UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Three (3) Part of Soul/Self :
REVIEWER 1. Reason
PART 1 : THE SELF FROM VARIOUS
PERSPECTIVES
Socrates – “Know thyself”
Two (2) Philosophical Questions
1. Who am I?
2. What am I?
Five (5) Answering to the Nature of the Self/
The many Views of Self
1. Psychological Perspective
2. An Anthropological
Conceptualization of Self : The Self as
Embedded in Culture
3. Philosophical Perspective
4. Sociological Perspective : The self as
a product of Society
5. The Self in Western and Eastern
Thought
CHAPTER 1 : PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE
OF THE SELF
Philosophy – “love of wisdom”
Three (3) Ancient great
Greek Philosophers :
1. Socrates
2. Plato
3. Aristotle
SOCRATES (GREEK PHILOSOPHER)
– AN UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH
LIVING
- The self is synonymous with the soul –
is the immortal entity.
Three (3) full power of reason on the human
self :
1. Who we are
2. Who we should be
3. Who we will become
Two (2) Dichotomous Realms :
1. Physical Realm
- Is changeable, transient and
imperfect.
2. Ideal Realm
- Is unchanging, eternal and immortal.
The Socratic Method called Introspection –
is a method of carefully examining one’s
thoughts and emotions - to gain
self-knowledge.
PLATO (ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHER)
– THE SELF IS AN IMMORTAL SOUL
- A process of self-knowledge and
purification of the soul.
- Enables us to think deeply, make
wise choices and achieve a true
understanding of eternal truths.
2. Physical Appetite
- Includes our basic biological needs
such as hunger, thirst and sexual
desire.
3. Spirit or Passion
- Includes our basic emotions such as
love, anger, ambition,
aggressiveness and empathy.
Theory of Forms, Plato introduces the
concepts of the two worlds :
1. The World of Forms (non-physical
ideas)
- Real and Permanent
2. The World of Sense (reality)
- Temporary and Only a replica of the
ideal world.
ARISTOTLE (GREEK PHILOSOPHER)
– THE SOUL IS THE ESSENCE OF THE SELF
- The soul is merely a set of defining
features and does not consider the
body and soul as separate entities.
Three (3) Kinds of Soul :
1. Vegetative Soul
- Includes the physical body that can
grow
2. Sentient Soul
- Includes sensual desires, feelings and
emotions.
3. Rational Soul
- Includes that allows man to know
and understand things.
ST. AUGUSTINE (AFRICAN PHILOSOPHER)
– THE SELF HAS AN IMMORTAL SOUL
- That the physical body is radically
different from and inferior to its
inhabitant, the immortal soul.
- He ultimately came to view the body as
“spouse” of the soul, both attracted to one
another by a “natural appetite”.
Augustine’s work – Confessions
- It describes the humankind is
created in the image and likeness of
God.
Augustine develops the fundamental
concept of the human person and thus
provides the philosophical principle, “I am
doubting, therefore I am”.
RENE DESCARTES (FRENCH PHILOSOPHER)
– I THINK THEREFORE I AM
- Latin : Cogito ergo
 - The act of thinking about the self -
of being self-conscious – is in itself proof
that there is a self.
He is the father of the modern Philosophy.
Two (2) Dimensions of the Human Self :
1. The self as thinking entity
- As non-material, immortal, conscious
being and independence of the
physical laws of the universe.
2. The self as a physical body
- Is a material, mortal, non-thinking
entity, fully governed by the physical
laws of nature.
Essential Self – the self as a thinking entity –
is distinct from the self as a physical body.
JOHN LOCKE (ENGLISH PHILOSOPHER)
– THE SELF IS CONSCIOUSNESS
- Awareness of itself as a thinking,
reasoning and reflecting identity.
Tabula rasa – blank state
Self-consciousness – is necessary to have a
coherent personal (self) identity or
knowledge of the self as a person.
Consciousness – is what makes identity of a
person similar in different situations.
DAVID HUME (SCOTTISH PHILOSOPHER)
– THERE IS NO SELF
- What people experience is just a
bundle or collection of different
perceptions.
Two (2) Distinct entities :
1. Impressions
- Basic sensations of people’s
experience such as hate, love, joy,
grief, pain, cold and heat.
Impressions are vivid perceptions
and are strong and lively.
2. Ideas
- Thoughts and images from
impressions so they are less lively and
vivid.
IMMANUEL KANT (GERMAN PHILOSOPHER)
– WE CONSTRUCT THE SELF
- An organizing principle that makes a
unified and intelligible experience
possible.
He conceptual Three (3) Categories :
1. Transcendental deduction of
categories
2. To construct an orderly
3. Objective world that is stable and
can be investigated scientifically.
SIGMUND FREUD (AUSTRIAN
PSYCHOANALYST)
– THE SELF IS MULTILAYERED
Self consists of Three (3) layers :
1. Conscious Self
- is governed by the “reality
principle”.
2. Unconscious Self
- character by the most primitive
level of human motivation and human
fuctioning which governed by the
“pleasure principle”.
3. Preconscious
- contains material that is not
threatening and is easily brought to
mind.
- located between the conscious
and the unconscious parts of the
self.
GILBERT RYLE (BRITISH PHILOSOPHER)
- THE SELF IS THE WAY PEOPLE BEHAVE
- the self is best understood as a
pattern of behavior, the tendency or
disposition of a person to behave in a
certain way in certain circumtances.
He provides the philosophical principle,
“I act therefore I am”
PAUL CHURCHLAND (CANADIAN
PHILOSOPHERS)
- THE SELF IS THE BRAIN
- idea of eleminative materialism or
the idea that the self is insperable from the
brain and the physiology of the body.
MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY
(FRENCH PHILOSOPHERS)
- THE SELF IS EMBODIED SUBJECTIVITY
- based on the “phenomena” of
experience.
He notes in his book, Phenomenology of
Perception - everything that people are
aware of is contained within the
consciousness.
Consciousness - a dynamic form
responisble for actively structuring
conscious ideas and physical behavior.
Perception - is not merely a consequence
of sensory eperience; rather, it is a
conscious experience.
CHAPTER 2 : SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE :
THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF SOCIETY
Sociological Perspective of the self - is
based on the assumption that human is
influenced by group of life.
Sociology - as a scientific study of social
groups and human relationships generates
new insights into the interconnectedness
between the self and other people.
CHARLES HORTON COOLEY (SOCIOLOGIST)
- The looking-glass self
- become a mirror in which he or she
views himself or herself.
Self-identity or Self-images - conceiving an
idea of how a person presents himself or
herself to others, how he or she analyze
how others perceive him or her, and how
he or she creates an image of himself or
herself.
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD (SOCIOLOGIST)
- The theory of the social self
- develops a sense of self through
social interaction and not the biological
preconditions of that interaction.
The Self has Two (2) division :
1. I
- is the subjective element and the
active side of the self. It represents the
sponataneous and unique traits of the
individual.
2. ME
- is the objective element of the self
that represents the internalized attitudes
and demands of other people and the
individual’s awareness of those demands.
Three (3) stage process :
1. Preparatory Stage
- 0-3 years old
- children imitate the people around
them, especially family members with
whom they have daily interaction.
- preparing for role-taking.
2. Play Stage
- 3-5 years old
- they learn to communicate through
language and other symbols.
- self is developing.
3. Game Stage
- begins in the early school years;
about 8 or 9 years old.
- concerned about the take into
account in their behavior the generalized
other which refer to the attitudes,
viewpoints, demands and expectations of
the society which include cultural norms
and values that serve as references in
evaluation oneself.
- the self is now present.
GERRYLANUZA, 2004
- Self-identity continously changes
due to the demands of multitude of social
contexts, new information technology and
globalization.
The constitution of the Self
- discusses the relationship between
society and the individiual.
JEAN BAUDRILLARD (FRENCH SOCIOLOGIST)
- the self is found in the prestige
symbols of goods consumed by people.
- individuals achieve self-identity
through prestige symbols that they
consume.
CHAPTER 3 : AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL
CONCEPTUALIZATION OF SELF : THE SELF AS
EMBEDDED IN CULTURE
Anthropology - concerned with how
cultural and biological processes interact
to shape human experience.
JAMES L. PEACOCK (DISTINGUISHED
ANTHROPOLOGY PROFESSOR)
- anthropology encroaches on the
territory of the sciences as well as the
humanities and trancends the
conventional boundaries of both while
addressing questions from the distant past
and the pressing present - perhaps with
implication for the future.
Anthropology considers Two (2) human
experience :
1. Nature
- genetic inheritance which sets the
individual’s potentials.
2. Nurture
- the sociocultural environment.
EDWARD TYLOR (BRITISH ANTHROPOLOGIST)
He defines Culture - that complex whole
which includes knowledge, belief, art,
morals, law, customs and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society.
Ethnic Identity - sameness of the self with
others, that is, to a consciousness of sharing
certain characteristics.
Identity - disposition of basic personality
features acquired mostly during childhood
and once integrated, more or less fixed.
There are Two (2) ways in which the
concept of the self is viewed in different
societies :
1. Egocentric
 - the self is seen as an autonomous
and distinct individual.
2. Sociocentric
- the self is contingent on a situation
or social setting.
Identity Toolbox - the features of a person’s
identity that he or she cooses to emphasize
in constructing a social self.
Six (6) Characteristics :
1. Kinship
2. Gender
3. Age
4. Ethnicity
5. Personal Appearaance
6. Socioeconomic Status
Personal Naming - a universal practice
with numerous cross-cultural variations,
establishes child’s birthright and social
identity.
Name - an important device to
individualize a person and legitimize him or
her as a member of a social group such as
a family.
Three (3) phased rite of passage :
1. Separation
- people detach from their former
identity to another.
2. Liminality
- person transmitions from one
identity to another.
3. Incorporation
- the change in one’s status is
officially incorporated.
Identity Struggles - to characterize
interaction in which there is a discrepancy
between the identity a person claims to
possess and the identity attributed to that
person by others.
GOLUBOVIC, 2011
- he suggest that the Self-identification can
be attained if individuals have to
overcome many obstacles such as
traditionally established habits and
externally imposed self-images.
KATHERINE EWING
- Illusion of Wholeness
- individual self thoughout the world
constinously reconstitute themselves into
new selves in response to internal and
external stimuli.
CLIFFORD GEERTZ, 1973
(AMERICAN ANTROPOLOGIST)
He defines Culture as a system of inherited
conceptions expressed in symbolic forms
by means of which people communicate,
perpetuate and develop their knowledge
about and attitudes toward life.
ROBBINS, 2012
- he considered that human beings as
cultural animals as they create the
meaning of objects, persons, behaviors,
emotions, events and behave in
accordance with meanings they assume
to be true.
CHAPTER 4 : PSYCHOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF
WILLIAM JAMES
- CONCEPT OF SELF
He suggest that the self is divided into Two
(2) categories :
1. I-Self
- refers to the self that knows who he
or she is which is called the thinking self.
- it reflects the soul of a person or the
mind which is also called the pure ego.
2. Me-Self
- is the empirical self which refers to
the person’s personal experiences.
- it divided into Three (3) sub
categories :
1. Material Self
- attributed to an individual’s
physical attributes and material possesions
that contribute to one’s self-image.
2. Social Self
- refers to who a person is and how
he or she acts in social situations.
3. Spiritual Self
- the most intimate and important
part of the self that includes the person’s
purpose, core values, conscience and
moral behavior.
CARL ROGERS
- SELF THEORY : REAL AND IDEAL SELF
Self-concept
- refers to the image of oneself
- flexible and changing perception
of personal identity.
The Self
- the center of experience.
Two (2) components of self-concept :
1. Real Self
- consists of all ideas, including the
awareness of what one is and what one
can do.
2. Ideal Self
- the person’s conception of what
one should be or what one aspires to be
which includes one’s goals and ambitions
in life.
WINNICOTT
- he found that the self is composed of the
true self and the false self
1. True Self
- to protect
- when they are with their family and
close friends.
2. False Self
- to hide
- during dating situations.
ALBERT BANDURA, 2001
- he posits that humans, through their
agency are perceived as proactive agents
of experiences.
Agency - embodies the endowments,
belief systemss, self-regulatory capabilities
and distributed structures and functions
through which personal influence is
exercised, rather than reside as a discrete
entity.
The Four (4) main features
of human agency :
1. Intentionality
- refers to acts done intentionally.
Intentions center on plans of action with
the anticipation of posible outcomes.
2. Forethrought
- enables the person to anticiplate
the likely consequences of prospective
actions.
3. Self-reactiveness
- involves making choices and
choosing appropriate courses of action as
well as motivating and regulating them.
4. Self-reflectiveness
- gives the person the ability to
reflect upon and the adequacy of his or
her thoughts and actions.
Efficacy - the foundation of human
agency and also play a central role in self-
regulation.
Self-efficacy - refers to the individual’s
belief that he or she is capable to perform
a task which influences whether he or she
will think pessimistically or optismatically
and in ways that are self-enhancing or self-
hindering.
CARL JUNG
- THE THEORY OF THE SELF IS THE CONCEPT
OF ARCHETYPES.
ARCHETYPES
- are the universal models after
which roles are patterned.
- represent the hidden potentialities
of the psyche or total personality.
Four (4) major archetypes :
1. Persona
- refers to social roles that individuals
present to others.
2. Shadow
- refers to the repressed thoughts
that are socially unacceptable.
3. Animus/Anima
- Animus is the masculine side of the
female psyche while the Anima is feminine
side of the male psyche.
4. Self
- the central archetypes that unites
all parts of the psyche.
The Ego - individual’s conscious perception
of the self.
SIGMUND FREUD
- CONSTRUCTION OF SELF AND
PERSONALITY
- he argues that the mind is
composed of three (3) structures through
which is persconality formed :
1. Id
- refers to the component of the
personality characterized by its need to
satisfy basic urgues and desires.
- the devil within the self.
2. Ego
- refers to the I and operates on the
reality principle and controls the Id.
- the person in the middle.
3. Superego
- refers to the “conscience” and
“moral judge” of one’s conduct.
- the angel
Ego Strenght - refer to the ego’s ability to
resolve the conflict between the three
stuctures.
FIVE (5) PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES
OF DEVELOPMENT :
1. Oral Stage
- last from birth up to the first year of
life.
- during this stage, babies derive
pleasure from oral activities like sucking
and biting.
2. Anal Stage
- around the second year of life.
- during this stage,the child derives
pleasure from the elimination of body
wastes.
3. Phallic Stage
- around ages 3-6.
 - during this stage derive pleasure
from examining, touching, fondling or
displaying their genitals.
4. Latency Stage
- lasts from 7-12 years.
- at this stage, sexual energy is
repressed because children become
occupied with school.
5. Genital Stage
- starts from adolescence to
adulthood.
- during this stage, pleasure is gain
derived from the genital area and
individuals seek to satisfy their sexual
derives from sexual relationships.
ERIK ERIKSON
- THEORY IN UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Adolescence - is a period of identity
development.
Identity Information - is usually viewed as a
process that requires adolescents to
distance themselves from the strong
expectations and definitions imposed by
parents and other family member.
Eight (8) Psychological Stages
Development :
1. Trust versus Mistrust
- occuring first year of life.
- the child will develop trust if he or
she is properly cared for. If the child is not
well-cared for, mistrust is likely to develop.
2. Autonomy versus Shame & Doubt
- during the first three years of life.
- children begin to assert their
independence during this stage.
Autonomy - independence of thought
during the first three years of life.
3. Initiative versus Guilt
- occuring around 3-5 years of age.
- during this stage, developing a
sense of responsibility among children lead
to development of initiative.
4. Industry versus Inferiority
- occuring around elementary
school years.
- during this stage, children face the
task of developing knowlegde and skills
usually taught in school.
5. Identity formation versus
Identity confusion
- takes place during adolescence.
- adolescents face the task of
finding out who they are, what they are
and what they want in life.
6. Intimacy versus Isolations
- occurs during early adulthood
when people explore personal relationship.
- during this stage, people develop
intimate relationships with others.
7. Generativity versus Stagnation
- occurs during middle adulthood.
- developing a sense of generativity.
8. Integrity versus Despair
- occurs during old age and is
focused on self-reflection in one’s life.
- individual reflect on the important
events on their lives.
CHAPTER 5 : THE WESTERN AND EASTERN
CONCEPTS OF SELF
GEERTZ
- he defines the Western concept of self as
a bounded, unique, more or less
integrated motivational and cognitive
universe, a dynamic center of awareness,
emotion judgment and action organized
into a distinctive whole and set
contrastively both agaist other such wholes
and againts its social and natural
background.
The Western concept of self is defined in
of Four (4) terms :
1. Western Self as Analytic
2. Western Self as Monotheistic
3. Western Self as Individualistic
4. Western Self as Materialistic and
Rationalistic
DAVID HO, 1995
- he describes the Western Self as an
individualitstic self that is deeply aware of
itself, its uniqueness, sense of direction,
purpose and volition.
- he see the self as an entity distinct from
other selves and all other intities.
FRANK JOHNSON, 1985
- traces the earliest historical roots of the
Western concept of the self to works on
philosophy, almost half a million years ago.
FOUR (4) MAJOR EASTERN RELIGIONS
1. Hinduism
2. Buddhism
3. Confucianism
4. Taoism
HINDUISM
Vendata - a major school of thought
based on Upanishads, the classical Indian
philosophical treatises.
Brahman - an absolute reality
Atman (soul or spirit) - the true knowledge
of self, is identical to Brahman.
The Law of Karma - the most important - aim at transformations in consciousness,
doctrine of Hinduism. feelings, emotions and one’s relation to
other people and the world.
BUDDHISM
Siddharta Gautama known as the Buddha WESTERN THOUGHT
- the founder of Buddhism - tend to view the self as autonomous,
The root word of Buddhism is budh unitary and stable.
meaning awake - favors a rational-empirical approach over
Four (4) Noble Truths : magical and superstitious explanation of
1. Life is suffering things, including the self.
2. Suffering is caused by attachment
to desires PART 2 : UNPACKING THE SELF
3. Suffering can be eliminated
4. Elimination of suffering Unpacking the self - is a gradual unfolding,
Eightfold Path : a growth process in which the aspects that
1. Right view sorround the self and identity develop in an
2. Right aspiration integrated and healty way.
3. Right speech The self includes the following Six (6)
4. Right action aspects :
5. Right livelihood 1. Physical
6. Right efforts 2. Sexual
7. Right mindfulness 3. Material
8. Right concentration 4. Spiritual
Summation of the Five (5) parts : 5. Political
1. Matter 6. Digital
2. Sensation
3. Perception CHAPTER 6 : THE PHYSICAL SELF
4. Mental constructs
5. Consciousness Buddha - "to keep the body in good health
CONFUCIANISM is a duty... otherwise shall not able to keep
Analects - conversation of Confucius our mind strong and clear"
Confucian thought is the Golden Rule or Physical Self - refers to the body. Both
the principle of reciprocity : “Do not do to physical extremities and internal organs
others what you would not want other to do work together for the body to perform
to you” many of its functions such as breathing,
Five (5) Cardinal Relationships : walking, eating and sleeping.
1. Between ruler and minister Physical Efficiency - generally peaks in
2. Between father and son early adulthood between the ages of
3. Between husband and wife twenty and thirty and then slowly declines
4. Between brothers into the middle ages.
5. Between friends Adolescence - begins with the onset of
The self is known as relational self. puberty.
Physical Changes - include the maturation
TAOISM of the reproductive system.
Taoism is a Chinese counterculture Life Span - refers to the development from
- the self is describe as one of the limitless conception to death.
form of the Tao.
Tao - commonly regarded as Nature that is ELIZABETH B. HURLOCK
the foundation of all that exists. - she outline the Ten (10) stages in the life
Taoists believe that simplicity, spontaineity span :
and harmony with nature should govern 1. Prenatal
one’s life. - fertilization to birth.
2. Infancy
EASTERN THOUGHT - birth to 2 weeks of life.
- the emphasis is relational than
individualistic. 3. Babyhood
- 2 weeks of life to 2nd year.
4. Early childhood
 - 2 to 6 years old.
5. Late childhood
- 6 to 10 or 12 years old.
6. Puberty
- 10 or 12 to 14 years old.
7. Adolescence
- 14 to 18 years old.
8. Early adulthood
- 18 to 40 years old.
9. Middle adulthood
- 40 to 60 years old.
10. Late adulthood or senescence
- 60 to death.
Heredity - is the biological process of the
inheritance of traits from parents to
offsprings.
Environment - refers to the factors an
individual is exposed to throughout life
which includes learning and experience.
Sex and other Physical traits - determined
the combination of chromosomes and
genes during fertilization when the egg
and sperm cells unite.
Chromosomes - carries the genes and are
usually found in pairs.
Genes - the basic carrier of heredity traits
and are classified as dominant (strong
genes) and recessive (weak genes).
Theory of Physiognomy - a person’s
physical characteristics such as facial
features and expressions and body
structures could be related to a person’s
character or personality.
Five (5) Element Theory :
1. Water
2. Wood
3. Fire
4. Earth
5. Metal
HIPPOCRATES (ANCIENT GREECE)
- he developed a theory based on the
prominence of body fluids - an excess of or
deficiency in any of the four bodily fluids
(or humors) in a person influences their
personality, temperament and well-being.
Sanguine Type
- prominence of red bile.
- they tend to be impulsive, cheerful,
happy and optimistic.
Melancholic
- prominence of black bile.
- they tend to be depressed and
pessimistic.
Choleric
- prominence of yellow bile.
- they are easily angry, jumpy and
temperamental.
Phlegmatic
- excess phlegm.
- they tend to be sluggish, dull and slow.
WILLIAM SHELDON, 1940
- has developed a body-type theory -
based on physical characteristics.
Three (3) body types :
1. Endomorphic
- soft and plump.
- perceive to be easy going and
sociable.
2. Mesomorphic
- characterized by a strong mascular
body.
- perceive to be energetic,
adventurous, assertive and courageous.
3. Ectomorphic
- tall and thin.
- tend to be restrained, quiet,
introverted and artistic.
JEAN HANER, 2008
“The Wisdom of you Face”
- suggest that people with :
1. Oval-shaped faces
- are generally hospitable and
tactful.
2. Round-shaped faces
- tend to be friendly, kindhearted
and selfles.
3. Square-shaped faces
- tend to be witty, analytical and
great leaders.
4. Heart-shaped faces
- are patient and intuitive by nature.
5. Long-shaped faces
- are perfectionist and tend to be
aggressive.
6. Triangle-shaped faces
- tend to be creative, artistic,
sensitive and determined.
7. Diamond-shaped faces
- very detailed-oriented and lik to be
in control.
8. Full and thick eyebrows
- tend to be confident, assertive and
goal oriented.
9. Large or highly-defined jaws
- have strong values and firms
beliefs.
SQUIER AND MEW, 1981
- suggest tha persons with :
1. Long and angular-shaped faces
 - tend to be more responsive,
assertive and genuine.
2. Short and angular-shaped faces
- tend to be more restraine,
conforming ans shrewd.

Body Image
- refers to how individuals perceive, think
and feel about their body and physical
appearance.
- is related to self-esteem which is a
person’s overall evaluation of his or her
own worth.
- can affect both the adolescent’s physical
and psychological well-being.

Apperance
- refers to everything about a person
that other can observe such as height,
weight, skin color, clothes and hairstyle.
- an individual is able to show others
the kind of person he or she is.

EGYPTIAN ART
Beauty
- is perceived in women with slim, high
waist, narrow hips and long black hair.
- has always been considered important
throughout history because these features
indicate youth, health, good genes and
fertility.
- is biologically programmed or culturally
constructed, it remains important in al
societies.
Three (3) types of body modification :
1. Tattooing
- which injects ink onto the skin to
draw a design. Make up can also be
permanently tattooed.
2. Body piercing
- which lets people wear jewelry
thrrough different piercings in their body
such as the ears, nose and tongue.
3. Cosmetic Surgery
- which includes surgical and non-
surgical procedures to restore, reconstruct
or alter body parts.

Tattooing and Piercing

- have been practiced across the globe
since ancient times.
- were considered signs of one’s strength,
bravery and social status.
Tattooing, Piercing and Cosmetic Surgery
- popular through time, these forms of
body modification involve health risks.