Understanding the

Self: Unpacking
the Self
Factors in the Development of the
Physical Self
Heredity (nature)
• The transmission of traits or
characteristics from parents to offspring
• It provides the raw materials of which
the individual is made up.
Factors in the Development of the
Physical Self
Heredity (nature)
• Through the genes, hereditary potentials
like physical, mental, social, emotional,
and moral traits are passed down to
generations.
Factors in the Development of the
Physical Self
Environment (nurture)
• Is the sum total of the forces or
experiences that a person undergoes
from conception to old age.
Factors in the Development of the
Physical Self
Environment (nurture)
• It also includes family, friends, school,
nutrition, and other agencies one is in
contact with.
The Beginning of Life

Fertilization
• Refers to the meeting of the ova
(female) and spermatozoa (male).
• Said sex cells are developed in the
reproductive organs called gonads—the
testes among males and ovaries among
females.
The Beginning of Life

Fertilization
• The fertilized egg cell known as zygote
contains all the hereditary potentials
from the parents. This zygote goes to
the uterus and continues to grow during
the gestation period of about 280 days
or 36 weeks or 9 calendar months.
The Beginning of Life

 Eachparent contributes one sex

chromosome to the offspring. A male
parent may pass either an X or a Y
chromosome, while a female always
gives the X chromosome.
The Beginning of Life

 When an X chromosome comes from the

father and meets the X chromosome
from the mother, the resulting
combination is XX which indicates a
female offspring.
The Beginning of Life

 However, when the father produces a Y

chromosome which pairs with the X
chromosome from the mother, the
resulting combination is XY, signifying a
male offspring.
The Beginning of Life

 Bothmale and female chromosomes

contain several thousands of genes.
Genes are small particles in a string-like
formation. They are the true carriers of
hereditary characteristics of the parents.
The Beginning of Life

 Withinthe gene is a substance called

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which is
the code of heredity. It contains
information and instructions about the
newly created organism, and programs
the traits that should be inherited.
Maturation is the unfolding of the
inherent traits.
Stages in the Life Span

 An individual undergoes definite stages

of development. In each phase, the child
experiences certain developmental
characteristics to prepare him/her for
the next.
Development Stage Age
Pre-natal period Conception to birth
Infancy Birth to end of the second week
Babyhood End of the second week to end of the
second year
Early childhood or preschool age Two to six years
Late childhood or elementary age Six to ten or twelve years
Puberty or preadolescence Twelve to thirteen or fourteen years
Adolescence Thirteen or fourteen to eighteen years
Early adulthood Eighteen to forty years
Middle age Forty to sixty years
Old age or senescence Sixty to death
Taking Care of My Physical Self

1) Balanced Diet
2) Water
3) Sleep
Concepts Related to the Self

 Theself is made up of many self-

perceptions, abilities, and personality
characteristics that are organized and
consistent with one another.
Concepts Related to the Self

 CarlRogers (1953), a psychologist and

the proponent of the self theory,
contends that self-concept plays an
important role in personality because it
influences human behaviors, feelings,
and thoughts.
Concepts Related to the Self

 Self-concept refers to how pwoplw see

or describe themselves (Plotnik, &
Kouyoumdjan, 2014). It is the subjective
perception of who people are and what
they are like, or “the person I think I am
or the person I wish to be” (Rogers,
1953).
Concepts Related to the Self

 People with a positive self-concept tend

to act, feel, and think constructively and
optimistically. Overall, they think of
themselves in good light.
Concepts Related to the Self

 On the other hand, people who have a

negative self-concept will behave, think,
and act with pessimism. They do not
believe in their ability to do things or
carry out certain tasks.
Concepts Related to the Self

A positive or negative self-concept

reflects a dominant or prevailing trend of
positivism or negativism in the self.
Hence, if a person is labeled as having a
positive self-concept, it means that
his/her prevailing behavior and general
outlook of himself/herself are on the
positive side.
Concepts Related to the Self

 Itdoes not men, however, that the

person does not have any low or
negative thoughts or ideas about
oneself. It is just the prevailing positive
outlook that characterizes a person as
having a positive self-image or self-
concept, and vice-versa.
Concepts Related to the Self

Two kinds of selves

1) Real self
• The image or picture of the self based on
a person’s actual experiences and
represents how he/she really or actually
sees himself/herself.
Concepts Related to the Self

Two kinds of selves

1) Real self
• It is what one thinks he/she is in terms of
personal characteristics and abilities.
Concepts Related to the Self

Two kinds of selves

2) Ideal self
• Is the self based on one’s hopes and
wishes. It reflects how one likes to see
himself/herself to be.
Concepts Related to the Self
 The person who knows you best—your
abilities, talents, personality, and
characteristics—is you. You know your
positive or high points as well as your
negative or low points.
Concepts Related to the Self
 Make sure to maintain or sustain your
strength. Likewise, strive to improve and
change your weaknesses or negative
points into something positive.
Concepts Related to the Self

 Seeto it that what you wish or desire to

be will further develop you own
personality. Your abilities and the
positive aspects of your personality
should be put to good use in helping
improve the lives of others and the
community at large.
Concepts Related to the Self

 Be sure that your dreams and desire to

enhance your personality and abilities
are rooted in your purpose to help other
people and will, in the long run,
contribute to developing good
relationships.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Rogers (1953) states that there is

usually a contradiction or discrepancy
between the real self and the ideal self.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Thisdifference may result in discomfort

and personality problems which can be
resolved by paying more attention to
one’s actual experiences, working more
at positive experiences, and paying less
attention to the expectations of others.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Itis alright if the ideal self is slightly out

of reach, as it is just enough to stimulate
the person to improve himself/herself.
However, if the ideal self is
unrealistically difficult to reach, then it
could lead to feelings of failure.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 An obscure view of the self may also

result due to a wide discrepancy
between the real self and ideal self.
Failure to achieve the ideal self may lead
to a “drop” in self-concept.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Positive regard is believed to be

important for the healthy development
of one’s self-concept and for successful
interpersonal relationships (Liebert &
Spiegler, 1994).
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Positive regard includes love,

sympathy, warmth, acceptance, and
respect which people crave from family,
friends, and other significant people.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Conditional positive regard refers to

positive regard received as a result of
acceptable behavior or living up to the
expectations and standards of others.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Unconditional positive regard, on

the other hand, refers to the love and
acceptance received by a person
regardless of who he/she is or what
he/she does.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

 Itis normally expected for people to

have discrepancies between their selves
and what they dream or wish to become.
Sometimes this variation results in
dissonance and may lead to increased
anxiety levels and discomfort. It also has
implications for setting unrealistic goals.
Discrepancy in Self-Concept

A more objective view and assessment

of the available options and factors that
enable one to achieve the ideal self is
advised. The development of self-
concept starts from the home.
Self-Esteem

 Self esteem is the level of importance

attributed to oneself and one’s abilities.
One may put a high value or a low value
on his/her worth as a person.
Self-Esteem

 In
many ways, self-esteem relates to a
person’s attractiveness and social
competence. It is likewise associated
with important positive or negative
outcomes.
Self-Esteem

 Forexample, a high self-esteem is

correlated with healthy social
relationships, being emotionally and
socially adjusted, cheerfulness, and
overall happiness.
Self-Esteem

 Onthe other hand, a low self-esteem is

associated with negative outcomes like
depression, anxiety, antisocial behavior,
and poor personal adjustment (Murray,
2005; Trzesniewski et al., 2006).
Self-Esteem

 Self-esteem is distinct from self-concept

as the latter refers to the knowledge of
oneself or the image of a person’s views,
perceptions, or descriptions of
himself/herself in terms of certain
characteristics.
Self-Esteem

 One should strive to develop a high self-

esteem because it determines his/her kind of
personal and social relationships. Holding good
feelings about oneself results in flexibility and
adaptability to situations and people. On the
other hand, a low-self esteem may lead to
poor social relationships.
Self-Actualization

 Humans possess an inner drive to grow,

improve, and use their potential to the
fullest (Plotnik, 2014). The final stage in
completed growth is known as self-
actualization or self-fulfillment, a
major tenet in humanistic psychology.
Self-Actualization

 According to Maslow (1943), a self-

actualizing person has reached the
highest level or peak of his/her personal
development and has fully realized
his/her potential as a human being.
Self-Actualization

 The self-fulfilled person is generally

happy, generous with his/her time and
effort to help others, and strives for the
common good for his/her family,
community, country, and even humanity.
Self-Actualization

 In1943, Abraham Maslow formulated

the hierarchy of needs. It explains
that individuals’ actions are directed
towards goal attainment.
Self-Actualization

 The hierarchy is composed of five stages

of human needs and usually illustrated
in a pyramid. The levels are sequentially
satisfied according to the most basic
needs found at the bottom of the
pyramid, progressing onto higher-level
needs.
Self-Actualization

 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs contends

that people have to satisfy their basic
needs before moving towards satisfying
their social and personal needs.
Self-Actualization

 The rate of achieving higher-level needs

may vary among individuals. However, it
is possible for one to proceed to the next
higher-level need even if he/she is still in
the process of fully satisfying a lower
level need.
Self-Actualization

 Maslow also classified these needs into two general

categories: deficiency needs and growth needs
(Plotnik, 2014). Deficiency needs refer to the
physiological (sleep, food) and psychological (safety,
love, esteem) needs. On the other hand, growth
needs are those at the higher levels (desire for truth,
beauty, and justice).