Understanding the self

Nature vs. Nurture

• Nature posits that the self is shaped largely by biological processes and inherent predispositions.
• Human traits are transmitted across generations, emphasizing a biological foundation of self.
• Nurture focuses on the role of social institutions in shaping an individual's self-concept.
• At birth, the human mind is viewed as a tabula rasa, gradually developed through experiences.

Understanding Identity and Self

• Identity represents the unique character or personality that defines an individual.
• Self encompasses all personal characteristics, both understood and not understood by the individual or others.

The Self Quadrant Model

• Open Self: Characteristics known to both oneself and others.
• Hidden Self: Traits recognized by oneself but not by others.
• Blind Self: Attributes known to others but unknown to oneself.
• Unknown Self: Aspects that are neither recognized by oneself nor others.

Character and Personality

• Character is defined by mental and moral qualities that distinguish an individual, linked to one's role in life.
• Personality consists of enduring traits and unique characteristics that provide stability and individuality to behavior.

Influencing Factors on Self-Concept

• Social Factor: Refers to the impact of significant individuals in one’s life on personal development.
• Environmental Factor: Includes physical and communal influences present in an individual’s surroundings, affecting their experiences.
• Hereditary Factor: Involves biological transmission of traits and characteristics from one generation to the next.
• Person-Volition Factor: Highlights a person's intrinsic desire to develop a unique identity that differentiates them from others.

NATURE

• states that the self is predominantly a product of natural processes to which people are inherently predisposed. ◆ the natural basis of the self is anchored on biology and explains that human traits are passed from one generation to another.

NURTURE → emphasize on the impact of various social institutions to the self construal of a person that at birth the human mind is a tabula rasa (a blank slate) and that this is gradually "filled" as a result of experience.

IDENTITY

• distinguishing character or personality of an individual.

SELF

• refers to the total characteristics or qualities both known and unknown to others and self.

OPEN SELF

• Known to others and known to oneself

HIDDEN SELF

• Known to oneself but unknown to others.

BLIND SELF

• Unknown to oneself but known to others

UNKNOWN SELF

• Unknown to oneself and unknown to others.

CHARACTER

• the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual ( Character = role)

PERSONALITY

• is pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that gives both consistency and individuality to a persons's behavior. ( Persona = mask)

SOCIAL FACTOR

• refers to the influences of significant people in one's life.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR

• includes the physical and communal elements present in everyday surroundings, and are invariably dealt with by individuals in a specific geographic region or area.

HEREDITARY FACTOR

biological process wherein certain traits and characteristics are passed from one generation to another.

PERSON- VOLITION FACTOR

• it refers to the inclination of a person to form and construct a specific identity that will set him apart from others.