Defining a Self: Personal & • He suggest that anything with life has a

Developmental Perspective on Self and soul

Identity • Three Kinds of Soul according to Aristotle:
Vegetative- the physical body; that allows
Greeks or (Pre-Socratics): Pre occupied things to grow.
themselves with the question of the primary Sentient- sensual desires, feelings, and
substratum, the“arche” that explains the emotions.
multiplicity of things in the world. Rational- what makes us human;
includes intellect that makes man know
Example;
and understand things.
Thales – everything comes from water
Pythagoras – Everything is made up of numbers
ST. AUGUSTINE
Parmenides – “All is one”
• The start of the Medieval Period
Heraclitus – everything comes from fire
(Christianity) as it is dominated by
Empedocles – 4 elements, air, water, fire & earth
philosopher-theologian.
SOCRATES • Agreed with Plato on the dualism of man’s
nature. That man has an aspect that
• He was the first philosopher who ever
dwells in the world and is imperfect
engaged in systematic questioning about
(BODY) and continuously yearns to be
the self.
with the Divine, and
• Plato in his dialogue, Socrates affirmed
• The other can reach immortality (SOUL).
that the “unexamined life is not worth
living.” • The BODY is bound to die on earth, the
• Every man is composed of body and soul- BODY can only thrive in the imperfect,
physical reality - WORLD
every human person is DUALISTIC.
• The SOUL is to anticipate living eternally
• DUALISTIC means, he is composed of
TWO important aspects in a realm of spiritual bliss in communion
with God. Whereas the SOUL can stay
BODY, which is imperfect, impermanent
after death in an eternal realm with the
SOUL, the perfect and permanent
transcendent God.
THE GOAL OF EVERY HUMAN PERSON IS TO
PLATO -Socrates student, he supported the idea
that is man is dual in nature of the body and soul. ATTAIN THIS COMMUNION AND BLISS WITH
THE DIVINE BY LIVING HIS LIFE ON EARTH IN
• he added that there are three (3)
VIRTUE.
components of the soul.
1. Rational Soul – forged by reason and
ST. THOMAS
intellect has to govern the affairs of the
• The most eminent 13th-century scholar
human person.
2. Spirited Soul – is in charge of emotions. of medieval philosophy. Adapting some
ideas from Aristotle and Aquinas.
3. Appetitive Soul – is in charge of the base
desires like eating, drinking, sleeping etc.. • Man is composed of two parts: MATTER
are controlled as well. and FORM
WHEN THIS IDEAL STATE IS ATTAINED, THEN • MATTER, or “hyle” refers to the common
THE HUMN PERSON’S SOUL BECOMES JUST stuff that makes up everything in the
AND VIRTUOUS. universe (BODY).
• FORM, or “morphe” refers to the
ARISTOTLE essence of substance or thing (SOUL).
• The Body and soul are not two separate
elements but are one thing THOMAS AQUINAS
-St. Thomas Aquinas believed that the self, or the
person is a complex and unique combination of • If one tries to examine his experiences, he
body and soul. finds that they can all be categorized into
Here's a breakdown of his concept of self: two: 1.IMPRESSIONS 2. IDEAS.
1. Body and Soul Composite: The body is • IMPRESSIONS – are the basic objects of
the physical aspect, while the soul is the our experience and sensation.
immaterial and spiritual part. • IDEAS, when one imagines the feeling of
2. Soul as the Form of the Body: The soul is being in love for the first time, that still is
the form of the body. This means the soul an idea.
gives life, purpose, and identity to the
physical body. It is what makes a human IMMANUEL KANT
being a living, rational being. • Kant recognizes the veracity of Hume’s
3. Distinctive Human Essence: Aquinas account that everything starts with
believed that the soul is what gives perception and sensation of impressions.
humans their distinctive essence. Our • Kant thinks that the things that man
essence is what makes us uniquely perceives around them are not just
human, and it includes qualities like randomly infused into the human person
rationality, self-awareness, and moral without an ORGANIZING principle that
agency. regulates the relationship of all these
4. Self-Awareness: The soul, according to impressions.
Aquinas, gives humans the ability to be • There is necessarily a mind that organizes
self-aware. This self-awareness allows us the impressions that men get from the
to think, reason, reflect on our thoughts external world.
and actions, and have a sense of identity. • Along with the different apparatuses of
the mind goes the “SELF”. Without the
RENE DESCARTES self, one cannot organize the different
• Father of Modern Philosophy. impressions that one gets about his own
• Conceived the human person as having a existence.
BODY and a MIND. • Self actively engaged Intelligence in man
• He claims that there is so much that we that synthesizes all knowledge and
should DOUBT. Since much of what we experience – it is also the seat of
think and believe is not INFALLIBLE, they knowledge acquisition for all human
may turn out to be false. persons.
• The SELF for Descartes, is also a
combination of TWO Distinct entities. GILBERT RYLE
• The COGITO, the thing that THINKS – the • He solves the mind-body dichotomy that
MIND has been running for a long time in the
• The EXTENZA or extension of the mind – history of thought by blatantly denying the
the BODY concept of an internal, non-physical self.
• What truly matters is the behavior that a
DAVID HUME person manifests in his day-to-day life.
• A Scottish philosopher has a unique way • The SELF is not an entity one can locate
of looking at man. and analyze but simply the convenient
• He is an EMPIRICIST, who believes that name that people use to refer to all the
one can know only what comes from the behaviors that people make.
senses and experiences. Humans can
only attain knowledge by experience. MERLEAU PONTY
• The self is not an entity over and beyond • A phenomenologist, who asserts that the
the physical body. mind-body bifurcation that has been
 going on for a long time is a futile Self-contained and independent because it
endeavor and an invalid problem. can exist.
• The mid and body are so intertwined that - its distinctness allows it to be self-contained
they cannot be separated from one with its thoughts, characteristics, and volition.
another. Consistent – it has a personality that is enduring
• One cannot find any experience that is and therefore can be expected to persist for
not an embodied experience – all quite some time. Consistency also means that a
experience is embodied. particular self’s traits, characteristics,
• The cartesian Dualism is nothing but a tendencies, and potentialities are the same.
plain misunderstanding. Unitary, self is the center of all experiences and
• The living body, his thoughts, emotions, thoughts that run through a certain person. It’s
and experiences are all one. like a chief command post in an individual where
all processes, emotions, and thoughts converge.
SOCIOLOGOCAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE Private, each person sorts out information,
SELF feelings and emotions, and thought processes
within the self.
-Thinkers just eventually settled on the idea THE WHOLE PROCESS IS NEVER ACCESSIBLE
that there are two components of the human TO ANYONE BUT THE SELF
person. The last characteristic of the self-being private
-Given the new ways of knowing and growth of suggests that the self is isolated from the
the social sciences external world. It lives within its own world.
-The debate shifted into another locus of The CONCERN of this lesson is understanding
discussion. – the relationship between the the vibrant relationship between the self and
self and the external world. the external reality.
-What is the relationship between the external This perspective is known as the “social
reality and the self? constructionist” perspective
-Example : Story of Tarzan • Social Constructionists argue for a
REALIZATION? merged view of “the person” and their
• Human persons will not develop as “social context” where the boundaries of
human persons without intervention. one cannot easily be separated from the
• Our selves are not special because of the boundaries of the other.
soul infused into us. • Social Constructionists argue that the self
• We may be gifted with intellect and the should not be seen as a static entity that
capacity to rationalize things but at the stays constant through and through.
end of the day, our growth and • The self must be seen as something that
development and consequently, our is in unceasing flux, in a constant struggle
selves are truly products of our with external reality and is malleable in its
interaction with external reality. dealing with society.

The self in contemporary literature and even The Self and Culture
common sense, is commonly defined by the Marcel Mauss- French Anthropologist
following characteristics: Every self has two Faces: Personne and Moi
SEPARATE – the self is distinct from the other MOI - refers to a person’s sense of who he is, his
selves body, and his basic identity, his biological
- the self is always unique and has its givenness. It is the basic identity
own identity PERSONNE, is composed of the social concepts
- one cannot be another person of what it means to be who he is.
EVEN TWIN ARE DISTINCT FROM EACH OTHER
George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) -Oftentimes society forces a particular identity
• was an American philosopher, unto us depending on our sex and/or gender.
sociologist, and psychologist, known for
his contributions to the field of symbolic THE SELF AS COGNITIVE CONSTRUCT
interactionism. The self as a cognitive construct refers to the
• He is known for the concept of the "self," mental framework through which individuals
which he divided into the "I" (the organize, interpret, and make sense of their own
spontaneous, impulsive, and creative thoughts, experiences, behaviors, and social
aspect of self) and the "me" (the aspect of interactions.
self formed through interaction with
others and societal expectations). Jean Piaget's Theory of Cognitive
Development:
Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) Concept: Piaget proposed that the self is
• was a Soviet psychologist and constructed through the cognitive development
educational theorist. stages in childhood.
• He is best known for his socio-cultural Significance: Understanding Piaget's theory
theory of cognitive development, which helps comprehend how cognitive development
emphasizes the role of culture and social during childhood shapes the way individuals
interaction in the development of higher perceive themselves.
mental functions. Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development
• Vygotsky's theories have had a significant suggests that children move through four
impact on educational psychology, different stages of learning.
particularly in understanding the Birth to 2 Years (Sensorimotor)
importance of social interaction, ➢ Know the world through movements and
language, and cultural context in the sensations.
learning process. ➢ Learn about the world through basic
SELF IN FAMILIES actions such as sucking, grasping,
-Every child is born with a certain givenness, looking, and listening.
disposition coming from parents’ genes and ➢ Learn that things continue to exist even
the general condition of life, the impact of one’s when they cannot be seen (object
family is still deemed as a given in understanding permanence)
the self. ➢ Realize that they are separate beings from
-The kind of family that we are born in, the the people and objects around them.
resources available to us (human, spiritual, ➢ Realize that their actions can cause
economic), and the kind of development that we things to happen in the world around
will have will certainly affect us as we go through them.
life. 2 to 7 Years (Preoperational stage)
-Without a family, biologically and sociologically, ➢ Begin to think symbolically and learn to
a person may not even survive or become a use words and pictures to represent
human person. objects.
GENDER AND SELF ➢ Tend to be egocentric and struggle to see
-Gender is one of those loci of the self that is things from the perspective of others.
subject to alteration, change, and development. ➢ Getting better with language and thinking,
-However, from the point of view of social but still tend to think in very concrete
science and the self, it is important to give one terms.
the leeway to find, express and live his/her
identity.
7 to 11 Years (Concrete Operational Stage) knowledge (accommodation). Piaget
➢ Begin to think logically about concrete believed that all children try to strike a
events. balance between assimilation and
➢ Begin to understand the concept of accommodation using a mechanism he
conservation; that the amount of liquid in called equilibration. Equilibration helps
a short, wide cup is equal to that in a tall, explain how children can move from one
skinny glass, for example. stage of thought to the next. Cognitive
➢ Thinking becomes more logical and equilibrium, a state of balance between
organized, but still very concrete. individuals' mental schemata, or
➢ Begin using inductive logic, or reasoning frameworks, and their environment. Such
from specific information to a general balance occurs when their expectations,
principle. based on prior knowledge, fit with
Age 12 and Up (Formal Operational Stage) new knowledge.
➢ Begins to think abstractly and reason
about hypothetical problems. Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory:
➢ Begins to think more about moral,
philosophical, ethical, social, and Concept: Bandura emphasized that the self is a
political issues that require theoretical productof social interactions, observations, and
and abstract reasoning. modeling. He introduced the concept of self-
➢ Begins to use deductive logic, or efficacy, which is an individual's belief in their
reasoning from a general principle to ability to accomplish specific tasks and achieve
specific information. goals.
Piaget suggested several factors that influence Significance: Understanding self-efficacy helps
how children learn and grow. explain how an individual's beliefs about their
1. Schemas are categories of knowledge capabilities influence their behavior and
that help us to interpret and understand performance. For instance, a student with high
the world. In Piaget's view, a schema self-efficacy in mathematics may approach
includes both a category of knowledge challenging math problems with confidence,
and the process of obtaining that leading to improved learning outcomes.
knowledge. As experiences happen, this Bandura’s Self Efficacy
new information is used to modify, add to, ➢ Psychologist Albert Bandura has defined
or change previously existing schemas. self-efficacy as people's belief in their
2. Assimilation is how humans perceive ability to control their functioning and
and adapt to new information. It is the events that affect their lives. One's sense
process of fitting new information into of self-efficacy can provide the
pre-existing cognitive schemas. foundation for motivation, well-being, and
3. Accommodation is a term developed by personal accomplishment.
psychologist Jean Piaget to describe what ➢ Bandura's self-efficacy theory suggests
occurs when new information or that a person's confidence in his abilities
experiences cause you to modify your can determine his drives and decisions.
existing schemas. Rather than make the Someone with a high level of self-efficacy
new information fit into an existing tends to foster a more positive outlook
schema, you change the schema to and experience a lower incidence of
accommodate the new information. stress.
4. As children progress through the stages of 1. Mastery Experiences (Performance
cognitive development, it is important to Outcomes)
maintain a balance between applying “Mastery experiences are the most influential
previous knowledge (assimilation) and source of efficacy information because they
changing behavior to account for new provide the most authentic evidence of whether
one can muster whatever it takes to succeed. 2. Seek Feedback
Success builds a robust belief in one’s personal The problem with understanding feedback is that
efficacy. some people tend to believe that getting no
2. Vicarious Experiences (Social Role Models) feedback is the same as being told that one is
The second important source of self-efficacy is doing their job well (hence the common phrase:
the vicarious experiences provided by social “no feedback is great feedback”).
models. Vicarious experiences involve 3. Encourage Participation
observing other people successfully Participation tends to be essential in any work
completing a task. When one has positive role environment – it encourages the person to be
models in their life (especially those who display active and engaged, great qualities in someone
a healthy level of self-efficacy) – one is more that are usually influential in a person’s levels of
likely to absorb at least a few of those positive self-efficacy.
beliefs about the self. Social role models include 4. Allow People to Make Their Own Choices
older siblings, older friends, camp counselors, When talking about the importance of letting
parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, people make their own choices, the term self-
teachers, coaches, and employers. accountability usually tends to come to mind.
3. Social Persuasion
Receiving positive verbal feedback while Carl Rogers' Humanistic Theory:
undertaking a complex task persuades a person Concept: Rogers emphasized the importance of
to believe that they have the skills and self-concept and introduced the concept of the
capabilities to succeed. "ideal self" and the "real self." The ideal self is the
4. Emotional and Physiological States person one aspires to be, while the real self is
The emotional, physical, and psychological well- who they currently perceive themselves to be.
being of a person can influence how they feel Significance: Understanding Rogers' theory
about their personal abilities in a particular helps individuals strive for congruence between
situation. their ideal self and real self, promoting self-
5. Imaginal Experiences/Visualization acceptance and psychological well-being.
James Maddux (2013) has suggested a fifth
route to self-efficacy through “imaginal Unconditional positive regard
experiences,” the art of visualizing yourself Rogers elevated the importance of unconditional
behaving effectively or successfully in a given positive regard or unconditional love when
situation.” developing self-concept.
Imaginal experiences (or visualization) are
basically someone attempting to portray their Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory:
goals as achievable. Concept: Freud's model of the self includes the
It’s like the old saying that goes, “it’s so close you conscious mind (accessible thoughts), the
can almost taste it” – visualization is about preconscious mind (thoughts accessible with
putting yourself (in your head) in a pole position effort), and the unconscious mind (thoughts and
to being capable of achieving anything one sets desires outside conscious awareness).
your mind to. Significance: Understanding Freud's theory
helps individuals recognize the influence of
How to build Self Efficacy? unconscious desires and motives on their
1.Emphasize Peer Modeling thoughts and behaviors. For instance, becoming
Learning from examples set by those around you aware of unconscious fears or desires can
happens at any age (think of how a teacher is a facilitate self-reflection and personal growth.
role model for a student, but in a similar manner
an employer is a model for an employee).
 William James believed that the body was the
primary source of sensation and that it was
essential for the development and upkeep of
personality.
When they are 10 to 12 years old, puberty starts,
and they enter the adolescent stage. From ages
18 to 22 is the human life span's transitional
WHAT IS THE ID? period (Santrock,2016)
▪ Primitive and instinctive component of Adolescence is divided into three periods:
personality. 1. Early Adolescence (11-14 years old)
▪ Impulsive (and unconscious) part of 2. Middle Adolescence (15-17 years old)
psyche that responds directly and 3. Late Adolescence (18-21 years old)
immediately to basic urges, needs, and
desires. Puberty: A Period of Rapid Physical Changes
WHAT IS EGO? Body Image
▪ The rational part of the psyche that John Santrock claims that adolescents develop
mediates between the instinctual desires preoccupations with their bodies and mental
of the id and the moral constraints of the representations of them.
superego, operating primarily at the
conscious level. Factors That Affect Perception of Physical Self
▪ It is the only part of the conscious
personality. Personal Factor
WHAT IS SUPEREGO? Introspection and Self Reflection. Introspection,
▪ Operates on the morality principle and as defined by Hewstone et al. (2015), is the
motivates us to behave in a socially process of observing and assessing one's
responsible and acceptable manner. internal state (mental and emotional) after
acting in a particular way.
THE PHYSICAL SELF Self-Perception Theory. Bem's self-perception
The Physical Self: The Self as Impacted theory, published in 1972, explains this because
by the Body it is challenging to gauge one's internal state,
Self-understanding, which consists of the according to Hewstone (2015)
substance and content of self-conceptions, is Self- Concept. Hewstone et al. (2015) defined
the individual's cognitive representation of the self-concept as a cognitive representation of
self. self-knowledge that encompasses all of a
Growing Up person's beliefs about themselves.
A boy will grow up to be a Man. Personal Identity. This is the idea that a person
A girl will grow up to be a Woman. has about themselves that changes over time.
The physical self is the tangible aspect of the Social Factors
person that can be directly observed and Attachment Mechanism and Social
examined. It refers to the physical dimensions of Evaluation. Bowlby (1969) asserted that people
the body. discover their worth and lovability when they
observe how their mothers or other primary
The defining characteristics of a person's body caregivers treat them and attend to their needs.
are their physical characteristics. The Theory of the Looking Glass. According to
Erik Erikson held that a person's physical Charles Horton Cooley, social interactions and
development is crucial in determining whether other people's perceptions shape how we see
they are competent and able to handle the ourselves in the world.
challenges of modern life.
Comparison with society. Hewstone et al. (2015) Ideal Adolescents Body Image includes:
cited Leon Fostinger's work, which in 1954 A person's impression of their appearance when
offered a different approach to understanding they glance in the mirror.
oneself by contrasting one's characteristics, A feeling of liking or disliking toward their
skills, or viewpoints with those of others. outward appearance.
Two Types of Social Comparison; Perception of how others perceive their
Upward Social Comparison and appearance.
Downward Social Comparison. Positive body image is correlated with high
Theory of Social Identity (Collective Identity). self-esteem.
Tajfel and Turner's work from 1979 offers a
framework for understanding how group THE SEXUAL SELF
membership helps people understand
themselves. THE DIVERSITY OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
-It is in puberty that sexual development begins.
The Impact of Culture on Body Image and Self- It is in this time that you will feel attracted to the
Esteem: same or opposite sex.
The Importance of Beauty -We have this feeling because of our sexual
A social system that is defined by the shared aspect of the self.
meanings that its members attribute to -Sexual self is “a part of yourself where you learn
individuals and events is known as a culture and understand your sexual development and
(Hewstone, 2015) how people’s sexual activity, beliefs.
Young adolescents are pressured to conform to -Your sexual self speaks of your sexual health,
society's standards of beauty in order to avoid sexual orientation, gender identity and
being called ugly or, in the local dialect, "pangit." expression and values around sexuality”.
According to Merriam-Webster, beauty is the -Sexuality is just more than sexual intercourse
capacity to be physically alluring or the and feelings. It includes all the feelings,
characteristics in a person or thing that satisfy thoughts, and behaviors associated with being
the senses or the mind. male or female, being attractive and being in
love, as well as being in relationships that
The Filipino Concept of Beauty include sexual intimacy and sensual and sexual
activity.
Eurocentrism -It also includes enjoyment of the world as we
There is a tendency to view mixed-race Filipinos know it through the five senses: taste, touch,
as the default attractive standard, as shown by smell, hearing, and sight.
the fact that Filipinos frequently win international
beauty pageants. There are five circles of sexuality, and these
The "Tisoy" and "Tisay" beauty standards are are:
heavily marketed in the media.
The term "colorism" refers to a component of SENSUALITY
eurocentrism that is "the prejudicial treatment of Awareness, acceptance of a comfort of one’s
same-race people based solely on the color of own body; physiological and psychological
their skin." enjoyment of one’s own body and the bodies of
others.
Self- Esteem and the Ideal Body Image REPRODUCTION & SEXUAL HEALTH
Self- Esteem Attitudes and behaviors related to producing
As one's overall assessment of oneself, which children, care and maintenance of the sex and
may befavorable or unfavorable. reproductive organs, and health consequences
The value that person places on himself in the
eyes of others.
SEXUAL INTIMACY
The ability and need to experience emotional -Heterosexual pertains to a male or female who
closeness to another human being and have it are attracted with an opposite sex.
return. -A homosexual is a male or female who are
SEXUALIZATION attracted with the same sex. A male attracted to
The use of sexuality to influence, control, or, male is a gay, and a female attracted to female is
manipulate others. called lesbian. A man or a woman who has
SEXUAL IDENTITY attraction with both sex is a bisexual, while a
The development of a sense of who one is person who has not attraction at all is asexual.
sexually, including the sense of maleness and -Sexual orientation is something to do with
femaleness. attraction and this is not always followed
biologically. There are also what we called
The chemistry of Lust, Love, and Attachment LGBTQ+ which stands for Lesbian Gay Bisexual
-When you show attraction towards others, it Transgender and Queer.
may pass into: Lust, Attraction, Attachment
-The first is lust, a phase which is driven by sex SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
hormones and testosterones. It excites the -Sexual intercourse can also cause STD or
feeling of lust within the brain. sexually transmitted diseases. It is also called
-However, when a person started to feel in love STI which is sexually transmitted Infection. STD
means that he/she is in the phase of attraction. or STI can be transmitted through sexual
-Moreover, when a couple goes further and begin intercourse. There are various sexually
to stay together, bearing children and love that transmitted diseases. The most dangerous STD
person wholeheartedly, then it is in the phase of is HIV or AIDS. HIV is not curable but can be
attachment. managed. However, most of the STD’s are
curable. Below are the lists of common sexually
-Sex is biological. When we talk about sex, there transmitted diseases.
are only two possible answers, being male and
female. Common sexually transmitted diseases:
-Gender is social or psychological. A person’s Chlamydia Trichomoniasis (trich)
gender is based on how society define what is Chancoid Human
maleness and femaleness. That is why, we have Papillomavirus (HPV)
gender roles such as a male has to be masculine Crabs (pubic lice) Syphiliss
and female is feminine. Hepatitis B Pelvic Inflammatory
-However, we also have gender identity which is Diseases (PID)
an inner feeling of being male or female. A Molluscom HIV / AIDS
person who is biologically male but his gender contagiosum
identity is that of a female or vice versa. The Genital herpes Gonorrhea
same with a female who is female biological but Genital Warts Scabies
her gender identity is a male. Therefore, sex can -Sexually transmitted diseases happen because
be applied on male and female but when we deal of unprotected sexual intercourse. By using
with gender identity, it is not only with male and protection such as condom can be safe but also
female. In this situation, we will enter into the importantly, how you use your sexual behavior.
diversity of sexuality. -Multiple partners can become a risk for
-Sexual diversity is connected with sexual transmitting the diseases.
orientation. When we talk about sexual
orientation, we are dealing with a question
earlier, to whom am I attracted for? The following
are the diversity of human sexuality or sexual
orientation.
Responsible parenthood focuses on the Hormonal Implants: Small rods inserted under
following: the skin that release hormones to prevent
1. For family- to promote healthy, happy family. ovulation.
2. For the mother- she can recover her health Birth Control Ring: A flexible ring placed in the
and strength after delivery. vagina that releases hormones to prevent
3. For the child- a better chance of life ovulation.
3. Intrauterine Devices (IUDs):
Methods of Contraception Copper IUD: A non-hormonal device that
Contraception, also known as birth control, prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg.
refers to methods used to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal IUD: Releases progestin to prevent
There are various methods of contraception, ovulation and change cervical mucus.
broadly categorized into natural and artificial 4. Sterilization:
methods. Here's an overview of both: Tubal Ligation (for women): Surgical procedure
to block or seal the fallopian tubes.
Natural Methods of Contraception Vasectomy (for men): Surgical procedure to cut
or seal the vas deferens.
1.Abstinence: Refraining from sexual 5. Emergency Contraception:
intercourse is the most natural A high dose of hormonal pills taken after
way to prevent pregnancy. unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.
2.Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABMs): 6. Spermicides:
Calendar Method: Predicting fertile days based Chemical substances in the form of foams, gels,
on the menstrual cycle. or creams that kill or immobilize sperm.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Method: 7. Intrauterine Ball (IUB):
Monitoring temperature to determine ovulation. A small device placed in the uterus to prevent
Cervical Mucus Method: Observing changes in pregnancy by creating a local inflammatory
cervical mucus to determine fertility. reaction.
3. Withdrawal (Pull-Out) Method:
The man withdraws his penis from the THE SELF IN WESTERN AND EASTERN
woman's vagina before ejaculation. THOUGHTS
4. Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM):
Utilizing breastfeeding to suppress ovulation and Eastern thought presents a holistic and
prevent pregnancy in the first six months interconnected understanding of the self,
postpartum. often contrasting with the individualistic
approach in Western philosophies. Here's a brief
Artificial Methods of Contraception background on the Eastern concept of the self:

1. Barrier Methods: 1. Interconnectedness and Harmony:

Condoms (male and female): Physical barriers Eastern philosophies, such as Hinduism,
that prevent sperm from reaching the egg. Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism,
Diaphragm: A silicone cup placed in the vagina emphasize interconnectedness with others,
to cover the cervix and block sperm. nature, and the universe. The self is viewed as
2. Hormonal Methods: an integral part of a larger cosmic whole, and
Birth Control Pills: Oral tablets containing achieving harmony with this larger reality is a
hormones (estrogen and progestin) to prevent fundamental goal.
ovulation. 2. Impermanence and Change:
Hormonal Patch: A patch worn on the skin that Eastern thought often acknowledges the
releases hormones to prevent ovulation. impermanent and ever-changing nature of
Hormonal Injections: Injections containing reality, including the self.
progestin to prevent ovulation.
The self is seen as a dynamic entity constantly Tao is "path" or Way. The Tao has three aspects:
evolving through experiences, relationships, and the Way of Reality, the Way of Nature, and the
circumstances. Buddhism's concept of Anatta Way of Human Life. Taoists believe that the
(no-self) exemplifies this impermanence, primary goal of life is to align one's self with the
asserting that the self is a collection of changing Tao.
phenomena. Wu Wei - the practice of taking no action that is
-Also known as Anatta-lakkhana or Anatta-vada, not in accord with the natural course of the
is a fundamental concept in Buddhism that universe.
translates to "not-self" or "no-soul." Buddhism:
3. Spiritual and Ethical Growth: Anatta (No-Self) and Impermanence:
Eastern philosophies emphasize spiritual and Buddhism teaches the concept of Anatta,
ethical growth as a central aspect of the self. suggesting that the self is not a permanent,
Practices like meditation, self-reflection, and unchanging entity. The self is seen as a
moral living are seen as pathways to understand collection of constantly changing elements and
the deeper layers of the self and attain higher experiences. Understanding this impermanence
states of consciousness. and letting go of attachment to a fixed self is
4. Balance and Harmony with Nature: crucial to achieving enlightenment and
Nature holds immense significance in Eastern alleviating suffering.
philosophies, often symbolizing the natural state
of being. Aligning with the natural order (Tao in Filipino Concept of the Self:
Taoism) and maintaining balance with nature is Bayanihan Spirit and Kapwa: In Filipino culture,
believed to lead to inner harmony and a deeper the concept of "Kapwa" emphasizes
understanding of the self. interconnectedness and communal identity.
5. Relational and Community-Oriented: It's about recognizing the shared humanity and
Many Eastern cultures and philosophies interconnectedness among individuals. The
prioritize community, family, and relationships. Filipino self is shaped by community,
The self is not seen in isolation but in relation to relationships, and social responsibility. The
others, encouraging a sense of responsibility and "Bayanihan spirit" embodies the idea of
interconnectedness with the community and collective effort and unity within the community.
society.
-In summary, Eastern thought often emphasizes
Confucianism: interconnectedness, harmony, and the
impermanent nature of the self. The self is
Collectivism and Social Harmony: understood in relation to others, nature, and the
Confucianism emphasizes the fundamental principles governing the universe,
interconnectedness of the self with promoting harmony and balance in various
society and family. The self is seen as a part of a aspects of life.
broader social fabric, and harmony within these -An analogy to illustrate the difference: If we
relationships is vital for personal and societal think of the self as a tree, Western thought
well-being. An individual's identity and self- may focus on analyzing the tree's distinct parts
concept are deeply influenced by their roles and (branches, leaves, roots), while Eastern thought
responsibilities within the family and society. would emphasize understanding the tree's
Taoism: interconnectedness with the soil, air, sunlight,
Harmony with the Tao and Wu Wei: Taoism and the forest it's part of.
views the self as interconnected with the Tao,
which represents the fundamental principle
underlying everything. The goal is to align with
the natural order. (Tao) and follow the path of
least resistance (Wu Wei).