smart posture.
 Social Graces
All civilized societies are built upon discipline. Since situations.
They include manners, etiquette, deportment, fashion and
refinement. This maintained through certain unwritten guidelines
that maintain the harmony in relationships through etiquette which
adheres to conventional requirements of social behavior.
Good manners are a reflection of one’s education, values and
sensitivity. The same could be manifested in several ways. One’s
image is considered positive and cultured if the following practices are
mastered especially on specific occasion;
A. Smoking
Etiquette 1. Use an ashtray.
2. Put out the stub.
3. Never throw cigarette butts on the flor.
4. Never smoke when walking.
5. Never smoke in public vehicles.
6. Be courteous to those who aresensitive tosmoke.
B. Drinking
Etiquette 1. Be pleasant.
2. Drink in moderation.
3. Drink slowly.
4. Do not mix drinks.
5. Drink coffee for hangover.
6. Call it a day when you have enough.
C. Dating Etiquette
1. Give a gift.
2. Learn to appreciate and compliment.
3. Do not embarrass the person if you do not like
him/her.
4. Do not stay late.
5. Inform your parents.
6. Do not be tempted to drink, take drugs or do sex.
7. Control yourself.
8. Don’t over spend.
9. Plan ahead.
D. Part Etiquette
1. Plan ahead.
2. Make good food.
3. Don’t over decorate.
4. Dress up well.
5. Receive guests personally.
6. Get conversations going.
7. Play soft music.
8. Arrange party games
9. Be hospitable.
10. Be on time.
11. Make new friends.
12. Eat moderately
13. Do not overstay
14. Thank the host/hostess.
Phone Etiquette
1. Learn to greet
2. Identify yourself.
3. Modulate your voice.
4. Caller should end the call.
5. Be accommodating.
6. Avoid negative statements.
7. Let the speaker finish his/ her line.
8. Say “ thank you and goodbye.’
HEALTH
One has to understand that our health affects our performance
and compliance in our daily tasks whether in school or at work.
Illness and diseases makes us weak physically and intellectually. This
may cause us to under perform or become unproductive . The case of
Steve Jobs exemplifies this case as his genius, his wealth and fame
became futile when he died at a young age of 56 caused by pancreatic
cancer. His early demise shows that our wealth is nothing without
good health. Even our image and self will suffer if our physical self
could never be maintained and taken care of.
 How should the body be taken care of and how can a longer and
productive life span be assured? Several ways can be considered but
this has to be religiously observed to develop habits that will provide
an assurance that life will be lived with much zest and satisfaction.
Such practice includes the following:
1. Proper Nutrition
Diet or what we regularly eat and drink provides us with
the fuel that powers our body and brain. Food is crucial to or body’s
survival but eating the right food on the other hand will assure
prevention of cardiovascular illnesses and th like. One therefore
should be guided by the food Pyramid to determine what should be
consumed less and what should be the bulk of what we take i.
The food pyramid shows that fats, oils and sweets should be
used sparingly as it occupies the tip of the figure. FOOD THAT
PRIMARILY CONTAINS FAT IS GENERALLY LOW IN OTHER NUTRIENTS
AND IS HIGH IN CALORIES. Such leads to weight gain and other types
of health problems. This is especially true with saturated fats that are
mostly found in poultry, meat and eggs which are high in cholesterol,
a wax like substance used by the body to build cells and make other
substances which most of the time is unhealthy for the body.
Major nutrients should be considered in our daily diet as they
help maintain our body’s wellness such that
a. Carbohydrates provide our body with energy.
b. Protein is necessary to repair body cells and tissues.
c. Vitamins help regulate body functions,
d. Fats serve as source of energy for vitamin storage and body
insulation.
e. Minerals strengthen muscles , bones, and teeth, enrich the blood
and keep the heart and other organs healthy , and
f. Water keeps 60% of an adult’s total body weight. It helps break
down food, carries nutrients throughout the body, removes wastes
and maintains a stable body temperature.
2. Clean Environment
Humans and environment make up the ecosystem. Human
activities over the years have put many waste products in the air, land
and water. They contaminate and pollute the environment through
toxic wastes killing plants, animals and humans as well. Many of the
illnesses that afflict people now are caused by these pollutants. The
fresh water that we directly get from the faucet is now substituted
with distilled or purified water that we buy from water station. It is
imminent therefore that the air that we breathe will soon be
purchased using oxygen tanks from air stations.
a. Resource Conservation. A major new industry that requires the
use of eco bags when shopping or maybe reusing an item like food
packages. Conserving electricity and water is also a practice of
resource conservation.
b. Recycling. This is the process of reusing materials that have
been put to waste . Recycling allows finding new ways to utilize those
things that have been thrown away.
c. Reduce Pollution. Whether it is air, water or land pollution,
individuals can contribute by maintaining cleanliness in their daily
activities. Reducing smoking prevents indoor pollution initiating car
pool or taking train instead of cars or motorbikes as well as short
distance walk can help in preventing release of more toxic fumes.
Moreover, individuals should stop dumping garbage in rivers and
other bodies of water. This responsible behavior can contribute a lot
to the cleanliness of our surroundings.

ACTIVITY SHEET --The Self as a Cognitive

Construction

Activity I.
Make a collage of your “Ideal Self” and Real Self”. Use cut-
out magazine pictures or use your drawing skills to create a collage
that represents your selves. Next have a friend or family member
make a collage of your “Actual Self”. Compare them and see what
you will learn about yourself.
Activity 2. Essay , Which among the theories on “ Self” as a
Construction, explains best your personality dynamics. Write down
your thoughts and feelings in no less than 300 words.

ACTIVITY SHEET - Physical Self: Image Matter

Activity 3. Define and discuss the following concepts:

1. Health
2. Diet
3. Hygiene
4. Social Graces

Activity 4. Explain your views on the effect of the following practices

to one’s image and physical health:
1. Lack of Personal Hygiene
2. Lack of Social Graces
3. Filthy Surroundings
4. Intense Craving for Food

Activity 5. Discuss your perception once you see the following

individuals:
1. A male applicant chewing a gum and having tattoos all
over his arms.
2. A lady wearing a micro miniskirt and a heavy facial ma-
up.
3. A uniformed student smoking cigarette while busy on his
mobile phone.
4. A man in a business attire perspiring with a folder and
waiting in line.

Note: Write your answers in a long size bond paper. Then wait the
schedule for submission .