welcome to

UNDERSTANDING
JUNIX JERALD I. DELOS SANTOS, RPm, LPT
1st semester, s.y. 2019-2020
THE SELF 0
 UNDERSTANDING THE SELF (THSELF1)
DEPARTMENT Psychology

SCHOOL Teacher Education and Liberal Arts

SEMESTER AND SCHOOL YEAR 1st Semester, S.Y. 2019-2020

NUMBER OF UNITS Three (3)

FACULTY Mr. Junix Jerald I. Delos Santos, RPm, LPT

CONSULTATION HOURS TBA

By appointment
Psychology Faculty Room (H203-2)

Course Description
This course deals with the nature, factors, and forces that affect the development and
maintenance of a personal identity. This course intends to facilitate a better understanding of the
self and stresses the integration of the personal with the academic—contextualizing matters
discussed in the classroom and in the everyday experiences of students—making for better
learning, generating a new appreciation for the learning process and developing a more critical
and reflective attitude in the individual. This course is divided into three major parts. The first part
seeks to understand the construct of the self from various disciplinal perspectives. The second
part explores the various aspects that make up the self in relation to nature (biological) and
nurture (environmental). The third and final parts identifies the three areas related to learning,
goal setting, and managing stress. It provides more practical application of concepts discussed
throughout the course enabling the students to have hands-on experience in developing self-help
plans, self-regulated learning, goal setting, and self-care.

Course Prerequisites
 None

References
 No required references

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Course Outline
CHAPTER TOPIC WEEK NUMBER
SUBJECT ORIENTATION
ψ Classroom policies
ψ Leveling of expectations August 5, 2019
ψ Overview of the course
ψ Class requirements
PART ONE: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES
UNIT I PHILOSOPHY
ψ Socrates, Plato and Augustine
ψ Descartes
ψ John Locke
ψ David Hume
August 5 & 6, 2019
ψ Immanuel Kant
ψ Sigmund Freud
ψ Gilbert Ryle
ψ Paul Churchland
ψ Maurice Merleau-Ponty
UNIT II SOCIOLOGY
ψ The Self as a product of modern society among other
August 12, 2019
constructions
ψ Mead and the Social Self
UNIT III ANTHROPOLOGY
ψ The Self and person in contemporary anthropology
ψ The Self in western and oriental/eastern thought
o Individualistic vs. Collective Self August 13 & 19, 2019
o The Social Construction of the Self in Western Thought
o The Self as embedded in relationships and through spiritual
development in Confucian Thought
UNIT IV PSYCHOLOGY
ψ The Self as a cognitive construction
ψ Global vs. Differentiated models
August 20, 27, &
ψ Real and Ideal self-concepts
September 2, 2019
ψ Multiple vs. Unified selves
ψ True vs. False selves
ψ The Self as Proactive and Agentic
FIRST GRADING EXAMINATION September 3, 2019
PART TWO: UNPACKING THE SELF
UNIT V PHYSICAL SELF
ψ The Self as impacted by the body September 9 & 10,
ψ The impact of culture on body image and self-esteem: The 2019
imperative beauty
UNIT VI SEXUAL SELF
September 16 & 17,
ψ Understanding the human sexual response
2019
ψ The diversity of sexual behavior

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 ψ Sexually transmitted diseases
ψ Methods of contraception (natural and artificial)
UNIT VII MATERIAL AND ECONOMIC SELF
ψ Extensions of the self
September 23 & 24,
ψ “Contamination” of the self using Goffman’s modes of
2019
contamination
ψ Economic self (i.e., buying power)
UNIT VIII DIGITAL SELF
ψ Millennials as digital natives
September 30, &
ψ Challenges in the life of a digital native
October 1, 2019
ψ Self-concept, self-esteem, self-presentation and the social
media
UNIT IX POLITICAL SELF
ψ 21st century values among millennials as learned from the
family and society October 7 & 8, 2019
ψ Levels of participation using Roger Hart’s ladder of
participation
MIDTERM EXAMINATION October 15, 2019
UNIT X SPIRITUAL SELF
ψ Function of spirituality and religion
ψ Elements of religion (supernatural beings, religious specialists
October 21, 22, & 28,
and shamans, rituals, rites of passage)
2019
ψ Contemplative practices
ψ The meaning of life by Viktor Frankl
ψ Ikigai
PART THREE: MANAGING AND TAKING CARE OF THE SELF
UNIT XI MINDSET IN RELATION TO GOAL ACHIEVEMENT
ψ Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory October 29,
ψ Dweck’s mindset theory November 4, 5, & 11,
ψ Grit: The power of passion and perseverance (Angela 2019
Duckworkth)
UNIT XII MANAGING THE SELF AND TAKING CHARGE OF ONE’S
HEALTH
ψ Stress management and positive psychology
ψ Stress and stressors
November 12, 18,
ψ Impact of stress to the body and mental health
19, 25, & 26, 2019
ψ Stress and Filipinos: The social and cultural dimensions of
stress
ψ Taking care of the self: The need for self-care and self-
compassion
FINAL EXAMINATION December 2/3, 2019

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Course Requirements
 Requirements are given throughout the semester in order to monitor and evaluate your progress
in the course. Most course requirements (e.g., unit quizzes, homework, worksheets, etc.) are
announced; however, there are also some class activities (e.g., seatwork, etc.) that may be
unannounced as they are fused into the class discussions.

Classroom Policies
1. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
 I expect you to manifest academic integrity at all times. Students caught cheating,
plagiarizing, and doing other forms of dishonorable conduct shall be dealt with strictly
according to the Code of Conduct (Article XII, Section 1) of the UB Student Handbook
(2014).

2. ACTIVE AND SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

 You are expected to have read the assigned reading(s) before class and contribute to the
discussion. Learning in the class should not be approached at the strategic and surface
level only, rather it should always be approached at a deep level. That is, being able to
understand concepts and apply them to new situations, and explain ideas using novel
examples.

3. LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING

 Please put your mobile devices in silent or airplane mode while the class is ongoing. If you
are expecting an important call, kindly inform me ahead of time. The use of gadgets in class
is discouraged as it affects your focus and attention in the discussion.
 Laptops may be used for note-taking but taking down notes is highly encouraged. Studies
show that writing longhand helps students process information better than note-taking
using laptops or gadgets. However, there will be times when you will be asked to bring
your laptops for class activities and experiments.
 Studying and doing requirements for other classes is NOT allowed.

4. ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY

 Attendance is checked on the first and the last 10 minutes of the class. If you come to class
at the 10th up to the 15th minute, you are marked “tardy.” Three tardy marks are equivalent
to one absence. If you leave the classroom and stay out for the duration of the class period
without the instructor’s permission, you shall be marked absent.
 I will drop your Attendance Monitoring Card once you incur 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 absences.
The maximum allowable absence is 20% of the prescribed number of class or laboratory
periods during the semester. That is equivalent to 18 meetings for Experimental
Psychology. You shall be given a failing grade in case you incur absences more than the
maximum allowed number of absences.
 The policy of No Attendance Monitoring Card, No Entry is strictly implemented. For the
policies on readmission, refer to Article VI, Section 4 of the UB Student Handbook (2014).

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5. ASSESSMENT TASKS
 Assessment tasks (e.g., seatwork, homework, class activities, etc.) are given throughout
the semester and may be announced or unannounced. Major assessment tasks such as
quizzes, examinations, and group presentations are all announced and scheduled. We have
three major examinations throughout the semester: First Grading, Midterm, and Final
Examinations.
 In case of special and completion examinations, please refer to Article VII, Sections 2-5 of
the UB Student Handbook (2014).

6. ONLINE CLASSROOM
 You are required to make an account on Edmodo and join the online classroom. This will
facilitate easier and faster communication with regard to announcements for the class
(e.g., class suspensions, online class activities, and homework) and sharing of handout and
readings.

7. CONSULTATION
 You are free to drop by the Psychology Faculty Room (H203-2) during the indicated
consultation hours; however, you are encouraged to schedule consultations in advance.
The instructor may only be contacted via Edmodo or email at
junixdelossantos@gmail.com. Expect a response within 48 hours.