Reviewer in Personal Development

Unit I. self-development

Module 1 : KNOWING ONESELF

Adolescence TROUBLESOME AND CRUCIAL STAGE

It talks about the summary of one’s childhood and an overview of an adult to be.

---The adolescent is expected to establish a strong sense of identity

---Well established support groups helps establish adolescent’s identity.

º DEPENDENCY ON PARENTS AND THEIR GENERAL CONCERN CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO

Adolescents are more open to other people’s faith perspectives.. This is not because they are moving away from
their faith but because they have a realization that other people’s faiths might inform and deepen their own.

MODULE 2: DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON

DIFFERENT DOMAINS OF DEVELOPMENT

PHYSICAL

- Sudden and dramatic changes occur in the adolescent’s body

- Beginning to be very self-conscious, sensitive and worried about their own body changes

- Make a lot of comparison between themselves and their peers

PSYCHOSOCIAL

- Confusion starts to arise in choosing what to believe and what to accept

- Identity VS. Role Confusion

- Period of developing independence

COGNITIVE

- mental capacities

- Begin to think abstractly, reason logically, think hypothetical possibilities, and impossibilities about life

- “Impulsive Decisions”

Puberty – a stage when physiological changes occur in the body that signifies sexual maturity

Primary sex characteristics –parts of human anatomy that are directly responsible procreation or human
reproduction

 Secondary sex characteristics –features of the body that develops during puberty

Identity vs. Role confusion –it is based on Erik Erickson’s) wherein adolescents decide what to believe and what to
accept between the many options of values in life including career options, choosing of friends and even the search
for identity
Module 3: Developmental Stages (middle and late adolescence)

CONFORM –both acting and believing in accordance to the standards, attitudes, practices of society

MATURITY –a process usually experienced by a person entering early adulthood

“Mature individuals are people who learn from their experience and deal with frustration effectively”.

MODULE 4: THE CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE

The function of family especially parents in molding the adolescent to be a better member of society is very
important.

The adolescence gradually proceeds in the transition phase from dependency to independence.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP

Parental rejection

Abuse

Socio-economic status

Early deprivation

Difficulties in communication

Parental affection

Adolescents who receive unconditional love from parents become a better person and self-determined.

A lot of adjustment problems in school are caused by the adolescent’s conception that they are being scrutinized
and evaluated by others

Self-Presentation - presenting oneself to other people to gain favorable impression

MODULE 5: COPING WITH STRESS

Stressors– events and objects that are recognized as threatening or challenging. 

Affect– observed expression of emotion (example: smiling)

 Mood– pervasive and sustained emotional feeling tone (example: happy)

Stress - actions or behavior that are considered to be threatening or challenging to the physiological, emotional or
cognitive aspects of a person.

Stressors/ Sources of Stress - depend on personality, motivation and goals of an individual

Natural Disasters - unfortunate events caused by nature

Frustrating day to day life experiences - unwanted daily experiences

Interpersonal Relationship - Social interaction of an individual

Tension -a term referring to a person’s response to stress

Indicators: physiological and psychological

Physiological indicators - bodily changes that are exhibited by a person in response to tension brought
by stress. can be manifested through emotion, mood or affect (e.g. fear, anxiousness)

Sympathetic Nervous System- Responsible for involuntary physiological responses

Physiological indicators of tension

Increase in heart rate Decrease salivary secretion

Smothering Dilation of pupil

Increase in blood pressure

UNIT II. ASPECTS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

MODULE 6: THE POWERS OF THE MIND

THE BRAIN - carries out and process out information

in charge with the response or actions of an individual

average weight: three (3) pounds or 1350 grams

FRONTAL LOBE

location: front and top of the brain

functions: higher mental processes, decision making, recognition and formulation of speech and
voluntary motor movements

TEMPORAL LOBE

location: behind the temples

functions: sense of hearing and meaningful speech, explicit memory

OCCIPITAL LOBE
location: rear bottom of each hemisphere

contains the visual centers of the brain

PARIETAL LOBE

location: top and back of each cerebral hemisphere

functions: touch, taste and temperature sensations

Neurotransmitters chemicals that carry messages across the synapse or cell body of a receiving neuron

Serotonin – mood ,sleep, and appetite

DOPAMINE - controls sensory experiences involving pleasure

ACETYLCHOLINE – arousal,attention,memory, and muscle contractions

ENDORPHINS – pain relief

NOREPINEPHRINE - involved in arousal and mood

GABA (GAMMA AMINO BUTYRIC ACID) - involved in sleep and inhibits movement

Glands and Hormones

produce chemicals called hormones

Hormones - secreted directly into the bloodstream and

PITUITARY GLAND

location: below the hypothalamus

secretes of growth hormone and other important hormones

master gland

PINEAL GLAND location: brain

- secretes melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep–wake cycle, in response to changes in light

THYROID GLAND location: inside the neck

controls metabolism by secreting thyroxin

too much insulin produces hypoglycemia whereas too little causes diabetes

ADRENAL GLANDS location: topmost part of the kidneys

controls the stress reaction through the adrenal medulla’s secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine

adrenal cortex secretes over 30 different corticoids (hormones) controlling salt intake, stress and sexual
development

ovaries in women and testes in men

secrete hormones to regulate sexual growth, activity and reproduction

MODULE 7: Mental Health and Well-being in Middle and Late adolescence

MENTAL HEALTH - It is a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her own
abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to his/her community.

IS OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO CHALLENGES

AND ABILITY TO BOUNCE BACK AND STAY ON COURSE

WELL-BEING

• Holistic view of mental health.

• The state of being healthy, safe, comfortable and happy.

SIGNS OF A FAILING MENTAL HEALTH

Symptoms: losing interest in pleasurable activities, feeling of restlessness, poor appetite, excessive
eating, insomnia and hypersomnia

• Anxiety - irrational fear and worry towards a situation

• Sudden change of mood - person’s usual mood or behavior is not present anymore

• Poor performance - a person cannot maximize his or her potential due to his or her problem

FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH

• GENETICS

• ENVIRONMENT
 • SOCIAL

DEFENSE MECHANISMS - To minimize anxiety To protect ego

reduces anxiety, assist the individual to adopt and cope with whatever situation he found himself in

Characteristics: operate unconsciously; distort reality; used to protect the ego

RATIONALIZATION

inventing of excuses or reasons for behavior that is inadequate, unacceptable or damaging to personal
integrity and status

• SOUR-GRAPING

Implies that what one sincerely wanted is not worth trying after all.

“We broke up but it’s okay, he wasn’t even cute!”

• SWEET-LEMONING/SUGAR COATING

creating a bogus “brighter side” . The person takes frustration as a form of blessing in disguise or make the activity pleasant even if it is not.

“A girl who is not permitted by her parents to attend a party may find instead that staying at home is more favorable and safe.”

WHY DO WE RATIONALIZE?

person protects himself from self-criticism and criticism from others

operates unconsciously and protects self-esteem without guilt feeling

PROJECTION

unconscious aggression reaction wherein there is a transfer of inadequacies towards an outside object or another
person, individual shifts his or her perception of painful or undesirable situation

injurious to personality adjustment

no constructive use and harmful to relationships

DISPLACEMENT

individual shifts a response or reaction from its original object to less dangerous or threatening object

emotions are redirected towards ideas object or persons

REPRESSION

unconscious forgetting of shameful thoughts, guilt producing memories, painful

EGOCENTRISM
unconscious pretension to superior qualities and traits

REACTION FORMATION

urges that are not acceptable to the consciousness are repressed and opposite attitudes or modes of behavior are
repressed

REGRESSION

escape reaction in which an individual falls back on thoughts, feelings, or behavior which works successfully during
the earlier phase of life

IDENTIFICATION

individual enhances self-esteem by patterning him/herself after another person

Life Instances that can Negatively Affect Your Mental Health

FRUSTRATION

manifested if the individuals’ mental health is affected negatively

happens when a person’s desired goals is blocked by a certain life instances

1. Seeking freedom from parental supervision

The current positive emotional status of the adolescent can be damaged when they fail to achieve their freedom
because of parental prohibitions.

2. Unproductive use of leisure time

adolescents may have a wrong judgment in using their time to things that they perceive enjoyable but
unproductive

individuals who spends their time to things that are unproductive, like going out with friends rather than studying,
can lead to a negative mental health.

3. Sexual/Romantic Relationship

adolescents are seeking intimate relationship and connection with someone

adolescents may experience HEART BREAKS that trigger emotional break down and prolonged loneliness

4. Peer adjustment

some individual fails to develop interpersonal skills that is helpful in social interaction and might trigger the feeling
of isolation which may lead to frustration

5. Career choice

wrong career choice might trigger confusion to the individual and question the circumstances that are happening
to him or her which leads to maladjustments and frustration, and affects the well-being of the adolescents
MODULE 8: Emotional Intelligence

EMOTION - subjective reaction to experience

pleasant emotions tend to foster mental health and efficiency

emotional response depends on the personality of the person

unpleasant emotions destroy bodily functions and are hazardous to mental health

sustain friendship and affection and an ingredient of family life

Physiological changes accompanying emotions

involuntary; not within the conscious control of the individual

mild emotions: corresponding feelings of well-being

strong emotions: bodily changes

- increase in heart beat and blood pressure - impaired digestive function

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Infant – concerned mostly with things that can satisfy his/her physiological needs.

• Few months after birth, emotional responses become differentiated into love, fear, and anger.

• 6th month – shows aggression

• At the end of 1st year – tantrums are shown.

• Tantrums are normal up to the ages 4/5 and are used by the child to get what he or she wants.

• Adolescents – emotions are intense and unstable due to glandular changes and excessive parental restraints.

• Social adjustment is also affected during adolescence.

• Adulthood – adults learn to have more control over the emotion.

EMOTIONAL MATURITY

• Uncontrolled emotional responses should be balance.

• Controlling emotion refers to modifying emotional expression by directing manifestations into useful acts.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

awareness and ability to manage one’s own emotion

person with a high emotional intelligence:

• motivated
 • sensitive to others’ feelings

• good interpersonal and intrapersonal skills

person with poor emotional intelligence:

• difficulty in expressing emotions

• difficulty in interacting with other people

KINDS OF EMOTIONS

POSITIVE EMOTIONS - show positive affect and brought by good and acceptable experiences

Joy and Happiness - a pleasant feeling that follows when a triumphant event happened

Excitement - a positive feeling when a person anticipates something positive is going to happen

Love - strong positive feelings on a person

NEGATIVE EMOTIONS show negative affect and brought about by unwanted life experiences

Anxiety - – an extreme feeling of fear and stress with no apparent reason

Sadness - a feeling of being alone, unwanted and hopeless

Fear - one of the most troublesome and prominent emotions; accompanied with bodily sensations

Anger - occur when a goal of the person is hindered

“assess what is the proper emotional response for the situation.”