NJ VALDEZ COLLEGES FOUNDATION
COURSE CODE : PSYCHOLOGY 1
COURSE TITLE : UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
INSTRUCTOR : RIA ERIKA D. TABAYOYONG
MODULE 1
(PRE-LIM)
STUDENT’S NAME: ________________________________
COURSE YEAR: ___________________________________
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MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO UNDERSTANDING SELF
A. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F.)
1. Overview of Self/Identity
2. Nature vs. Nurture
3. Identity vs. Self
4. Dimensionalities of the Self/Identity
a. Social Factor
b. Environmental Factor
c. Hereditary Factor
d. Person Volition Factor
At the end of this module, the students should be able to familiarize
themselves with different fundamental concepts and principles of the Self
using the Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors.
Interestingly, people are preoccupied with understanding other things in life
such as business, income, technology, science, education, politics etc. that
a little attention is paid in exploring and deciphering one’s SELF (Macayan
[Link], 2018), which is also as equally important as the former.
Subsequently, Benjamin Franklin said, “There are three things extremely
hard: Steel, a Diamond, and to know one’s self”. Knowing and understanding
one’s self plays a vital role in a person’s life. Why? The more we know and
understand ourselves, the more we can improve it, not just for our personal
benefit, but also to those people we interact with. Therefore, this lesson
dedicates time to understand the Self coming from different perspectives.
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The Self always points and highlights the pronouns, “I” and “me. On
one hand, every time, the “I” is mentioned (e.g. I will go to school, I
will hang out with my friends, I prefer to eat spicy foods than the
sweet ones), the self is highlighted as the “actor” of the actions. On
the other hand, when the pronoun “me” is used (e.g. Tell me
something about yourself, give me something, it makes me feel
excited), the self is highlighted as the “object” of the action.
Scholars, including theorists, scientists, and even philosophers in
different fields have attempted to explain and thoroughly expound on
several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and
dimensionality of the SELF. The most renowned among the issues on
self are on 1). Nature vs. Nurture; 2). Identity vs. Self; and 3).
Dimensionalities of the self.
Nature refers to all the genes and hereditary factors that influence
who we are – from our physical appearance to our personality
characteristics.
Nurture refers to all the environmental variables that impact who we
are, including our early childhood experiences, how we were raised,
our social relationships, and our surrounding culture.
On one hand of the proposition coming from the Nature Approach,
proposes that the basis of self is anchored to Biology and Genetics
explaining how human traits are passed from generation to
generation. These transmitted traits then serve as a blueprint of the
self and predisposes one to certain self-expressions manifested in
attitude, behaviour, and tendencies. In addition, the self is studied
structurally and functionally looking from the molecular composition
of the person to the entirety of physiological systems relating to the
way in which an organism function (Macayan [Link], 2018).
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On the other hand, the Nurture Approach argues that the self should
be viewed as outcomes of various nurturing factors in the context of
one’s life – external variables. The field of Social Sciences have
pointed out numerous insights and explanations about the self: how
other people and the situation they are in affects an individual’s
behaviour and attitude. More importantly, how social institutions
greatly affect self-perception of a person (Macayan [Link], 2018).
The topics of self and identity are topics remain popular not only to
the psychologists but also amongst other social scientists such as
sociologists, cultural anthropologists and economists.
These terms are loosely interchanged in various literatures and many
people believe that there is a very thin delineation of these two
concepts and perceive them synonymously.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term “Identity”
refers to the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or
group different from others. . . or the distinguishing character or
personality of an individual.” Whereas “Self” refers to the person that
someone normally or truly is. . . or the entire person of an individual”.
In other words, “Identity” has something to do of how others perceive
you while “Self” has something to do of who you are and what you are.
Both concepts of the self and identity evolve out of social interaction
(Millward & Kelly 2003), but because we are not merely ‘singled out’
by society,, we are also active participants in our own self and identity
constructions (Bakhurst & Sypnowich 1995; Sarte 1956).
Let us keep in mind that the identity of a person is highlighted by a
dominant which makes him or her distinguishable from others. For
example, in the process of describing a person whose name you cannot
recall, you will find yourself thinking of what remarkable traits that
person have. You, then, start describing that person’s physical
attributes (e.g. tall, dark, heavyweight, etc.). However, this becomes
somehow problematic when that the same traits you are using to
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describe that particular person can also be seen in other people unless
the physical description is so unique and specific to that person (e.g.
the tallest guy in the classroom, around 7 feet).
The problem introduces the concept of the “average category” comes
in with this situation. As the term implies, average connotes that one
is just like everybody else in the group. In this case, several observable
traits should be combined to effectively describe the person (e.g. the
tallest guy in the classroom who has a regional accent…and who uses
blue Jansport bag.).
Let us remember the proverb “no man is an island” which
implies that no one lives and dies for himself or herself alone
(Romans 14:17). It is impossible for a man to isolate himself
from others throughout the duration of his or her life, for we
need the help of others in order to survive life. No one is truly
self-sufficient, everyone must rely on the company and comfort
of other in order to thrive.
As the Greek Philosopher Aristotle once told, “man is by nature
a social animal; society precedes the individual; man cannot
live alone”.
Let us therefore, look into the social factors affecting how a
person view himself or herself.
Social factors refer to the influences of significant people in
one’s life. It primarily includes the family in which most of the
basic attitudinal and behavioral attributes of individuals, which
referred to as the nursery of human nature.
Subsequently, in this social group (family), an individual does
not only acquire biological characteristics through heredity, but
also learn certain behaviors and characters. Thus, similarities
in manners and attitudes are found in the members of the
family.
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During the waning stage, the stage in which the child slowly
gains independence and withdraws from strong and parental or
family attachment, he or she starts identifying with other
people outside of his or her family such as peers, playmates,
classmates referred to as peer group who will also eventually
shape one’s character.
This stage can be critical for some children, especially if the
values that they basically acquire from their respective families
is contradictory to foundation of behavioral characteristics they
require from the family.
Noteworthy to note that, as a child grows older the wider his or
her social connections more and more characteristics are
integrated and that Social Factors are strong foundations of
one’s being.
The characteristics that were acquired from the influences of
the social groups during the formative years are integrated to
form an identity, or uniqueness and similarities with others.
Psychologists refer to this process of character and trait
integration as the formation of personality.
Personality is the individual patterns of thinking, feeling, and
behaving. Personality varies from one person to another.
Studies shown that even identical twins have distinct
personalities. They may share several common characteristics
regardless if they are raised together or apart because they
were born out of a single zygote which carries their parents’
DNA blueprints. Nevertheless, they will still develop individual
identities that make them distinct from one another.
For example, they may have similarities in some manners and
dispositions such as eating patterns and impulsivity, but the way
they interact with others differ – one of them may be outgoing,
while the other is not or the other may be assertive and
diligent, while the other is timid and inattentive.
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Remember, our personalities are very much unique from each
other. One may share commonalities with others, but will still
possess an identity that sets him or her apart from the other.
Therefore, identity does not connote exclusivity or outright
difference against others; instead, it refers to sets of
characteristics that make one a distinct individual.
In conclusion, these influential social groups shape one’s
identity through modeling, imitation, and traits integration.
From the word “environmental” itself, this second factor that
affects someone’s perspective of self has something to with the
environment and surroundings.
Environmental Factors broadly includes the physical and
communal elements present in everyday surroundings and are
invariably dealt with individuals in a specific geographic region
or area.
This factor covers not only the physical properties of the
surroundings such as climate, temperature, forms of land and
the like, but also the larger society or community, as well as
the expectations and norms operating in that particular locality
or place.
For example, a person who grew up in a city where
competitiveness and resiliency are needed in order to survive
would tend to adapt to that kind of environment by consciously
strengthening certain traits and skills that will manifest
competitiveness in terms of communication, intellectual
understanding, building rapport and connections with others.
In the process, the harnessed characteristics become an
integral part of his or her identity.
This is another factor that significantly affects and contribute
to one’s own identity, some of which already operate at the
time of conception in the mother’s womb.
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As mentioned earlier in the discussion of social factor, the
heredity is a biological process by which certain traits and
characteristics are passed from one generation to generation.
Heredity can be referred to as the non-negotiable factor of
understanding the self. It is predisposed, fixed and permanent.
It readily dictates one’s physical attributes such as height,
complexion, hair and eye color; some cognitive traits such as
Intellectual Quotient (I.Q.); and some personal characteristics
such as emotionality, tendencies, upon birth.
This factor will be thoroughly discuss as we go along with this
course.
Of all the factors that affect and contribute to one’s self
concept, this factor is considered as the most controversial
factor.
Person-Volition Factor refers to the inclination of a person
to form and construct a specific identity that will set him
apart from others. Such factor emanates from within the
mentality of an individual, brought about by the aggregated
social-life experiences.
Deviant or non-conformist are both coined terms of
sociologist to a person exhibiting person-volition factor.
Being a deviant or non-conformist is not necessarily
negative, as from this group of people arises trend setters,
revolutionaries, discoverers and inventors, as they see
something which others do not.
As explained in this section, identity is a product of a complex process of
combinations and integrations of traits and characteristics from various
possible sources as discussed: Social, Environmental, Hereditary and
Person-volition Factors.
Some of the traits are acquired consciously and voluntarily while others
are obtained unconsciously and involuntarily.
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Macayan, J., Pinugu, J., & Castillo, J. (2018). Understanding the Self
Outcome-based Module. Quezon City, Metro Manila: C & E Publishing, Inc.
Myers, D., (2013). Social Psychology. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Aronson, E., Wilson, T., Sommers, S. (2019). Social Psychology. New York,
New York : Pearson.
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ASSESSMENT
Name: ______________ Subject: Psychology 1
Course and Section:_____________ Date Submitted:
Given the different traits below, identify the possible source of these traits whether it is social,
environmental, hereditary, or personal volition.
1. Height
2. Culture
3. Family Environment
4. Religion
5. Caring
6. Grumpy
7. Academic Achievement
8. Irritable
9. Weight
10. Eye-color
11. Changing hair-dye
12. Body piercings
13. Tattoos
14. High blood pressure
15. Intellectual Quotient
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