Understanding the Self - Module 1 Introduction

Module 1. Introduction to Understanding the Self What Philosophy Says about the Self This unit highlights how classical and modern philosophical models defined the Self, the evolution of these philosophical frameworks from ancient to contemporary times, and the relevance of the philosophy of the...

Module 1. Introduction to Understanding the Self What Philosophy Says about the Self This unit highlights how classical and modern philosophical models defined the Self, the evolution of these philosophical frameworks from ancient to contemporary times, and the relevance of the philosophy of the self to how the younger generation define Module 1. Introduction to Understanding the Self What Science Says about the Self This unit discusses the different aspects of science and how they explain the concept of the Self. Natural science and social sciences encompass a number of disciplines that have deliberated on the nature of the Self. Such discourses will be tackled in this section. Click Here to Begin Diagnostics  Learning Checkpoint Do you AGREE or DISAGREE?  We can be whatever or whoever we want to be.  Our tendencies are completely controllable.  We are what we are right now because we want to be like this.  There are still many things that we haven’t discovered about ourselves.  Our parents (or family members) can only influence us while we are in the growing up years.  Issues on Understanding the Self Many scholars (i.e., theorists, scientists, philosophers) in different fields and across generations have attempted to explain and thoroughly expound on several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and NATURE dimensionality vs. of self. The most prevalent among issues on self, are theUni vs. Multi NURTURE issues on: DIMENSIONALIT IES SELF vs. IDENTITY Issue No. 1. NATURE vs. NURTURE While some insist that the self is predominantly a product of natural processes to which people are inherently predisposed, some argue that the self is largely influenced and principally constructed by one’s social environments.  NATURE Biological sciences which explain that our traits are passed on to humanity from one generation to another, and these transmitted traits served as a blueprint of our self and make us predispose to certain self-expressions (e.g., attitude, behavior, tendencies, etc.). Here, the self is being studied structurally and functionally, from the molecular level to the entirety of human  NATURE Genetics for example contributed so much information about the descriptions of the self. This field of biology primarily deals with the study of heredity (transmission of traits and characteristics from generation to another) as a process, as well as on the characterizations Issue No. 1. NATURE vs. NURTURE NURTURE Social Sciences argue though that the self should be principally viewed as an outcome of various nurturing factors in the context of one’s social life. Social Sciences have provided manifold of insights and explanations about the self both on the micro and macro level of one’s social life. Different fields of social science stresses how group life (formal and informal) affects individuals’ behavior and attitude, and emphasizes on the impact of various social institutions to the self-construal of an LET’S REFLECT : What is your stand on the issue? Issue No. 1. NATURE vs. We are what we are right NURTURE now because of…. NATURE NURTURE LET’S REFLECT : What is your stand on the issue? Issue No. 1. NATURE vs. While arguments about NURTURE the predominance of either nature or NATURE NURTURE nurture are still unresolved, we could settle for an eclectic standpoint on this issue. We can safely assume that our self is BOTH a product of NATURE and NURTURE. Issue No. 2. SELF vs. IDENTITY Self and Identity are topics that remain popular not only among psychologists (authors of psychology articles) but also to other social scientist like sociologists, cultural anthropologists, economists, among others. Issue No. 2. SELF vs. IDENTITY Noticeably, the term self and identity in various literatures have been loosely interchanged by many authors. For many, there is a very thin conceptual and functional distinction between the two concepts and many people perceive them as synonymous. Issue No. 2. SELF vs. IDENTITY IDENTITY Identity: Based on lexical definition, Identity (noun, iden·ti·ty\ī-ˈden- tə-tē, ə-, -ˈde-nə-\) referred to “the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others… or the distinguishing character or personality Issue No. 2. SELF vs. IDENTITY SELF Self: Based on lexical definition, Self (noun) is “the person that someone normally or truly is… or the entire person of an individual”. LET’S REFLECT : What do you think, similar or different? Issue No. 2. SELF vs. I am my__________ IDENTITY SEL IDENTI F TY LET’S REFLECT : What do you think, similar or different? Issue No. 2. SELF vs. “Identities are the traits and characteristics, social relations, IDENTITY roles, and social group memberships that define who one is. Identities can be focused on the past-what used to A comprehensive definition be true of one, the present-what is that underscores the true of one now, or the future-the distinctions and overlap of person one expects or wishes to self and identity was given become, the person one feels by Oyserman, Elmore, and obligated to try to become, or the Smith (pg. 69, 2012) which person one fears one may become; states that: together, identities make up one's self-concept variously described as what comes to mind when one thinks of oneself’. Issue No. 3. UNI vs. MULTI Dimensionality of DIMENSIONALITIES the Self OF SELF We are what we are right now not just Some people believe that the because of a single factor. We are Self or Identity can be more developed by many factors… accurately depicted using a single factor or aspect. For example, we often hear people ask another to describe a particular person using a number of words. Can we really describe someone using only a few words? LET’S REFLECT : Do you think it’s fair to describe a person using only a few words? Our Self cannot be singly Issue No. 3. represented by a certain UNI vs. MULTI trait because our Dimensionality of Self/Identity is composed of the Self multidimensional aspects and that we are a PRODUCT of multidimensional FACTORS. Multidimensionality of the Self Society Heredity En v on en iron lit i t m Vo Multidimensionality of the Self Social Factor of the Self Refers to the influences of significant people in a person’s life. This particularly includes the social groups where and individual identifies oneself. Social factors are strong foundations of one’s being. The characteristics that we acquired from the influences of the social groups where we interact with during the growing up years are integrated to form our identity, or our uniqueness and similarities with others. Multidimensionality of the Self  Family  Peer Groups  Organizations  And other significant people in a person’s life (e.g., teacher, role-model, relatives, etc.) Multidimensionality of the Self Environmental Factor of the Self Broadly includes the physical and communal elements present in our everyday surrounding, and is invariably dealt with by individuals in a specific geographic region or area. This is not only about the physical properties of the surrounding (i.e., climate and temperature, forms of land, etc.) but this factor principally includes the larger society or community and the expectations and norms operating in that particular locality or place. Multidimensionality of the Self Environmental Factor of the Self For example: A person who grew up in a city, where competitiveness and resiliency are needed in order to survive would tend to adapt into that kind of environment by consciously strengthening certain traits and skills that will manifest competitiveness (e.g., communicative, intellective, etc.). In the process, the harnessed characteristics become an Multidimensionality of the Self Hereditary Factor of the Self Heredity is a biological process by which certain traits and characteristics are passed on from one generation to another. This factor compared with the two previously discussed factors can be depicted as the non-negotiable factor. If one has the choice whether or not to adopt the influence of social groups and to change (improve) one’s environment, heredity as a factor of one’s being and identity is relatively fixed and permanent. Multidimensionality of the Self Hereditary Factor of the Self Physical Attributes (e.g., height, complexion, color of eyes, etc.) Some Cognitive Traits (e.g., I.Q) Some other Personal Characteristics Multidimensionality of the Self Person-Volition Factor of the Self The most controversial factor of the Self or Identity. This refers to the inclination of a person to form and construct a specific identity, which will set him apart or unique compared with others. Such factor emanates from within the mentality of an individual, but also brought about by the aggregated social-life experiences. Multidimensionality of the Self Person-Volition Factor of the Self Social scientists (e.g., sociologist) may refer to this type of person as deviant and non-conformist. But being one is not necessarily negative, in fact, some of the people of this type turned in to trend-setters, discoverers and inventors Multidimensionality of the Self Things to Ponder About Asynchronous task: “Becoming your many selves” by Roger Evernden (TEDxFolkestone) https://youtu.be/Dl5_LZSK52A Watch the video and write a reflection paper or your own podcast relating it to your life experiences. Describe the five techniques given by the speaker and tell your own story.