GEC 001 Midterm
MIDTERMS
I. THE SELF IN WESTERN AND EASTERN THOUGHT
Individualism & Collectivism
Individualism (Western) - Autonomy of a person
Collectivism (Eastern) - Shaped by the people/culture
Traits of Collectivistic Culture
Social rules focus on promoting selflessness
Working as a group
Doing what’s best for society
Families and communities have a central role
Four Great Systems of Eastern Thought
Hinduism
Four Ends of Man (Purusarthas)
Dharma - virtue, duty, righteousness, moral law
Artha - wealth
Kama - love or pleasure
Moksha - Liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth, and renunciation of worldly attachments
Samsara - The cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation.
Maya or illusion - The illusion that separates the soul (atman) from ultimate reality.
The Three Gods in Hinduism:
Brahma - The creator
Vishnu - The god of preservation
Siva (Shiva) - The destroyer
Buddhism
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama Buddha
Grew out from Hinduism and a “breakaway” sect in the 6th century BC
Grew out of the ascetic tradition that seeks salvation through starvation and mortification.
Middle way - Enlightenment is found between the extremes of indulgence and self-mortification. Neither extreme supports the spiritual goal.
The Illusory Nature of the World – The world is impermanent and illusory; grasping for material things only hinders spiritual growth.
The Four Noble Truths (Life)
Dukkha – Life involves suffering.
Samudaya – The cause of suffering is attachment and desire.
Nirodha – There is a way to end suffering.
Magga – The path to the cessation of suffering is the Eightfold Path.
Confucianism
Founded by K’ung-fu-Tze (Confucius) in China in the 5th-6th century
Zhong (Loyalty) – Respecting relationships, particularly hierarchical ones:
Ruler and Subject
Father and son
Husband and wife
Oldest son and younger brothers
Elders and juniors (friends)
Shu (Reciprocity) - The golden rule of human interactions:
Benevolence in rulers, loyalty in ministers and subjects
Kindness in the father, filial piety in the son
Righteous behavior in the husband, obedience in the wife
Gentility in the oldest son, humility and respect in the younger siblings
Humane consideration in elders, deference in juniors.
Taoism
Tao (Dao) means the way of life
Founded by Lao-Tze
Co-existed with Buddhism and Confucianism
Do not concentrate on the meaning of Tao, it will come naturally
Do not look at Taoism as a religion nor a philosophy. It should be deemed as a system of beliefs, practices, attitudes
Properties of Taoism:
Ch’i means “air” or “breath”
Refers to the energy flow or life force that pervades all things.
Yin and Yang
Yin means shady and yang means sunny side
Maintains balance and harmony in the universe and embodies the wholeness of a being.
Represents the duality of life that forms the “whole” e.g. woman and man, day and night, goodness and evil.
Death and afterlife
Life and death are two aspects of life i.e. duality. Death only represents being to non-being
Immortals
The spiritual beings/ghosts/spirits is of primary importance because these lead one to his Tao.
Purpose of life
The ultimate goal is to achieve immortality and alignment with the
II. PHYSICAL SELF
The physical self is the tangible aspect of the person that can be directly observed and examined, frequently defined by the physical characteristics that are visible.
Euphemism - a word or phrase that softens an uncomfortable topic.
Factors Shaping the Physical Self
Biological Blueprint
Heredity - the transmission of traits from parents to offspring.
Genotype - specific information embedded within our genes.
Phenotype - is the physical expression of a particular trait.
4 C Chromosomes
DNA structured by parents
(E.g. Alleles)
Environmental Factors
Physical Characteristics of the Body
Build Features (Body/Build Types)
Endomorphic - A body type with more body fat and a tendency to gain weight easily.
Exomorphic - A body type with little body fat and difficulty gaining weight or muscle.
Mesomorphic - A body type with a naturally strong physique and an ability to gain muscle and lose fat easily.
Height Characteristics
Tall (Gigantism)
Short (Dwarfism)
Complexion
Light, Fair, & Dark
We Filipinos are Austronesians: people from the ocean.
Hair Characteristics
Environmental Conditioning
Environmental influences that shape our physical self, include those from our social networks, societal expectations, and cultural practices.
Family, being our first social group, forms a crucial foundation of our development.
Larger social group create new practices and standards
Beauty - the degree to which a person’s physical traits are considered pleasing.
One aspect of beauty is body type
Context of Beauty
Beauty – the degree to which a person’s physical traits are considered pleasing or beautiful
Physical Beauty – always begins w/ non-physical beauty first
Non-physical Beauty – can't be measured, but it can be certainly felt
Mass Media on the Concept of Beauty
Thin Ideal - Idea that a female body w/ a slim body is the ideal woman has been crazy vogue nowadays
Colorism – discrimination based on skin complexion
Cosmetic Surgery – procedure and technique used to enhance a person’s appearance
Plastic Surgery – refers to the repair, reconstruction, or modification of the body
III. SEXUAL SELF
Sexuality Wheel
Body: Physical aspects and how individuals perceive themselves physically.
Thoughts & Feelings: Mental and emotional responses related to one's sexuality.
Gender: Personal identity as male, female, both, neither, or something else, which may differ from biological sex.
Relationships: Interactions with others that may influence or reflect one's sexuality.
Values & Beliefs: Personal or cultural beliefs that shape views on sexuality.
Sexual Response Cycle: The stages of physical and emotional changes during sexual activity.
Stages of the Sexual Response Cycle
Excitement: The beginning phase where physical and mental arousal occurs.
Plateau: Intensified arousal that precedes orgasm.
Orgasm: The peak of sexual pleasure, characterized by release.
Resolution: The relaxation phase following orgasm.
Four pillars of Family Planning
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RH Law) - a Philippine law that guarantees access to reproductive health and family planning services.
Responsible parenthood
Birth spacing - 3-5 years gap
Respect for life
Informed choice
The SOGIE Spectrum
SOGIE: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression.
Fluidity: Gender and sexuality are not fixed, and is always dynamic; they can evolve over time
The Spectrum - a tool to understand the diversity of gender and sexuality but is not a universal or definitive way to categorize individuals.
HIV and AIDS
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Transmitted through:
Blood
Semen
Unprotected sexual intercourse
Unsterilized syringes
HIV has a 3-month window period for detection.
Fellatio: Oral sex performed on a male.
Replicates in the body and attacks the immune system.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
The most advanced stage of HIV, where the immune system is severely compromised, leading to vulnerability to infections and diseases.
Methods of Family Planning
Natural Family Planning Method - method that uses the body’s natural physiological changes and symptoms to identify the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle.
Types of Natural Family Planning Methods
Periodic abstinence (fertility awareness) method - Calendar method, Basal Body Temperature Monitoring, Cervical Mucus.
Use of breastfeeding or lactational amenorrhea method (LAM)
Coitus interruptus (withdrawal or pulling out) method.
Artificial Family Planning Method: Hormonal Contraception
Oral Contraceptives
Transdermal Contraceptive PatchI
Subdermal Implants
Hormonal Injections
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
Diaphragm
Cervical Cap
Male Condoms
Female condoms
The Permanent Family Planning Method
Vasectomy
Tubal Ligation
IV. MATERIAL SELF
Material Aspect of the Self
William James' Definition of the Self: The self includes not only the physical body and material possessions but also one’s reputation and beliefs.
The self is expressed through material possessions, indicating identity.
Materialism in Psychological and Philosophical Perspectives:
Psychological: Anything with personal value or significance, including trends or possessions.
Philosophical: The act of attributing value to material items, sometimes linking self-worth to possessions.
Materialistic Self:
People maintain extensions of themselves through material possessions.
The way individuals acquire goods reflects their identity and lifestyle.
Economic decisions (purchases) are shaped by personality, financial constraints, availability, and social influences (family, friends).
Consumerism and Identity
Utility: The worth or value of a good or service, measuring the total satisfaction or benefit derived from consumption.
Significance: The importance or meaning attached to a purchase or possession.
Materialism and the Self:
Barbara Kruger’s statement "I Shop Therefore I Am" suggests that people are often defined by their possessions rather than their thoughts.
Russell Belk (1988): "We regard our possessions as parts of ourselves. We are what we have and what we possess."
Capitalism: In a free market, individuals can make free choices about what to buy and sell.
Components of the Self (James, 1890)
Material Self: Composed of the body and material possessions.
Social Self: The self as viewed by others.
Spiritual Self: Personal values and beliefs.
Pure Ego: The essence of individuality.
Consumerism and Well-being
I Have, Therefore I Am: Society often places emphasis on possessions as a reflection of personal worth, leading to a consumer culture focused on material goods as symbols of self-identity.
Consumerism: Buying products and services to fulfill needs or desires.
Impulsive Buying: A psychological phenomenon where people purchase items based on the feeling that they "deserve" it.
Conscious Consumption: Practicing responsible and mindful purchasing habits.
The Role of Consumer Culture on Self-Identity
Overemphasis on materialism can detract from meaningful relationships and life satisfaction.
Studies show that materialism may lead to unhappiness, especially when it conflicts with more fulfilling pursuits.
People often associate happiness with extrinsic goals, like acquiring products, but this can lead to poorer moods and more psychological issues.
Key Concepts
Consumption: The act of using, buying, or eating something.
The term "consume" means to use up, spend wastefully, or destroy.
Behind consumption, there is always production, which keeps companies and economies alive.
Consumerism: The societal habit of buying things to meet needs and desires, but it can lead to overconsumption.
V. SPIRITUAL SELF
The Spiritual Self
The spiritual self emphasizes the connection between mind, body, and spirit. It represents an ongoing, personal life journey, often contextualized by a belief in God.
While both religion and spirituality are paths to God, they have different approaches.
The spiritual self is the unseen aspect of who we are.
Spirituality can be understood as the search for the sacred. It is a process in which individuals seek to discover, hold on to, and transform whatever they consider sacred in their lives (Hill & Pargament, 2003).
It generally refers to finding meaning and purpose in life, the search for wholeness, and a relationship with a transcendent being.
A spiritual person is more concerned with personal growth and the experience of the Divine.
One's understanding of God shapes how they perceive their purpose.
What Does Spirituality Bring to Our Lives?
For many, the search for sacredness and transcendence can bring positive outcomes.
Spirituality is often associated with improved physical and mental health and overall well-being.
A spiritual person finds contentment and serenity in life’s circumstances.
They anchor their life in God and strive to align their thoughts, words, and actions with their spiritual self.
Religion
Emile Durkheim defined religion as a unified system of beliefs and practices concerning sacred things—objects or concepts set apart from the everyday, often with strict rules or prohibitions.
Unlike spirituality, religion is structured and institutionalized, with clear beliefs and practices that can
not be easily separated from the system.
Religion shares many characteristics of culture, such as common beliefs and values, which help create identity and foster a sense of belonging.
Religion provides a sense of purpose, giving individuals a feeling that life has ultimate meaning.