UTS

CHAPTER 5

THE WESTERN AND EASTERN CONCEPTS OF SELF

WESTERN CONCEPT OF SELF

Geertz (van Meijl, 2008)

- defines the Western concept of self as a “a bounded, unique, more or less integrated motivational and cognitive universe, a dynamic center of awareness, emotion, judgment, and action organized into a distinctive whole and set contrastively background.

Western Concept of self is holistically defined by Frank Johnson 1986, in terms of the following aspects:
1. Western Self as Analytic

2. Western Self as Monotheistic

3. Western Self as individualistic

4. Western Self as Materialistic and Rationalistic

1. Western Self as Analytic

The western way of thinking is analytic -deductive, with emphasis causal links (part -to-whole-relationships). The whole is understood when differentiated into parts. One must categorize and make distinctions to pursue cause.

1. Western Self as Monotheistic

The belief in one supreme Being coexisting with the universe condenses the supernatural and human capabilities into a bipolarity of both qualities of existence (erg, beautiful ugly: kind cruel; sacred; profane; and string weak) and categories of identity or experience

(Ex. God/ Satan; body / soul; love| lust; and sinner (saint).

1. Western Self as Individualistic

Western Individualism exhibits the coexistence of favorable and unfavorable conditions inherent in personal freedom. Although the right to individual freedom provides opportunities for self-fulfillment it also increases the likelihood for experiencing alienation and frustration.

1. Western Self as materialistic and Rationalistic

The western way of thinking is focused on material "things' and favors a rational -empirical approach over magical and superstitious explanations of immaterial "thing".

The western way of thinking is focused on material "things' and favors a rational -empirical approach over magical and superstitious explanations of immaterial "thing".

DAVID HO (1945)

= Western Self as an individualistic self that is deeply aware Of itself uniqueness , sense of direction, purpose and volition.

= Self is located at the center "an entity distinct from other selves and all other entities.".

= Self belongs to the individual and no other. In an Individualist perspective, Western set is the measure of all things.

FRANK JOHNSON (1985)

= Traces earliest historical roots of the western concepts of self to works in philosophy almost half a million years ago. 19th century, psychology has provided answers to philosophical questions about the concepts of soul and mind.

= Experimental psychology came into prominence during mid-19th Century.

= Growth of sociology, anthropology, and psychology in the late 19th century.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE WESTERN CONCEPT OF SELF

PERIOD - Pre-Christian times until 1850

Historical development

There were philosophical and theological attempts to characterize the self through the concepts of soul and mind, with emphasis on the conscious experience of the individual, the distinction between the physical and mental nature of man (mind-body dualism), and the casuality of human behavior.

PERIOD- 1850-1940

Historical development

The establishment of experimental psychology in mid-19th century led to a change in emphasis, from abstract concepts of soul and mind to observable and measurable aspects of human faculties.

The concept of self re-emerged within the social- interactionist framework in the early 1900s.

PERIOD – 1940 - PRESENT

There is the multi-directional and continuous development of the concept of self:

Historical Development

1. Sociological and psychological theories of the self encompass all three levels of the self, namely, the inner self, interpersonal self, and social self.
2. Existentialists and phenomenologists, both in philosophy and psychology, engaged in a holistic approach, integrating the inner, interpersonal, and social aspects of the self.
3. At present, there is convergence in some conceptualizations of the self among psychologists, anthropologists, sociologists, philosophers, and linguists, whose studies focus on the actual, multivariate, and situational contexts of the self, employing new frameworks and methodologies.

HINDUISM

The Hindu concept of the self is expounded in Vedanta, a major school of Indian thought based on Upanishads, the classical Indian philosophical treatises.

VEDANTA

Vedanta characterizes human suffering as the result of failure to realize the distinction between the true self (permanent and unchanging) and the non-true self (impermanent and changes continually). school of philosophy within Hinduism dealing with the nature of reality.

BRAHMAN

“The goal of the person is to know the true reality.”

Defined as eternal, conscious, irreducible, infinite, omnipresent, and the spiritual core of the universe of finiteness and change. Brahman is an absolute reality. Brahman is God or the Supreme being, it is beyond human understanding.

ATMAN

Atman (soul or spirit), the true knowledge of self. Being an immortal soul, continues to be reincarnated from lifetime to lifetime until it is freed from the cycle of rebirth and reaches a state of nirvana or non-birth (Garcia, 2008). Through "knowing Atman" (or knowing one's essential self), one can achieve liberation from reincarnation. Atman is thought to be the essence of a being, and, in most Hindu schools, separate from the ego.

LAW OF KARMA

The most important doctrine of Hinduism.

All actions are subject to karma, Individual actions will lead to either good or bad outcomes in one's life. People get exactly what they deserve. If you do good things, you will be rewarded; if you do bad, you will be punished. Therefore, the individual is the only one responsible for the consequences of his or her actions (Garcia, 2008a)

BUDDHISM

a major world religion that originated in ancient India around the 5th century BCE. It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who is more commonly known as the Buddha, which means "the awakened one" or "the enlightened one." Buddhism emphasizes spiritual development, moral conduct, and the practice of mindfulness and meditation as means to achieve liberation from suffering and attain enlightenment.

The Four Noble Truths are the Basic Principles of Buddhism

• Life is Suffering
• Suffering is caused by the attachment to desire
• Suffering can be eliminated
• Elimination of suffering through the practice of Eight fold path ( right view, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration).

CONFUCIANISM

(Conversations of Confucius) - Confucian doctrines are found in the Analects

Core of Confucian thought is the GOLDEN RULE or the principle of reciprocity: "Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you."

FIVE CARDINAL RELATIONSHIPS:

1. Between ruler and subject

2. Between father and son

3. Between husband and wife

4. Between brothers

5. Between Friends

SELF IS KNOWN AS RELATIONAL SELF.
Another important feature in Confucian thought is the individual's greatest mission of attaining self-realization whereon self-cultivation is instrumental.

SELF CULTIVATION

Can be accomplished by knowing one's role in society and acting accordingly.

MORAL CHARACTER

it can be perfected by continuously taking every opportunity to improve oneself in thought and action.

“There will be harmonious relationships when individuals follow the rules of proper social behavior. The individual is set to respond to what is socially required, rather than to one's personal needs and goals. Here, the self is a subdued self.” (Ho, 1995)

TAOISM

is a Chinese counterculture. Taoists reject the Confucian idea of a relational self. To them, the self is an extension of the cosmos, not of social relationships. The self is described as one of the limitless forms of the Tao (Ho, 1995). The Tao is commonly regarded as Nature that is the foundation of all that exists (Garcia, 2013). It is not bounded by time and space. The ideal is to identify with the Tao. The perfect man has no self. Selflessness is attained when the distinction between "1" and "other" dissolves. Consequently, the individual may behave spontaneously, just going with the flow of the Tao. The selfless person leads to a balanced life, in harmony with both nature and society (Ho, 1995).

Taoists believe that simplicity, spontaneity, and harmony with nature should govern one's life. Individuals must seek to understand and act in accordance with the natural order. There should be unity and harmony among opposing elements: the yin and yang (Abella, 2016). Hence, there is oneness of the Tao.

DICHOTOMY OF WESTERN AND EASTERN CONCEPTIONS OF THE SELF

An extensive literature on Eastern thoughts about the self exists. Many movements of Eastern thoughts raise questions about the ultimate meaning of life and have developed theories of the self insofar as they have investigated what it means to be a human being.

EASTERN THOUGHTS

The emphasis is relational rather than individualistic.

Aims at transformations in consciousness, feelings, emotions, and one's relation to other people and the world.

WESTERN THOUGHTS

Tends to view the self as autonomous, unitary, and stable according to (van Meijl, 2008).

They emphasize the importance of scientific methods to provide satisfactory answers to understanding the self.

EAST AND WEST APPRECIATE EACH OTHER’S ATTEMPTS TO UNDERSTAND THE

Quito (Garcia, 2008b) seeks to place Western and Eastern theories of the self into perspective by making some comparisons and contrast among them.

Eastern thought looks at life in the three-mode cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Meanwhile, the Western concept of life is linear, as it is concerned with absolute beginnings or endings in time and space.

Eastern thought does not dichotomize between one's way of thinking and one's way of living.

Eastern thought considers intuition as a valid means to gain wisdom; it does not rely mainly on reason and logic; unlike Western.

CHAPTER 6

THE PHYSICAL SELF

THE PHYSICAL SELF REFERS TO THE BODY.

• IT TELLS US ABOUT HOW OUR BODY WORKS; PHYSICAL EXTREMITIES AND BODY ORGANS.
• THE BODY’S PERFORMANCE/ ABILITY TO FUNCTION GRADUALLY CHANGE THROUGH AN INDIVIDUALS AGING.
• THE MOST LEAST PERFORMING STAGE OF THE BODY IS DURING INFANCY AND OLD AGE.
• PHYSICAL EFFECIENCY PEAKS IN THE ADULTHOOD OR MID 20’S AND 30’S

LIFE SPAN

EACH INDVIDUAL GOES THROUGH A SUCCESSION OF DEVELOPMENT IN LIFE; LIFESPAN.

• IT REFERS TO THE STAGES A PERSON GOES THROUGH.
• THE LEVELS/YEARS OF GROWTH FROM CONCEPTION, BIRTH, TO DEATH.

HURLOCK’S OUTLINE OF THE STAGES IN THE LIFE SPAN

1.PRENATAL - FERTILIZATION TO BIRTH

2.INFANCY- BIRTH TO 2 WEEKS OF LIFE

3.BABYHOOD- 2 WEEKS OF LIFE TO 2ND YEAR

4.EARLY CHILDHOOD- 2-6 YEARS OLD

5.LATE CHILDHOOD - 6-10 OR 12 YEARS OLD

6.PUBERTY - 10 OR 12 TO 14 YEARS OLD

7.ADOLESCENCE - 14-18 YEARS OLD

8.EARLY ADULTHOOD - 18-40 YEARS OLD

9.MIDDLE ADULTHOOD - 40-60 YEARS OLD

10.LATE ADULTHOOD/ SENESCENCE

- 60 YEARS OLD TO DEATH

INFANCY

DEPENDENT TO OUR PARENTS TO SURVIVE

BABYHOOD

WE ARE NOW ABLE TO EAT SOFT MEALS.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST WORDS AND FIRST STEPS

EARLY CHILDHOOD

WE KNOW HOW TO SPEAK AND WE CAN ALREADY WALK. ACTIVE IN PLAYING EXPRESSING AND SOCIALIZING. WE ASK QUESTION MORE OFTEN.

LATE CHILDHOOD

ENTERS SCHOOL, BECAME MORE ACTIVE. LEARNS HOW TO FEEL THE ENVIRONMENT.

PUBERTY

WE SLOWLY MATURE; PHYSICALLY. WE DEVELOP OTHER EMOTIONS AND STARTS TO BE CURIOUS. THE START OF DEVELOPING BODY CONSIOUSNESS.

ADOLESCENCE

EXCESSIVE/RAPID GROWTH IN OUR PHYSIQUE. OUR REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM DEVELOPS/MATURES.

EARLY ADULTHOOD

WE DEVELOP OUR ASPIRATIONS/ GOALS.

MOST ARE SETTLED AND IS LIVING A LIFE WITH RESPONSIBILITIES.

MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

WE WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY.OUR EMOTIONS ARE NOW MORE STABLE.

LATE ADULTHOOD

WE LOSS MEMORY POWER. BODY SLOWS AND STRENGTH ARE LESS.

2 FACTORS AFFECTING PHYSICAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

1.HEREDITY
YOU INHERIT YOUR PARENTS GENE TRAIT.

2.ENVIRONMENT

YOUR TRAIT/ WAY OF LIVING IS INFLUENCED BY YOUR ENVIRONMENT

THEORY OF PHYSICAL SELF

“A PERSON’S PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS COULD BE RELATED TO THE PERSON’S CHARACTER OR PERSONALITY”

THEORY OF PHYSIOGNOMY

5 ELEMENTS FROM CHINESE MEDICINE

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH ELEMENT REFLECTS A PERSON’S CHARACTER/EMOTION. WITH THAT WE CAN ASSES THE PATIENTS BASED ON THEIR PERSONALITY OR WHAT DO THEY NEED.

WATER

COOL, INTELLIGENT, PLAIN

WOOD

GENEROUS, COOPERATIVE, STRONG ALLY, FLEXIBLE

FIRE

DYNAMIC, SPONATNEOUS, ENLIGHTENMENT, WARM, ENTHUSIASM, HATRED, IMPATIENT, IMPULSIVE

EARTH

PATIENT, PRACTICAL, HARDWORKING, THOUGHTFUL, ORGANIZE

METAL

FIRM, RIGID, PERSISTENT, STRONG, DETERMINED, AMBITOUS, FORCEFUL

THEORY BASED ON PROMINENCE OF THE BODY FLUIDS

1. SANGUINE TYPE

RED BILE, IMPULSIVE, CHEERFUL, OPTIMISTIC,VERY TALKATIVE

1. MELANCHOLIC

BLACK BILE,DEPRESSED, SERIOUS SUSPECIOUS, CLOSE MINDED

1. CHOLERIC

YELLOW BILE,QUICK THINKING, JUMPY, COMPETITIVE,HAS TEMPER ISSUE

1. PLEGHMATIC

GREEN/ DULL,SLUGGISH, SLOW, EASYGOING,GO WITH THE FLOW

BODY TYPE THEORY

WILLIAM SHELDON

YOUR BODY TELLS /PERSONALITY,

CHARACTERISTIC.

1. ECTOMORPHIC

SOFT AND PLUMP. EASY GOING AND

SOCIABLE

2.MESOMORPHIC

STRONG MUSCULAR BODY.ENERGETIC, ADVENTUROUS, ASSERTIVE,COURAGEOUS. LOVES GYM HEALTHY LIVING.

3.ECTOMORPHIC

TALL AND THIN. QUITE,INTROVERT, ARTISTIC.MUSEUM/ LITERATURE LOVERS.

THE WISDOM OF YOUR FACE

JEAN HANER

YOUR FACE HAS SOMETHING TO TELL ABOUT WHO YOU ARE.

1.ROUND-FRIENDLY AND KIND HEARTED.

SELFLESS

2.OVAL-TACTFUL, HOSPITABLE.

3.SQUARE-WITTY, ANALYTICAL, GREAT LEADERS.

4.HEART-PATIENT AND INTUITIVE.

5.LONG-SHAPED-PERFECTIONIST, AGGRESSIVE

6.TRIANGLE-CREATIVE, ARTISTIC, SENSITIVE, DETERMINED

7.DIAMOND-DETAIL ORIENTED. CONTROLING

8.LONG ANGULAR-RESPONSIVE, ASSERTIVE, GENUINE.

9.THICK BROWS-CONFIDENT, ASSERTIVE, GOAL ORIENTED.

10.HIGHLY DEFINED JAW-STRONG VALUES, FIRM BELIEFS

BODY IMAGE

HOW INDIVIDUAL, PERCIEVE,THINK AND FEEL ABOUT THEIR PHYSICAL

APPEARANCE.

EVERYTHING ABOUT A PERSON THAT OTHERS CAN OBSERVE. HEIGHT, WEIGHT, SKIN COLOR, FASHION SENSE/STYLE.

SELF ESTEEM

THE PERSONS OVERALL EVALUATION OF HIS OR HER OWN WORTH

IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTY

BEAUTY STANDARDS IN EVERY NATION, COMMUNITY, AREAS DIFFER, BUT THEY CONTINOUSLY CHANGE OVER TIME

1. EGYPT

SLIM, HIGH WAIST, NARROW HIPS, LONG DARK HAIR.

1. AFRICA

FULL ROUND HIPS

1. MALAYSIA/ PHILIPPINES

SIMPLE FLAT NOSE

OVERTIME WE DEVELOP THE TRAIT/ MODERN STANDARD OF WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND WHAT IS NOT

WE DEVELOP THE UNSATISFACTION AS THE STANDARD OF BEAUTY, FASHION ETC., IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING

• WE CHANGE IN ORDER TO FIT
• BODY MODIFICATION-WE CHANGE OUR BODY APPEARANCE BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE THINK IS BEAUTIFUL
• COSMETIC SURGERY-WE CHANGE OUR LOOKS/ APPEARANCE BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE THINK IS BEAUTIFUL

BEAUTY

WHEN WE LOVE HOW WE LOOK WE TEND TO BE MORE, HAPPY, SMART,BETTER.

PEOPLE TEND TO JUDGE OTHERS BY HOW THEY LOOK, HOWEVER PHYSICAL APPEARANCE DOESN’T DEFINE A PERSON AS A WHOLE.

SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR BODY IMAGE AND INNER SELF

1. SMILE A LOT
2. TAKE GOOD CARRE OF YOUR HEALTH
3. LIVE A WELL BALANCED LIFE
4 DRESS WELL AND BE NEAT
5. SPEND SOME TIME ALONE TO REFLECT
6. BE CREATIVE AND DO SOMETHING NEW ALL THE TIME
7. DEVELOP A WHOLESOME ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEX
8. AVOID TEMPTATION
9. RESPECT INDIVIDUALITY
10. MAKE FRIENDS
11. FACE YOUR FEARS
12. BE INDEPENDENT
13. ACCEPT THINGS AS THEY ARE
14. ASK AND LISTEN
15. THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS
16. PRAY
17. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
18. BE THANKFUL

CHAPTER 7

THE SEXUAL SELF

Development of Sex Characteristics and The Human Reproductive System

Sex is a part of what makes a person human. Being human the prime function is procreation. However, sex goes far beyond the instinct to procreate. Sex is likewise about pleasure, enjoyment, excitement and even ecstasy. Added to this earthly delight of the flesh-this is the thrill of physical touching and being touch by another warm body, the surging excitement toward sexual release, the ultimate coming out during the sexual climax, and the pulsating, peaceful afterglow of the relaxing feeling after orgasm.

Human sexuality serves both psychologically and spiritually. Sex is one way of lowering one's alienation, isolation, and aloneness by physically linking with penetrating and being penetrated with another person at the most primitive level of existence. Sex gives joy, love, comfort, affection and at times ecstasy.

Falling in love, obsession, abandonment, rejection, psychosis, loss of self, fear of annihilation and the manic madness of ecstasy are psychological side effects of sex. Sexual self-forms part of the building of self-concept, attachment, intimacy and sexual satisfaction played essential roles in the formation of the self.

Difference between Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics

Primary sexual characteristics are those characteristics other than the gonads that are directly required for reproduction. Male primary somatic sexual characteristics are the penis and the scrotum, all of which allow a male to make and deliver sperm. Female primary sexual characteristics are the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, clitoris, cervix, and the ability to bear children.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Primary sexual characteristics are processes related to the sex organs which are present at birth and mature when sex hormones are released during puberty. Primary sexual characteristics in males include the enlarging of the penis, testicles growing and sperm production. In females, the uterus and vagina start to grow, ovulation and menstruation begins.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Girls usually begin to show physical changes at puberty between the ages of 9 to 13 which is a little earlier than boys. The female sex hormone and estrogen and other hormones causes the physical changes. Many girls are fully developed at age 16 while others continue to develop through age 18.

The following are stages that female undergoes

Stage 1: From ages 8-12.

Noticeable sign of physical development although the ovaries are enlarging and the hormone production is starting

Stage 2: May begin anywhere from ages 8-14. Height and weight increase rapidly.

Fine hair growth begins close to the pubic area and underarm. Breast buds appear, nipple become raised and tender. Sweat and oil glands (sebaceous and apocrine) become active which may result to acne.

Stage 3: May start anywhere from ages 9-15. Breasts may become rounder and fuller.

Hips may start to widen in relation to breast. Vagina begins secreting a clear and whitish fluid.

Pubic hair becomes fuller, thicker, and curlier

Height and weight continue to increase.

For some girls ovulation and menstruation may begin but may be irregular

Stage 4: May begin anywhere from ages 10-16 Underarm hair becomes darker.

-Pubic hair starts to form a triangular patch in front and side of the genital area.

The nipple and the dark area around the breast called areola may stick out from the rest of the breast. For the girls ovulation and menstruation period begins but may be irregular

Sexual Arousal and Erogenous Zones: What Turns People On?

Erogenous Zones - areas of the body thay are highly sensitive and produce sexual responses when stimulated.

Cognitive Factors - has an important role in the sexual Arousal of humans. The brain is where sexual desires originates and where sexual behaviour is controlled

Culture - influences the expression of sexual desire

The Phases of Sexual Response

William Masters and Virginia Johnson found that the biological responses of males and females to sexual stimulation are quite similar. They use the term sexual-response cycle to describe the changes that occur in the body as men and women become sexually aroused. They divided the sexual-response cycle into four phases: EXCITEMENT, PLATEAU, ORGASMIC, and RESOLUTION

Attraction, Love, and Attachment Triangular Theory of Love - Robert Sternberg

Intimacy

feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bondness

Passion

feelings and desires that lead to physical attraction, romance and sexual fulfillment

Decision/Commitment

feelings that lead a person to remain with someone and move toward shared goals.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is usually divided into these categories:

Heterosexual: Attracted to people of the opposite gender.

Bisexual: Attracted to genders the same as themselves or different than themselves".

Homosexual: Attracted to people of one's own gender.

Method of Contraception and the Reproductive Health Law

Contraception is a method of preventing pregnancy by interrupting the normal process of reproduction.

Common methods of contraception are:

• The use of condoms to prevent STIs
• The use of an intrauterine device (IUD)
• The birth control injectibles that are given every three months to women
• The oral contraceptive pills that are taken every day and withdrawal
• Calendar method (the number of days in each menstrual cycle is recorded)
• Billings ovulation/cervical mucus method

The goal of using these contraceptives is ultimately to reduce or prevent unintended pregnancy and the associated risks.

• Condom
• Intrauterine Device (IUD)
• Contraceptive Pills
• Calendar Method
• Billings Ovulation Method

The Productive Health Law

The Responsible Pregnancy and Reproductive Health Act, also known as the RH Law, is an important piece of legislation for proper education and awareness-raising efforts and aims to promote safe sexual practices and the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. With its measures and empowerment, the RH law can help reduce unintended pregnancy, the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, unnecessary deaths, and disabilities related to childbirth.

CHAPTER 9

THE SPIRITUAL SELF

According to the book The Principles of Psychology (1890) by William James, the spiritual self is the most intimate, inner subjective part of self.

The spiritual aspect of the self is the inner essence, the part of the self that connects the person to the sacred, the supernatural, and the universe.

People develop spirituality through interaction, observation, and imitation. Thus, the family, school, and church play a very important role in the spiritual development.

Spirituality

Spirituality comes from the Latin word spiritus which means breath or life force.

It refers to finding meaning and purpose in one’s life, a search for wholeness, and a relationship with a transcendent being (higher being).

Spirituality

The term “spirituality” originally developed in early Christianity. Christians use the term “Spirit” to describe the Holy Spirit.

In Christian Ethics, Peshcke (1994) describes that the experience of the sacred is characterized by reverence, faith, fear, trust, love, and admiration, which are intimately connected to God.

• Reverence
• Faith
• Fear
• Trust
• Love
• Admiration

Worship

Worship is regarded as an essential act to realize the ultimate meaning of transcendence and human life.

Acts of worship may include prayer, reading the scripture (e.g. the Bible or the Quran), attending sacraments (e.g. mass), and doing sacrifices (e.g. fasting).

In addition, through acts of faith, hope, and love, man is able to encounter God and understand God’s word of salvation.

Religion

is a set of cultural beliefs and practices, is an organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere or supernatural, and to know God is its central function; thus, making it connected with spirituality.

There are 5 major religions:

• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam

Through the practice of religious activities, such as prayers, people may find comfort, security, and stability in times of suffering, loss, insecurity, and uncertainty. Spirituality and religion may be a source of love, hope, and affection (Brown and Parrish, 2011).

Logotherapy and Search for Meaning of Life

Logotherapy - pursuit of human existence as well as on man’s search for such meaning. Logos is a Greek word that translates as “Logotherapy focuses on the future.”Another extensive study of self, which is Logotherapy, can be found in the works of Dr. Viktor Frankl.

Get to know Viktor Frankl:

• Born in Vienna, Austria on March 26, 1905
• Died in his hometown on 1997 due to heart failure
• Involved in Socialist youth organizations
• Due to his interest in psychiatry, he began writing to
• Sigmund Freud at the age of 16.
• Earned his medical degree from the University of Vienna
• in 1930
• Nazis made him the head of the Rothschild Hospital

Viktor Frankl’s personal experiences in the Nazi concentrationcamps during World War II led him to develop the principle of logotherapy.

Logotherapy - pursuit of human existence as well as on man’s search for such meaning. Logos is a Greek word that translates as “Logotherapy focuses on the future.”

In Logotherapy, man can discover meaning in three ways:

• Doing a deed – this is by finding meaning in life through work, achievements, and accomplishments. This way differs from man to man, and from moment to moment.
• Experiencing a value – it is by experiencing something, or someone, such as loving a person. During Frankl’s time in the concentration camp, he observed that the transcendental power of love helped the prisoners stay alive. He also defines love as “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.”
• Suffering – Frankl once said “to live is to suffer, to survive is to find the meaning in the suffering.” There is a purpose and meaning for each suffering. It is when the person can use the unconquerable will to find and discover that meaning.

Important aspect of this therapy is known as the “Tragic Triad” which are:

• Pain – turning a suffering into an achievement
• Guilt – drive to use it as an opportunity to change oneself for the better
• Death – reminder that life is impermanent, so make and take responsible actions.

According to Frankl, each person has his or her own vocation and mission, and he or she can be the only one to find the meaning in life.

The Practice of Animism

• Animism is the belief that creatures, objects and places possess spirits. It still exists in the modern days’ despite of all the scientific progress and technological advancements
• Animism is practiced in the Philippines by some indigenous people. Some believe that the spirit of the sun, sky, and moon are their gods. Others also believe that animals, trees, rocks, mountains, and bodies of water are inhabited by spirits. Thus, respect must be given through acts of worship.