MODULE 4: PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL SELF ➢ This ritual is viewed as a sign of

prosperity, fertility and beauty

Topic 1: The Physical Self ❖ The Philippines
➢ There is always a pressure in our society to ➢ The construction of local standards of
look good, and to seek a visually better beauty can be traced from our
version of ourselves. colonial influences
➢ Our physical selves have become so ➢ Lighter skinned individuals are
dependent on the judgment of our considered higher in terms of social
appearance, and not with the status, and therefore, in the social
celebration of it. rank compared to those with brown or
dark skin
Cultural Standards of Beauty ➢ Reason: Historically, our people were
➢ As culture decides the norms of the colonized by fairer skinned races -
society, its concept of what is beautiful is the Spaniards, the Americans, and
similarly invoked from a cultural the Japanese
perspective ■ We were forced to believe that
➢ The Politics of Beauty as per Lakoff and they were the more superior
Scherr, “beauty was not just a product of people, more civilized, and
wealth, but a commodity in and of itself. deemed as the standard of
In other words, it was no longer a matter beauty
of looking to wealth to find beauty, but of ➢ A very Eurocentric perspective which
looking to beauty to find status. Now, has influenced our concept of
beauty could give the illusion of wealth” attractiveness
Different Culture = Different Standards of Beauty
❖ Tahiti, Africa and Nigeria The Filipino Obsession with Beauty: The Case of
➢ Men and women were set aside in Xander Ford
special place for fattening purposes ➢ The Filipino obsession with beauty
➢ They were covered in large amounts translates not only with women, but also
of tapa barkcloth, which, after the with men
ritual is over, reveals a lighter skin for ➢ The case of Xander Ford, previously
those who were selected known as Marlou Arizala, a former
➢ The goal of this ritual is to enhance member of the Hasht5 - a teen boy band
their beauty, not only by feeding which became an online sensation not
them but making sure that they get a because of their attractiveness, nor
lighter skin afterwards. talent, but because of the disgust and
➢ "Fattening Rooms" are still relevant animosity they receive for the 'ugly' faces.
among well-off families. ➢ His decision to go under the knife was
because of a lookist culture which
dictates that happiness is only afforded to
By: Ria Laxamana
 good-looking people. As our society puts ➢ Body image disturbance (BID) is an
premium to Eurocentric standards of important aspect of several pathologies
beauty, we victimize our own people for in psychology, particularly eating
looking otherwise. disorders.
➢ Not all surgeries are deemed safe ○ The perceptual component which
○ Dr. Samuel Eric Yapjuanco, Xander's refers to how we accurately perceive
plastic Surgeon, conducted three our body size, also known as body
procedures on businesswoman Shiryl size estimation
Saturnino, but the latter died in the ○ The attitudinal component which
process. refers to how we think and feel about
○ She died of fat embolism - a the size and/or shape of our body,
condition where there was fat in the which if not correctly processed, will
blood vessels which entered into the result in body dissatisfaction
lungs of the victim, making it hard for ➢ Stice and Whiteton found out that body
her to breathe dissatisfaction is also linked with mental
disorders including depression and
Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD anxiety among adolescents
➢ Those who are suffering from BDD are so
obsessed about their appearance, thus Topic 2: Sexual Self
think about their flaws, real or not,
incessantly and uncontrollably Human Sexual Behavior
➢ Those who are diagnosed with this ➢ any activity - solitary, between two
disorder are very much preoccupied by persons, or in a group – that induces
a perceived physical flaw that is either sexual arousal.
absent or so trivial ➢ Two major factors that determine human
➢ Those who are suffering from this sexual behavior:
disorder are so self-anxious that they ○ th e inherited sexual response
seek cosmetic surgeries to finally solve patterns that have evolved as a
their body issues. means of ensuring reproduction and
that become part of each individual’s
Body Shaming or Body Image Disturbance genetic inheritance
(BID) ○ The degree of restraint or other types
➢ Body Shaming, which is criticizing of influence exerted on the individual
yourself or others because of some by society in the expression of his
aspect of physical appearance, has sexuality
resulted in the loss of self-confidence of
those who have been thin-shamed or
fat-shamed

By: Ria Laxamana

Types of Human Sexual Behavior society quite differently depending
❖ Solitary Behavior upon the marital status of the
➢ Self-gratification means individuals
self-stimulation that leads to sexual ➢ In modern Western society, premarital
arousal and generally, sexual climax. coitus is more likely to be tolerated
Usually, most self-gratification takes but not encouraged if the individuals
place in private as an end in itself, but intend marriage
can also be done in socio-sexual ➢ Marital coitus is considered as an
relationships obligation
➢ It is very common among young ➢ Extramarital coitus involving wives is
males, but becomes less frequent or generally condemned but allowed
is abandoned when socio-sexual only under exceptional conditions or
activity is available with specified persons
➢ There are more males who perform ➢ Examination and touching of
acts of self-gratification than females someone’s genitalia is not interpreted
➢ Nowadays, humans are frequently as a sexual act especially when done
being exposed to sexual stimuli for medical purposes
especially from advertising and social
media Physiology of Human Sexual Response
➢ Adolescents need to control their ❖ Excitement Phase
sexual response in order to prevent ➢ It is caused by increase in pulse and
premarital sex and acquire sexually blood pressure
transmitted diseases. ➢ A sudden rise in blood supply to the
❖ Socio-sexual Behavior surface of the body resulting in
➢ Heterosexual behavior is the greatest increased skin temperature, flushing,
amount of sociosexual behavior that and swelling of all distensible body
occurs between only one male and parts (particularly noticeable in the
one female male reproductive structure and
➢ Physical contact involving necking or female breasts)
petting is considered as an ingredient ➢ More rapid breathing, the secretion of
of the learning process and genital fluids, vaginal expansion, and
eventually of courtship and the a general increase in muscle tension
selection of a marriage partner ❖ Plateau Phase
➢ Petting may be done as an ➢ It is generally a brief duration
expression of affection and a source ➢ If stimulation is continued orgasm
of pleasure, preliminary to coitus usually occurs.
➢ Coitus, the insertion of the male
reproductive structure into the female ❖ Sexual Climax
reproductive organ, is viewed by
By: Ria Laxamana
 ➢ It is marked by a feeling of abrupt, ➢ They are usually caused by socially
intense pleasure, a rapid increase in induced inhibitions, maladaptive
pulse rate and blood pressure, and attitudes, ignorance, and sexual
spasms of the pelvic muscles causing myths held by society
contractions of the female ➢ Premature emission of semen is a
reproductive organ and ejaculation common problem, especially for
by the male. young males.
➢ It is also characterized by involuntary ➢ Erectile impotence is almost always of
vocalizations psychological origin in males under
➢ Sexual climax may last for a few 40
seconds (normally not over ten) ■ Fear of being impotent frequently
❖ Resolution Phase causes impotence
➢ The last stage that refers to the return ■ In other cases, the impotence
to a normal or subnormal physiologic may be the result of disinterest in
state. the sexual partner, fatigue, and
➢ Whereas males return to normal even distraction because of nonsexual
if stimulation continues, but continued worries, intoxication, or other
stimulation can produce additional causes
orgasms on females ➢ Ejaculatory impotence, which results
➢ Females are physically capable of from the inability to ejaculate in
repeated orgasms without the coitus, is uncommon and is usually of
intervening “rest period” required by psychogenic origin.
males ■ Occasional ejaculatory inability
can be possibly expected in
Sexual Problems older men or in any male who
❖ Physiological Sexual Problems has exceeded his sexual
➢ The least among the three categories capacity
➢ Some common physiologic ➢ Vaginismus is a strong spasm of the
conditions that can disturb sexual pelvic musculature constricting the
response include vaginal infections, female reproductive organ so that
retroverted uteri, prostatitis, adrenal penetration is painful or impossible
tumors, diabetes, senile changes of ■ It can be due to anti-sexual
the vagina, and cardiovascular conditioning or psychological
problems trauma that serves as an
➢ The majority of physiological sexual unconscious defense against
problems can be resolved through coitus.
medication or surgery

❖ Psychological Sexual Problems Sexual Violence

By: Ria Laxamana
 ➢ Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual ➢ sexually attracted to members of the
act, unwanted sexual comment or same sex.
advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise ❖ Bisexual
directed, against a person’s sexuality ➢ sexually attracted to people of both
using coercion, by any person regardless sexes.
of their relationship to the victim, in any ❖ Heterosexual (straight)
setting, including but not limited to home ➢ sexually attracted to members of the
and work opposite sex.
➢ Sexual Violence in the Philippines ❖ Pansexual / Omnisexual
○ Approximately 1 in 4 children ➢ can be sexually attracted to any sex
experience some form of sexual or gender identity
violence ❖ Asexual
■ Majority occurs at home, in the ➢ not sexually attracted to any sex or
community, and during dating gender
○ Children aged 13-17 experience the
most sexual violence Gender Identity
■ Younger boys in the 13-18 group ❖ Cisgender / Cis
are at high risk of sexual violence ➢ gender identity consistent is with the
in every setting sex they were assigned at birth
➢ Perpetrators ❖ Transgender / Trans
○ The main perpetrators are fathers and ➢ gender identity does not match the
family members, neighbors and sex they were assigned at birth
dating partners ❖ Agender
○ 7 to 10 perpetrators of sexual violence ➢ people who do not identify with any
are males gender
❖ Non-Binary
Topic 2: Diversity of Sexual Orientation ➢ people who "do not identify strictly as
➢ Sexual orientation refers to our sexual a boy or a girl - they could identify as
preferences towards males, females, or both, or neither, or as another gender
both. entirely"
➢ Gender identity is one's concept of being
male, female, both, or neither and is * A transexual is one who transitions from one
"entirely determined by socialization sex to another through undergoing several
(nurture), not biological factors (nature)." surgical procedures.

MODULE 5: MATERIAL AND DIGITAL SELF

❖ Homosexual (gay/lesbian)
By: Ria Laxamana
 ➢ Influenced by the “Philosophy of
Topic 1: Material Self Dress” by Herman Lotze
■ Clothing is an essential part of the
Diderot Effect material self
➢ one of the most commonly-experienced ➢ The fabric and style of the clothes we
phenomena of consumption wear bring sensations to the body to
➢ one innocent purchase can which directly affect our attitudes and
unexpectedly spiral into an endless cycle behavior
of complementary consumption ➢ Clothing is a form of self-expression.
➢ Articulated through an essay entitled We choose and wear clothes that
"Regrets on Parting with My Old Dressing reflect our self
Gown" by 18th century French ❖ The Immediate Family
philosopher Denis Diderot ➢ Our parents and siblings hold another
➢ From the novel "Fight Club" by Chuck great important part of ourselves
Palahniuk: "The things you own end up ➢ We place huge investment in our
owning you." immediate family when we see them
as the nearest replica of ourselves
William James ❖ The Home
➢ In his The Principles of Psychology in 1980, ➢ Home is where the heart is. It is the
he claimed that understanding the self earliest nest of our selfhood.
can be examined through its different ➢ This is an extension of self, because
components: ywe can directly connect ourselves.
○ its constituents, the feeling and ➢ The collection of different degrees of
emotions they arouse – self-feelings, investment of self, becomes part of
and the actions to which they prompt the self
– self-seeking and self-preservation. ➢ Possessions become a part or an
extension of the self
Primaries of Material Self by William James
❖ The Body We Are What We Have
➢ The innermost part of our material self. ➢ Russel Belk posits that “... we regard our
➢ We are directly attached to this possessions as part of ourselves. We are
commodity that we cannot live what we have and what we possess.”
without ➢ As we grow older, putting importance to
➢ We do have certain preferential material possessions decreases
attachment or intimate closeness to ➢ Material possessions gain higher value
certain body parts because of its in our lifetime if we use material
value to us possession to find happiness, associate
❖ The Clothes these things with significant events,

By: Ria Laxamana

 accomplishments, and people in our people” and is the key to relationship
lives. inception and development
➢ Individuals selectively provide information
Topic 2: Digital Self about them and carefully cater this
➢ The number of people who are becoming information in response to other’s
more active online continues to increase feedback
worldwide ➢ Sharing ourselves is no longer new and
➢ The Internet has already become an has been practiced as soon as human
integral part of everyday life for most of beings were formed.
the world’s population. ➢ Facebook and other social media
➢ The Philippines is among one of the applications are now a key part of
countries with the most active Internet self-presentation for one-sixth of
users. humanity.

The Internet in the World “Fear of missing out”

➢ Almost two-thirds of the world's ➢ The lack of privacy in many aspects of
population has a mobile phone. social media make the users more
➢ More than half of all mobile connections vulnerable, leading to compulsively
around the world are now “broadband.” checking newsfeed and continually
➢ More than one in five of the world’s adding tweets and postings in order to
population shopped online in the past 30 appear active and interesting.
days. ➢ People would like to remain updated and
➢ Media users in the Philippines grew by 12 they keep on sharing themselves online
million or 25% while the number of mobile
social users increased by 13 million or “Disinhibition effect”
32%. ➢ The lack of face-to-face gaze meeting,
➢ In the Philippines, adolescents are among together with feelings of anonymity and
the most avid users of the Internet. invisibility, gives people the freedom for
self-disclosure but can also “flame”
others and may cause conflict sometimes
➢ Some may believe that they are able to
express their ”true self” better online

Why Confess to Unseen and Anonymous Others

Selective Self-presentation and Impression Online?
Management ➢ In Foucault’s view, confessing our secret
➢ Self-presentation is the “process of truths feels freeing, even as it binds us in a
controlling how one is perceived by other guilt-motivated self-governance

By: Ria Laxamana

 ➢ Confession along with contemplation, MODULE 6: SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL
self-examination, learning reading, and
SELF
writing self-critical letters to friends, are a
part of the ”technologies of the self”
Topic 1: Spiritual Self
through which we seek to purge and
➢ The spiritual aspect of the self is the inner
cleanse ourselves
essence, the part of the self that connects
➢ Confessional blogs may also be
the person to the sacred, the supernatural,
therapeutic for the audience to read,
and the universe.
allowing both sincere empathy and the
➢ The family, school, and church play a very
voyeuristic appeal of witnessing a public
important role in the child’s spiritual
confession
development
➢ We should look at online information
carefully whether they are valid and true
The Importance of Understanding and
before believing and promoting them
Nurturing the Spiritual Self
➢ We should also think well before we post
➢ Understanding and developing awareness
or share anything online in order to
of the spiritual self gives the person a
prevent conflict, arguments, and
feeling of oneness with g/God and the
cyberbullying, and to preserve our
universe.
relationships with others
➢ Spirituality is mostly connected with
religion.
Setting Boundaries to Your Online Self: Smart
➢ Religious beliefs and practices make
Sharing
people closer to God.
➢ Consider the following before posting:
○ Is this post/story necessary?
Religion
○ Is there a real benefit to this post? Is it
➢ Rebecca Stein works on the definition of
funny, warm-hearted, teachable – or
religion “as a set of cultural beliefs and
am I just making noise online without
practices that usually includes some or all
purpose?
of basic characteristics
○ Have we (as a family or parent/child)
➢ The choice of religious belief lies within the
resolved this issue?
spiritual self. Although, the choice may be
○ Is it appropriate? Does it stay within
influenced by the society and its culture
the boundaries of our family values?

Ritual
○ Will this seem as funny in 5, 10, or 15
➢ Ritual is the performance of ceremonial
years? Or is this post better suited for
acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred
sharing with a small group of family
law
members? Or maybe not at all?
➢ Ritual is a specific, observable mode of
behavior exhibited by all known societies

By: Ria Laxamana

➢ The self can be traced to a ritual being
who exhibits a striking parallel between
their ritual and verbal behavior
➢ Participation in rituals is an expression of
religious beliefs
Logotherapy by Viktor Frankl
➢ Viktor Frankl’s personal experiences in the
Nazi concentration camps during World
War II led him to develop the basic tenets
of logotherapy
➢ Logotherapy is the pursuit of human
existence as well as on mans’ search for
such a meaning.
○ Logos is a Greek word that denotes
meaning.
➢ In logotherapy, man can discover the
meaning in life in three different ways:
○ by doing a deed
○ by experiencing a value
○ by suffering
➢ The main belief in logotherapy is that
“man’s primary motivational force is
search for meaning”
➢ Logotherapy aids individuals to find
personal meaning of life, whatever life
situation they may be.
➢ In logotherapy, meaning can
discovered by creating a work or doing
a deed, experiencing something or
encountering someone and the attitude
toward unavoidable suffering
➢ Philosophy of optimism in the face of
tragedy, where people are capable of
”turning suffering into human
achievement and accomplishment”
Logotherapy Assumptions
❖ The human being is an entity consisting of
body, mind, and spirit.
➢ It deals with the body (soma), mind
(psyche), and spirit (noos)
➢ The body and the mind are what we
have and the spirit is what we are
❖ Life has meaning under all circumstances,
even the most miserable.
➢ “Ultimate meaning”
➢ This is difficult to grasp but it is
something everyone experiences,
and it represents an order in a world
with laws that go beyond human laws
❖ People have a will to meaning.
➢ It is seen as our main motivation for
living and acting
➢ This is considered to be different than
our will to achieve power and
pleasure
❖ People have freedom under all
circumstances to activate the will to find
meaning
➢ We are free to activate our will to find
meaning, and this can be done
under any circumstances
➢ It deals with a change of attitudes
be about unavoidable fate
❖ Life has a demand quality to which people
must respond if decisions are to be
meaningful
➢ The meaning of the moment, is more
practical in daily living than ultimate
meaning
➢ This can be done by following the
values of society or by following the
voice of our conscience
By: Ria Laxamana
❖ The individual is unique.
➢ It deals with one’s sense of meaning
➢ This is enriched by the realization that
we are irreplaceable
➢ We all go through unique situations
and are constantly looking to find
meaning.
Frankl’s Source of Meaning
❖ Purposeful Work
➢ To find the meaning of life starts with
holding a future goal.
➢ That task or goal to fulfill becomes the
meaning of their life
❖ Courage in the Face of Difficulty
➢ A meaningful life is a life
suffering. Suffering is an inevitable
part of life.
➢ To find meaning is to recognize
suffering, pain, and death as part of
life and to have the courage to face
these life difficulties
❖ Love
➢ Love is the only way to grasp another
human being in the innermost core of
his personality. No one can become
fully aware of the very essence of
another human being unless he loves
him.
➢ According to Frankl, the ultimate
secret on the spiritual foundation of
life is that love is salvation and joy
eternity.
Topic 2: Political Self
Filipino Citizenship
➢ According to the 1987 Philippine
Constitution, Filipino citizens are “… those
whose fathers and mothers are citizens of
the Philippines, those born before January
17, 1973, of mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of
majority, and those who are naturalized in
accordance with the law.”
➢ Citizenship is not the only marker of being
a Filipino. Culture and history have greatly
influenced the manner Filipinos learn, live,
and behave to date
with
Filipino Values and Traits
❖ Filipino Hospitality
➢ Filipinos welcome their guests and
tourists as if they are their own
brothers and sisters
➢ They always make their guests feel at
home, offering them something to
eat, or even a place to stay
➢ Filipinos also anticipate giving tours to
friends who will visit their hometown
and treating them to the nest
restaurants and delicacies for free
❖ Respect for Elders
➢ Filipinos greet their elders by kissing
their hand while saying “Mano po!”
and constantly using “po” and ”opo”
in conversations.
❖ Close Family Ties
➢ Filipinos maintain a tight relationship
with their families regardless if the
children are old enough and already
have families of their own.
By: Ria Laxamana
 ➢ Some Filipino families even opt to live attitude of Filipinos and allowing
in a big house where everyone can situations to take care of themselves
stay together. instead of worrying about them
➢ Nursing homes are almost always not ❖ Mañana Habit
an option for family members and ➢ This is the Filipino term for
choose to take care of their elders procrastination.
themselves. ➢ It was derived from a longer Filipino
❖ Cheerful Personality phrase called “Mamaya na”
➢ Filipinos have a habit of smiling and ➢ It is a poor habit of laziness that results
laughing a lot. They smile when they in heavier workloads
are happy, or sometimes even when ❖ Ningas Kugon
they are sad or angry. ➢ ”Ningas” is a Filipino term for flame
➢ They always try to maintain a positive and “kugon” is a Filipino term for
outlook in life which makes them Cogon grass that easily burns out
resilient and able to manage almost after it is put into flames
everything with a simple smile ➢ It refers to the attitude of eagerly
❖ Self-sacrifice starting things but quickly losing
➢ The self-sacrificing attitude of the eagerness soon after experiencing
Filipinos can be seen as an extension difficulty
of the Filipino hospitality. ➢ Laziness is a common problem
➢ They wish comfort and better lives for among Filipinos
their loved ones and would even go ❖ Pride
to the extent of working abroad ➢ When two parties are not on good
hundreds of miles away to earn more terms, they find it so hard to apologize
money and save up for them and wait until the other party asks for
➢ Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) an apology first
sacrifice a lot; that is why they are ❖ Crab Mentality
regarded as the modern-day Filipino ➢ This is a toxic trait among Filipinos
heroes where one resents the achievement
❖ Bahala Na of another, instead of feeling happy
➢ The Filipino version of the famous line for that person
“Hakuna Matata,” meaning no ❖ Filipino Time
worries ➢ Filipinos have this common attitude of
➢ The phrase is said to have originated arriving late at commitments, dinner,
from “Bathala na,” where Bathala or parties especially if they are
means God, and the phrase means meeting someone close to them.
leaving everything into God’s hands
➢ It can also be viewed as something
similar to the cheerful and positive
By: Ria Laxamana
How to be a Good Filipino?
❖ Be an active Filipino citizen
➢ A good Filipino citizen is aware of the
current events and participates in
government programs that aim for
the country’s progression and
development
➢ By simply exercising your right to vote,
you also become an active citizen
❖ Study the Philippine history
➢ By learning and fully understanding
the events of the Philippine history,
you will learn so much as to why it is
so important for you to love your
country with your life, extend help to
your fellow Filipinos in need, and
recognize abuse of political power
❖ Support local products
➢ When you buy local products, you do
not only support local manufacturers
and businessmen, but you also help
strengthen the local economy
➢ Supporting our local products also
displays our creativity, innovativeness,
and resourcefulness
❖ Speak the Filipino language
➢ Jose Rizal highlighted the importance
of a national language as a way of
displaying the love for one’s country
❖ Do not spread fake news and be
democratic in engaging with dissent
➢ It is part of being a good Filipino to
understand and verify what you read
online, especially in social media,
before actually believing in it and
spreading it like wildfire

By: Ria Laxamana