Course Title: Understand the Self

Course Description:

The course deals with the nature of identity, as well as the factors and forces that affect the development
and maintenance of personal identity.

The directive to Know Oneself has inspired countless and varied ways to comply. Among the questions
that everyone has had to grapple with at one time or other is “Who Am I?” At no other period is this
question asked more urgently than in adolescence – traditionally believed to be a time of vulnerability
and great possibilities. Issues of self and identity are among the most critical for the young.

This course is intended to facilitate the exploration of the issues and concerns regarding self and identity
to arrive at a better understanding of one’s self. It strives to meet this goal by stressing 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 while enabling them to manage and
improve their selves to attain a better quality of life.

The course is divided into three major parts: The first part seeks to understand the construct of the self
from various disciplinal perspectives: philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and psychology – as well as the
more traditional division between the East and West – each seeking to provide answers to the difficult
but essential question of “What is the self?” And raising, among others, the question: “Is there even such
a construct as the self?”

The second part explores some of the various aspects that make up the self, such as the biological and
material up to and including the more recent Digital Self.

The third and final part identifies three areas of concern for young students: learning, goal setting, and
managing stress. It also provides for the more practical application of the concepts discussed in this course
and enables them hand-on experience of developing self-help plans for self-regulated learning, goal
setting and self-care.

This course includes the mandatory topics on Family Planning and Population Education.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

The Self from Various Perspectives

1. Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from various disciplinal
perspectives
2. Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across different disciplines and
perspectives
3. Examine the different influences, factors, and forces that shape the self
4. Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in analysing the development of one’s self and identity
by developing a theory of the self
Unpacking The Self

1. Explore the different aspects of the self and identity

2. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self and identity
3. Identify the different forces and institutions that impact the development of various aspects of
self and identity
4. Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self discussed in class

Managing and Caring for the Self

1. Understand the theoretical underpinnings for how to manage and care for different aspects of
the self
2. Acquire and hone new skills and learnings for better managing of one’s self and behaviors
3. Apply these new skills to one’s self and functioning for a better quality of life.

Number of Hours: 3 hours every week / 54 hours in a semester

Topic:
1. The Self From Various Perspectives
a. Philosophy
i. Socrates
ii. Plato
iii. Augustine
iv. Descartes
v. Locke
vi. Hume
vii. Kant
viii. Freud
ix. Ryle
x. Churchland
xi. Merleau-Ponty
b. Sociology
i. The self as a product of modern society among other onstructions
ii. Mead and the social self
c. Anthropology
i. The self and person in contemporary anthropology
ii. The self embedded in culture
d. Psychology
i. The Self as a Cognitive Construction:
1. William James and the Me-Self; I-Self
2. Global vs Differentiated models
3. Real and Ideal Self Concepts
4. Multiple vs Unified Selves
5. True vs False Selves
ii. The Self as Proactive and agentic
iii. The Self in Western/Oriental Thought
iv. Individualistic vs Collective Self
v. The Self as embedded in relationships and through spiritual development in
Confucian thought
2. Unpacking the Self
a. THE PHYSICAL SELF: The self as impacted by the body
i. The impact of culture on body image and self-esteem: The Importance of Beauty
b. THE SEXUAL SELF:
i. Development of Secondary Sex Characteristics and the Human Reproductive
System
ii. Discussing the Erogenous Zones
iii. Understanding the Human Sexual Response
iv. The Basic Biology of Sexual Behavior
v. Understanding the Chemistry of Lust, love and attachment
 vi. The Psychological Aspect: What Turns People ON – The Phases of Sexual
Response
vii. The Diversity of Sexual Behavior: Solitary, Heterosexual, homosexual and
bisexual
viii. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
ix. Methods of Contraception (Natural and Artificial)
c. THE MATERIAL/ECONOMIC SELF:
i. I Shop, therefore I am: I have therefore I am?
ii. Shaping the way we see ourselves: The Role of consumer culture on our sense
of self and identity
d. THE SPIRITUAL SELF: The practice of religion: belief in supernatural being and power
i. The concept of “dungan” – spirit or soul
ii. Rituals and Ceremonies
1. The Function of Rituals
2. Religion, Magic and Witchcraft
iii. Finding and creating meaning
1. Three ways of discovering meaning in life
e. THE POLITICAL SELF:
i. Developing a Filipino Identity: Values, Traits, Community and Institutional
factors
ii. Establishing a democratic culture
f. THE DIGITAL SELF: Self and other in Cyberspace
i. I, me myself and my user ID online Identity
ii. Selective Self presentation and impression management
iii. Impact of Online Interactions on the Self
iv. Boundaries of the Self Online: private vs public; personal/individual vs social
identity online; gender and sexuality online
3. Managing and Caring for the Self
a. Learning to be a better student
i. What happens during learning? Brain and behaviour changes
ii. Metacognition and study strategies
iii. Managing your own learning: Self-Regulated learning
b. Setting goals for Success
i. The importance of Goals
ii. Bandura’s Self-efficacy, Dweck’s Mindset (growth vs fixed)
iii. Locke’s goal setting theory
c. Taking charge of one’s health
i. Stressors and Responses
ii. Sources of coping and strength
iii. Stress and Filipinos: The Social and Cultural Dimensions of Stress
iv. Taking Care of the Self: The need for self-care and compassion
Learning Outcomes
1. Introduction to Course
2. The Self from Various Perspectives
a. Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from various
disciplinal perspectives
b. Examine the different influences, factors and forces that shape the self
c. Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across the different
disciplines and perspectives
d. Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in analysing the development of one’s self
and identity by developing a theory of the self
3. Unpacking the Self
a. Explore the different aspects of self and identity
b. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self and
identity
c. Identify the different forces and institutions that impact the development of various
aspects of self and identity
d. Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self discussed in class
4. Managing and Caring for the Self
a. Understand the theoretical underpinnings for how to manage and care for different
aspects of the self
b. Acquire and hone new skills and learnings for better managing of one’s self and
behaviors
c. Apply these new skills to one’s self and functioning for a better quality of life
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Course Map
General Education Learning Outcomes
The Self Managing
from Unpacking and
A. INTELLECTUAL COMPETENCIES (Knowledge)
Various the Self Caring for
Perspectives the Self
L
1. Analyze “texts” (written, visual, oral, etc.) critically X
2. Demonstrate proficient and effective communication
X
(writing, speaking, and use of new technologies)
3. Use basic concepts across the domains of knowledge X X X
4. Demonstrate critical, analytical, and creative thinking X X X
5. Apply different analytical modes in problem solving X
P
B. PERSONAL AND CIVIC COMPETENCIES (Values)
1. Appreciate the complexity of the human condition X X X
2. Interpret the human experience from various
X X
perspectives
3. Examine the contemporary world from both
X X
Philippine and global perspectives
4. Take responsibility for knowing and being a Filipino X X
5. Reflect critically on shared concerns X X
6. Generate innovative practices and solutions guided
X
by ethical standards
7. Make decisions based on moral norms and
X
imperatives
8. Advocate respect for human rights X X X
C. PRACTICAL SKILLS (Skills)
O
1. Work effectively in a group X X X
2. Apply computing tools to process information
effectively
3. Use current technology to assist and facilitate
X
learning and research
4. Negotiate the world of technology responsibly X
5. Create solutions to problems in various fields
6. Manage one’s knowledge, skills, and values for
X X
responsible and productive living
7. Organize one’s self for lifelong learning X X X
Legend:
L = Facilitates learning of the competencies (input is provided and competency is evaluated)

P = Allows student to practice competencies (no input but competency is evaluated)

O = Opportunity for Development (no input or evaluation but there is opportunity to practice the competencies