Understanding the Self (Unit 1 and Unit 2)

Ancient Philosophy

The study of philosophy during the time period from 1000 BC to 500 AD.

Socrates

An ancient philosopher who emphasized self-understanding through questioning and the pursuit of wisdom.

Plato

A student of Socrates who believed in a tripartite soul/self consisting of reason, physical appetite, and spirit/passion.

Aristotle

A philosopher who believed that the mind is a blank tablet at birth and that self-knowledge is acquired through experiences.

Stoicism

A philosophical school of thought that promotes the control of emotions and the pursuit of virtue.

Hedonism

A philosophical school of thought that values pleasure and minimizes pain in life.

Epicureanism

A philosophical school of thought that emphasizes contentment with simple pleasures and minimizing disappointment.

Medieval Philosophy

The study of philosophy during the time period from 500 AD to 1350 AD, which focused on the blending of philosophy and religion.

St. Augustine

A medieval philosopher who believed that the self strives for union with God through faith and reason.

St. Thomas Aquinas

A medieval philosopher who believed that self-knowledge is dependent on experiences and that our loves reveal who we are.

Modern Philosophy

The study of philosophy from the 14th century to the early 20th century, which rejected excessive reliance on authority.

Anthropocentric

Thinkers began to reject the medieval thinkers excessive reliance on authority

Rene Descartes

A modern philosopher who believed in the distinction between the mind and the body, with the mind being the source of thinking.

John Locke

A modern philosopher who believed that personal identity is shaped by self-consciousness and experiences in the world.

David Hume

A modern philosopher who argued against the existence of a fixed self (no self), viewing it as a bundle of constantly changing perceptions.

Immanuel Kant

A modern philosopher who believed that the self is a unifying subject that organizes consciousness and makes experience intelligible.

Gilbert Ryle

A modern philosopher who believed that the self is revealed through behavior and actions, rather than a hidden "mind."

Paul & Patricia Churchland

Modern philosophers who argue that the self is the brain and that mental states will be superseded by brain states.

Edmund Husserl

A contemporary philosopher who emphasized the unity of the self and the seamless integration of the mental and physical aspects.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

A contemporary philosopher who believed that the self is embodied subjectivity and that our bodies help us understand the world.

Phenomenological Approach

A philosophical approach that focuses on the immediate response and description of lived experiences, reducing biases.

Sociology

The study of society and human social behavior.

The Looking Glass Self

A concept by Charles Horton Cooley that states that our self-concept is shaped by our interactions with others and how we believe others perceive us.

Johari Window

A technique used to enhance self-perception and understanding of others.

Symbolic Interactionism

A sociological perspective that emphasizes the creation and development of the self through human interaction.

“I and the Me” Self

A concept by George Herbert Mead that distinguishes between the socialized aspect of the self (Me) and the active aspect of the self (I).

Psychology

The scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Sigmund Freud

A psychologist who believed that the self is multi-layered, consisting of conscious, preconscious, and unconscious thoughts and feelings.

ID

The biological self that is present at birth and represents our basic drives and instincts, a natural part of the self. (Biological Self)(Pleasure Principle)

Superego

The social self incorporates the values and morals of society, which are learned from one’s parents and others. (Social Self)(Idealistic Principle)

Ego

The psychological self represents our contact with reality and the realistic demands of the world. Irrational wants of the ID and the superego with realistic demands of the world.

Self Esteem

A person's overall sense of worth.

Real and Ideal Self

A concept by Carl Rogers that compares how a person sees themselves currently (Real Self) to how they would like to be (Ideal Self).

Temporal Comparison

A mode of social comparison that considers a person's present condition in relation to how they were in the past.

Social Comparison

A mode of social comparison that evaluates oneself by comparing to others.

Upward Social Comparison

Comparing oneself to others who are believed to be better, often to motivate self-improvement. (Mode of Social Comparison)

Downward Social Comparison

Comparing oneself to others who are worse off, often to boost self-esteem. (Mode of Social Comparison)

Reference Group

A group used as a standard for evaluating oneself and one's behavior.

Anthropology

The study of human societies, cultures, and their development.

Western Self

An autonomous and egocentric concept of self prevalent in Western societies.

Non-Western/Eastern Self

An identity shared with others and integral to the universe and society, prevalent in non-Western cultures.

Asian Schools of Thought

Various philosophical and religious traditions in Asia that have different perspectives on the self.

Psychosexual Theory of Development

A theory by Sigmund Freud that links the construction of the self and personality to the physical body and sexual development.

Psychosocial Theory of Development

A theory by Erik Erikson that focuses on the development of a sense of competence and ability to choose demanding roles in society.

Somatic Society

A concept by Bryan Turner that highlights the increasing importance of the body in contemporary society.

Bodyshaming

Criticizing one's own appearance through judgment or comparison to others.

Sexual Self

Understanding one's identity and sexuality.

Genetic basis for Sex Determination

The X and Y chromosomes that determine an individual's biological sex.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Physical attributes that develop during puberty and differentiate males and females.

Erogenous Zones

Parts of the body that experience heightened sensitivity and signal sexual arousal. (where libido is centered)

The Sexual Response Cycle

A physiological response in sexual activity consisting of excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution stages.

Love

A decision and unconditional.

Chemistry of Lust, Attraction, and Attachment

Different hormones involved in lust, attraction, and attachment stages of relationships.

Gender

The social and cultural aspects of being male or female.

Gender Identity

The innermost concept of self as male, female, both, or neither.

Gender Expression

How individuals choose to display their gender identity through behavior, clothing, and other means.

Sexual Orientation/Attraction

Who a person is romantically and sexually attracted to.

Sexual Diversity

The range of sexual orientations and gender identities.

Intersex

Individuals with chromosomes and hormones of one sex but external genitalia that are not typically male or female.

Creation of Identities

Balancing the need to be similar to a reference group with the need to be a unique individual in forming one's identity.

Self-identified

Identifying oneself as a specific gender or sexual orientation.

Cisgender

Identifying with the gender assigned at birth.

Transgender

Identifying with a gender different from the one assigned at birth.

Gender Expression

How you demonstrate who you are

Labels

Describe relationships between gender and gender attracted to.

Straight (Heterosexual)

Attracted to the opposite gender.

Gay/Lesbian (Homosexual)

Attracted to the same gender.

Bisexual

Attracted to both genders.

The Church and Sexuality

The Church's stance on sexuality.

Sexual Intercourse

Unitive - unites couple; Procreative - creates more people.

Pope Francis on Sexuality

Emphasizes the need for the Catholic Church to welcome and love all people regardless of sexual orientation.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

HIV, STI, Gonorrhea, AIDS.

Sexually Transmitted Infections is Transmitted through

Unprotected sex, drug addicts, blood transfusion, pregnancy, non-sterile instruments.

Sexually Transmitted Infections is Not Transmitted Through

Touching, food, kissing, insect bites, swimming in pools.

Philippine Laws on HIV/AIDS

Republic Act 8504 - AIDS prevention and control act; Republic Act 11166 - defines HIV and AIDS education as a right, free treatment, prohibits discrimination.

How to avoid STIs and AIDS

Abstinence, vaccination, mutual monogamy.

Material Self

Tangible objects, people, or places that carry the designation "my" or "mine".

Bodily Self

Any part of our body that is an intimate part of who we are.

Extended Self

Anything that is beyond our body.

Functions of Possessions

Influence, power, sympathy, social status, emotions.

Materialism

The importance a consumer attaches to worldly possessions.

Symbolic Communication Model

Possessions as symbolic expressions of identity.

Possessions and Self-Identity

How possessions enhance one's image and develop a positive sense of self.

Loss of Possessions

The instability of meanings attached to possessions.

Pets as Extensions of the Self

How pets can be seen as part of one's identity.

Religion

An organized system of ideas about the spiritual or supernatural realm, accompanied by rituals

Types of Rituals

Calendar (Calendric) and crisis-based rituals.

Meaning of Spirituality

A phenomenological experience related to the human being.

Stages of Faith Development for Adolescence

Synthetic Conventional Stage and Individuative-Reflective Stage.

Logotherapy (Victor Frankl)

Finding personal meaning in life. (someone, deed, act or work, suffering)

Politics

Actions or activities concerned with achieving and using power.

Active Citizenship

Engagement with political processes and participation in society.

Cyberpsychology

The study of how technology influences our behavior and psychological states.

Identity

Development of one’s self-concept, including one’s thought and feelings about oneself

Online Anonymity

Engaging in digital activities without revealing one's true identity.

Digital Citizenship

How we engage and exist online, including access and inclusion, learning and creativity, and media and information literacy.

Well-being Online

How our online engagement affects our ethics, empathy, health, well-being, and e-presence.

Rights Online

Our rights, responsibilities, privacy, security, and consumer awareness in the digital world.

Digital World Issues and Conflicts

Fear of missing out (FoMO), screen dependency disorder, internet gaming disorder.

Contemporary Philosophy

The study of philosophy during the time period of the late 19th century.