Pointers to review in US

BTVTED 1F

Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspective on Self

Philosophy

is derived from the Greek words Philos and Sophia which literally means “Love for Wisdom”. It is the
study of acquiring knowledge through rational thinking and inquiries that involves in answering
questions regarding the nature and existence of man and the world we live in.

SOCRATES

Socrates was concerned with the problem pf the self.

Dualistic every man is composed of body and soul.

“An unexamined life is not worth living.”

“One thing only I knoe, and that is that I know nothing.”

PLATO

Founded the academy; considered as prototype of today’s universities

Dichotomy between ideal (world of form) and material world.

Three components of the soul; rational soul, spirited soul, appetitive soul.

ST. AUGUSTINE

A Saint and a Philosopher of the church, St. Augustine follows the idea that God encompasses us all, that
everything will be better if we are with God.

Two aspects: imperfect (1) and capable of reaching immortality (2)

Goal of the person: To attain communion with the divine.

Man is a Bifurcated nature.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Man is composed of matter and form

Matter (hyle)- common stuff that makes up everything.

Form(morpe)- essence of the living.

RENE DESCARTES

“I think, Therefore I am.”

Father of modern philosophy

Doubts the existence of this own physical body.

Hyperbolical doubt.

JOHN LOCKE

Our identity is not locked in the mind, soul or body only. He included the concept of person’s memory.

Identity is explained in terms of psychological connection between life stages.

Tabulu rasa

DAVID HUME

“All knowledge is derived from human senses”

Influenced by empiricism

Bundle theory- collection of impressions

Impressions- vivid; products of direct experience

Ideas- copies of impressions; imagination

EMMANUEL KANT

a German Philosopher that is known for his works on Empiricism and Rationalism.

Kant argued that the awareness of different emotions that we have, impressions and behavior is only a
part of our self.

Kant argued that the sense called “Transcendental Apperception” is an essence of our consciousness
that provides basis for understanding and establishing the notion of “self” by synthesizing one’s
accumulation of experiences, intuition and imagination goes.
SIGMUND FREUD

an Austrian Psychologist and Physician, he is also known as the father of psychoanalysis and is known for
his work on human nature and the unconscious.

Freud believed that man has different constructs of personality that interacts with each other and along
with his concept of the different levels of consciousness provides an idea how a person develops a sense
of self

ASPECTS OF PERSONALITY

ID- also known as the child aspect of a person, The ID’s attention is on satisfaction of one’s needs and
self-gratification. It is driven by the pleasure principle.

SUPEREGO- is the conscience of the one’s personality, Superego has the inclination to uphold justice
and do what is morally right and socially acceptable actions. The superego is involved in the notion of
right or wrong that is imparted to us by our parents or people that tool care for us during childhood.

EGO - Sometimes known as the Police or the mediator between id and superego. It operates within the
boundaries of reality; primary function is to maintain the impulses of the ID to an acceptable degree.

GILBERT RYLE

Denies the existence of internal, non-physical self.

The self is NOT an eternity one can locate. It is a name we use to refer to all behavior.

PAUL CHURCHLAND

A Canadian philosopher whose focus is on the idea that people should improve our association and use
of words in identifying the self.

He has this idea that the “self” is defined by the movements of our brain.

Churchland’s work revolves around challenging of the notion and terms being used to explain behavior
or to explain how a person feels, thinks, and act with regards to physiological phenomenon that is
happening in the body as well as definitions brought about by emotions, this is one of the notion of the
concept of Folk Psychology also known as common sense psychology.

The main philosophy of Churchland built the idea of “eliminative materialism”.

This leads to his idea of Neurophilosophy, he believed that to fully understand one’s behavior, one
should understand the different neurological movement of the brain that pertains to different emotions,
feelings, actions and reactions and how such brain movements affect the body.
MAURICE JEAN JACQUES MAERLAEAU-PONTY

Is a French philosopher that is known for his works on existentialism and phenomenology.

His idea of the self, regarded that the body and mind are not separate entities, but rather those two
components is one and the same.

His idea that follows the gestalt ideation where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts in which
pushed his idea on the unity of the function of the mind and body, this idea is called the Phenomenology
of Perception.

The idea of Phenomenology of Perception according to Merleau-Ponty is divided into three (3) division,
The Body, The Perceived World, and the People and the world.

Lesson 2: Sociological Perspective of the Self

Sociological Perspective of the Self

Sociology, or the study of how human society is established, its structure and how it works, the people’s
interaction with each other and the effects they have to one another is an aspect in which we have to
consider with regards to the development of a person.

George Herbert Mead and the Social Self

George Herbert Mead is an American Sociologist, he is considered as the Father of American

pragmatism and one of the pioneers in the field of social psychology because of his contributions on the
development of the person relating to various social factors.

The “I” and the “Me”

Mead proposes that there are two components of the self which the person has, these components are
the “I” and the “Me”. The “Me” are the characteristics, behavior, and or actions done by a person that
follows the “generalized others” that person interacts with, while the “I” 16 is the reaction of the
individual to the attitude of others, as well as the manifestation of the individuality of the person.

Mead’s Three Role-playing Stages of Self Development

Mead proposed that there three stages in which a person has to go through for one to develop one’s
self. These stages are the Preparation/Language Stage, Play stage, and Game stage.
Preparatory Stage (Birth – 2 years Old)

– According to Mead, during this stage the infant simply imitates the actions and behaviors of the
people that the infant interacts with.

The Play Stage (2 – 6 years old)

– for the Play stage, it is the time where children begin to interact with other with which certain rules
apply, these rules often time does not adhere to any set or standards but rather are rules that are set by
the children themselves.

Game Stage (6-9 years old)

The final stage of self-development according to Mead where are characterized by the ability of the
children to recognize the rules of the game and be able to identify their roles and the roles of the others
that is playing with them.

Lesson 3: Anthropological Perspective of the Self.

Cultural Identity & National Identity

- Culture is derived from latin word culture or cultus meaning care or cultivation
- It is analogous to caring for an infant.

Cultural identity

- Refers to the identity or feeling of belongingness to a certain culture group.

- It is an individual’s perception about himself or herself anchored on race, gender, nationality,
religion, ethnicity and language.
- Explains why a person acts and behaves the way he or she does.
- It makes sense of how an individual is influenced by the culture contexts he or she is situated in.

Nationality Identity

- Refers to the identity or feeing of belongingness to one state or nation.

- Rupert Emerson, a political scientist, defines it as a “body of people who feel that they are a
nation.”

Material Culture

- Refer to the national flag, emblem or seal and those representing all the people who are part of
nation.

Non-material Culture

- Embodies the shared understanding of a group of a people which includes norms, beliefs, and
traditions.
National identity requires the process of self-categorization.

Brian Morris’ Anthropology of the self

- He reiterated that the self is not an entity but a process that orchestrated an individual’s
personal experience.
- As an result of this process, a person become self-aware and self-reflective about his or her
place in the surrounding world.

Anthropology
The self and the person in contemporary Anthropology

Anthropology and its subdisciplines the academic discipline of anthropology, or “four-field”

anthropology, studies human species and its immediate ancestors includes four main sub disciplines or
sub field- sociocultural, archeological, biological and linguistic anthropology.

The Subdisciplines of Anthropology

1. Cultural Anthropology
Is the study of human society and culture which describes, analyzes, interprets and explains
social and cultural similarities and differences. It explores the diversity of the present and the
past. Ethnography and ethnology are two different activities which can study and interpret
cultural diversity.

Ethnography requires fieldwork to collect data, often descriptive and specific to group. On the
other hand, ethnology uses data collected by a series of researches, usually synthetic and
comparative.

2. Archeological Anthropology
Archeological anthropology reconstructs, describes and interprets human behavior and cultural
patterns through material remains. These materials remain such as plant, animal and ancient
garbage provides stories about utilization and actions.

3. Biological, or Physical Anthropology

Biological, or Physical Anthropology focuses on these special interest, human evolution as
revealed by the fossil, human genetics, human growth and development, human biological
 plasticity and the biology, evolution, behavior and social life of monkeys, apes and other
nonhuman primates.

4. Linguistic Anthropology
Linguistic anthropology studies language in its social and cultural context across space and over
time. Universal features of language are analyzed and association between language and culture
are evaluated.. It also studies how speech changes in social situations and over time.

The Self Embedded in the Culture

Culture refers to customary behavior and beliefs that are passed on through enculturation (Kottak,
2008), wherein enculturation is the social process which culture is learned and transmitted.

Culture is a social process that is learned and passes from generation to the next. Culture depends on
images, which have a specific significance and incentive for individuals who share a culture. Cultural
traditions take regular marvels, including organic desires, and transforming them specifically headings.

Culture defined: Culture is shared, symbolic, natural, learned, integrated, encompassing and
maladaptive and adaptive.

Csordas (1999) elaborated that the human body is not essential for anthropological study but the
paradigm of embodiment can be explored in the understanding culture and the self.

Geertz (1973) described culture as "a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by
means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes
toward life"

Lesson 4: Psychological Perspective of the Self

Psychology

Psychology has various ways of understanding a person and the therapist way of helping people
understand themselves. Self by definition is a reference by an individual to the same individual person.
Having its own or single character as a person, referring to the person as same individual.

“The Self and It Selves”

William James, a psychologist, has introduced in his document The Principles of Psychology (1890) a
numerous concepts and distinction of self. For James, his main concepts of self are the “me-self” and the
“I-self”. The “me-self” is the phenomenal self, the experienced self or the self as known.
The “I-self” is the self-thought or the self-knower. James had claimed that the understanding of Self can
be separated into three categories: “1. Its constituents; 2. The feeling and emotions they arouse – Self-
feelings; 3. The actions to which they prompt – Self-seeking and self-preservation (James, 1890, p162)
Also, James wrote sub-categories of self, 1. the material self; 2. the social self; and 3. the spiritual self.

The Material Self is constituted by our bodies, clothes, immediate family and home. It is in this that we
attached more deeply into and therefore we are most affected by because of the investment we give to
these things. The Social Self is based on our interactions with society and the reaction of people towards
us. It is our social self that thought to have multiple divergence or different version of ourselves.

Conception of Self

Carl Rogers, had come up with his conception of self through the intervention he used for his client, the
Person-Centered Therapy. It is a non-directive intervention because it believes that all people have the
potential to solve their own problems. Rogers believe that people must be fully honest with themselves
in order to have personal discovery on oneself.

In this concept of self, he had come up with three sides of a triangle.

a. The Perceived Self (Self- worth - how the person sees self & others sees him

b. The Real Self (Self Image - How the person really is)

c. The Ideal Self (How the person would like to be)

Concept of Unified and Multiple Self

As DanielCW (2016) wrote in his article “Psychoanalysis vs Postmodern Psychology” he has emphasized
how Freud perceived person as a unified beings and Gergens concept of multiple “selves”

In Freud’s concept, he argued that mind is divided into three connected but distinct parts. The Id, Ego
and Super Ego. Id as the center of primitive, animalistic impulses (sex, food & comfort) following the
pleasure principle. Superego as the center for ethical imperative.

According to Kenneth Gergen, proponent of Post modern Psychology, The individual has many potential
selves. He carries within him the capacity to identify himself, whether warm or cold, dominant or
submissive, sexy or plain.
True Self and Fake Self

True Self, as rooted from early infancy is called the simple being. The sense of self based on
spontaneous authentic experience and feeling of being alive, having “real self”. Example, as a baby we
react base on our sense of reality. The baby reacted spontaneously based on our instinctual sense.

Fake Self, is our defense facade. Overlaying or contradicting the original sense of self. Problem would be
we might build false set of relationship through concealing a barren emptiness behind an independent-
seeming façade

Lesson 5: The Self in Western and Oriental, Eastern Thought.

The Self in Western and Oriental/Eastern Thought

There is a clash of civilization that is plaguing the country right now and though this is not officially and
consciously acknowledged, this war for dominance is victimizing all Filipinos in one form or another.

Western culture basically is about the focus on oneself and personal needs; Eastern culture is about
focus on others and the feeling of others. Western culture is predicated on putting egoism first while
Eastern culture is about collectivism. Conceptually, there is a vast of difference between egoism and
collectivism. While egoism is focused on oneself, collectivism is all about focus on others. While the
Western culture is inclined in more acquisition of material things, the Eastern culture is tilted towards
less assets thus the mantra less is more). Western culture is obsessed with being successful, the eastern
culture is more inclined towards long life; for the Eastern culture, long life is equated with wealth. In the
Eastern culture, wealth and poverty is the result of fortune and luck, for the Western culture, wealth
and poverty is the result of enterprise and hard work. The Eastern culture values the wisdom of years
and seniority, while the Western culture celebrates the youth and being young. Philosophically, the
Eastern culture subscribe to concept of reincarnation while Western culture subscribe to the idea of
evolution. Taken as a whole, these basic and subtle differences between the Eastern culture and the
Western culture are taking its toll on Filipinos on which culture to adopt. The dilemma is whether to
follow and subscribe to the Western influences or subscribe to Eastern ideas

Concept of Self Western and Eastern Thought WESTERN EASTERN

 Self is a social construction which is symbolically and signally created

between and among social beings

 Phenomenological object which can be productively studied through as

series of evanescent actions, self is multidimensional entity

 Self is an interpersonal unit

 Self takes form in communication
  Self is intimately connected to bodily experience both ontogenetically and

here and now awareness

 Self is both phenomenal and non-phenomenal

 Self acquires substance according to semantic, syntactic and pragmatic

 A gentleman by following the moral way consisting of the virtues of love, righteousness, wisdom,
propriety and loyalty in order to promote harmony in society (Confucianism)

 (Theravada) detachment and desirelessness to reach nirvana; reciprocal relationship; (Mahayana)

compassion to other humans for belief that we are part of the same ever-changing universe (Buddhism)

 Attainment of liberation in the identification of Atman (the spiritual essence of all individual human
beings) and Brahman (the spiritual essence of the universe) through the Four Yogas (Hinduism)

 Attainment of liberation in the identification of Atman (the spiritual essence of all individual human
beings) and Brahman (the spiritual essence of the universe) through the Four Yogas (Taoism)

 Concept of Kapwa, recognition of shared identity, an inner self shared with others; Two levels or
modes of social interaction

 ibang-tao or “outsider” and

 hindi ibang-tao or “one-of-us” (Filipino Psychology)

Individualism versus Collectivism INDIVIDUALISM and COLLECTIVISM

People are autonomous and independent from their in-groups

 Give priority to their personal goals of their in-groups

 Behave on their basis of attitudes rather than norms Interdependent within their in-groups

 Give priority to the goals of their in- groups

 In-groups primarily shape their behavior

 Behave in a communal way

 Concerned in maintaining relationship with others

Lesson 6 : Sexual Self
Understanding Basic of Sexual Behavior

Human Sexual behavior is complex and complicated, thus, it is not at all different from other species
(Feldman, 2010). To illustrate; men sexual behavior can occur at any time, by being arouse to certain
stimuli. At puberty, the testes begin to secrete androgens (male sex hormones) which produce
secondary sex characteristics like growth of bodily hair and change in tone of voice.

Male Reproductive System

a. Testis – is the most important part of male reproductive organ. It is the

source of Spermatozoa (male germ cell)
b. Scrotum – it is a sac of skin where the two testes are enveloped; directly
below and outside of the abdomen.
c. Prostate glands – it is a gland that carries out both urine and seminal
fluid. It is connected by sperm ducts from sperm ducts joining into single
tube called urethra. Urethra then leads to the outside of the body through
penis.
d. Penis – it is where the ejaculation occurs by sending sperm cell from testis
and secretes out.
e. Sperm – It is a male gametes, one that is necessary for the egg to develop
and become a baby.

Female Reproductive System

a. Ovary – It is a pair of small, oval organs which produces ova (ovum; female
germ cells). Thousands of ova will mature and will be taken up to the
fallopian tube through the uterus by the time of puberty.
b. Fallopian Tube – are pair of thin tubes that leads from ovaries to the
uterus.
c. Uterus – (womb) it is a hollow pear-shaped elastic muscular structure
where fertilized ovum (zygote) develops into a baby.
d. Vagina – It is a tube leading to outside of the body through an opening
called the vulva.

During the sexual intercourse, the semen from male is discharged in the vagina. The sperms will begin
moving up to the uterus reaching the fallopian tube. During the travel most of the sperms will die while
climbing up the fallopian tube, only one sperm will enter the ovum and can remain alive for only 12
hours.

This zygote (fertilized egg) will form in an embryo from which will enter gestation period. It is around 9
months in time for the woman to give birth.

Physiological Aspects of Sexual Excitement Erogenous Zone

These are part of the body that particularly sensitive to touch, pressure and vibration which contributes
to sexual arousal. Identifying erogenous zone (“hot spots”) gives different reaction and effect to a
person.

Phases of Sexual Response

Although, erogenous zone brings us to sexual arousal which is unique to each individual, people share
same basic aspects of sexual responsiveness. According to Johnson & Master (1966), sexual response
follows a regular pattern consisting of four (4) phases: arousal, plateau, orgasm and resolution.

The arousal phase is a subjective sense of sexual pleasure. The physiological sign in males is penile
tumescence (erection) and vasocongestion to female leads to vaginal lubrication and nipple erection.

The plateau phase is a brief period of time before the orgasm. It is the body’s preparation for orgasm.
The orgasm phase is an intense, highly pleasurable experience. When this phase is reached, rhythmic
muscular contractions occur in the genitals. In male, the contractions expel semen, a fluid containing
sperm, a process called ejaculation. For women and men, breathing and heart rates reach maximum.

Last stage of sexual arousal, the resolution stage where the decrease of arousal (particularly in male)
happens. Genitals resume their unaroused state and shape; blood pressure, breathing and heart rate
return to normal.

Diversity of Sexual Behavior

Sexual behavior transcends in different forms. It may be influenced by not only the basic physiological
aspect of sexuality but also by different expectations, attitudes, beliefs and state of medical and
biological knowledge. It made sexual behavior take a more diverse forms such as heterosexuality,
homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality.

Heterosexuality

Is a sexual attraction and behavior directed to other sex. More than male female intercourse, it involves
kissing, petting, caressing, massaging and other form of sexual activities. Homosexuality and Bisexuality

Homosexuals

is a romantic and/or sexual attraction between members of same sex. Bisexuals are person who can be
romantically or sexually attracted to same sex and the other sex. Some male homosexuals prefer the
term Gay and some female homosexual prefer the term Lesbian. Gays and Lesbian as preference for a
terminology refer not only to their sexual preference but also as Gender preference. These by which
refer to a broader array of attitudes and lifestyle of the individual than the sexuality itself.

Transsexuality

These are people who believed they were born with the body of the other gender. Men transsexuals
believe that they are men in a women’s body and women transsexuals believe that they are women in a
men’s body. Transsexuals sometimes seek sex exchange operations, which undergo several steps such
as intensive sexual counseling, hormone injections, living as member of desired sex for several years,
surgery.

Transgenderism

These are people who view themselves as a third gender, they are transvestites (who wears clothes of
the other gender) or those who believed that traditional male-female classifications inadequately
characterized them.
Natural and Artificial Method of Contraception

As overpopulation and countless cases of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) such as gonorrhea, syphilis
etc., along with the threat of Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the government educates
people the importance of Contraception. There are two kinds of contraception; the Natural
Contraception and the Artificial Contraception.

Natural Contraception

are type of birth control that depend with observations on woman’s body through monitoring and
recording different fertility signals during her menstrual cycle. Through there different methods one may
predict when it is safe or when a woman will more likely to get pregnant. These may be in a form of
abstinence, calendar method, basal body temperature method, cervical mucus method, symptothermal
method, ovulation detection, lactation amenorrhea method and coitus interruptus.

Artificial Method

is diverse method of contraception using to prevent conception of a woman. There are different types of
artificial contraception but not all types are appropriate for all situation. Using artificial contraception
depends on the individual’s health status, age, sexual activity and/or number of partners.

Natural Method of Contraception

Natural Method of Contraception

METHOD RATE OF FAILURE DESCRIPTION

Abstinence 0% Most effective way of birth

control. Done thru abstaining
from sexual intercourse. It is also
the most effective way to avoid
STIs
Calendar Method 25% Also called as the Rhythm
Method. It involves avoiding
coitus during the days that the
woman is fertile.
Basal Body Temperature 9 to 25 % BBT is the woman’s body
temperature at rest. Done by
monitoring the changes in the
woman’s temperature every
morning before any activity. A
slight increase and decrease in
her temperature will be her sign
 of ovulation (fertile). This period
the woman must abstain from
mating for the next three days.
Cervical Mucus Method 25% Here the basis is the changes in
the cervical mucus during the
ovulation. According to this
method a woman is fertile when
the cervical mucus is profuse and
watery. During this time, she
must avoid coitus during this day
Symptothermal Method 2% t is a combination of Basal Body
Temperature (BBT) and Cervical
Mucus Method.
Ovulation Detection 25% It is an over-the-counter kit that
requires a urine specimen to
detect the Luteinizing Hormone
(LH) to predict ovulation
Lactation Amenorrhea Method 2% This is exclusive for breastfeeding
woman. Thus, it should be noted
that the woman is advise to
choose other method after
period of three months or if the
mother is not exclusively
breastfeeding or is using formula
drink for the baby
Coitus Interruptus 75% The oldest method of
contraception. This is where the
couple proceeds with coitus but
the moment he ejaculates, the
men withdraw before emit
spermatozoa outside of the
vagina.

ARTIFICIAL METHOD OF CONTRACEPTION

METHOD DESCRIPTION

Oral Contraception It is known as the “Pill”. Contains synthetic

estrogen and progesterone. It is recommended
to take the pill on the first Sunday after the
beginning of the menstrual flow
Transdermal Patch It is a patch applied in the following areas; upper
outer arm, Upper torso, abdomen or buttocks
for three weeks.
Vaginal Ring Releases a combination of estrogen and
progesterone and surrounds the cervix. It
remains in there for 3 weeks. It was removed on
the fourth week as menstrual period flows. The
woman becomes fertile as soon as the ring is
removed.
Subdermal Implants It is a two rod-like implants under the skin of the
woman during her menstruation or on the 7th
day of her menstruation to make sure that she
will not get pregnant. It contains etonogestrel,
desogestrel and progestin. Have a 1% failure
Hormonal Injections This injection prevents ovulation and cause
change in the Cervical mucus. It has an almost
100% effectiveness. And one of the most popular
choice for birth control.
Intrauterine Device (IUD) It is a small T-shaped object inserted in uterus
thru vagina to prevent fertilization. It is done
only by a physician right after the woman’s
menstruation to be sure that she is not
pregnant.
Chemical Barriers These are used to cause death of the sperm
before it can enter the cervix of the woman.
These are spermicides, vaginal gels and creams,
and glycerin films.
Diaphragm Inhibits the entrance of into the vagina. It should
not be left in place for more than 24hours to
avoid irritation. It has a failure rate of 16%.
Condoms Male Condom is a synthetic rubber sheath that is
placed in the Erect penis before penetration to
avoid the sperm to enter the vagina during the
ejaculation Female Condom is also a synthetic
rubber placed against the vaginal opening to
prevent the sperm to enter the vaginal during
the ejaculation
Surgical Methods Vasectomy is a procedure done to male through
small incision made on each side of the scrotum
to block the passage of sperms. Tubal Ligation is a
procedure done to female through cutting,
cauterizing, or blocking the fallopian tube to
inhibit the passage of both sperm and the ova.