SUMMARY OF LESSONS ON
The Political Self
GE 09 (UNDERSTANDING
THE SELF)
Self from various Perspectives
A. Philosophy
 Socrates, Plato and Augustine
to Descartes, Locke, Hume,
Kant, Freud, Ryle,
Churchland and Merleau-
Ponty - all try to answer the
question who are you?
B. Sociology
 The self as a product of
modern society among other
constructions.
 Mead and the social self
C. Anthropology
 The Self and person in
contemporary anthropology.
 The self-embedded in
culture
D. Psychology
•The Self as a
Cognitive Construction:
William James and the Me-
Self; I-Self
-Global vs differentiated
models
-Real and Ideal self-
concepts
- Multiple vs Unified
selves
- True vs false selves
• The Self as Proactive and
Agentic
E. The Self in Western and
Oriental/Eastern Thought
 The Self as Proactive and
Agentic
 The Self in Western and
Oriental/Eastern Thought
 Individualistic vs Collective
self
 The Social Construction of
the Self in Western thought
 The Self as embedded in
relationships and through
spiritual development in
Confucian thought
Unpacking the Self E.
A. The Physical Self: The self as  Developing a Filipino
impacted by the body Identity: Values, Traits,
 The impact of culture on Community and Institutional
body image and self Esteem: factors.
The importance of beauty.  Establishing a democratic
culture.
B. Sexual Self F. THE DIGITAL SELF: Self
 Development of Secondary and other in cyberspace
sex characteristics and the  I, me, myself and my user
human reproductive system ID online identity.
 Discussing the Erogenous  Selective self-presentation
Zones and impression
 Understanding the Human management.
sexual response  Impact of online Interactions
 The basic biology of sexual on the self.
behavior Understanding the  Boundaries of the self-
Chemistry of lust, love and online: private vs public;
attachment The personal/ individual vs
Psychological aspect: social identity online;
 What turns people on: the gender and sexuality online.
phases of sexual response
 The diversity of sexual Managing and Caring for the
behavior: solitary, Self
heterosexual, homosexual, A. Learning to be a better
bisexual and transsexual. student
 Sexually transmitted  What happens during
diseases-(STIs) learning? Brain and
 Methods of Contraception behavior changes.
(natural and artificial)  Metacognition and study
strategies.
C. The Material/Economic Self  Managing your own
 I shop, therefore I Am: I learning: Self-regulated
have, therefore I am? learning.
 Shaping the way we see
ourselves: The role of
consumer culture on our B. Setting goals for Success
sense of self and identity.  The importance of goals
Bandura's Self efficacy,
D. THE SPIRITUAL SELF: The Dweck's Mindset (growth vs
practice of religion: belief in fixed).
supernatural being and power  Locke's goal setting theory.
 The concept of "dungan" -
spirit or soul C. Taking charge of one's health
 Rituals and ceremonies:  Stressors and responses
- The function of rituals  Sources of coping and
- Rituals and ceremonies strength
- Religion, Magic and  Stress and Filipinos: The
Witchcraft social and cultural
 Finding and creating dimensions of stress.
meaning - Three ways of  Taking care of the self:
discovering meaning in life. The need for self-care and
compassion.