Chapter 1 & 2: Who Am I? & The Self as a Social Construct (PDF)

# Chapter 1: Who Am I? ## Philosophy - Love of wisdom in greek - Study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and values through critical inquiry. ## The Self - Reflects our internal sense of identity and shapes how we interact with the world. ### Self-Concept - How we see and defin...

# Chapter 1: Who Am I? ## Philosophy - Love of wisdom in greek - Study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and values through critical inquiry. ## The Self - Reflects our internal sense of identity and shapes how we interact with the world. ### Self-Concept - How we see and define ourselves, including our beliefs, values, and characteristics. ### Self-Esteem - The belief and confidence in your own ability and value. ### Self-Knowledge - A deep understanding of who we are, including our strengths, weaknesses, desires, and motivations. - Beginning of self improvement. ### Social Self - How we perceive ourselves in the context of our relationships and social interactions. ## Socrates- Know Thyself - A man is essentially a soul - Socrates Methods - He believed that the essence of a person is their soul, and true wisdom comes from introspection and understanding one's inner self. ## Plato - Supported Socrates belief - According to Plato, the soul is eternal and strives to connect with these higher truths. - Dichotomy of the ideal world or the world and the material world. - **Soul (Spirit):** which represents the true and unchanging self - **Body:** is considered a temporary vessel or "prison-house" for the soul. - **Form is Permanent:** Eternal, perfect, and unchanging ideals (e.g., beauty, justice) existing beyond the physical world. - Metaphysical Reality - Epistemology & knowledge - Ethics & Morality - A bridge between worlds - **Material World:** The changing, imperfect reality we perceive with our senses. - **Key Idea:** Objects in the material world are merely imperfect copies of # Chapter 2: The Self as a Social Construct ## Sociology - Scientific study focuses on human social behavior, interactions, and cultural norms. ## Anthropology - Studies human societies, cultures, and their development. ## The Self is Embedded in Our Culture - **Sir Edward B. Taylor:** a founder of cultural anthropology, classically defined culture and it includes: - Knowledge - Beliefs - Arts - Morals - Law - Customs - and any other capabilities and habits acquired by (human) as a member of society - **Culture shapes our social personality, norms, and perceptions, influencing both material (tangible items) and non-material (beliefs, values) aspects of life.** - **Material culture:** includes technology and physical objects, while - **Non-material culture:** encompasses ideas, beliefs, and social norms. ## Mead's Development Stages of The Self - **George Herbert Mead:** Believed the self develops through social interactions and the influence of others. ## Geertz and His Concept of The Self as an Unfinished Animal - **Clifford Geertz:** Argued that humans complete their identity through cultural influences. ## The Self in The Western and Oriental Though - **Self Construction:** is a form of cultural activity. - **Culture is Much Relative:** The behavior of the self is very much dependent on its context. - **Relativism:** Evident in the western and eastern construction of the self. ### Western and Eastern Perspective of the self #### Collectivism - Eastern people tend to prioritize others first, emphasizing social harmony and group identity. - Traits of eastern people: - Interdependent - Holistic thinking - Present-oriented - Self-control/emotional regulation #### Individualism - Western people prioritize themselves first, focusing on personal autonomy. - Traits of western people - Independent - Analytical thinking - Future-oriented - Self-expression - **Marcel Mauss:** Explained that the Western world views man as disengaged from the social matrix. # Chapter 3: The Psychological Self ## Complexity of the Self - The concept of self is dynamic, ever-changing, and challenging to define definitively. Answering "Who are you?" can create pressure, as individuals often feel the need to present impressive responses. - **Self-reflection** is beneficial for increasing self-awareness (Weiten et al., 2014). - **Fluid Nature of Identity:** Our sense of self is flexible, like a liquid that adapts to different contexts. Identity is shaped by past experiences, behaviors, and future expectations. - Embracing the fluidity of the self can reduce the pressure of having a stable, unchanging self-image. ## William James' Theory (I and Me Self) - According to James, There are two understandings or categories of the self: - **Me Self:** The self as an object of experience, or "empirical self" - **Material Self:** Includes physical belongings like body, possessions, and family. - **Social Self:** Reflects social roles and identities in different contexts. - **Spiritual Self:** Core values, personality, and inner beliefs. - **I Self:** The self as the subject of experience, focusing on continuous consciousness and self-reflection. - Represents the "thinker" or pure ego, providing continuity between past, present, and future. ## Donald Winnicott's Theory (True vs. False Selves) - **True self:** Authentic and creative self that feels genuine. - **False Self:** A protective layer developed to conform to external expectations; can lead to feelings of inauthenticity if dominant. - Awareness of the False Self is crucial to maintain balance and avoid losing touch with the True Self. ## Carl Rogers' Theory (Real vs. Ideal Self) - **Self-concept:** Organized set of beliefs and perceptions about oneself, also known as self-schemas. - **Self schemas:** Factors that affecting the self-concept, include: - Past experiences - Personality traits - Abilities - Values - Physical attributes - Goals - Social roles - Personal observations - Feedback from others - Self-schemas not only influence how we act in the present but also shape future behaviors. - **Ideal Self:** - Person we want to be - Idealized version of yourself - How I should be - **Real Self:** - Who we actually are - How i see me - Also called "actual self" - **Congruence:** Self-concept meshes well with actual experience (some incongruence is probably unavoidable) - It is said that when we feel good about ourselves there is congruence or alignment. - A small gap between our real self and ideal self. - This gives us confidence, satisfaction and fulfillment leading to a high self-esteem. - **Incongruence:** Self-concept does not mesh well with actual experience. - It is said that when we are disappointed or frustrated about ourselves there is incongruence or misalignment. - A huge gap between our real and ideal self. - This results in being distressed, anxious, leading to low self-esteem. - This gap causes anxiety and we use two defenses: - Denial - Perceptual Distortion ## Self-Esteem - How one feels about oneself, encompassing self-worth and self-acceptance. - A person's self-esteem is deeply tied to their self-concept. - **Positive self-esteem** emerges when there is congruence between one's self-concept, real and ideal self. - **Low self-esteem** results when there is an incongruence between the real self and the ideal self. - **Self-Actualization:** High self-esteem is linked to a person's ability to reach their full potential. ## Self-Efficacy - Performance which affects our self-esteem that will align the real and ideal self (congruence). - Self-efficacy can be bolstered by receiving unconditional positive regard from others, especially during childhood; Feeling valued and accepted leads to a stronger belief in one's abilities to face challenges. # Chapter 4: The Physical Self ## Introduction - Beauty is power - Society places pressure on individuals to look good, leading to dissatisfaction with natural appearances. - The pursuit of beauty has shifted focus from self-celebration to meeting external standards. ## Why do I look like myself? - Genetics plays a key role in determining physical appearance. - Gregor Mendel discovered that traits are passed from parents to offspring through genes. - Physical traits like skin tone, hair color, and height are inherited from parents. ## Cultural Standards of Beauty - Beauty has been commodified, where attractiveness is equated with status and wealth. - Definitions of beauty vary by culture and are influenced by historical practices. - In 19th-century Tahiti, rituals aimed at fattening and lightening skin were associated with beauty. - In Nigeria, historically, being fat symbolized prosperity and attractiveness. - Colonial influences in the Philippines established fair skin as a beauty standard, affecting local perceptions of attractiveness. - The Filipino Obsession with Beauty: The Case of Xander Ford - The pressure to conform to beauty ideals affects both men and women. - Xander Ford, formerly Marlou Arizala, underwent cosmetic surgery to fit societal beauty standards after being ridiculed online. - Cosmetic surgery can come with risks, as seen in cases of fatal complications. ## Body Dysmorphic Disorder - Women have been evaluated based on their appearance more than men. - It is the reason for even unnecessary cosmetic surgeries hinged on the desire to look good, if not perfect. - Society's obsession with physical perfection leads to a loss of self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. - This perspective seems to be the case not only for a lot of millennials but for those who are suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD. ## Anorexia - Women are often judged more harshly based on appearance, leading to body shaming. - Results a strong desire to get thin, but with it also comes the fear of gaining weight, thus restricting themselves from food intake. - Defined as a "serious mental illness where people are low weight due to limiting their energy intake. ## Body Image Disturbance (BID) - An important aspect of several pathologies in psychology, particularly eating disorders. It has two components: - The perceptual Component: How we accurately perceive our body size, also known as body size estimation. - The attitudinal Component: How we think and feel about the size /shape of our body, which if not correctly processed, will result in body dissatisfaction. - Body Dissatisfaction is also linked with mental disorders including depression and anxiety among adolescents. - This is very much alarming since statistics have shown how much of today's generation have fallen prey to body image disturbance. ## Maskne and the COVID-19 Pandemic - The prolonged use of masks during the pandemic led to an increase in "maskne" (mask-acne). - This added another layer of stress to individuals' self-esteem during the pandemic. ## The Filtered Self - Social media, particularly Instagram, pressures individuals to present an idealized, filtered version of themselves. - Using filters to enhance photos can lead to a disconnect between one's real and virtual self. ## Celebrating Beauty in Diversity - Cultural beauty practices should be celebrated but not at the cost of health. - Harmful beauty practices should be resisted, advocating for acceptance of diverse appearances. - Embracing the authentic self involves rejecting society's unrealistic beauty standards. - **You Are Who You Look! Embracing Your Physical Self:** - Embracing one's physical appearance is challenging in a perfection-driven society. - Self-acceptance and valuing one's uniqueness are crucial for inner peace. - Physical traits do not define health; self-acceptance leads to a more fulfilling life. # Chapter 5: The Sexual Self ## The Physical - The most visible and tangible aspect of who we are. It is deeply tied to our body image, which refers to how we see and feel about our bodies. - This is often influenced by societal standards of beauty, media portrayals, and personal experiences. Changes in the physical self are most dramatic during puberty, a key developmental stage in adolescence. ## Puberty - Definition:A biological process that leads to sexual maturity and is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics, growth spurts, and hormonal changes. - Onset: Puberty typically begins between the ages of 8 to 13 in girls and 9 to 14 in boys, though this can vary widely. - Hormonal Regulation: The onset of puberty is controlled by the hypothalamus, which sends signals to the pituitary gland. This triggers the release of hormones such as gonadotropins (Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) that stimulate the gonads (ovaries in females and testes in males) to produce sex hormones. - In females, the main hormone is estrogen. - In males, the primary hormone is testosterone. ## Hormones and Physical Changes - Growth Hormone (GH): This hormone is responsible for the growth spurt during puberty. Both boys and girls experience an increase in height and muscle mass, though boys generally have a more prolonged and pronounced growth period. - Sex Hormones: Estrogen (in females) and Testosterone (in males) are responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics. - In girls, estrogen promotes the development of breasts, the widening of hips, and the growth of pubic and underarm hair. - In boys, testosterone leads to the deepening of the voice, facial hair growth, and increased muscle mass. ## Sexual Characteristics - Primary Sexual Characteristics: These refer to the organs directly involved in reproduction. - In females, this includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina. - In males, this includes the testes, penis, vas deferens, and prostate gland. - Secondary Sexual Characteristics: These are the physical traits that emerge during puberty and distinguish the sexes but are not directly involved in reproduction. - In females, secondary sexual characteristics include breast development, wider hips, and a higher body fat percentage. - In males, secondary characteristics include a deeper voice, facial and body hair, and increased muscle mass. ## Body Image and Physical Self-Concept - During adolescence, the physical changes of puberty can have a significant impact on an individual's self-concept and body image. Girls may become more self-conscious about their weight or body shape due to societal beauty standards, while boys may focus on muscle development and strength. How one perceives and accepts these changes influences their overall self-esteem and confidence. ## The Sexual Self - Includes our awareness of our sexual feelings, attractions, and identity. It encompasses aspects such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual behavior. Puberty marks a time when the sexual self becomes more defined due to the physical and hormonal changes occurring in the body . ## Sexual Identity and Orientation - Sexual Identity: This refers to how individuals perceive themselves in terms of their gender and sexuality. For many, puberty is the time when they start to explore their sexual identity. - Sexual Orientation: This refers to the pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to others, which may be towards individuals of the same gender (homosexuality), the opposite gender (heterosexuality), both genders (bisexuality), or across the gender spectrum (pansexuality). ## Development of Sexuality During Puberty - As hormonal changes take place during puberty, sexual feelings and desires also emerge. This is due to the increased production of sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone), which not only regulate the development of sexual characteristics but also influence sexual attraction and behavior. - Adolescents may begin to experience sexual attraction, engage in romantic relationships, and explore their sexual orientation. This period can be marked by confusion and curiosity as they navigate the complexities of sexual identity. ## Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology - Female Reproductive Anatomy: - Ovaries: Produce eggs (ova) and the hormones estrogen and progesterone. - Fallopian Tubes: Pathways for the ova to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. - Uterus: Where a fertilized egg implants and develops into a fetus. - Vagina: The canal that connects the uterus to the outside of the body. - Male Reproductive Anatomy: - Testes: Produce sperm and the hormone testosterone. - Vas Deferens: Transports sperm from the testes to the urethra. - Prostate Gland: Produces fluid that helps nourish and transport sperm. - Penis: The organ that delivers sperm to the female reproductive system during intercourse. - Sexual Physiology: In both sexes, puberty triggers the onset of the ability to reproduce. In females, the first menstrual period (menarche) occurs, marking the beginning of fertility. In males, sperm production begins, and they experience their first ejaculation (spermarche). ## The Role of Hormones in Sexual Development - Estrogen and Progesterone in females regulate the menstrual cycle and prepare the body for potential pregnancy. - Testosterone in males not only governs the development of secondary sexual characteristics but also plays a role in the regulation of libido (sexual drive) and aggression. - Hormonal fluctuations during adolescence also influence mood swings, sexual desires, and the onset of sexual behaviors. ## Sexual Health and Awareness - Adolescents and young adults need to be informed about sexual health, including contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the emotional aspects of sexual relationships. A healthy understanding of one's sexual self also involves recognizing the importance of consent, respect, and boundaries in intimate relationships. ## Integrating the Physical and Sexual Self into the Understanding the Self - Understanding the physical and sexual self is crucial for college students as these aspects significantly influence self-concept, identity, and overall well-being. Here are a few key points to consider: - Body Image and Self-Esteem: The way individuals perceive their physical appearance and their sexual identity contributes to their overall self-esteem. Positive body image and a healthy sense of sexual identity are key components of psychological well-being. - Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation: As individuals explore their gender identity and sexual orientation, they may experience challenges related to societal expectations and norms. Being aware of one's gender and sexual identity helps in developing a more integrated and authentic sense of self. - Hormonal Influences on Behavior: The influence of hormones on both the physical and sexual self cannot be overstated. Hormones affect not just sexual desires but also emotional states, stress responses, and social behavior. Understanding these changes can help individuals navigate adolescence and early adulthood more effectively.