PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT – QUARTER 1

Human Development

• Three (3) Aspects of Human Development

1. Physiological Development
- It is also known as Physical Development.
- It is the growth of the body, motor and sensory skills, and physical health.
2. Cognitive Development
- It covers our capacity to learn, think, and comprehend.
- This rationalizes and creates ideas.
3. Psychosocial Development
- Interactions with other people.

Personal Development

- The process in which people reflect upon themselves, understand who they are,
accept what they discover about themselves, and learn (or unlearn) new sets of
values, attitudes behavior, and thinking skills to reach their fullest potential as
human beings.
• Origin of Personal Development
- It started eons ago when the first homo sapiens walked the face of the Earth.
- The cavemen who drew figures on their cave walls attempted to narrate their
experiences such as hunting.
- The act of drawing can be deemed as an attempt toward creative expression
and narration.
- It was during the time of the Western philosophers, particularly the Greek thinkers,
when questions about the self and about being human began to be asked.

▫ Early Western View

- In the republic, which some consider to be the greatest work on the philosophy of
education, Plato argued that building character, as much as intelligence, is what
education is all about.
- Even during the early times of human development and civilization, there was
already an attempt to link individual development with social responsibility (Young
Adult Learners Partnership, 2003).

▫ Eastern Thought
- This may have understood personal development through another concept.
 ♦ Confucian Philosophy
- The great Chinese will always desire to become the “superior man”, not just to his
peers and followers, but also to himself most especially. (The Ethics of Confucius,
2014)

• Foundation of Personal Development

1. Psychology
- It is the foundation of Personal Development.
- It is defined as the study of human behavior and mental processes.
- Among all the fields in Psychology, Personal Development was anchored in the
modern fields of Psychology, which are Humanistic Psychology and Positive
Psychology.
▪ Wilhem Wundt
- The Father of Psychology.
- A German Psychologist who became interested in Experimental Psychology.
▪ Sigmund Freud
- The modern father of Psychology.

2. Humanistic Psychology
- This focuses on the whole person and their subjective point of view and believes
that humans have the tendency to self-actualize.
▪ Abraham Maslow
- His approach focuses on subjective experiences, free will, and the innate drive
toward self-actualization.
- For Maslow, self-actualization is a level that we need to achieve, and this was
evident in his hierarchy of needs.
- He included an explanation of how human needs change throughout an
individual’s lifespan, and how these needs influence the development of
personality.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

- It ranks human needs from the most basic physical needs to the most advanced
needs for self-actualization.
- A person must acquire and master each level of need before proceeding to the
next need.
- The needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can
attend to higher needs.
(Descending Order)

5. Self-Actualization

- The highest level in Maslow’s hierarchy and refer to as achieving one’s full
potential and seeking personal growth and peak experiences.
- Maslow (1943) describes this level as the desire to accomplish everything that one
can, to become the most that one can be.

4. Esteem

- The fourth level (stated in the ppt slide) in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
- Maslow classified this need into two (2) categories:
a. Esteem for Oneself
- Dignity, achievement, mastery, and independence
a. Desire for Reputation/Respect from others
- Status and Prestige

3. Love and Belonging

- The third level of human needs is social and involves feelings of belongingness.
- The need for interpersonal relationships motivates people’s behavior.

2. Safety Needs

- These needs can be fulfilled by the family and society (e.g., police, schools,
business, and medical care)
- Examples include emotional Security, financial security, law and order, freedom
from fear, social stability, property, health, and wellbeing.

1. Physiological Needs
- It is also known as physical needs or biological needs for human survival (e.g., air,
food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, sleep)
- If these needs are not satisfied, the human body cannot function optimally.

Cognitive Needs

- The knowledge and understanding of curiosity, exploration, need for meaning,

and predictability.
Aesthetic Needs

- The appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc.

Transcendence Needs

- A person is motivated by values which transcend beyond the personal self.

Carl Rogers

- He is a humanistic psychologist who agreed with the main assumptions of

Abraham Maslow.
- However, he added that for a person to grow, they need an environment that
provides them with genuineness (openness and self-disclosure), acceptance
(being seen with unconditional positive regard), and empathy (being listened to
and understood).
• Unconditional Positive Regards
- According to Carl Rogers, you will be able to achieve your full potential if you were
in a genuine and supportive environment.
- “Simply loving without conditions.”
• Conditional Positive Regards
- Acceptance is demonstrated towards someone in a conditional way.

Positive Psychology

- This focuses on the positive events and influences in life.

• Martin Seligman
- He is one of the key proponents of positive psychology.
- He is one of the leading researchers in the whole field of psychology.
▫ PERMA Model
- One of Martin Seligman’s famous works.
- The template to explore optimal human functioning and happiness.
1. Positive Emotion
- This is the most obvious connection to happiness.
2. Engagements
- This helps us remain present, as well as synthesize the activities where we find calm,
focus, and joy.
 3. Relationships
- Relationships and social connections are crucial to meaningful lives.
4. Meaning
- Knowing your purpose and meaning is a key ingredient that can drive us toward
fulfillment.
5. Accomplishments
- Our goals and ambitions in life can help us achieve things that can give us a sense
of accomplishment.

Knowing Oneself

- The process of understanding your own thoughts, feelings, values, strengths,

weaknesses, and motivations.
- It involves self-awareness and introspection, which can lead to personal growth,
better decision-making, and improved relationships with others.
• Key Aspects of Knowing Oneself
▫ Self-Awareness
- It involves paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors without
judgment.
▫ Self-Reflection
- Take time to reflect on your life experiences, both positive and negative.
▫ Values & Beliefs
- These are the principles that guide your decisions and actions.
▫ Strengths & Weaknesses
- Knowing what you excel at and where you may need improvement can help you
set realistic goals and work on personal development.
▫ Motivations & Goals
- Understanding your goals can provide a sense of purpose and direction.
▫ Personality Traits
- Understanding your personality can help you better navigate social interactions
and relationships.
▫ Past Experiences & Traumas
- Addressing unresolved issues from the past can be an essential part of self.
DEFINING THE SELF

Adolescence

- From the Latin word, adolescere, which means ‘to mature’.

- This is the time when young people start to ask questions about themselves, about
their future, and even about their religious & political beliefs.
- A transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally
occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood.
- Ages 10 – 19
- This includes body changes in both boys and girls: breast development in females,
and enlargement of the testicles in males.

Early Adolescence

- Ages 10 – 13
- These body changes can inspire curiosity and anxiety in some, especially if they
do not know what to expect or what is normal.
- Some children may also question their gender identity.
- The onset of puberty can be a difficult time for transgender children.
- In this process, pre-teens may push boundaries and may react strongly if parents
or guardians reinforce limits.
▫ Egocentrism
- Concrete, black-and-white thinking
- Things are either right or wrong, great or terrible, without much room in between.
- Pre-teens and early teens are often self-conscious about their appearance and
feel as though they are always being judged by their peers.

• Middle Adolescence
- Ages 14 – 17
- Physical changes continue in both female and males.
- Most males will have started their growth spurt and puberty-related changes.
- Most females will now have regular periods.
- Many teens become interested in romantic and sexual relationships.
▫ Masturbation
- It is also called self-stimulation.
- Another typical way of exploring sex and sexuality for teens of all genders.
 • Late Adolescence
- Ages 18 – 21 and beyond.
- They generally have completed physical development and grown to their full
adult height.
- Teens entering early adulthood have a stronger sense of their own individuality
and can identify their own values.

Socrates

- An ancient Greek philosopher whose way of life, character, and thought exerted
a profound influence on Western Philosophy.
- He states that “the most important thing to pursue was self-knowledge and
admitting one’s ignorance is the beginning of true knowledge.”

Plato

- He is one of Socrates’ students.

- He is an ancient Greek philosopher, the teacher of Aristotle, and founder of the
Academy.
- He is best known as the author of philosophical works of unparalleled influence.
- He states that “the beginning of knowledge is self-knowledge.”

The Self

- The being which is the source of the person’s consciousness.

- The agent responsible for an individual’s thoughts and actions.
- An intangible entity that directs a person’s thoughts and actions.
▫ The Self also includes:
• Person’s life Purpose
- The central motivating aims of a person’s life.
- It can guide life decisions, influence behavior, shape goals, offer a sense of
direction, and create meaning.
• Meaning
- A person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others.
• Aspirations
- A hope or ambition of achieving something.
Personality

- A set of behaviors, feelings, thoughts, and motives that identifies an individual.

- The essence of who we are and is the embodiment of one’s physical,
psychological, cognitive, affective, and spiritual self.
- This refers to the unique and relatively enduring set of behaviors, feelings, thoughts,
and motives that characterize an individual.
- Personality is a pattern of habits, attitudes, and traits that determine an individual’s
characteristics, behaviors, and traits.
• Two (2) Components of Personality
- Personality is influenced by both nature (heredity or genetic make-up) and nurture
(environment).

Trait Theory

- It is an approach in identifying types of personalities based on certain traits or

attributes which vary from one person to another.
- This was started by D.W. Fiske and later pursued by other researchers.

Big Five/Five-Factor Model

- These tendencies are openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion,

agreeableness, and neuroticism. (OCEAN)
• Openness to Experience
- Curiosity, interest, imagination, and creativity to new ideas.
• Conscientiousness
- Planning, organizing, hardworking, controlling, persevering, and punctuality.
• Extraversion
- Sociable, talkative, active, outgoing, and fun-loving.
• Agreeableness
- Friendly, warm, trusting, generous, and kind-hearted.
• Neuroticism
- Calm, relaxed, and comfortable.
DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON

Holistic Development

- This refers to the overall growth and development of an individual that

encompasses various aspects of their well-being.
- It encompasses physical, mental, emotional, social, and even spiritual aspects.

Mind and Body Dualism of Descartes

• Rene Descartes
- He is one of the modern philosophers of our time, who influenced much of
mankind’s thinking with his theory of duality or understanding the nature of things
in a simple, dual mode.

Holism

- A philosophical and system-thinking approach that views entities or systems as

wholes, where the properties, behaviors, and characteristics of the whole are not
simply the sum of their parts but are also influenced by the interactions and
interdependencies among those parts.
- Holism is like looking at the big picture. Instead of focusing on just one part of
something, it means considering all the parts and how they work together as a
whole.
- This encourages us to think about how different parts fit together, how they
influence each other, and how they create a bigger, more complex picture in
various aspects of life, whether it's our health, the environment, or even our
communities.

Gestalt
- Something that is made of many parts and yet is somehow more than different or
from the combination of its parts; broadly, the general quality or character of
something.
- Gestalt is a way of looking at things as a whole rather than just a collection of parts.
It's like seeing the forest for the trees. Instead of focusing on individual trees, you
see the entire forest and how everything fits together.
- It is about how our minds naturally organize information and patterns.
 • Five (5) Aspects that Make Up Complex Organisms
1. Physiological
- Physical attributes including the 5 physical senses.
2. Cognitive
- Intellectual functions of the mind: thinking, recognizing, reasoning, analyzing,
projecting, recalling, etc.
3. Psychological
- How thinking, feeling, and behaving interact and happen in a person.
4. Social
- Manner by which an individual interacts with others.
5. Spiritual
- A person’s consciousness, beliefs, including the values and virtues that guide and
put meaning in a person’s life.

Feelings

- Feeling arises from the brain as it interprets an emotion which is usually caused by
physical sensations experienced by the body as a reaction to a certain external
stimulus.
• Basic Sensations
1. Happiness
- Feeling a sense of contentment and joy.
2. Sadness
- Feeling down or low, often accompanied by tears.
3. Anger
- Feeling irritation or frustration, sometimes leading to raised voices.
4. Fear
- Feeling scared or anxious in response to a threat or danger.
5. Surprise
- Feeling taken aback or astonished by something unexpected.

Emotions

- From the Latin word “movare” which means to move or be upset or agitated.
- A descriptive term referring to variations in level of arousal, affective state or
mood, expressive movements and attitudes.
 • Complex Experiences
1. Joy
- An emotion that involves happiness, enthusiasm, and positive energy.
- It might arise when you achieve a goal or receive good news.
2. Grief
- An emotion associated with deep sadness, often experienced when dealing with
loss, such as the death of a loved one.
3. Rage
- An intense and uncontrollable emotion of anger, which can result from feeling
severely provoked or threatened.
4. Anxiety
- An emotion characterized by worry and unease, often related to uncertain or
potentially challenging situations.
5. Amazement
- An emotion of astonishment or wonderment when encountering something
extraordinary or remarkable.

Attitudes

- A person’s thoughts, feelings and emotions about another person, object, idea,
behavior or situation.
- It is a result of a person’s evaluation of an experience with another person, object,
idea, behavior or situation based on his or her values and belief systems.

Behavior

- A manifestation or acting out of the attitudes an individual has.

Values

- A system of beliefs that adheres to the highest ideals of human existence.

- These create meaning and purpose in a person’s life.
- Universal human values that transcend culture and race.
- Values are usually nouns.
- The compass that guides your choices and actions.
- They are the beliefs and principles that are important to you and shape your
behavior. For example, if honesty is a value, you believe in telling the truth.

• Shalom H. Schwartz
- A psychologist and cross-cultural researcher from the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem.
- He wrote Basic Human Values: Theories, Methods and Applications:
 1. Self-Direction
- Independent thought and action; choosing, creating and exploring.
2. Stimulation
- Excitement, novelty and challenge in life.
3. Hedonism
- Pleasure and sensuous gratification for oneself.
4. Achievement
- Personal success through demonstrating competence according to social
standards.
5. Power
- Social status and prestige, and control or dominance over people and resources.
6. Security
- Safety, harmony and stability of society, of relationships and of self.
7. Conformity
- Restraint of actions and impulses that are likely to upset or harm others and violate
social expectations or norms.
8. Tradition
- Respect, commitment, and acceptance of the customs and ideas that traditional
culture or religion provide for the self.
9. Benevolence
- Preserving and enhancing the welfare of those with whom one is in frequent
personal contact.
10. Universalism
- Understanding, appreciation, tolerance, and protection for the welfare of all
people and nature.

Virtues

- These are adjectives that describe positive and desirable qualities which usually
mirror a value it represents.
- The qualities or traits that reflect your values in action.
- They are like the building blocks of good character.
- Virtues are the positive qualities that demonstrate your commitment to your
values.