The Self From Various Perspectives PDF

THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES Assoc. Prof. Gracia J. Abin, RGC Faculty, PUP Ragay, Camarines Sur Campus  LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to: a. Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from vari...

THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES Assoc. Prof. Gracia J. Abin, RGC Faculty, PUP Ragay, Camarines Sur Campus  LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to: a. Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from various disciplinary perspectives; b. Engage in activities that will lead to the conceptualization of the self; c. Examine the different influences, factors, and forces that shape the self; and d. Come up with insights and reflections based on activities and concepts drawn from varied perspectives. INTRODUCTION “Who Am I?” is a popular question for every individual starting from the youthful elementary years until adolescence. It is common among schools to have students create essays that align with identifying who they are. Through the years, one may find himself/herself answering the same question differently according to his/her level of understanding himself/herself. it is possible that one learns more about oneself, the more questions and challenges arise regarding himself/herself. The subject Understanding the Self will give the students about the nature of one’s identity and the factors and forces that contribute to its development and maintenance. the question “Who Am I?” is asked more frequently during the adolescent years of an individual, during which greater possibilities and vulnerabilities usually arise. Facing issues regarding the self and one’s identity is most crucial during this stage of a person. D I S C U SS I O N : B A S I C S O F T H E S E L F THE SELF The term self refers to a person's essential being that distinguishes from others. It is similar to the concept "I." Certain experiences may lead one to question themselves. New experience may enable one to change and develop in terms of emotional intensity, insight, capacities, and potentials. Furthermore, the question "Who am I?" still remains a puzzle for many individuals as they develop themselves. To begin the discussion about understanding the self, the name of a person must be considered. This serves as the initial label of an individual and a front for the people around them.  Click icon to add photo P R E - A C T I V I T Y. E X P LOR I NG ONE’S NAME Instructions: Draw a symbol that represents your name inside the _____________________ box. Creatively write your name below the ___________________________________________________ symbol and provide an ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ explanation for your ___________________________________________________ choice of the symbol. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ P R O C E SS I N G Q U E S T I O N S : 1.How do you feel about your chosen symbol? 2.How does this symbol represent you? 3.Does this symbol capture all your characteristics? Explain. D I S C U SS I O N : A person’s names serves as one’s initial identity to the world. It can serve various purposes such as indication of ownership of an object or work or identification of one’s accomplishments and achievements. Using names, one can explore their meanings, contexts, and sources to gain a better understanding of themselves and their relationship with the people and things around them. D I S C U SS I O N : S E L F A N D I D E N T I T Y The Self is a topic that is often talked about but largely goes unnoticed. Every time the ‘I” is mentioned (eg. I will go to school. I hang out with my friends, I like to eat burger) the self is highlighed as an actor." Further, the pronoun "me" is usually used as the object, (e.g., tell me about it, give me something, it makes me feel awesome). Noticeably, the self composes both the I as an actor and the me as the object. The focus on the self is even more evident in the functional word variations of I and me used in everyday language depending on purpose (e.g., my, mine, myself, etc.). The consciousness of the existence of the self has been almost automatic or reflexive. Thus, people are almost unaware that in our everyday lives, we are constantly acknowledging it. Scholars (i.e., theorists, scientists, philosophers) in different fields have attempted to explain and thoroughly expound on several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and dimensionality of self. The most prevalent among issues on self are on nature vs. nurture, identity vs. self, and dimensionalities of the self. D I S C U SS I O N : S E L F O N N AT U R E V S N U RT U R E Nature Some insist 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. These transmitted traits serve as a blueprint of the self and predisposes one to certain self-expressions (e.g., attitude, behavior, tendencies, etc.). In this stance, the self is studied structurally and functionally, from the molecular level to the entirety of human physiological systems. Genetics, for example, contribute so much information about the descriptions of the self. This field of biology primarily deals with heredity (transmission of traits and characteristics from one generation to another) as a process, as well as with the characterizations (similarities and differences) of organisms. D I S C U SS I O N : S E L F O N N AT U R E V S N U RT U R E Nurture The other side, meanwhile, argues that the self should be principally viewed as an outcome of various nurturing factors in the context of one's life. Social sciences have provided a number of insights and explanations about the self, both on the micro and macro levels. Different social sciences stress how group life (formal and informal) affects an individual's behavior and attitude, and emphasize on the impact of various social institutions to the self. construal of a person. While the issue about the predominance of either nature or nurture are still unresolved, one can safely assume that the self is a product of nature and nurture. D I S C U SS I O N : I D E N T I T Y V S S E L F Self and identity are topics that remain popular not only among psychologists (even authors of psychology articles) but also among other social scientists like sociologists, cultural anthropologists, economists. Noticeably, the terms "self" and "identity" have been loosely interchanged in various literatures. Many people believe that there is a very thin conceptual and functional distinction between the two concepts and thus perceive them as synonymous. Based on lexical definitions, the two concepts are distinct and can be delineated. Consider, for example, the definitions provided in Merriam-Webster Dictionary of the term identity, is "the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others... or the distinguishing character or personality of an individual." On the other hand, the term self (noun) refers to "the person that someone normally or truly is... or the entire person of an individual." The definitions provided suggest that the demarcation that separates the two fall on the social representation of the term (i.e., known to others, or only known to oneself). Identity distinguishes or compares one from another while the self refers to the total characteristics or qualities of a person both known and unknow n to others (but known to oneself). D I S CU SS I O N : D I M E N S I O NA L I T I E S O F T H E SELF/IDENTITY The identity of a person highlighted by a dominant trait which makes him or her distinguishable from others. The following dimensions includes: 1. Social factor – refers to the influences of significant people in one’s life. It primarily includes the family in which most of the basic attitudinal and behavioral attributes of individuals are shaped. It is referred to by many social scientists as the nursery of human nature. 2. Personality – it is the individual patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. 3. Environmental factors – broadly include the physical and communal elements present in everyday surroundings, and are invariably dealt with by individuals in a specific geographic region or area. D I S CU SS I O N : D I M E N S I O NA L I T I E S O F T H E SELF/IDENTITY 4. Hereditary factor 5. Person-volition factor – refers to the inclination of a person to form and construct a specific identity that will set him apart from others. Sociologists refer to them as deviant or non-conformist. Being one is not necessarily negative; in fact, some of the people of this type become trend setters, revolutionaries, discoverers, and inventors. Identity is a product of a complex process of combinations and integration of traits and characteristics from various possible sources. Some of the traits are acquired consciously and voluntarily while others are obtained unconsciously and involuntarily. D I S CU SS I O N : BE L I E F S A N D CO NC E R NS Belief is the acknowledgment that a statement is true or something exists, whereas concern implies having worries or anxieties. In relation to the self, everyone has both beliefs and concerns about themselves. Identifying these and the reason behind them can help individual grow and understand themselves better.  Click _________________________ icon to add photo P O S T- A C T I V I T Y. Beliefs _________________________ IDENTIFYING _________________________ BELIEFS AND CONCERNS _________________________ ABOUT THE SELF Concern _________________________ s _________________________ Instructions: List at least three beliefs and three concerns about yourself. P R O C E SS I N G Q U E S T I O N S : 1.What do you think caused your beliefs, and how did they influence you? 2.Can you identify the causes of your concerns about yourself? What do you think influenced these concerns?  S U M M A RY: This lesson serves as an introduction. A person’s name beliefs, and concerns are some of the identifiers necessary for understanding themselves better. These pieces of information serve as the foundation of the students in answering the question, “Who Am I?” T H A N K YO U