SCHOOL OF TEACHER EDUCATION AND LIBERAL ARTS

General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 Website: www.ubaguio.edu E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

THSELF1
S.Y 2023-2024

Course Description
This course deals with the nature, factors, and forces that affect the development and maintenance
of 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: philosophy, sociology, anthropology,
and psychology – as well as the more traditional division between the East and West – each
seeking to provide answers to the essential question “What is the self?” The second part explores
the various aspects that make up the self in relation to nature (biological) and nurture
(environmental). The third and final part identifies the three areas related to learning, goal setting,
and managing stress. It also provides for the 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. Finally, this course includes mandatory
topics on Family Planning and Population Education.

Course Objectives
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. Demonstrates critical and reflective thought in analyzing the development of one’s self
and identity by developing a theory of the self.

Unpacking the Self

5. Explore the different aspects of self and identity
6. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought it integrating the various aspects of self and
identity
7. Identify the different forces and institutions that impact the development of aspects of
self and identity
8. Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self, discussed in class

Managing and Caring For The Self

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

Number of Units/Hours : 3 units (18 weeks, 54 hours)

Pre-requisite : none

1 | Page
 UNIT TOPICS NUMBER OF HOURS
COURSE OVERVIEW ∙ UB VMGO 1 hr
∙ Course Objectives
∙ Class Expectation Setting
∙ Course Requirements
∙ Grading System
Unit 1. THE SELF FROM A.​ Philosophy 4 hrs WEEK 1
VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES ∙ Socrates, Plato, and
Augustine to Descartes,
Locke, Hume, Kant,
Freud, Ryle, Churchland,
and Merleu-Ponty all try
to answer the question:
“Who are you?”
B.​ Sociology 4 hrs WEEK 2
∙ The Self as a product of
modern society among
other constructions
∙ Mead and the social self
∙Bronfenbrenner’s
Ecological System
Theory
C.​ Anthropology 3 hrs WEEK 3
∙ The Self and person in
contemporary
anthropology
∙ Elements of Culture
(Language, Symbol,
Ritual, Beliefs, Values,
Norms, and Cognitive
Elements.)
D.​ Psychology 3 hrs WEEK 4
∙ 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 3 hrs WEEK 5
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

2 | Page
 spiritual development in
Confucian Though
FIRST GRADING EXAM 1 hr WEEK 6
UNIT II UNPACKING THE A. The Physical Self 3 hrs WEEK 7
SELF ∙ Genetics
∙ Genetic Disorders
∙ Overview of Physical and
Sexual Development
B. The Sexual Self - Human 3 hrs WEEK 8
Sexuality with emphasis on
Responsible Adolescent
Sexual Behavior
∙ Contraception based on the
context of Responsible
Adolescent Sexual Behavior
∙ Sternbeg’s Theory of Love
∙ Love- Language
C. The Material/Economic 3 hrs WEEK 9
Self ∙ Extensions of the Self
(Forms of Extensions to
Other People, Material
Possessions, Pets)
D. The Spiritual Self 2hrs WEEK 10
∙ Spirituality vs. Religion
∙ Function of Spirituality and
Religion
∙ Elements of Religion
(Supernatural Beings,
Religious Specialists and
Shamans, Rituals, Rites of
Passage)
∙ Contemplative Practices
∙ The Meaning of Life by
Viktor Frankl
E.The Political Self 2hrs WEEK 11
∙ 21st-century values
among Millennials as
learned from the Family
and Society
∙ Levels of Participation
using Roger Hart’s
Ladder of Participation
F. The Digital Self 3 hrs WEEK 12
∙ I, me, myself, and my
user ID online identity
∙ Millennials as Digital
Natives
∙ Challenges in the Life of
a Digital Native
∙ Self-Concept,
Self-Esteem,
Self-Presentation, and the
Social Media
MIDTERM EXAM 1 hr WEEK 13
UNIT III MANAGING AND A.​ Learning to be a 1 hr WEEK 14
CARING FOR THE SELF better student
∙ What happens during
learning

3 | Page
 ∙ Metacognition and study
strategies
∙ Managing your own
self-regulated learning
B.​ Setting goals for 1 hr WEEK 14
success
∙ The importance of goals
∙ Bandura’s Self-efficacy;
Dweck’s Mindset
(Growth vs fixed)
∙ Locke’s goal-setting
theory
C.​ Taking charge of 1 hr WEEK 15
one’s health
∙ Stressors and responses
∙ Sources of coping and
strength
∙ Stress and Filipinos: the
social and cultural
dimensions of stress
∙ Taking care of the self:
the need for self-care and
compassion
FINAL EXAM 1 hr WEEK 16

COURSE OUTLINE

INTEGRATION OF UBIAN GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES (GA), INTERNATIONAL

FRAMEWORK,

AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

UBIAN GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES (GA)

SPECIFIC TOPIC(S) WHERE THE UBIAN ATTRIBUTE IS

GA PAGE NO. WEEK NO.
INCORPORATED
Critical and 5 WEEK 1 The Philosophical Self
Creative
Thinking 27 WEEK 4 Psychological Perspective
Active and Life 40 WEEK 7 The Physical Self
Long Learner
47 WEEK 8 The Sexual Self

69 WEEK 11 The Political Self

Reflective 69 WEEK 11 The Political Self
Leader
Effective 56 WEEK 9 Material Self
Communicator 62 WEEK 10 Digital Self
84
WEEK 14 Goal Setting
4 | Page
 93 WEEK 15 Stress Management
Service Driven 14 WEEK 2 Sociological Perspective
Citizen WEEK 3 Anthropological Perspective
21

INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK

PAGE WEEK SPECIFIC TOPIC(S) WHERE THE

INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK
NO. NO. FRAMEWORK IS INCORPORATED

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)

SDG PAGE NO. WEEK NO. SPECIFIC TOPIC(S) WHERE THE SDG IS INCORPORATED

SDG 4 33 5 The Self in Western and Oriental Thoughts

SDG 5 40 7 The Physical Self

47 8 The Sexual Self

SDG 10 69 11 The Political Self
SDG 3 93 15 Stress Management and Positive Psychology
SDG 16 69 11 The Political Self

UB Core SDGs: SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG
17: Partnerships for the Goals
School Priority SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 6:
SDGs: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy,
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and
Infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible
Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG
15: Life on Land, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
REFERENCES
Available in the library:
Banalo, R.J.S., Labotorio, L.G. & Prudente, A.B.Jr. (2015). General psychology. Manila :
Mindshapers Co., Inc.
Brawner, D.G & Arcega, A. F. (2018). Understanding the self. Queson City: C & E Publishing,
Inc.
Mavor, K.I., Platow, M.J. & Bizumic, B. (eds). (2017). Self and identity in social contexts.
London : Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa Business.
Myers, D.G. (2013) Social psychology. (11th ed.). New York, NY : McGraw-Hill.
Rathus, S. A. (2018). Indtroductory psychology. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning.
Ryle, R. (2012). Questioning gender : a sociological exploration. Los Angeles: SAGE/Pine
Forge Press.
Santrock, J.W (2011). Life-span development . 13th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Shaffer, D. (2014). Developmental psychology : childhood and adolescence. (9th ed.). Australia
: Wadsworth Cengage Learning
Shultz & Shultz (2017). A history of modern psychology 10th edition. WADSWORTH

CENGAGE Learning.

Other references of the teacher (not in the library):

5 | Page
Alata, E.J.P., Caslib, B.N.Jr.; Serafica, J.P.J. & Pawilen, R.A. (2018) Understanding the self. (1st
ed.). Manila: Rex Publishing Company.

Belk, R.W. (1988) The journal of consumer research, 15:2, pp. 139-168 USA: The University of
Chicago Press Stable retrieved October 9, 2018 from URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2489522

Bjorklund & Blasi, (2012). Child and adolescent development: An integrated

​ approach. USA: Cengage Wadsworth Learning.

Brehm, S. K. (2005 ). Social Psychology. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Caordas, T. (1999) Self and person in the book by Bode (ed) Psychological anthropology.
Praeger

Cziksentmihalyi, M. (2014). Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology:The Collected

Works of Mihalyi Cziksentmihalyi. Claremont,CA: Springer

Dittmer, H. (1992). The Individual centered approach: material possessions as parts of the
extended self (pp. 41-64) and possessions as symbolic expressions of identity in the ​ social ​
psychology of material possessions. (pp. 95-121) St. Martin’s Press.

Doronilla, ML (1997). :An overview of Filipino perspectives on democracy and citizenships .”

(pp. 69-112). UP TWSC

Dunlowski, J., Rawson, K.A., Marsh, E.J., Nathan, M.J. & Willingham, D.T. (2013). Improving
Students’ Learning with Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directsion from Cognitive ​
and

Educational Psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest. 14(1), pp 4-58. Doi:
10.1177/1529100612453266

Fessler, L. (2018). Angela Duckworth’s “Grit”. Retrieved from

https://qz.com/work/1233940/angela-duckworth-explains-grit-is-the-key-to-success-and-s
elf-confidence/

Frankl, V. (1959). Man’s Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy. Part 2: Basic
Concepts of Logotherapy, pp. 149-210).

Frith, E. (2017). Social media and children’s mental health: A review of the evidence. United
Kingdom: Education Policy Institute.

Geertz, C. (1973). The Impact of the concept of culture and the concept of man. The
interpretation of ​ culture. Basic Books.

Gilovich, T. K. (2017). Social Psychology. New York: W.W. Norton Company.

Haviland, et.al. (2007) Spirituality, Religion and the Supernatural in the Essence of
Anthropology. Thomson Wadsworth, pp. 289-306.

Handbook of Positive Psychology. Oxford University Press.

Hegelson, V.S. (2012). The psychology of gender. (4th ed.). USA: Pearson

​ Education, Inc.

Henley, T.B. (2017). Hergenhahn’s an introduction to the history of psychology.

Retrieved from https://books.google.com

6 | Page
Hogg, M.A & Vaughan, G.M. (2010). Essentials of social psychology. England:

Pearson Education Limited

KMPG. (2017). Meet the Millennials. United Kingdom: KMPG

Kimmel, A.J. (2015). People and products: Consumer behavior and product

design. USA: Routledge.

Neff, K. (2012). The Science of Self Compassion in Germer and Siegel (eds).

O’Keefe, G., Clarke-Pearson, K., & Council on Communications and Media (2011). Clinical
report: The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-0054

Otig, V. S., Gallinero, W. B., Bataga, N. U., Salado, F. B., & Visande, J. C. (2018). A holistic
approach in understanding the self: A workbook-textbook for college students. Malabon
City, Philippines: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.

Patchin, W. &. (2017). Digital Self-Harm Among Adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 1-6.
Przbylski, A.K., & Weinstein, N. (2017). A large-scale test of the Goldilocks hypothesis:
Quantifying the relations between digital screen use and the mental well-being of
adolescents. Psychological Science, 28(2), 204-215.

Przbylski, A.K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C., & Gladwell, V. (2013). Motivational, emotional, and
behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4),
1841-1848.

Quinatocan-Pestaňo, A.E. & Almerez-Wong, M. (2018). Understanding the self. Cebu:

University of San Jose Recoletos.

Singh, S. (2008). The concept of physical self in psychology. Retrieved September

​ 19, 2018 from ​ https://www.all-about-psychology.com/

Sternberg, R. Duplex theory of love: Triangular theory of love and theory of love

as a story. Retrieved September 24, 2018 from http://www.robertjsternberg.com/love/

Vinluan, M. (2012). Adolescent and youth health program. Retrieved October

​ 1, 2018 from www.ncpdc.gov.ph.

Ward, A., Duke, K., Gneezy, A., & Bos, M. (2017). Brain drain: The mere presence of one’s own
smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity. Journal of the Association of
Consumer Research, 2(2), 140-154.

Urdan (1991). Achievement Goal Theory: Past Results, Future Directions. Advances in
Motivation and Achievement. (10), pp. 99-141.

Yates, Miranda and Youniss, James, (1998). "Community service and political

​ identity development in adolescence". Civic Engagement

​ 21.https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/slceciviceng/2

Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey (2013). University of the Philippines, Quezon City:
Demographic Research and Development Foundation, Inc.

7 | Page
Villafuerte, S.L., Quillope, A.F., Tunac, R.C., & Borja, E.I. (2018) Understanding the self.
Quezon City:
NIEME Publishing House, Co. LTD.Works Cited
Zimmerman, B. (2002). Becoming a Self-regulated Learner: An Overview: Theory into
Practice, 41(2), pp. 64-70. Doi: 10.1207/s15430421tip4102_2

8 | Page
9 | Page