Understanding The Self: Physical Development & Sexual Behavior

Physical Development The beginning of adolescence is marked by rapid physical changes including: A. Maturation of the reproductive system B. Development of different sex characteristics Sex characteristics **Primary sex characteristics** Physical characteristics that are present at birth. In...

Physical Development The beginning of adolescence is marked by rapid physical changes including: A. Maturation of the reproductive system B. Development of different sex characteristics Sex characteristics **Primary sex characteristics** Physical characteristics that are present at birth. In women, these include the vagina. uterus and ovaries. In men it includes the penis, testes, scrotum and prostate gland. **Secondary sex characteristics** Development during the onset of puberty. For women, the earliest evidence of puberty are the enlargement of the breast, menstrual cycle, widening of hips, enlargement of buttocks and growth of pubic hair. Male testicular growth, sperm production appearance of facial, pubic and other body hair, deepening of the voice are first signs in puberty in men. Marieb, E.N. (2001) explains that the gonads (reproductive glands that produce the gametes; testis or ovary) begin to form until about the eighth week of embryonic development. During the early stages of human development, the embryonic reproductive structures of males and females are alike and are said to be in the indifferent stage. When primary reproductive structures are formed, development of the accessory structures and external genitalia begins. The formation of male or female structures depends on the presence of testosterone. Usually, once formed, the embryonic testes release testosterone, and the formation of the duct system and external genitalia follows. In the case of female embryos that from ovaries, it will cause the development of the female ducts and external genitalia since testosterone hormone is not produced. Puberty and Menopause **Puberty** is the period of life, generally between the ages of 10 and 15 years old, when the reproductive organs grow to their adult size and become functional under the influence of rising levels of gonadal hormones (testosterone and estrogen). After this time, reproductive capability continues until old age in males and menopause in females. **Menopause** is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. It\'s diagnosed after you\'ve gone 12 months without a menstrual period. ▸**Hormones** -- natural substance that is produced in the body. ▸Types of Hormones: - Testosterone - Estrogen - Progesterone **UNDERSTANDING CHEMISTRY OF LOVE, LUST AND ATTACHMENT - HUMAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR** Human sexual behavior is defined as any activity -- solitary, between two persons, or in a group Human sexual behavior is defined as any activity -- solitary, between two persons, or in a group -- that induces sexual arousal (Gebhard, P.H. 2017). Two major factors that determine human sexual behavior: The inherited sexual response patterns that have evolved as a means of ensuring reproduction and that become part of each individual's genetic inheritance. The degree of restraint or other types of influence exerted on the individual by society in the expression of his sexuality. **Types of Behavior** The various types of human sexual behavior are usually classified according to the gender and number of participants. There is **solitary behavior** involving only one individual, and there is **sociosexual behavior** involving more than one person. Sociosexual behavior is generally divided into heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior. If three or more individuals are involved, it is, possible to have heterosexual and homosexual activity simultaneously (Gebhard, P.H. 2017). William Masters and Virginia Johnson use the term "sexual-response cycle" to describe the changes that occur in the body as men and women become sexually aroused. THE HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE  **THE PHASES OF HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE** ~▸~ Sexual response varies form one person to another person and sexual fulfilment can occur without the completion of all phases THREE PHASES OF ROMANTIC LOVE **Lust Phase** \- intense craving for sexual contact **Attraction Phase** \- couple are infatuated and pursue a relationship **Attachment Phase** \- long-term bond between partners characterized by feelings of security, comfort and emotional union. **Mate selection** - Old fashion courtship - The man proves himself worthy as a son in law. The parents would give their permission to marry their daughter - Modern day courtship - Ludus - Pragma - Eros - Mani - Storge - agape **John Lee's Styles of Love** **Eros --** sexual and emotional **Storge --** love- related friendship **Ludus --** love is just a game **Mania --** obsessive and possessive **Pragma --** compatibility with partner **Agape --** altruistic and selfless love ( God's Love) **DIVERSITY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR** Sex came from the Latin word "secare" meaning "to divide" Its original meaning was \"division\", which shifted to \"a way of dividing something in half\", and thus to \"the division between men and women; biological sex\". English \"sex\" comes from Latin sexus, - ūs, which comes from a root sec- meaning \"cut\" (compare section, dissect, segment). A purple rectangular box with white text Description automatically generated **SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS** Pattern of romantic, emotional or sexual attraction to a person of opposite sex, same sex or both sexes. **Heterosexual** - Person's whose sexual orientation is toward other of the opposite sex **Homosexual** -- Refers to a person whose sexual orientation is toward another of the same sex **Bisexual** - Is a person who may be sexually oriented to both men and women **Transsexual** - Those who seek or undergone physical transition from male to female or vice versa---sex reassignment surgery **Gender Identity** Is a persons internal feelings of being a women man both or neither It can be expressed in many ways : through our clothes , speech activities , hobbies and behaviors It is ok for any of these things to change at different times, or in different situations depending on what we feel comfortable Gender identity " Whom you are" ( Boy girl both or neither) Sexual orientation - Who you have crush on Gender identity is one's self-identification as male, female, or an alternative gender. Sexual orientation is a component of identity that includes sexual and emotional attraction to another person. **Diseases Associated with the Reproductive System** **Infections** are the most common problems associated with the reproductive system in adults. The usual infections include those caused by *Escherichia coli* which spread through the digestive tract; the sexually transmitted microorganisms; and yeast (a type of fungus). **Vaginal infections** are most common in young and elderly women and in those whose resistance to disease is low. In males, the most common inflammatory conditions are **prostatitis, urethritis, and epididymitis,** all of which may follow sexual contacts in which STD microorganisms are transmitted. **Neoplasms** are a major threat to reproductive organs. Tumors of the breast and cervix are the most common reproductive cancers in adult females, and prostate cancer is a widespread problem in adult males. In women, ovulation and menses stop entirely, ending childbearing ability. This event is called as **menopause**, which occurs when females no longer experience menstruation. There is no counterpart for menopause in males. Although aging men show a steady decline in testosterone secretion, their reproductive seems unending.  **Sexual Problems** It may be classified as physiological, psychological, and social in origin. Any given problem may involve all three categories. **Physiological Problems** - Vaginal infection - Retroverted uteri - Prostatitis - Adrenal tumors - Diabetes - Senile changes of the vagina - Cardiovascular problems **Psychological Problems** **Premature emission** Premature ejaculation occurs in men when semen leave the body (ejaculate) sooner than wanted during sex. **Erectile impotence** Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. **Ejaculatory impotence** Results from the inability to ejaculate in coitus. **Vaginismus** Vaginismus is the body\'s automatic reaction to the fear of some or all types of vaginal penetration. Whenever penetration is attempted, your vaginal muscles tighten up on their own. You have no control over it **Chlamydia** One of the common sexually transmitted infections Chlamydia is a common STD caused by infection with *Chlamydia trachomatis*. It can cause [cervicitis], [urethritis], and [proctitis]. Chlamydia spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone with the infection. Semen does not have to be present to get or spread the infection. Some refer to chlamydia as a "silent" infection. This is because most people with the infection have no symptoms or abnormal physical exam findings. It can cause permanent damage to a woman\'s reproductive system. This can make it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later. **Gonorrhea** Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. N. gonorrhoeae infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and the urethra in women and men. symptoms for males are discharge from the penis and burning sensations while urinating Symptoms for females are irritating vaginal discharge **Syphilis** Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infectious (STI) disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. This bacterium causes infection when it gets into broken skin or mucus membranes, usually of the genitals. Syphilis is most often transmitted through sexual contact, although it also can be transmitted in other ways. This first show itself in a small wound at the point of sexual contact. In the second stage, rashes appear. This infectious disease may affect the brain, heart and even the growing fetus. **Chancroid** Chancroid is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi and results in painful, superficial ulcers, often with regional lymphadenopathy. The genital ulcer from chancroid is painful, tender, and nonindurated. **Human Papilloma virus** A type of virus that can cause abnormal tissue growth (for example, warts) and other changes to cells. Infection for a long time with certain types of human papillomavirus can cause cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus may also play a role in some other types of cancer, such as anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. Also called HPV. **Herpes simplex Virus** Caused by a large family of viruses of different strains The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is categorized into 2 types: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is mainly transmitted by oral-to-oral contact, causing oral herpes (including symptoms known as cold sores), but it can also lead to genital herpes. HSV-2 is a sexually transmitted infection that causes genital herpes. These are small blisters or sores around the genitals that when it breaks open it causes excoriating pain. **Trichomonas Vaginalis** Trichomoniasis (or "trich") is a very common STD caused by infection with Trichomonas vaginalis (a protozoan parasite). Although symptoms vary, most people who have trich cannot tell they have it. **HIV/AIDS** HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body\'s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life. **METHODS OF CONTRACEPTIONS** Natural methods Artificial methods Surgical methods NATURAL/BEHAVIORAL METHODS The natural family planning methods do not involve any chemical or foreign body introduction into the human body. People who are very conscious of their religious beliefs are more inclined to use the natural way of birth control and the others follow such natural methods because they are more cost effective **Abstinence** This natural method involves refraining from sexual intercourse and is the most effective natural birth control method with ideally 0% fail rate. **Calendar method** The **calendar method** helps you predict your fertile days by tracking the length of your menstrual cycles over several months to create a fertility calendar. Also called **rhythm method**  **Basal body temperature** Your basal body temperature is your temperature when you\'re fully at rest. Ovulation may cause a slight increase in basal body temperature. You\'ll be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. By tracking your basal body temperature each day, you may be able to predict when you\'ll ovulate. **Cervical mucus method** The change in the cervical mucus during ovulation is the basis for this method. **Symptothermal method** The symptothermal method is basically a combination of the BBT method and the cervical mucus method. **Coitus Interruptus** The withdrawal method of contraception (coitus interruptus) happens when you take the penis out of the vagina and ejaculate outside the vagina to try to prevent pregnancy. The goal of the withdrawal method --- also called \"pulling out\" --- is to keep sperm from entering the vagina. **Artificial Methods** Artificial methods in common use include preventing the sperm from reaching the ovum (using condoms, diaphragms, etc), inhibiting ovulation (using oral contraceptive pills), preventing implantation (using intrauterine devices), killing the sperm (using spermicides), and preventing the sperm from entering the seminal \... **Oral contraceptives** The combined oral contraceptive pill, often referred to as the birth control pill or colloquially as \"the pill\", is a type of birth control that is designed to be taken orally by women. The pill contains two important hormones: a progestin and estrogen. **Transdermal Patch** A **transdermal patch** is a patch that attaches to your skin and contains medication. The drug from the patch is absorbed into your body over a period of time. **Vaginal ring** The vaginal ring (NuvaRing) is a small soft, plastic ring that you place inside your vagina. It releases a continuous dose of the hormones estrogen\`1 and progestogen into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. **Subdermal implants** Subdermal implants are two rod-like implants inserted under the skin of the female during her menses or on the seventh day of her menstruation to make sure that she will not get pregnant. The implants are made with etonogestrel , desogestrel, progestin and can be helpful for three to five years. **Hormonal injections** A hormonal injection contains medroxyprogesterone. The injection causes changes in the endometrium and cervical mucus and can help ovulation. **Intrauterine Device** An IUD is a small, Y-shaped object containing progesterone that is inserted into the uterus via female reproductive organ. It prevents fertilization by creating a local sterile inflammatory condition to prevent implantation of the zygote. The IUD is fitted only by the physician and inserted after woman\'s menstrual flow. The device can be effective for five to seven years. **Chemical barriers** Chemical barriers or spermicides are sperm-killing substances, available as foams, creams, gels, films or suppositories, which are often used in female contraception in conjunction with mechanical barriers and other devices.  **Diaphragm** It is a circular, rubber disk that fits the cervix and should be placed before coitus Diaphragm works by inhibiting the entrance of the sperm into the female reproductive organ and it works better when used together with a spermicide. The diaphragm should be fitted only the physician and should remain in place for six hours after coitus. **Cervical cap** A cervical cap is a little cup made from soft silicone and shaped like a sailor\'s hat. You put it deep inside your vagina to cover your cervix. **Male condoms** They are made of very thin latex (rubber), polyurethane or polyisoprene and are designed to prevent pregnancy by stopping sperm from meeting an egg. They can also protect against STIs if used correctly during vaginal, anal and oral sex. **Female condoms** Internal condoms --- also called "female" condoms --- are little nitrile (soft plastic) pouches that you put inside your vagina. They cover the inside of your vagina, creating a barrier that stops sperm from reaching an egg.  **Surgical methods** **Tubal litigation**- surgery for woman in which the fallopian tubes are tied to prevent eggs from travelling to the uterus **Vasectomy** - operation in which a surgeon makes a small cut in the upper part of the scrotum then ties the vas deferens. Man can still have orgasm after the operation **THE MATERIAL/ECONOMIC SELF** **Belk (1988)** stated that "we regard our possessions as parts of our selves. We are what we have and what we possess." There is a direct link between self-identity with what we have and possess. Our wanting to have and possess has a connection with another aspect of the self, **the material self**. In the late nineteenth century, **William James**, wrote in his book that understanding the self can be examined through its different components. He described these components as: **(1) its constituents;** **(2) the feelings and emotions they arouse -- self-feelings;** **(3) the actions to which they prompt -- self-seeking and self-preservation.** The constituents of the self are composed of the material self, the social self, the spiritual self and pure ego. (Trentmann 2016; Green 1997). The material self, according to James primarily is about our body, clothes, immediate family, and home. We are deeply affected by these things because we have put much investment of our self to them. **Material Self** Consists of things that belongs to a person or entities that a person belongs to. Thus, things like body, family, clothes, money, and such things that make up the material self. **Components of Material Self** **Body** - Inner most part of our material self. Intentionally , we invest in our body. - We are directly attached to this commodity that we cannot live without. - We strive to make sure that this body functions well and good. - Any ailment or disorder directly affect us - We do have certain preferential attachment to or intimate closeness to certain parts because of its value to us **Clothes** - clothes are placed in the second hierarchy of materials self (Watson 2014). - The style and the brand of clothes becomes a symbolic significance. - The fabric and style of clothes we wear bring sensations to the body and can affect our attitude and behavior. - Clothing is a form of self expression. - We choose and wear clothes that reflect our self. **Immediate family** - Third in the hierarchy is our immediate family. Our parents and siblings hold another great important part of our self. - Those people are likely to shape and influence the development of our self identity - We place huge investment in our immediate family when we see them as the nearest replica of ourself. - When their lives are in success we feel victorious **Home** - It is the earliest nest of our selfhood. - Our experiences inside the home were recorded and marked on particular parts and things in our home - Just like the saying " if only walls can speak" - The home is thus an extension of self , because in it we can directly connect ourself Having investment of self to things, made us attached to those things. The more investment of self-given to the particular thing, the more we identify ourselves to it. We also tended to collect and possess properties. The collections in different degree of investment of self, becomes part of the self. As James (1890) described self: "a man's self is the sum total of all what he CAN call his." Possessions then become a part or an extension of the self. Effects of material possessions Regardless of how much or how little material possessions people have , they are interested in material possession. Possessions can be used as a status symbol, cars ,house, gadgets and clothes are the most valuable possessions because they are the most visible in the eye of the others. Material possessions can be a reflection of hard work and success. People tend to measure success through material possession Material possession can make people more motivated to work harder to achieve them. However , lack or loss of material possession can be destructive to the mental health of some people. **Materialism** - The importance people give on material possessions - The negative effect of the strong desire for material possessions **Materialistic person** - Someone with a high level of materialism - Excessively concerned with the acquisition of material possession. **Compulsive buying disorder CBD** The psychological dysfunction or impairment in functioning or impairment in functioning caused by strong desire of material possessions. Characterized by an obsession with shopping and buying behaviors that causes adverse consequences ( e.g. debts) Psychologist are identifying social and cultural factors that seems strongly implicated in the etiology of materialism. Lack or loss of material possessions could lead to: anxiety and insecurity depression, **THE ROLE OF CONSUMER CULTURE ON THE SENSE OF SELF AND IDENTITY** **Consumer identity** is the pattern of consumption that describes the consumer. People may no longer consume goods and services primarily because of its functional satisfaction---making a consumer culture Consumption has become more meaning based; brands are often used as symbolic resources for the construction and maintenance of identity and their expression of identity **Consumerism** is the preoccupation with and an inclination towards the buying of consumer goods. Increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable. Consumerism is the consumption of material goods and services in excess of one's basic needs. NEED OR WANTS? ▸**Wants**. Synonymous with luxuries. People buy them for reasons that do not warrant necessity. ▸**Needs**. These are important for survival. Food, clothing, and shelter are basic needs so people purchase them out of necessity.  **THE DIGITAL SELF** ▸Today's adolescents are exposed to technology revolution with the prevalence of computer use and accessibility, internet and sophisticated mobile phones. ▸ The social environment has become digitally mediated. ▸ A new version of the self is formed---the digital self These days, more people are becoming active in using the internet for research, pleasure, business, communication, and other purposes. Indeed, the internet is of great help for everyone. On the other hand, people assume different identities while in the cyberspace. People act differently when they are online and offline. We have our real identity and online identity. The number of digital users worldwide increases. More people are becoming interested and devoted in using the internet for various activities. In the Philippines, adolescents are among the most avid users of the internet. **online Identity** is actually the sum of all our characteristics and our interactions. **partial identity** is a subset of characteristics that make up our identity. Meanwhile, **persona** is the partial identity we create that represents ourselves in a specific situation. **personal identity** is the interpersonal level of self which differentiates the individuals as unique from others, **social identity** is the level of self whereby the individual is identified by his or her group members. **SELECTIVE SELF-PRESENTATION AND IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT** According to Goffman (1959) and Leary (1995), **self-presentation** is the "process of controlling how one is perceived by other people" and is the key to relationship inception and development. To construct positive images, individuals selectively provide information about them and carefully cater this information in response to other's feedback. People would like to remain updated and they keep on sharing themselves online because it adds a sense of confidence at their end especially if others like and share their posts; this can also be considered as a sign of "FOMO." One of the reasons for so much sharing and self-disclosure online is the so-called "**disinhibition effect**" (Ridley 2012; Suler 2004). The resulting disinhibition causes people to believe that they are able to express their "true self" better online than they ever could in face-to-face contexts (Taylor 2002). However, it does not mean that there is a fixed "true self." **SETTING BOUNDARIES TO YOUR ONLINE SELF:** **SMART SHARING** The following guidelines will help you share information online in a smart way that will protect yourself and not harm others. Before posting or sharing anything online, consider the following: Is this post/story necessary? Is there a real benefit to this post? Is it funny, warm-hearted, teachable -- or am I just making noise online without purpose? Have we (as a family or parent/child) resolved this issue? An issue that is still being worked out at home, or one that s either vulnerable or highly emotional, should not be made public. Is it appropriate? Does it stay within the boundaries of our family values? Will this seem as funny in 5, 10 or 15 years? Or is this post better suited for sharing with a small group of family members? Or maybe not at all? **RULES TO FOLLOW** Here are additional guidelines for proper sharing of information and ethical use of the internet according to New (2014): - Stick to safer sites - Guard your passwords - Limit what you share - Remember that anything you put online or post on a site is there forever, even if you try to delete it - Do not be mean or embarrass other people online - Always tell if you see strange or bad behavior online - Be choosy about your online friends **Self-promotion** - Trying to show that he/she is competent or a winner---expects respect Speaks proudly about their experience, education or achievement--- making everyone aware of their accomplishments **Ingratiation** - Presenting oneself to others has a desire to be likeable---expects affection Interest in one's personal lives to show them they are friendly---flattery and favours to make others like them **Exemplification** ‣ Intention to achieve worth from others---to make others guilty by their actions Tries to appear hardworking---staying late at work so that people may know **Intimidation** - Appears to be dangerous or ruthless---expecting others to be afraid of him People do this when they are expecting others to finish a task **Supplication** - Appears to be helpless---wants nurturance from others Act as if they know less than others so that he will be helped out. **IMPACT OF ONLINE INTERACTION TO SELF** The digital self is far different from the self formed offline Abuse of technology always leads to negative consequences---even if there are cases when social media negatively impacts users, it would be unfair if only the technology would be blamed. It is always the responsibility of the users to be cautious on what they post on social media **THE SPIRITUAL SELF** **Spirituality** is defined as relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. **SPIRITUAL IDENTITY** It is the persistent sense of self that addresses ultimate questions about the nature, purpose and meaning of life. It results in behaviors that are consonant with the individual's core values. **RELIGIOUSNESS** Is the degree by which one is affiliated with an organised religion in terms of the person's participation in the prescribed rituals and practices, connection with its beliefs and involvement with its community of believers (Santrock, 2014). **RELIGION** An organised set of beliefs, practices, rituals and symbols that increases an individual's connection to a sacred or transcendent other (God, higher power, ultimate truth)---BELIEF IN GOD Religion is defined as belief and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a God or gods. A particular system of faith and worship. Rebecca Stein (2011) works on the definition of religion "as set of cultural beliefs and practices that usually includes some or all of basic characteristics." An individual lives in a society where there are many practices of religion. The choice of religious belief lies within the spiritual self. Although the choice maybe influenced by the society and its culture. **Function of Religion** **Cognitive** -- enabling human to explain the unexplainable phenomena. **Emotional** -- helping humans to cope up with anxieties. **Social** -- social control , conflict resolution and building group solidarity. **Ritual** is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law (Britannica 2017). Ritual is a specific, observable mode of behavior exhibited by all known society. It is thus possible to view ritual as a way of defining or describing humans. Participations to rituals is expression of religious beliefs. **Spiritual self** is one of the four constituents of the "self" according to William James in his book, The Principles of Psychology in 1890. The spiritual self is the most intimate, inner subjective part of self. It is the most intimate version of the self because of the satisfaction experienced when thinking of one's ability to argue and discriminate, of one's moral sensibility and conscience, and of our unconquerable will (James 1890) is purer than all other sentiments of satisfaction. (Green 1997) The ability to use moral sensibility and conscience may be seen through the expressions of religion, its beliefs and practices. In the same manner, cultural rituals and ceremonies are some manifestations what people believe in. Moreover, seeking the meaning of life is a journey that the spiritual self is on. **Some World Religious Beliefs and Practices\ **There are different beliefs and practices. Some of the major world religions are the following: **Buddhism** There are suffering, pain, and frustrations. When people suffer, they want to experience the goodness of life and avoid disappointments. It becomes a habit known as the **reactive cycle** of wanting and hating, like and dislike, and craving and aversion. This reactive cycle can be broken through the practice of mediation, acquiring more wisdom, deeper understanding, and accepting things as they are. There are two types mediation practices: samatha and vipassana. Samatha is practiced as mindfulness of breathing and development of loving-kindness. Vipassana practices aim at developing insight into reality. Acquiring wisdom is by studying Buddha's teaching, the Dharma. Through the reflection of Dharma, Buddhists can achieve a deeper understanding of life. Buddhists believe in non-violence principle **Christianity** **Trinitarian God** -- one God has three personas: God the father (Creator), God the Son (Savior), and God the Holy Spirit (Sustainer). Eternal life after death will be achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is, God the Son, who came into flesh, to spread the Good News of Salvation. He died on the Cross for his sin of the humanity but resurrected from the death, so that anyone who believes in Him will be saved and have eternal life. The **Sacrament of Baptism** symbolizes the birth in Christian World, while the **Sacrament of Communion** is an act of remembrance of Jesus Christ's sacrificial love. **Hinduism** There is no single founder or leader due to its wide range of traditional beliefs and religious groups. Existence is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth, governed by *Karma*. **Karma** is a concept where the reincarnated life will depend on how the past life was spent. Diwali and Navratri are the most celebrated festivals of the Hindus. Hindus have set dates to honor particular manifestations of God. **Islam** Allah as Muslims "One God". They believe in the unity and universality of God. Muslims also have a strong sense of community or "ummah" and awareness of their solidarity with all Muslims worldwide. Islam means "willing submission to God." Muslims believe that Mohammed is the last and final prophet sent by God. Allah as Muslims "One God". They believe in the unity and universality of God. Muslims also have a strong sense of community or "ummah" and aawareness of their solidarity with all Muslims worldwide. Islam means "willing submission to God." Muslims believe that Mohammed is the last and final prophet sent by God. **Judaism** Jews believe in the God of Abraham, the same God that liberated the Hebrew slaves from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land through the leadership of Moses and later, Joshua. Jews believe in the coming of Messiah, the Savior There are five major festivals observed by the Jews: **Rosh Hashanah** -- New Year **Yom Kippur** -- Day of Atonement **Pesach** -- Passover **Shavuot** -- Pentecost **Sukkot** -- Tabernacles **Finding and Creating Meaning of Life** Another extensive study of self can be found in the works of Dr. Viktor E. Frankl. He is a psychiatrist born in Vienna, Austria. Heis a survivor of the holocaust and published a book about *logotherapy*. The book was translated to English and was revised in 1963 as The Doctor and the Soul: An Introduction to Logotherapy. **Logotherapy** It is a psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Frankl, who is considered as the Father of Logotherapy. The main belief of logotherapy is that "man's primary motivational force is search for meaning." Logotherapy aids individual to find personal meaning of life, whatever life situation they may be. In logotherapy, meaning can be discovered by creating a work or doing a deed, experiencing something or encountering someone and the attitude toward unavoidable suffering. It uses the philosophy of optimism in the face of tragedy, where people are capable of "turning suffering into human achievement and accomplishment; deriving from guilt the opportunity to change oneself for the better; and deriving from life's transitoriness an incentive to take responsible action." **Logotherapy Assumptions** The human being is an entity consisting of body ,mind, and spirit. Life has meaning under all circumstances , even the most miserable. People have a will to meaning. People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to find meaning Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if decisions are to be meaningful. The individual is unique. **Frankl's Sources of meaning of life** Popova (2017) discussed Frankl's work. There are three possible sources of the meaning of life: - Purposeful work - Courage in the face of difficulty - Love **THE POLITICAL SELF** **Who is a Filipino?** Technically, according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino citizens are "\...those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines, those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who are naturalized in accordance with law." However, citizenship is not the only marker of being a Filipino. Culture and history have greatly influenced the manner Filipinos learn, live, and behave to date. People who were born and grew up in the same culture develop and share common personality traits and values. Generations after generations, common traits and values have been passed on that the Filipinos of today still embody. While the Philippines' may be well known for its awe-inspiring beauty, perhaps the Filipinos' unique traits, reputable values, and laudable talents make a country a place to be. It is a marvel to experience Filipinos' unique traits firsthand. Few of these traits are as follows. - Respect of Elders - Close Family Ties - The Filipino Hospitality - Cheerful Personality - Self-sacrifice - Bayanihan - "Bahala na" Attitude - Colonial Mentality - "Mañana" Habit - "Ningas Kugon" - Pride - Crab Mentality - Filipino Time **Filipino Markers** The following are some of the hallmarks of our being Filipino and reminders of our nationality. **Proverbs or Salawikain** Filipino proverbs, just like any other proverbs, are sayings that convey lessons and reflections on Filipino practices, beliefs, and traditions. Damiana Eugenio, regarded as the Mother of Philippine Folklore, classified proverbs into six categories (Eugenio, 2000): a. Proverbs expressing a general attitude toward life and the laws that govern life; b. Ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues and condemned certain vices; c. Proverbs expressing a system of values; d. Proverbs expressing general truths and observations about life and human nature; e. Humorous proverbs; and f. Miscellaneous proverbs. **Superstitions** Filipinos also subscribe to their own set of superstitions passed down from generation to generation. Some of these may be influenced by beliefs from other cultures, but Filipinos have retold these superstitions according to their own experiences and they sometimes end up even more interesting. **Myths and Legends** These stories are aimed to explain the origin of things, at the same time, teach a valuable lesson. Some of these stories stemmed in pre-Christianity period, but have evolved to the stories we know today.   **Heroes and Icons** Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and nationalism as they have sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country's freedom and progress. Every year, we lend a whole day to celebrate our heroes, usually the last Monday of August, to remember their greatness, bravery, and resilience that has led to the freedom we know today **How To Be A Good Filipino** The following are a few ways on how to be a good Filipino and how you can be useful to the development and progress of our country: 1. Be an active Filipino citizen 2. Study the Philippine history 3. Support local products 4. Speak the Filipino language 5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with dissent   **Learning To Be a Better Learner** Knowing the "self " is not enough. Since "who you are " is partly made up of your choices, you must also have the ability to choose especially to be better you. learning is not only confined in the four walls of a classroom. In the context of learning, studies show that when you are able to think about how you think, how you process information, and how you utilize techniques while you are studying, you have higher chance of improving your learning process than those who do not reflect on their methods. **Metacognition** by John Flavell - Commonly define as "thinking about thinking". - It is the awareness of the scope and limitations of your current knowledge and skills. - It enables the person to adapt their existing knowledge and skills to approach a learning task, seeking for the optimum result of the learning experience. **Two Aspects of Metacognition** **Self appraisal** -- your personal reflection on your knowledge and capabilities **Self management**- the mental process you employ using what you have in planning and adapting to successfully learn or accomplish task. **Elements of Metacognition** **Meta cognitive knowledge -** what you know about what you think. - A. personal variable -- evaluation of strengths and weaknesses in learning - B. Task variable-what you know or what you think about the nature of task as well as the strategies the task requires - C. Strategy variable -- skills you already have in dealing with certain tasks **Metacognition regulation -** how you adjust your thinking process to help you learn better Skills To Improve Metacognition Skills 1\. knowing your limits 2\. modifying your approach 3\. skimming 4\. rehearsing 5\. self test **Four Types of Metacognition Learners** - Tacit - Aware - Strategic - reflective **Tips in studying** 1\. Make an outline of the things you want to learn, the things you are reading, and the things you remember. 2\. Break down the task in smaller and more manageable details. 3\. Integrate variation in your schedule and learning experience. 4\. Try to incubate your ideas. Carefully select and add ideas to those ideas you first created. 5\. Revise, summarize, and take down notes, then reread them to help you minimize cramming in the last minute. 6\. Engage what you have learned. Do something about it. **Do not just dream , make it happen** "By taking the time to stop and appreciate who you are and what you have achieved- and perhaps learned through a few mistakes , stumbles and losses- you actually can enhance everything about you. Self acknowledgement and appreciation are what give you the insights and awareness to move forward toward higher goals and accomplishments." **-Jack Canfield** **Bobo Doll Experiment by Albert Bandura** The sample children were presented with new social models of violent and non violent behavior toward an inflatable redounding Bobo Doll. The result were: the group of children who saw the violent behavior model became violent to the doll, while the control group was presented with the nonviolent behavior model was rarely violent to the doll. This experiment has proven right that social modeling is very effective way of learning. **Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura** Focuses on what people learn from observing and interacting with other people. It states that people are active participants in their environment and are not simply shaped by that environment. - Attention - Retention - Motor reproduction - Motivation **Self -- efficacy theory by albert bandura** - Self -- efficacy -- peoples beliefs about their capabilities to produce designated levels of performance that exercise to influence over events that affects their lives. 1\. outcomes expectancy- a persons estimates that a given behavior will lead to certain outcomes 2\. efficacy expectation -- the conviction that one can successfully execute the behavior required to produce the outcomes People with **"high assurance in their capabilities,"** 1.Approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered; 2.Set challenging goals and maintain strong commitment to them; 3.Heighten or sustain efforts in the face of failures or setbacks; 4.Attribute failure to insufficient effort or deficient knowledge and skills which are acquirable; and 5.Approach threatening situations with assurance that they can exercise control over them. **People "who doubt their capabilities"** 1.Shy away from tasks they view as personal threats; 2.Have low aspirations and weak commitment to goals they choose to pursue; 3.Dwell on personal deficiencies, obstacles they will encounter, and all kinds of adverse outcomes, rather than concentrating on how to perform successfully; 4.Slacken their efforts and give up quickly in the face of difficulties; 5.Are slow to recover their sense of efficacy following failure or setbacks; and 6.Fall easy victim to stress and depression. Dr. Bandura described four main sources of influence by which a person's self-efficacy is developed and maintained. These are: 1. Performance accomplishments or mastery experiences; 2. Vicarious experiences; 3. Verbal or social persuasion; and 4. Physiological (somatic and emotional) states. **Carol S. Dweck's Fixed and Growth Mindset Theory** Dr. Dweck's contribution to social psychology relates to implicit theories of intelligence with her book, *Mindset: The New Psychology of Success* published in 2006. Dr. Dweck described people with two types of mindset. ***Fixed mindset-***People who believe that success is based on their innate abilities have a "fixed" theory of intelligence. ***Growth mindset-*** People who believe that success is based on hard work, learning, training, and perseverance have growth theory of intelligence. According to Dr. Dweck, individuals may not necessarily be aware of their own mindset, but their mindset can still be discerned based on their behavior. It is especially evident in their reaction to failure. Fixed-mindset individuals dread failure because it is a negative statement on their basic abilities, while growth-mindset individuals do not mind or fear failure as much because they realize their performance can be improved and learning comes from failure. These two mindsets play an important role in all aspects of a person's life. Dr. Dweck argues that the growth mindset will allow a person to live a less stressful and more successful life (Upclosed 2017). **Edwin A. Locke's Goal Setting Theory** The goal setting theory was first studied by Dr. Locke in the middle of 1960s. He continued to do more studies in relation to his theory. In 1996, he published another article entitled "Motivation Through Conscious Goal Setting." Locke (1996) first described that the approach of goal setting theory is based on what Aristotle called final *causality*; that is, action caused by a purpose. It accepts the axiomatic status of consciousness and volition. It also assumes that introspective reports provide useful and valid data for formulating psychological concepts and measuring psychological phenomena (e.g., purpose, goal commitment, and self-efficacy). **Goal Attributes** Goals have both an internal and an external aspect. **Internally,** they are ideas (desired ends); **Externally,** they refer to the object or condition sought (e.g., a job, a sale, a certain performance level). The idea guides action to attain the object. Two broad attributes of goals are : **Content** (the actual object sought) **Intensity** (the scope, focus, and complexity, among others of the choice process). Qualitatively, the content of a goal is whatever the person is seeking. Qualitatively, two attributes of content, *difficulty* and *specificity*, have been studied (Locke 2017). **Motivation Through Conscious Goal Setting** 1.The more difficult the goal, the greater the achievement. 2.The more specific or explicit the goal, the more precisely performance is regulated. 3.Goals that are both specific and difficult lead to the highest performance. 4.Commitment to goals is most critical when goals are specific and difficult. 5.High commitment to goals is attained when: a.The individual is convinced that the goal is important; b.The individual is convinced that the goal is attainable. 6.In addition to having a direct effect on performance, self-efficacy influences: a.The difficulty level of the goal chosen or accepted; b.Commitment to goals; c.The response to negative feedback or failure; and d.The choice of task strategies. 7.Goal setting is most effective when there is feedback that shows progress in relation to the goal. 8.Goal setting mediates the effect of knowledge of past performance on subsequent performance. 9.Goals affect performance by affecting the direction of action, the degree of effort exerted, and the persistence of action over time. 10.Goals stimulate planning in general 11.When people strive for goals on complex tasks, they are least effective in discovering suitable task strategies if: a.They have no prior experience or training on the task; b.There is a high pressure to perform well; and c.There is a high time pressure (to perform well immediately). 12\. Goals (including goal commitment), in combination with self-efficacy. Mediate or partially mediate the effects of several personally traits and incentives on performance. 13.Goal-setting and goal-related mechanisms can be trained and/or adopted in absence of training for the purpose and working to achieve them. 14.Goals serve as standards of self-satisfaction, with harder goals demanding higher accomplishment in order to attain self-satisfaction than easy goals. Goals can also be used to enhance task interest, reduce boredom, and promote goal clarity. When used to punish or intimidate people, however, goals increase stress and anxiety.