UTS Finals

PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF

THE SELF AND IT SELVES

William James

Psychologists
Father of American psychology

Me-self - phenomenal self, the self that experiences the phenomena and who had known the situation

Material self - bodies, clothes, family, home
Social self - interactions with society
Spiritual self - a persons having the ability to argue and discriminate one’s moral sensibility, conscience and indomitable will

I-self - self-though or self-knower

Constituents
Feeling and emotions they arouse
Actions to which they prompt

CONCEPTION OF SELF

Carl Rogers

Idea that the self develops based from ones understanding of his experiences, interaction with significant people in their lifes

Real self - perceptions, ideas of who a person is and what one can do
Ideal self - comprised by the individuals’ aspirations, goals and ambition

There should be a congruence or agreement between the real and ideal self to achieve happiness in life.

SIGMUND FREUD

ID - child aspect, involved in the satisfaction of one’s personality
Ego - police or mediator between ID and superego, operates within the boundaries of reality with the primary function of maintaining the impulses of the ID and settle the expectations of the super ego
Superego - conscience, inclination to uphold justice

Psychosexual Stages of Development

Oral - mouth
Anal - toilet training
Phallic - curiosity of the anatomy
Latency - sexual instinct suppressed
Genital - reawakening

ERIK ERIKSON

Trust vs mistrust
Autonomy vs shame and doubt
Initiative vs guilt
Industry vs inferiority
Identity vs role confusion
Intimacy vs isolation
Generativity vs stagnation
Ego integrity vs despair

True self - simple being, sense of self based on spontaneous authentic behaviors and uninhibited interactions with others
Fake self - defense or facade, to protect the true self

PHYSIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF

Physical self - body, individual’s perception of themselves in the aread of physical ability and appearance

Adolescence - period of transition between childhood and adulthood

Life span - period of development for a person ranging from conception to one’s death

Two Factors Affecting Growth and Development

Heredity and Environment

Heredity - responsible for all inheritance of traits from parents to offspring

Environment - responsible for the growth and development of the physical, mental and social traits

Theory of Physiognomy - a person’s character can be determined through their other appearance

Ancient Chinese’s practice of face reading - facial features is an insight into a person’s history and personality, rooted from the 5 element theory

Wood
Fire
Earth
Water
Metal

Hippocrates - body fluids

Sanguine - red bile (impulsive, cheerful, goal oriented, assertive, creative)
Melancholic - black bile (loyal, depressed, traditional, calm)
Phlegmatic - phlegm (unassuming, agreeable, intuitive, imaginative, empathetic)
Choleric - yellow bile (practical, successful, independent, logical)

Body-type theory

1940s
William Sheldon

Endomorphic

Soft and plump
Easy going and sociable

Ectomorphic

Tall and thin
Socially awkward
Introverted
artistic

Mesomorphic

Energetic
Adventurous
sociable

Ii. Sexual Aspect

Primary - physical characteristics that people already have since birth

Secondary - developing at the onset of puberty

MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Testes - most important, source of sperm
Scrotum - sac of skin where the two testes are enveloped
Prostate glands - gland that carries out both urine and seminal fluid
Penis sperm - where ejaculation occurs
Sperm - male gametes

Varicocele - swollen veins

Retrograde ejaculation (dry orgasm) - sperm does not leave the body

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Ovary - pair of small, oval organs that produce egg cell
Fallopian tube - pair of thin tubes that leads from ovaries to the uterus
Uterus (womb) - hollow pear-shaped elastic muscular structure where fertilized ovum (zygote) develops
Vagina - tube leading to the outside body through an opening called the vulva

Vaginismus - vaginal muscle tightens up due to fear/stress

Physiological aspects

Erogenous zone - parts of the body sensitive to touch that cause sexual arousal (hot spots)

Phases sexual response

Excitement - beginning, blood pressure, quick breaths, erection, swelling of clitoris or vaginal opening becomes wet
Plateau - body’s preparation for orgasm
Orgasm - intense, highly pleasureable experience
Resolution - body returns to its normal state
Refraction - 10-12 mins (round 2 na)

Women have multiple plateaus and orgasms in a sexual intercourse

Sexually transmitted diseases

Gonorrhea, syphilis, AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

Natural contraceptive - does not use external devices or medications (abstinence, calendar method)

Artificial method - devices and medications (vaginal ring, contraceptives)

MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL SELF

The Material Self

William James

Material self is everything that a person possess
Body, material possessions, beliefs, reputation
Body is the basic component of material self
Family and friends

Materialism

All that is found in the universe is matter which is the substance of nature
Success, happiness and the essence of individual existence are gauged by material prosperity

Reasons for Materialism

Security
Happiness
Self confidence
Society

The Spiritual Self

Involved with the inner essence of the person
Connected with the sacred, supernatural and universe

Spirituality

Latin word ‘spiritus’ meaning breath or life force
Pursuit of a person to the meaning or purpose of one’s life
Often associated as originally developed from early christianity
Connected to religion

Religion

Organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere or the supernatural along with the practices
Influence aspects of life that may not be explained by logic, science or things that are difficult to control

The Search for Meaning in Life

Logotherapy

Victor Frankl
Process of finding meaning in one’s life
The primary motivation of man in life is to search for the meaning of our existence

By doing a deed, through achievements/accomplishments
Experiencing a value, example is connecting with others. Through this, one is capable of truly understanding the essence of the person
By experiencing suffering. Through this, one will be appreciate the goodness in life

ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF

Anthropology

studies man from past to present
How one’s biological and cultural concept of self

Sub-disciplines:

Sociocultural
Archeological
Biological
Linguistic anthropology

Self, Identify, and the Culture

Culture - complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and other capabilities and habits acquired by man (Edward Taylor)
Identity - the idea that we share our consciousness and self based on our experiences that is defined by the social norms, ideations, and history
Self

I. Egocentric - describes self to be autonomous and is clear on ones individuality

II. Sociocentric - self is dependent on the social setting

Identity Toolbox - collections of the features and characteristics of a person that builds the foundation of ones identity.

Right of Passage - acquisition of identity through achievements cemented by activities or rituals

Self as Embedded in Culture

Culture is inherited from expressed symbolic forms with which they use to pass on to others (Clifford Geerts, 1973)
Elaborated that culture should be considered as the control mechanism that guide the behavior of people
Man is in need of rules and regulations
Culture can be share, man is molded by culture, but culture cannot be established without men
Culture is the behavior and beliefs that are passed on through enculturations (Kottak, 2008)

POLITICAL & DIGITAL SELF

The Political Self

Politics - social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by people and groups (Kendall , 1983)
Man is by nature a political animal (Aristotle) - politics helps in the development of people
Promotes the emergence of ideologies about family, health, freedom, human rights, citizenship, government and social issues

Citizenship and Political Identity

Citizenship - identity a person acquires from his association and interactions with their nation.

Political self - identification of the person of his rights, freedom, and obligations as member of the society

Origins of the Political self

Birth
Environment
People we interact with
Belief system
The values that one adapts in life is influenced by various societal agencies (Diokno, 1997)

Digital Self

Aspect of self that is expressed with others through interactions on the internet
May be related to the desire of adolescents for social approval and acceptance

Self-presentation and Impression Management

Self is heavily influenced by feedback from others. (DeLamater & Mayers, 2012)
Strive to create a positive image of themselves and alter appearance and filter posts to show work, achievements, and material possessions
Can be risky to one’s security and mental health
Identity theft, cyberbullying, gossipping, anxiety, and depression

# Expression of Gender and Sexuality Online

Importance of Digital Technology

Benifited different industries such as education, health, production, agriculture

Self - can be defined as the core of the existence of an individual

PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF

Philosophy - study of acquiring knowledge through rational thinking and inquiries that involves in answering questions regarding the nature and existence of man and the world

From the greek word philo and sophia which means the love of wisdom
Done primarily through reflection

Socrates

Classical Greek philosopher and pioneer of western moral philosophy
Introduced Socratic method of thinking “to know thyself”
A man’s goal in life is to obtain true happiness and such goal motivates us to act towards avoiding things that could have negative effects in our being

Realms

Physical - changeable, transient, imperfect
Ideal - unchanging, eternal, immortal

Soul - essence of the self, in constant striving toward perfection. It is only hindered because of its ties to our body

Socratic method - promotes introspection of oneself’s thoughts and emotions. “An unexamined life is not worth living”

Plato

Classical Greek Philosopher
Founder of Academy of Athens - the first institution of higher learning in the western world
Former student of Socrates
Body and soul, though share the same entity is different from each other and is divided

3 ELEMENTS OF BODY AND SOUL

The appetitties (appetitive) - pleasure desires and physical comfort
The passion (spirited) - part of our psyche that is agitated most of the time. Involves the basic emotions that a person has
The reason (rational) - conscious awareness which meditates, weighs coices and assesses situations in our lives

Aristotle

Does not believe that the body and soul is separate
Soul is the essence of the self

Vegetative soul - implies growth

Sentient soul - desire and emotions

Rational soul - intellect and ability to think and understand

St. Augustine (St. Augustine of Hippo)

Christian theologian and philosopher
Greatly contributed to the progress of western christianity through City of God, on Christian Doctrine
Identified the two-fold process comprised of self-presentation leading to self-realization
Believed that our understanding of who we are revolves around our own doubtfulness, understanding of our standing and the way we question our own existence
Emphasized that not being able to agree to everything other people say should be the case but can still agree to those who we think is right or wrong
“I doubt therefore, I am”
Related our existence to God being modeled in his likeliness through living means that we are still far from God and has yet to be truly with him.
“Knowledge can only come by seeing the truth that dwells within us”

Rene Descartes

Father of modern western philosophy
Distinguishes himself through the notion of understanding the relationship of one’s process of thinking to the identification of ones’ self
If a man thinks and reflects, a person will be able to realize the two dimensions of the human self:

> The self as a thinking entity

> The self as a physical body

It is important to give priority in trying to understand what we experience to fully identify what is true
He developed the Cartesian Philosophy - mentals acts determine physical acts
Described the mind as the “intellectual substance” which possesses a will
Cogito, ergo sum - “I think, therefore I am”

John Locke

English philosopher, Physician
Father of Classical liberalism
When we are born, we began in a state of Tabula rasa or blank slate
A person is born with nothing and is very susceptible to establishing a sense of self by accumulation and learning from experiences, which maybe from successes, failures, reflection, and observations to oneself.
Our senses and perception we have from our environment contribute to the identification of who we are as an individual, along with ones ability to be consciously aware of ones surroundings and endeavors
Self-consciousness, reflective thinking, and experiences are the common basis to the concept of self

David Hume

Scottish philosopher
Philosophical Empiricism
Skepticism
Naturalism
There is no self and people and their experiences are just a collection of perceptions from the physical realm which led to our impressions and ideas about who we are
Impressions are feelings or sensations that people have

Immanuel Kant

Prussia, Germany
Contributor in modern western philosophy
“Every person has inner and outer self which comprises the consciousness”
Self can only be established by organizing and synthesizing one’s accumulation of experiences, intuition, thoughts, imagination, and perception
Self is identified in the form of consciousness, primarily based on various transcendental deductions of categories or concepts, which help us make to make sense of the world that we live in.

Transcendental Appeception - intrinsic nature of our consciousness that goes beyond experiences (time and love)

Sigmund Freud

Human nature and the unconscious
Austrian psychiatrist that established himself as a father of psychoanalysis
Self can be divided into

> Conscious - contains all things that we are aware of, reality and rationality

> Preconscious - boundary between awareness and unawareness, still memories and thoughts that is not available at any given time but could be easily brought into the consciousness

> Unconscious - part of ourselves where our instinctual drives and pools of our feelings, thoughts, and memories that is outside our awareness. Memories that we have forgotten or we want to forget, fantasies from childhood

Gilbert Ryle

Behavioristic approach to self
Emphasized that the behavior presented by an individual are the reflection of our mind
“I act therefore, I am”
Ghost in the machine - a person can be compared to a complex machine with different functioning parts and the intelligence and behavior of man is represented as the ghost

Paul Churchland

Canadian philosopher
Eliminative materialism - nothing but matter exist
Argues that the self which is the accumulation of emotions, perceptions, actions, and behavior of a person is attached to their source which is the brain
Neurophilosophy - to fully understand one’s behavior, one should understand the different neurological movement of the brain

Maurice Merleau Ponty

French philosopher
Believe on the separation of the mind and body
If one studies their experiences a person may identify that the mind and body is unified
In Phenomenology of Perception, which follow the gestalt notion “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, emphasizes on the importance of consciousness of which all our perceptions are gathered.
The self can be establish based on the conscious understanding of our experiences, thus leading us into considering the body, the perceived world, and the people

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND THE SELF

Sociological Perspective of the Self

Sociology - scientific study of groups and the relationships of its members

The Self and the Others

Charles Horton Cooley

Sociologist who explains that a person have the tendency to mirror other people’s view of oneself (looking glass self)
Emphasized that our understanding of who we are along with our idea of how people see us may influence our understanding of who we are and our sense of self

Maybe be dependent on three events:

Perceiving how one present themselves to others
Analysis of others’ perception towards the person
How one establishes self-image

George Herbert Mead

American Sociologist
Father of Pragmatism
Rejected the idea that a person is born with an established self from the moment he is born
Self develops from social interactions and experiences with other people

THE I AND ME

The I: considered to be the manifestation of spontaneity and individuality of a person. Actively seeks identification to the things they acquire from social interactions

*Subjective aspect of the self that responds to the established attitude and behavior in reference to their social interactions

The Me: characteristic, behavior, and actions that follows the awareness and demand of the people

*Atittudes and behavior of the person adopts with an objective basis of being aware and considering what ones social environment demands

Three Role-playing Stages of Self-development

Preparatory (Birth-2)

The infant imitates the actions and behavior of the people around him.
Child’s behavior lack intention or meaning

Play stage (2-6)

Children begin to interact with other
Follow rules that do not adhere to any set but are defined by the children themselves
Child begins to relate themselves to others

Game stage (6-9)

Ability of the children to know the dynamics of the “generalized others”
Learn the implications of their actions

Anthropology

Studies man from past to present

Sociocultural
Archeological
Biological
Linguistic anthropology

Identity - the idea that we share our consciousness and self based experiences that is defined by the social norms, ideations and history.

Egocentric and Sociocentric - concepts that describes self on the basis of which societal perspective one belongs to.

Egocentric - describes self to be autonomous and is very clear on ones individuality
Sociocentric - self is dependent on the social setting

The Identity Toolbox - collection of the features and characteristics of a person that builds the foundation of one’s reality

Reality of Passage - acquisition of identity or self through achievements cemented by activities or rituals

According to Clifford Geerts;

Culture is something that is inherited from expressed symbolic forms which they use to pass on to others

Culture should be considered as the control mechanism that guide the behavior of people
Man is the most in need of rules, regulations, or external control mechanisms

EASTERN & WESTERN

Western View of Self

Self (WESTERN) - social construct which is defined through various sysmbols and signals derived from one’s understanding of his/her self while still considering the role and influences of others

I. MONOTHEISM - there is only one supreme being (god)

II. INDIVIDUALISTIC - people being free to choose who and what they want to be

III. SELF IS BOTH MATERIALISTIC AND RATIONALISTIC - being motivated by empirical things and being motivated by logical and concrete things in life. Success is measured by wealth or popularity

Eastern View of Self - spirituality, combine religion, morals with philosophy, idea of establishing the self withthe goal of becoming a perfect person

SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT:

CONFUCIANISM - merits of love, righteousness, wisdom, propriety and loyalty
BUDDHISM - practice of the eight fold paths and detachment to desires in reaching nirvana or a state of enlightenment
HINDUISM - attainment of liberation in the identification of Atman and Brahman
TAOISM - way of thinking that promotes selflessness which lead to being one with the Tao (laws of the universe)

Filipino Concept of Kapwa - an aspect of self is shared with others

Ibang-tao (outsider)
Hindi ibang tao (one of use)

The Collective Self - self is integrated part of society and members are interdependent with each other.