Understanding the Self UNIT 1: The Self  Physical Appetite: accounts for the basic

biological needs such as hunger, thirst and

from Various Perspectives
sexual desire
 Spirit/Passion: accounts for the basic emotions
 PHILOSOPHY such as love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness,
 SOCIOLOGY and empathy
 PSYCHOLOGY  The three are in a dynamic relationship with
 ANTHROPOLOGY each other: in agreement or in conflict
 ORIENTAL/ EASTERN THOUGHT  But it is the responsibility of the Reason to
restore harmony among the three
PHILOSOPHY  Harmony: justice in the individual, social, and
Ancient Philosophy (1000 BC to 500 AD) political levels
The Ancient Triumvirate
 Socrates Aristotle
 Aristotle  The mind (self) is Tabula Rasa – a blank slate
 Plato  Self is composed of matter and form
- Matter is in a continuous process of
Socrates developing and becoming
“Know thy self”  The Process of Completion is through experiences
 Man must live and stand according to his nature - Knowledge is acquired through the
 Man must look at himself senses
“An unexamined life is not worth living.”  Self comes from a First Cause, the source of all
Two fundamental questions: changes although unchangeable itself
 To find what?  The goal of the human self is reached in happiness
 Invitation to introspection: Platonic through moderation or balance of things
theory of reminiscence
 Knowledge is within, inherent in man; The Post-Aristotelians
not outside ▪Maintains the dualism between body and soul
 Wisdom is learning to reflect ▪More ethical in the ideas
 By what means?  Moral norms: attainment of happiness
 The Socratic Method: Dialogue between
the soul and itself  Stoicism
 Between a student and his teacher - Apathy or indifference to pleasure
 Hedonism
Two Aspects of Reality - “Eat, drink, and be happy. For
 Physical World - Changeable, transient, tomorrow, you will die.”
imperfect World of Senses/Matter  Epicureanism
 Spiritual World - Unchanging, eternal, perfect - Moderate pleasure
World of Ideas/Form
*Dualistic Reality: Body and Soul IS THE SELF RELATED TO A SUPREME BEING/GOD?
WHO AM I IN RELATION TO A SUPREME BEING/GOD?
Our Soul (Self)
▪ Strive for wisdom and perfection Medieval Philosophy (500 AD – 1350 AD)
▪ Reason is the soul’s tool to achieve such state Theo-centric
▪ A unified, indissoluble, immortal entity that remains  From the scientific investigation on nature and
the same over time search for happiness to the question of life and
▪ That is in the very likeness of the divine salvation in another realm, in a better world
(i.e., the afterlife)
Plato  Influence from ancient thought:
3-Part Soul/Self (Psyche)  The (human) self-endures through time
 Reason: the divine essence that lets us think  More imposing than informing, because it was
deeply (wisdom), make wise choices, and trying to aim at paganism and barbarism
achieve a true understanding of eternal truths  There was an aim to merge philosophy and
religion (Christian, Jewish, Muslim)
St. Augustine (Theologian, Philosopher) Physical Body
▪Integrates Platonic ideas with the tenets of Christianity - Governed by the laws of nature
▪Platonic Realm of Idea = Christian Philosophy of a
Transcendent God JOHN LOCKE
▪The self-strives to achieve union with God through ▪ The self endures because of memory
faith and reason ▪ Conscious awareness and memory of previous
experiences are the keys to understanding the self
St. Thomas Aquinas
▪Self-knowledge is dependent on our experience of the DAVID HUME
world around us (objects in our environment) ▪ Impressions – basic sensations of experiences
▪We don’t encounter ourselves as isolated minds or ▪ The self is a “bundle or collection of different
selves, but rather always as agents interacting with our perceptions, which succeed each other in an
environment inconceivable rapidity, and are in perpetual flux and
movement”
 The labels we attribute to ourselves are taken
from the things we encounter in our IMMANUEL KANT
environment ▪ A priori concepts
 Examples: Gardener, Artist, Kind, Loving ▪ The self actively organizes all the sensations and
“The things that we love tell us what we are.” thoughts into a picture that makes sense to each one of
If St. Thomas tells us that our knowledge is based on us
our encounter of things, Does this mean that we get to ▪ Self as subject, not object
know everything simply by experiencing it?
SIGMUND FREUD (Father of Psychoanalysis)
▪Experiencing that something exists doesn’t tell us what ▪The self is multi-tiered/multi-layered:
it is 1. Conscious – refers to those thoughts and
▪Knowing and learning about a thing requires a long feelings that we are aware of
process of understanding; same with the mind and the 2. Preconscious – experiences that are
self – with experience and reason unconscious but could become conscious with
little effort
HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT THE SELF EXISTS? WHAT ARE 3. Unconscious – contains all drives, urges or
THE PROOFS THAT THE SELF EXISTS? instincts that are beyond our awareness but
motivate our feelings, thoughts and behavior
Modern Philosophy (14th Century to the early 20th
Century) GILBERT RYLE
 Genuine knowledge has to be based on ▪ The self is defined in terms of behavior that is
independent rational inquiry and real world presented to the world
experimentation, rather than dependent on ▪ The self is a pattern of behavior, the tendency or
knowledge handed down by authorities disposition for a person to behave in a certain way in
certain circumstances
Anthropocentric
▪Thinkers began to reject the scholastics’ (medieval PAUL CHURCHLAND
thinkers) excessive reliance on authority Eliminative Materialism
▪Period of radical social, political and intellectual ▪ Grounded in neuroscience
developments ▪ The mind/self is the brain

RENE DESCARTES
“Cogito ergo sum” Contemporary Philosophy (Late 19th Century)
▪ “I think, therefore, I am” ▪Political Revolution
▪ Human identity: self-awareness ▪Industrial Revolution
▪ The Self if a thinking thing which can exist ▪Scientific advancements and growth of materialism
independently of the body ▪Theory of Evolution
▪More humanist as a response to the so-called
Dualism alienation of the human person
Thinking (Spiritual) Self
- Governed by laws of reason & God’s
will
EDMUND HUSSERL
▪ We experience our self as a unity which the in mental
and physical are seamlessly woven together PSYCHOLOGY
 The self based on psychoanalytic approach and
MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY cognitive construction
“Lived Body”
▪ An entity that can never be objectified or known in a The Self Based On Psychoanalytic Approach
completely objective sort of way, as opposed to the Structure of the Self (Sigmund Freud)
“body as object” of the dualists 1. ID (Biological Self)
▪ “There is no duality of substance but dialectic of living - Pleasure Principle
being in its biological milieu”
▪ Natural part of the self
WHICH AMONG THESE PHILOSOPHIES CAN YOU RELATE ▪ Animalistic nature of man
WITH? HOW DO THEY AFFECT THE WAY YOU SEE ▪ Pleasure seeking part of the personality
YOURSELF? ▪ Determined by the genetic code
▪ Providing the raw materials
▪ Setting the boundary conditions for development
SOCIOLOGY
 The self as a product of modern society among  The id represents the basic need of man.
other constructions - If it is not satisfied, it could result to
stress and tension.
The Self in the Sociological Perspective - If satisfied, it could give you comfort
 Classical sociological perspective: the self is a and joy.
relatively stable set of perceptions of who we are - If the id is angered or provoked it could
in relation to ourselves, others, and to social destroy not only himself but also his
systems surrounding
▪The self is socially constructed in the sense that it is - If the id is properly controlled it could
shaped through interaction with other people bring warmth and comfort
▪As with socialization in general, the individual is not a
passive participant in this process and have a powerful 2. SUPEREGO (Social Self)
influence over how this process and its consequences - Idealistic Principle
develop  The superego incorporates the values and
morals of society which are learned from one's
The Looking Glass Self (Charles Horton Cooley) parents and others
▪A person’s self grows out of a person´s social
interaction with others 3. EGO (Psychological Self)
▪The view of ourselves comes from the contemplation - Reality Principle
of personal qualities and impressions of how others ▪The only region of the mind that is in contact with
perceive us reality; it operates to fulfil the reality principle
▪ Actually, how we see ourselves does not come from ▪The ego constantly tries to reconciles the irrational
who we really are, but rather from how we believe wants of the id and the superego with the realistic
others see us demands of the world

Johari Window (Joseph Luft & Harrington Ingham) ID SUPEREGO

Technique used to enhance the individual's perception “I want to do that now!” “It’s not right to do that.”
on self and others.

Known to the Not known to

self the self EGO
Known to Open/Area Blind spot “Maybe we can compromise.”
others
Not known Hidden/Facade Unknown The job of the ego, or self, is to balance the aggressive
to others drives of the id with the moral control of the superego.
▪ When the scale is out of balance, it is the responsibility Self as defined by Social Comparison (Leon Festinger)
of the EGO to mediate the conflict between the ID and 1. TEMPORAL COMPARISON
SUPEREGO ▪ Considering your present condition in relation to how
▪ Weak ego will lead to ANXIETY you were in the past
▪ To protect the ego from anxiety, we use DEFENSE 2. SOCIAL COMPARISON
MECHANISMS ▪ Evaluating yourself in comparison to others – using
others as a basis for evaluating your attributes
Ego Defense Mechanisms  How does the social comparison process work?
▪Repression: when the ego is threatened, it ▪Depending on the level of someone’s motivation,
unconsciously forgets or blocks unpleasant feelings he/she may have the tendency to compare
▪Displacement: redirecting unacceptable urges to less himself/herself with others either in an UPWARD or
threatening people or objects DOWNWARD kind of comparison
▪Regression: the ego may revert back to an earlier stage Two Modes of Social Comparison
during times of stress or anxiety 1. Upward social comparison
▪Projection: attributing the unwanted impulse to ▪ When we compare ourselves with those who we
another person. believe are better than us
▪Sublimation: suppression of unwanted impulses by ▪ Often focus on the desire to improve our current level
substituting it with a creative cultural accomplishment of ability
▪ A highly motivated person tends to engage in upward
Functionalism (William James) comparisons, and usually assume himself/herself as
▪ Focused on the operation of conscious activity better or equal to the “best person”
- Example: thinking and learning ▪ Studies have shown that if given a chance, people
▪ Study of man’s adjustment to his environment choose to make upward comparisons instead of
- Materials downward ones
- Capacities 2. Downward social comparison
- Skills ▪ When we compare themselves to others who are
worse off than ourselves
THE SELF AS A COGNITIVE CONSTRUCTION ▪ Often centered on making ourselves feel better about
Symbolic Interactionism (George Herbert Mead) our abilities
“I and the Me” self ▪ A person who is unhappy or is unmotivated usually
▪Two aspects of self-awareness: engages in this to feel better about himself/herself
- The “me” is the socialized aspect of the person
- The “I” is the active aspect of the person Two Modes of Downward Social Comparison
1. Passive downward comparison
Imaginary Audience ▪ Happens when a person takes into consideration the
▪ Adolescents are thought to believe that others are previous condition in making comparison
always watching and evaluating them, and that they are - Example: A low performing student comparing
special and unique himself/herself with a worse off student
2. Active downward comparison
Self-Concept ▪ Happens when a person compares himself/herself
▪ Mental representation with others by demeaning or causing harm to them
- What we look like ▪ By derogating the target or causing harm to him/her,
- How we feel in different types of situation this person generates a situation in which the target is
- How we behave towards others worse off than him/her, therefore giving him/her the
- What do we do at work chance to make a downward comparison
- What are the roles we have in the family or
society Self-Evaluation and Self-Enhancement
▪ Motivation plays a role in this model and is manifested
Real and Ideal Self (Carl Rogers) by self-evaluation and self-enhancement
▪ A person's ideal self may not be consistent with what 1. Self-evaluation occurs when someone looks for
actually happens in life and experiences of the person positive traits in himself/herself based on the best
▪ Hence, a difference may exist between a person's person he/she compares himself/herself with
ideal self and actual experience 2. Self-enhancement, on the other hand, occurs when
▪ Carl Rogers believed that for a person to achieve self- the person questions which aspects of himself/herself
actualization they must be in a state of congruence need to be improved to reach the level of goodness of
the person he/she is comparing himself/herself with
Self-Esteem Collectivism
▪ Used to describe a person's overall sense of self-worth ▪ A human being is an integral part of the universe and
or personal value the society
▪ In other words, it refers to how much you appreciate ▪ People are fundamentally connected
and like yourself ▪ Duty towards all others is a very important matter
▪ Self-esteem is often seen as a personality trait, which
means that it tends to be stable and enduring Social rules focus on Working as a group and
promoting selflessness supporting others is
Reference Group and putting the essential
▪ A group to which an individual or another group is community needs ahead
of individual needs
compared
People are encouraged Families and
▪ Sociologists call any group that individuals use as a to do what's best for communities have a
standard for evaluating themselves and their own society central role
behavior a reference group

The Creation of Identities

THE SELF IN ORIENTAL/EASTERN THOUGHT
▪ One’s identity must balance the need to be similar to
 The self as embedded in relationships and
one’s reference group with the need to be a unique
through spiritual development in Confucian
individual
thought
- Children become aware of the need for a group
identity and are often afraid or acting
Asian Schools of Thought
differently
1. Buddhism (Siddhartha Gautama)
- Teens often seem torn between the need to
- Buddha discovered why life is filled with
assert their own individual identity and the
suffering and how humanity can escape from
need to conform to their reference group
this unhappy existence
- New identities are forged in relation to work,
Experience in the transformations of consciousness
parenthood, economic status, and ageing
and stages of meditation
- Buddha denies the self: no self, no individual
ANTHROPOLOGY - No-self is the nature of an intuitive and
 The self and person in contemporary subjective perception toward oneself beyond
anthropology & the self being embedded in the ordinary range of human experience that is
culture full of the anxieties and defensiveness
- To study the self is to deny the self
Western Self vs. non-western Self - When self becomes anxiety-free, one can act
Western Self spontaneously
▪ autonomous and egocentric Everything is impermanent in the continuous
becoming of lived experience
Non-western self - Implies emphasis on compassion for others and
▪ identity shared with others and derived from a culture conduct ourselves with restraint out of a sense
instead of a “self” of responsibility

Individualism vs. Collectivism 2. Hinduism (Fusion of various Indian

Individualism cultures and traditions)
▪ A human being has an individualistic nature and is an - Hindus believe that an individual’s action
independent part of theuniverse and the society (karma) – the bad or good actions that the
individual performed in a previous life
Being dependent determines his or her caste
Individual rights Independence is upon others is
▪ In simple terms, the law of karma suggests that a
take center highly valued often considered
stage shameful or person's mental and physical actions are binding
embarrassing ▪ The law of karma is very much verifiable in real life
People tend to The rights of People often ▪ We all have seen in our own lives, and in nature too,
be self-reliant individuals tend place a greater that we reap what we sow
to take a higher emphasis on ▪ Our successes and failures are mostly products of our
precedence standing out and own thoughts and actions
being unique
 3. Taoism (Lao-Tzu) Understanding the Self UNIT 2: Unpacking
- Relativity of opposites (i.e., yin and yang)
the Self
Self does not exist without the existence of the
 PHYSICAL SELF
Other
 MATERIAL/ECONOMIC SELF
- Self as a separate identity is supported by the
equal and opposite sensation of otherness  SEXUAL SELF
 SPIRITUAL SELF
4. Confucianism (Confucius)  POLITICAL SELF
- The Self in Confucianism is the starting point of  DIGITAL SELF
a constructive process
- For western philosophers, the concept of the PHYSICAL SELF
self is the end of their searches  The self as impacted by the body
“Learn how to see. Realize that everything
- It is only through the continuous opening up of connects to everything else.”
the self to others that the self can maintain its – Leonardo da Vinci
wholesome personal identity "I am not who I think I am.
- A person who is not responsive to others is self- I am not who you think I am.
centered I am who I think you think I am.“
Confucian self is relational and interdependent -Charles Horton Cooley
- Belief that certain sets of human relationships ▪ is the concrete dimension, the tangible aspect of the
are basis for moral community person that can be directly observed and examined.
 Ruler and minister “Physical Self/Body is an initial source of sensation and
 Friend and friend necessary for the origin and maintenance of
 Elder and younger brother personality”
 Husband and wife –William James
 Father and son
Psychosexual Theory of Development (Sigmund Freud)
Filial piety is a foundational concept in the thought ▪ In the Psychoanalytical school, Sigmund
of Confucius Freud's construction of self and personality makes the
▪ to be good to one's parents physical body the core of human experience.
▪ to take care of one's parents ▪ Oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital stage
▪ to engage in good conduct not just towards parents
but also outside the home so as to bring a good name to Psychosocial Theory of Development (Erik Erikson)
one's parents and ancestors ▪ -The role of bodily organs is especially important in
▪ to ensure male heirs early developmental stages of a person’s life.
▪ display sorrow for their parents’ sickness and death ▪ Later in life, the development of physical as well as
▪ to bury their parents and carry out sacrifices after intellectual skills help determine whether the individual
their death will achieve a sense of competence and ability to
choose demanding roles in a complex society.

How they view themselves...

How they view others...
How they think others view them!

Somatic Society (Bryan Turner)

▪ The sociology of the body become an established
discipline in the 1990’s.
▪ Bryan Turner, coined the term “somatic society” which
means the new found importance of the body in
contemporary society.
The obsession to have a beautiful face & body

Eating Disorders (DSM-5)

▪ Anorexia Nervosa
- characterized by loss of body weight and refusal
to eat. Appetite is usually intact.
▪ Bulimia Nervosa behavior include:
- characterized by recurrent and frequent binge - Oxytocin, Prolactin, Vasopressin
eating with or without vomiting. - Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and
The demand for Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Whiteners Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Others include testosterone in males and
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (DSM-5) estrogen and progesterone in females.
▪ characterized by a distressing and impairing
preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in 1. Desire (Libido)
appearance. ▪ The stage in which a man or woman begins to want or
"desire" sexual intimacy or gratification, may last
Body Shaming anywhere from a moment to many years.
▪ Criticizing your own appearance, through a judgment
or comparison to another person. 2.Excitement (Arousal)
▪ Criticizing another’s appearance in front of them ▪ Muscle tension increases.
▪ Criticizing another’s appearance without their ▪ Heart rate quickens and breathing is accelerated.
knowledge. ▪ Skin may become flushed (blotches of redness appear
Many people especially women spend tremendous on the chest and back).
expenditure of time, effort and money to alter their ▪ Nipples become hardened or erect.
appearances to resemble an ideal image. ▪ Blood flow to the genitals increases, resulting in
What is your ideal physique of a MAN and a WOMAN? swelling of the woman's clitoris and labia minora (inner
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder... lips), and erection of the man's penis.
We are NOT JUST our bodies. ▪ Vaginal lubrication begins.
We live in our bodies, but our bodies do not make up ▪ The woman's breasts become fuller and the vaginal
EVERYTHING THAT we are. walls begin to swell.

SEXUAL SELF 3. Plateau

 Understanding one’s identity and sexuality ▪ The changes begun in phase 1 are intensified.
▪ The vagina continues to swell from increased blood
Biological Perspective of One’s Sex flow, and the vaginal walls turn a dark purple.
▪ At conception, egg and sperm unite to create a new ▪ The woman's clitoris becomes highly sensitive (may
organism that incorporates some characteristics of each even be painful to touch) and retracts under the clitoral
parent. hood to avoid direct stimulation from the penis.
▪ The first 22 pairs are called AUTOSOMES. The last pair ▪ The man's testicles are withdrawn up into the
is known as the SEX CHROMOSOMES. scrotum.
▪ Genetic basis for Sex Determination: ▪ Breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure continue to
- X Chromosome increase.
- Y Chromosome ▪ Muscle spasms may begin in the feet, face, and hands.
Human Reproductive System
Secondary Sex Characteristics 4. Orgasm (Climax)
▪ Involuntary muscle contractions begin.
Erogenous Zones ▪ Blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing are at their
• where the libido is centered (according to Freud) highest rates, with a rapid intake of oxygen.
• parts of the body that experience heightened ▪ Muscles in the feet spasm.
sensitivity and/or signal sexual arousal of some kind ▪ There is a sudden, forceful release of sexual tension.
• Needs stimulation by engaging the person in gratifying ▪ In women, the muscles of the vagina contract. The
activities uterus also undergoes rhythmic contractions.
▪ In men, rhythmic contractions of the muscles at the
The Sexual Response Cycle base of the penis result in the ejaculation of semen.
▪ Is a model that describes the physiological responses,
that occur during sexual activity. 5. Resolution
▪ The hypothalamus is the most important part of the ▪ Swelled and erect body parts return to their previous
brain for sexual functioning. size and color.
- It produces important sexual hormones that are ▪ This phase is marked by a general sense of well-being,
then secreted by the pituitary gland. enhanced intimacy and, often, fatigue.
▪ Sex hormones that influence sexual ▪ Refractory period
Chemistry of Lust, Attraction and Attachment
• Lust and attraction shut off the prefrontal cortex of Sexual Diversity
the brain, which includes rational behavior. ▪ Sex and gender are often thought of as binary
• The hypothalamus regulates the function of the categories; that is, we can be either male or female, or
pituitary gland to secrete hormones. feminine or masculine. However, this is a FALSE
• The hypothalamus of the brain plays a big role in assumption.
stimulating the production of the sex hormones ▪ Although sex can be quantified by DNA and genetic
testosterone and estrogen from the testes and ovaries testing, sometimes the results are difficult to make
• Attraction involves the brain pathways that control sense of with regard to their social implications.
“reward” behavior, which partly explains why the first
few weeks or months of a relationship can be so GENDER IDENTITY
exhilarating and even all-consuming. Who you think you are
• High levels of dopamine and norepinephrine are ▪ One's innermost concept of self as male, female, a
released during attraction. These chemicals make us blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive
giddy, energetic, and euphoric, even leading to themselves and what they call themselves which can be
decreased appetite and insomnia. the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.
• Attachment is the predominant factor in long term ▪ Gender identity, in nearly all instances, is self-
relationships. While lust and attraction are pretty much identified, as a result of a combination of inherent and
exclusive to romantic entanglements, attachment extrinsic or environmental factors.
mediates friendships, parent-infant bonding, social ▪ CISGENDER – A person whose gender identity matches
cordiality, and many other intimacies as well. his or her assigned sex
• Primary hormones: oxytocin and vasopressin ▪ TRANSGENDER – A person who’s lived experiences do
• Oxytocin (cuddle hormone) is produced by the not match their assigned sex
hypothalamus and released in large quantities during  Transwoman - person whose assigned sex is
sex, breastfeeding, and childbirth. male and identifies as a woman
 Transman - person whose assigned sex is
Sex vs. Gender female and identifies as a man
SEX
• Sex (sometimes called biological sex, anatomical sex, GENDER EXPRESSION
or physical sex) How you demonstrate who you are
• A person’s identity based on their physical  Refers to the ways that humans choose to
characteristics, genes and hormones. display their gender identity to the world
• Male: Penis usually expressed through:
• Female: Vagina • behavior,
• Intersex: chromosomes and hormones of a • clothing,
female/male but external genital is like that of a • haircut or voice
male/female and which may/may not conform to socially defined
• Also refers to sexual acts, as in ‘having sex’ behaviors and characteristics typically associated with
• Primary and Secondary Sex characteristics being either masculine or feminine.

GENDER SEXUAL ORIENTATION/ATTRACTION

• Gender is the structure of social relations that centers Who you are romantically and sexually into
on the reproductive arena, and the set of practices that  Sexual orientation is all about who you are
bring reproductive distinctions into social processes. physically, spiritually, and emotionally attracted
• A term that refers to social or cultural distinctions to (specifically into sexual and romantic
associated with a given sex; it is generally considered to attraction), and the labels tend to describe the
be a socially constructed concept. relationships between your gender and the
• Gender underlies assumptions regarding ‘Masculine’ gender types you’re attracted to.
or ‘Feminine’ behavior • Straight (Heterosexual) - Attracted to people of the
• Refers to the attitudes, feelings and behaviors that a opposite gender
given culture associates with a person's biological sex. • Gay/Lesbian (Homosexual) - Attracted to people of
• Behavior that is compatible with cultural expectations the same gender
is referred to as gender ‐ normative; • Bisexual - Can be attracted to both men and women
• Behaviors that are viewed as incompatible with these
expectations constitute gender non ‐ conformity (APA, The Church and Sexuality
2012). Sexual Intercourse
 - the two primary purposes of sexual intercourse How to avoid STIs and AIDS
are: ABSTINENCE
▪ “UNITIVE” (unite the couple) and - The most reliable way to avoid infection is to
▪ “PROCREATIVE” (create more people). not have sex (i.e., anal, vaginal or oral).
VACCINATION
Pope Francis on Sexuality - Vaccines are safe, effective, and recommended
• Pope Francis has repeatedly spoken about the need ways to prevent hepatitis B and HPV.
for the Catholic Church to welcome and love all people MUTUAL MONOGAMY
regardless of sexual orientation. - Mutual monogamy means that you agree to be
sexually active with only one person, who has
Sexually Transmitted Infections agreed to be sexually active only with you.
▪ 1 million STI cases everyday worldwide (WHO, 2016)
▪ Estimated 357 million each year are infected by 1 of 4 MATERIAL/ECONOMIC SELF
STIs: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis  The Self in association to his/her possessions
(WHO, 2016)
▪ Drug resistance is a challenge esp. for Gonorrhea William James on the “Self”
(WHO, 2018) from his book The Principles of Psychology (1890)
▪ Poor young females are more vulnerable than well-off “A man’s self is the sum total of all that he can call his,
counterparts (Abrigo, n.a.) not only his body and his psychic powers, but his
clothes and his house, his wife and children, his
MOST COMMON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS ancestors and friends, his reputation and works, his
- transition of the terms from “STD” to “STI” in an lands and horses, and yacht and bank-account. All these
effort to clarify that not all sexually transmitted things give him the same emotions. If they wax and
infections turn into a disease prosper, he feels triumphant; if they dwindle and die
away, he feels cast down,—not necessarily in the same
1. SYPHILIS degree for each thing, but in much the same way for
• Caused by Treponema pallidum all.”
• painless open ulcers on the genitals, rectum, mouth, - William James
or skin surface
2. TRICHOMONIASIS Material Self
• Caused by Trichomonas vaginalis - Refers to tangible objects, people, or places
• foul-smelling vaginal discharge that carry the designation my or mine.
3. GENITAL HERPES
• Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1. BODILY SELF - refers to any part of our body.
• Cluster of fluid filled blisters around genitals These entities are clearly an intimate part of
4. GONORRHEA who we are.
• Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoea 2. EXTENDED SELF refers to anything that is
• Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis/vagina beyond our body (Psychological ownership)
5. CHLAMYDIA
• Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis Functions of Possessions
• Inflammed cervix with frothy discharge Possessions can go beyond their functional value.
• Influence
HIV and AIDS • Power
▪ TRANSMITTED THROUGH: • Sympathy
- Unprotected sex • Social status
- Drug addicts • Emotions
- Blood transfusion
- Pregnancy Materialism
- Non-sterile instruments • The importance a consumer attaches to worldly
▪ NOT TRANSMITTED THROUGH: possessions.
- Touching • The extent to which consumption becomes the
- Food primary source of satisfaction, as well as the dominant
- Kissing mode of motivation.
- Insect bites Can possessions really buy happiness and stability?
- Swimming in pools
Symbolic Communication Model:
Possessions as Symbolic Expressions of Identity SPIRITUAL SELF
• There’s an observation that one’s possessions are  The practice of religion: belief in supernatural
considered a part of oneself. They are symbols and being and power
extensions of the personal and social aspects of her
identity/personhood. Religion and Spirituality
• Possession help people define themselves. ▪ Religion – an organized system of ideas about the
• Possessions can enhance one’s image and develop a spiritual or supernatural realm, that is accompanied by
positive sense of self. rituals. Through rituals, people attempt to influence
• It can be a reassurance that one is the person one things that they think are beyond their control.
wishes to be. ▪ Spirituality – also concerns an aspect of the divine and
• Goods and possessions are used to fill in or to supernatural but is often times limited to the individual,
compensate for the person lacks. with no need for any formal organization. This is the
search for meaning and direction in life and the ways
Possessions and Self-Identity ▪ The two are related: Although not separate from one
For example: another, spirituality is much more profound than
A recent Ph.D., for example, may prominently display religion.
his diploma in an attempt to convince himself (and
others) that he is the erudite scholar he aspires to be. Religion: Rituals
Even though you are not too smart or not qualified, so ▪ Religions have rituals/ritu.
long as you wear an expensive watch, a high-class pair ▪ whatever is done repeatedly.
of shoes and you have the latest model of cellphone.
2 types of ritual
Conspicuous Consumption ▪ According to the Calendar (Calendric)
- Consumers own high-priced, status-oriented ▪ Based on crisis
goods to impress others and to convince them
of their high social status. Examples of Catholic Rituals
▪ Fasting (Pag-aayuno)
Loss of Possessions ▪ Healing (Panggagamot)
Acquisition of material possessions ▪ Offering (Pag-aalay)
▪ “Panalanging walang patid”
Possessions become symbolic expression of self-identity • Attending mass (Pagmimisa)
• Praying a novena (Pagnonobena)
Loss of possessions • Praying the rosary (Pagrorosaryo)
• Senakulo
Loss of important aspect of self
Philippine Mythology
Negative reactions ▪ Hula
▪ Tawas
Possessions as Unstable Meanings ▪ Kulam
• Meaning is in a constant state of flux. ▪ Dwende
• Cultural categories of person that help shape identity ▪ Diwata
are subject to constant manipulation by individuals, ▪ Ligaw na kaluluwa
social groups, and marketing agents. ▪ Faith healer
• Meanings of objects that are used to make visible and
stabilize the categories of culture are also subject to Philippine Ethnic Religious Leaders and Places
frequent change through their appropriation in  BAYLAN UNDIN OF AGUSAN DEL SUR - leader in
advertising, in television programming, and among rituals(“shamans”)
social subgroups.  APUNG BENITA OF AYTA - one of the respected
“mag-aanito.”
Pets as Extensions of the Self  PILGRIMAGE TO MT. BANAHAW - considered as
• Pets have become parts of the extended self. Pets holy mountain, where the spirits of Filipino
belong to the top 5 possessions. heroes dwell
• Positive relationship between self-esteem and owning  THE MALE BABAYLAN (ASOG) - now considered
pets (Covert et al, 1985) as healers or herbalists
• The dog as “co-therapist” (Levinson, 1962)
The Meaning of Spirituality (Yabut, 2013) Political Self among Filipinos in the Present
1. It is phenomenological experience. ▪ The SWS survey was conducted through face-to-face
2. This has to do with the human being. interviews with 1,440 adults 18 years old and above.
▪ One out of 4 Filipinos looks for senatorial candidates
Stages of Faith Development for Adolescence who "will not be corrupt"
(Fowler, 1981)
1. SYNTHETIC CONVENTIONAL STAGE (age 12 and Political Preferences and Socio-economic Status
up) - conformity to authority and the religious
development of a personal identity. Any DIGITAL SELF
conflicts with one's beliefs are ignored at this  Self and identity in the cyberspace
stage due to the fear of threat from
inconsistencies. Cyberpsychology
2. INDIVIDUATIVE-REFLECTIVE STAGE (age 21 and ▪ New field within applied psychology
up) - stage of angst and struggle. The individual ▪ Branch of psychology that examines:
takes personal responsibility for his or her - how we interact with others using technology
beliefs and feelings. As one is able to reflect on - how our behavior is influenced by technology
one's own beliefs, there is an openness to a - how technology can be developed to best suit
new complexity of faith, but this also increases our needs
the awareness of conflicts in one's belief. - how our psychological states can be affected by
technologies
Logotherapy (Victor Frankl) how we interact with others using technology
- Logotherapy aids individuals to find personal how our behaviour is influenced by technology
meaning of life, whatever life situation they how technology can be developed to best suit our
may be. needs
1. Someone – special someone, friend, children, and how our psychological states can be affected by
family technologies
2. Deed, Act or Work – finding fulfilment and/or being ▪ Mainly focused in the world wide web specifically
passionate about one’s work/deed Social Media
3. Suffering – through rumination/contemplation, we Other technologies involved:
get to have a deeper sense of our self and experiences. ▪ Online and offline gaming such as video games
▪ Mobile computing
POLITICAL SELF ▪ Artificial intelligence
 Developing a Filipino Identity ▪ Virtual reality
Political Self – an increasing awareness of the deeply ▪ Augmented reality
dysfunctional and divisive nature of many of our
traditional political and economic institutions. Self and identity in the cyberspace
▪ Identity – development of one’s self-concept,
Politics, Citizenship and the Self including one’s thought and feelings about oneself
• Politics – refers to the actions or activities concerned ONLINE WORLD
with achieving and using power in a nation or society. ACTUAL SELF OUGHT SELF IDEAL SELF
• Politics as imbibed by man implies several things: ONLINE ANONYMITY
- Concerned with power Gives people the chance to present any of these three
- Functions based on a particular social economic selves and hence permits individuals to better present
and cultural context aspect of their true selves than they would feel capable
- Based on one’s personality of doing in a face-to-face interaction
- Goes hand in hand with the society
Environments affecting the online behavior
Active Citizenship Identifiable Offline world
▪ Structured forms of engagement with political • any deviance from established social norms may be
processes and everyday forms of participation in a punished or ridiculed.
society. • A person’s true self is often inhibited
▪ Engaging in such activities can also enhance efficacy Anonymous Online World
and competence of the younger generation, as they are • the masks people wear offline are often discarded and
considered to be the “future leaders of the society” their ‘true’ selves allowed to emerge.
• E.g. negative rants in Twitter, Facebook freedom walls
Identifiable Online world - Have we (as a family or parent/child) resolved
• People may tend to express their “hoped-for possible this issue? An issue still being worked out in the
selves” (socially pleasing identities) home, or one that is either vulnerable or highly
• e.g. Edited and filtered photos in Facebook, posting of emotional, should not be made public.
achievements - Is it appropriate? Does it stay within the
boundaries of our family values?
Online Behavior Theories - Will this seem as funny in 5, 10, or 15 years? Or
▪ EQUALISATION HYPOTHESIS (Kiesler et al., 1984) is this post better suited for sharing with a small
- With the removal of the social cues, a reduction group of family members? Or maybe not at all?
of associated stereotypes may occur, and
therefore may lead to increased social power in Are you a Good Web Citizen?
the online world ▪ Guidelines for proper sharing of information and using
- Individuals who hold less power in society the internet
should have increased power in the online - Stick to safer sites
environment - Guard your passwords
- E.g. posting of unique contents/complaints in - Limit what you share
social media to gain attention - Remember that anything you put online or post
on a site remains forever, even if you try to
▪ SOCIAL IDENTITY MODEL OF DEINDIVIDUATION delete it.
EFFECTS (SIDE) THEORY (Zimbardo, 1979) - Do not mean or embarrass other people online
- Importance of the situational explicit variables - Be choosy about your online friends
in a social situation - Be patient
- Strengthens the influence of social norms and
their effect when social identity is strong Digital World issues and conflicts
- E.g. joining Facebook groups with similar Fear of missing out (FoMO)
beliefs/values ▪ exists when an individual is anxious of being left out
and feels the constant need to know what the others
Impression Management are doing
▪ selectively-self presenting or editing messages to ▪ It is an anxiety that emanates from the feeling that
reveal socially desirable attitudes and dimensions of the you are not up to date because of the phase social
self media and news pass very quickly

The role of anonymity in impression management Screen Dependency Disorder

6 different types of Privacy (Pederson, 1979) ▪ Emerging problem (not yet included in DSM-5 and/or
▪ Reserve ICD-10)
▪ Isolation ▪ dependent, problematic behavior, including
▪ Intimacy with family withdrawal symptoms, increasing tolerance (for screen
▪ Intimacy with friends use),
▪ Solitude ▪ failure to reduce or stop screen activities, lying about
▪ Anonymity the extent of use, loss of outside interests, and
continuation of screen use despite adverse
o Positive effect in the role of privacy or the consequences.
amount of contact that someone has with
others Internet gaming disorder
o Negative effect – increased aggression and anti- ▪ is a pattern of excessive and prolonged Internet
social behaviour gaming that results in a cluster of cognitive and
o Autonomy - where people can try out new behavioral symptoms, including progressive loss of
behaviors without fear of social consequences control over gaming, tolerance, and withdrawal
symptoms, analogous to the symptoms of substance
Responsible use of social media use disorders.
Setting Boundaries to your online self: Smart Sharing ▪ Conditions for further study (DSM-5)
▪ Guide Questions to consider before posting:
- Is this post/story necessary?
- Is there a real benefit to this post – is it funny,
warmhearted, teachable – or am I just making
noise online without purpose?