Understanding the Self
PLATO
LESSON 1: PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE “The soul is synonymous with the self.”
OF THE SELF ● Soul, according to Plato was
synonymous with the self. The only
SOCRATES difference was that the self is in the
“An unexamined life is not worth living for.” physical form and the soul is in the
● Socrates was the first philosopher to ideal form. Self is something
engage in a systematic questioning temporary and the soul is eternal. He
about the self and took it upon supported Socrates' idea that a man
himself to serve as a “gadfly” who is a dual nature of body and soul.
disturbed Athenian men from their THREE COMPONENTS OF THE SOUL
slumber and shook them off in order ● He emphasizes that justice in the
to reach the truth and wisdom. human person can only be attained if
● Socrates was the first one to focus on the three parts of the soul are
the self, who we are, who we should working harmoniously with one
be and who we will become in which another.
he believes that every human has an RATIONAL SOUL
immortal soul aside from the ● forged by reason and intellect
physical body. SPIRITED SOUL
● He believes that an individual’s ● In charge of emotions
reality is divided by two parts. The APPETITIVE SOUL
physical realm and the ideal realm. ● consists of our desire that we need
PHYSICAL REALM to be able to live.
consists of the world that we are living in. It
is the world that changes and is temporary ST. AUGUSTINE
IDEAL REALM “Take care of your body as if you were going
● contains concepts about the to live forever; and take care of your soul as
universe, truth, goodness and if you were going to die tomorrow.”
beauty. These are the things that do ● St. Augustine believes that there is
not undergo changes and are an aspect of man, which dwells in
ever-lasting. the worlds, that is imperfect and
For Socrates, every man is composed of body continuously yearns to be with the
and soul. This means that every humans divine while the other is capable of
person is dualistic, that is, he is composed of reaching immortality.
two important aspects of his personhood. ● There is this body that is bound to
For Socrates, this means that all individuals die on earth and the soul that is
have an imperfect, impermanent aspect, the anticipated to live eternally in a
body, while maintaining that there is also a realm of spiritual bliss in communion
soul that is perfect and permanent. with God.
● The body can only thrive in the
imperfect, physical reality, which is
the world, whereas the soul can also
Understanding the Self
stay after death in an eternal realm IDEAS
with the transcendent God. are copies of impressions. They are not as
lively and vivid as our impressions because
RENE DESCARTES we do not experience it yet in the real world.
“I think, therefore I am” When one imagines the feeling of being in
● “Father of Modern Philosophy.” love for the first time, that still is an idea.
● He claims that there is so much that IMMANUEL KANT
we should doubt. “All our knowledge begins with the senses,
● He says that much of what we think proceeds then to the understanding, and
and believe because they are not ends with reason.
infallible, may be false. One should There is nothing higher than reason.”
only believe that which can pass the ● Thinking of the self as mere
test of doubt. combination of impressions was
● But in the end, Descartes, thought problematic for Immanuel
that the only thing that one cannot Kant.
doubt is the existence of the self. ● He thinks that there is an organizing
For even if one doubts oneself, that principle that regulates the
only proves that there is a doubting relationships of all the perceptions
self, a thing that thinks and and sensation of impressions.
therefore, that cannot be doubted. ● He said that the mind organizes the
● The self is then for Descartes is also impressions that men get from the
a combination of two distinct external world. He proposes that we
entities, the “cogito” or the thing are actively synthesizing or
that thinks and the “extenza” or the organizing our knowledge and
extension of the mind (the body). experiences so that we can call it
DAVID HUME “mine”.
“There is no self” ● For Kant, we are the ones who create
● The key contribution and a concept our reality in which we are familiar
against the previous philosophers by and comfortable.
David Hume was when he said that
the self doesn’t exist. APPARATUS OF THE MIND
● The self is just a collection or
His concept which consists of ideas that
combination of all the perceptions of
cannot be found in the world but is only built
a particular person. He finds that
in our minds (e.g. time and space)
they can all be categorized into two:
impressions and ideas. THE “SELF”
IMPRESSIONS is an actively engaged intelligence in man
that synthesizes all knowledge and
are the basic objects of our experience or
experience. Thus, the self is not just what
sensation. They form the core of our
gives one his personality, it is also the seat of
thoughts. When one touches an ice cube, the
knowledge acquisition for all human person.
cold sensation is an impression. Impressions
are vivid because they are the product of our
direct experience with the world.
Understanding the Self
GILBERT RYLE LESSON 2: THE SELF
“I act, therefore I am.”
● For Gilbert Ryle, our behaviors or ASPECTS OF THE SELF
what we do in our day-to-day lives
were theones that makes us a
PHYSICAL
person.
● our physical aspect, is of course,our
physical body.
MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY
● It also includes our abilityto survive
“The mind and the body are so intertwined and thrive in the material world.
that they cannot be separated from one ● Developing the physical level of our
another” being involves learning to take good
● We cannot separate the mind and care of our bodies, and to enjoy
the body and these two works as them.
one for us to know ourselves.
EMOTIONAL
● According to Merleau-Ponty, the
mind and the body are so ● our ability to experience life deeply,
intertwined that they cannot be to relate to one another and the
separated from one another. world on a feeling level. the part of
● One cannot find any experience that us that seeks meaningful contact and
is not embodied experience. All connection with others.
experience is embodied. One’s body ● Developing the emotional level of
is his opening toward his existence to our being allows us to feel the full
the world. range of the human experience (with
the five senses), and find fulfillment
in our relationships with ourselves
Socrates Dualism and each other.
MENTAL
Plato Three parts of soul
(Tripartite Soul) ● our intellect, our ability to think and
reason. The mental level of our
St. Augustine Goodness existence consists of our thoughts,
attitudes, beliefs and values.
Rene Descartes Cogito and Extenza ● Developing the mental level of our
being allows us to think clearly,
David Hume Bundle of perceptions, remain open-minded, yet discern
impressions and idea intelligently.
● Our minds enable us to gather
Immanuel Kant Mind and Reason knowledge and wisdom from our life
experiences and from the world
Gilbert Ryle Behavior
around us.
Maurice Mind and Body SPIRITUAL
Merleau-Ponty Interwined ● Our spiritual aspect is our inner
essence, our soul, the part of us that
exists beyond time and space.
Understanding the Self
● It connects us with the universal ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR
source and the oneness of all life. ● comprises the physical and
● Developing our awareness of the communal elements present in our
spiritual level of our being allows us everyday surroundings, and are
to experience a feeling of belonging; invariably dealt with by individuals in
in the universe, a deeper meaning a specific geographic region or area.
and purpose in our lives, and a ● It includes climate, forms of land,
broader perspective than we have culture, etc
from our personality alone.
PERSON-VOLITION
● The spiritual level provides a
foundation for the development of ● refers to the inclination of a person
the other levels. to form and construct a specific
identity, which will set him apart or
unique compared with others. Some
SOCIAL
people of this type turned to
● our characteristic behavior in social become trend-setters,
situations. We join others to form revolutionaries, discoverers and
partnerships, families, teams, inventors
groups, organizations, companies,
communities as well as our nation
and culture. Maintaining personal
connections contributes to a long
and fulfilling life. When we nurture
relationships with family and friends,
we create healthy support networks
for life.
FACTORS OF THE SELF
HEREDITY
● passing of certain traits and
characteristics from one generation
to another thru biological process; it
is a non-negotiable factor of the self.
SOCIAL FACTOR
● to the influences of significant
people in a person’s life such as
family, peers, schoolmates and
neighbors.
Understanding the Self
● The identity toolbox refers to the
LESSON 3: ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE “features of a person’s identity that he
OF SELF or she chooses to emphasize in
constructing a social self.”
ANTHROPOLOGY
SELF-IDENTIFICATION
● scientific study of humanity, concerned
● may be attained by kinship, family
with human behavior, human biology,
membership, gender, age, language,
and societies, in both the present and
religion, ethnicity, personal
past, including past human species
appearance, and socioeconomic status.
● Some characteristics such as kinship,
NATURE NURTURE gender, and age are almost universally
used to differentiate people.
Our genetics Our environment, FAMILY MEMBERSHIP
determine our upbringing, and life
● the most significant feature to
behavior. experiences determine the person’s social identity.
determine our LANGUAGE AND RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
Our personality
traits and abilities behavior. We are ● Another important identity determinant
are in our nature. natured to behave in that is often viewed as essential for the
certain ways. maintenance of a group identity is
genetic inheritance language.
which sets the Variables of the ● In other societies, religious affiliation is
individual's an important marker of group identity.
environment: things
potentials ● In Mindanao, being a Christian or a
you get from the
Muslim is possibly the most important
world around you defining feature of social identity.
after you are born.
PERSONAL NAMING
THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, THERE
ARE TWO WAYS IN WHICH THE CONCEPT OF John Fitzgerald Kennedy
SELF IS VIEWED IN DIFFERENT SOCIETIES
First Middle Last
EGOCENTRIC CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Given Middle Family
● suggests that each person is defined as
a replica of all humanity but capable Fore- Middle Fore-
of acting independently from others.
SOCIOCENTRIC CONCEPT OF THE SELF ● Name is an important device to
individualize a person and to have an
● In the sociocentric concept of the self,
identity.
the self is viewed as dependent on the
● One’s identity is not inborn. It is
situation or social setting.
something people continuously
develop in life.
IDENTITY TOOLBOX ● Changes in one’s identity usually involve
● From the similarities and differences in rites of passage that prepares
characteristics among individuals, individuals for new roles from one stage
people construct their social identities. of life to an
Understanding the Self
THREE-PHASED RITES OF PASSAGE
SEPARATION PHASE
● people detach from their former
identity to another.
● For example, in a wedding, the bride
walking down the aisle to be “given
away” by the parents to the groom
implies the separation from one’s family
to become part of a new one
LIMINALITY PHASE
● a person transitions from one identity
to another
● For example, the wedding ceremony
itself is the process of transition of the
bride and groom from singlehood to
married life.
INCORPORATION PHASE
● the change in one’s status is officially
incorporated.
● For example, the wedding reception and
parties that celebrate the wedding serve
as the markers that officially recognize
the bride and groom’s change towards
being husband and wife
LESSON 3: PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF
SELF
Understanding the Self
WILLIAM JAMES (1842 - 1920) ● Changes in behavior usually result from
● American Philosopher and Psychologist the different social situations the person
● Professor of Psychology and Philosophy finds himself in.
at Harvard University 3. THE SPIRITUAL SELF
● One of the great pragmatists ● Refers to the self that is more concrete
● "Theory of the Self or permanent when compared to the
● Wrote a book entitled "The principles of material and social selves.
Psychology” ● the most subjective and intimate part of
the self
THE ME AND THE “I" ● Always engaging in the process of
1. All human thoughts are owned by some introspection (self-observation).
personal self.
2. All thoughts are constantly changing or THE “I” SELF
are never static. ● Pure Ego = person's soul or mind
3. There is a continuity of thoughts as its ● Comprises the totality of the person's
focus shifts from one object to another. identity
4. Thoughts deal with objects that are
different from and independent of CARL ROGERS (1902-1987)
consciousness itself. Proposed a personality theory known as the
5. Consciousness can focus on a particular Person-Centered Theory
object and not others.
SElF CONCEPT
● Self-concept used to refer how a person
thinks about or perceives himself
TWO TYPES OF SELF CONCEPT
THE REAL-SELF CONCEPT
● to all information and perception the
person has about himself
THE “ME” SELF ● Who am I?
A separate object or individual that the person to THE IDEAL-SELF CONCEPT
when discussing or describing their personal ● what the person aims for himself to be
experiences ● Who do I want to be?
Examples’
1. The gifts were sent to ME
2. The person is smiling at ME
1. THE MATERIAL SELF
Consists of the things or objects that belong to
the person or entities that a person belongs to
MULTIPLE VERSUS UNIFIED SELF
Eg. The person's body, his family, clothes and ● The construction of multiple selves
money varies across different roles and
2. THE SOCIAL SELF relationships.
● Refers to the person is in a particular ● Coping with different selves constitutes
social situation a formidable task among adolescents.
Understanding the Self
● These challenges contribute heavily to Example: Kenneth saves a larger portion of his
the young person's struggle for a unified salary in the bank so he can have enough cash to
self travel to Japan.
TRUE VERSUS FALSE SELF
● Donald Woods Winnicott suggests that 4. SELF-REFLECTIVENESS
the self is composed of the true self and The person looks inward and evaluating his
the false self. motivations, values, life goals, and other people's
● The function of the false self is to hide effect on him.
and protect the true sef
● People tend to display a false self to Example: Kenneth believes that he has to enjoy
impress others. and experience life a little while still able and
● The self can change depending on capable.
situations
THE SELF AS THE CENTRAL ARCHETYPE
THE SELF AS PROACTIVE AND AGENTIC
CARL JUNG (1875-1961)
ALBERT BANDURA (1925-2021) ● Central to Carl Jung's theory of the self is
The Social Cognitive Theory the concept of archetype.
● Learning through observation ARCHETYPE
● Suggested that human beings are ● represents the hidden potentialities of
proactive, self regulating, self-reflective. the psyche, or total personality.
and self-organizing
FOUR MAJOR ARCHETYPES:
HUMAN AGENCY
● essence of being human
1. THE PERSONA
FEATURES OF HUMAN AGENCY
● refers to social roles that individuals
present to others.
1. INTENTIONALITY 2. THE SHADOW
Actions performed by the person with full ● refers to the repressed thoughts that are
awareness of his behavior. unacceptable.
● This archetype is often considered as the
Example: Kenneth went online to apply for a dark side of the psyche.
passport because he wants to travel outside his
3. ANIMA/ANIMUS
country.
● ANIMA is the feminine side of the male
2. FORETHOUGHT
psyche
Person's anticipation of likely outcomes of his ● ANIMUS is the masculine side of the
behavior female psyche
4. THE SELF
Example: Kenneth chose an interview date for his
passport application where most likely he will be ● the central archetype that unites all
on-leave. parts of the psyche.
● The ego is the individual's conscious
3. SELF REACTIVENESS
perception of the self.
Process in which the person is motivated and
regulates his behavior as he observes his
SIGMUND FREUD’S CONSTRUCTION OF SELF
progress in achieving his goals.
AND PERSONALITY
Understanding the Self
● According to Sigmund Freud, there are and cleanliness or messiness
three structures of personality: id, ego, and disorder.
and superego.
PHALLIC 3-6 years As preschoolers take pleasure
in genital stimulation, Freud's
1. ID Oedipus conflict for boys and
● is the pleasure-seeking side, immature, Electra conflict for girls arise:
impulsive, child-like and cannot delay Children feel a sexual desire
for the other-sex parent and
gratification. hostility toward the same-sex
● It has no regard for others and the law. parent. To avoid punishment
2. EGO and loss of parental love, they
suppress these impulses and,
● refers to the "I" and works on the instead, adopt the same-sex
reality principle, controls the id, and can parent's characteristics and
delay pleasure. values. As a result, the
superego is formed, and
● The ego can conform with existing children feel guilty whenever
societal consideration. they violate its standards
3. SUPEREGO
LATENCY 6-11 Sexual instincts die down, and
● The superego refers to the "conscience" the superego develops further.
and "moral judge" of conduct. Violation The child acquires new social
of rules leads to guilt feelings. values from adults and
same-sex peers outside the
● It strives for perfection rather than
family.
pleasure.
GENITAL Adolescenc With puberty, the sexual
e impulses of the phallic stage
reappear. If development has
been successful during earlier
stages, it leads to marriage,
mature sexuality, and the birth
and rearing of children. This
FREUD PSYCHOSOCIAL STAGE
stage extends through
adulthood
STAGE AGE DESCRIPTION
ORAL Birth - 1 The new ego directs the baby's
year sucking activities toward the
THE ROLE OF ERIK ERIKSON’S THEORY IN
breast or bottle. UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
If oral needs are not met In Erik Erikson's theory, the adolescence stage is a
appropriately, the individual
period of identity development.
may develop such habits as
thumb sucking, fingernail
biting, and pencil chewing in Identity formation is usually viewed as a process
childhood and overeating and that requires adolescents to distance themselves
smoking later in life
from the strong expectations and definitions
ANAL 1 -3 years Toddlers and preschoolers
imposed by parents and other family members.
enjoy holding and releasing
urine and feces. Toilet training Erikson’s THEORY
becomes a major issue
between parent and child. If ● proposes that individuals go through
parents insist that children be eight psychosocial stages of
trained before they are ready, development.
or if they make too few
demands, conflicts about anal
● Each stage consists of developmental
control may appear in the tasks that one needs to accomplish in
form of extreme orderliness order to develop successfully.
Understanding the Self
● During each stage, the person
experiences a life crisis which could have
negative consequences if not properly
resolved.
