Course Title : Understanding the Self

Course Credit : 3 Units

Pre-requisite : None

Course Description : The course deals with the nature of identity, as well as the factors and forces that affects the development and maintenance of personal
identity.

The 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 its 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 an 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 self from various disciplinal perspectives:
philosophy, sociology, anthropology and psychology – as well as the more traditional division between the East and the West – each
seeking to provide answer to difficult but essential question – “What is the Self?”. And raising, among others , the question: “Is there even
a construct of 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 concerns 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 the hands-on experience of developing self-help plans for self-regulated learning, goal setting and self care.

This course includes mandatory topics on Family Planning and Population Education. (CMO No.20, s.2013)
Institutional Learning Outcomes General Education Outcomes
General Education Outcomes (CMO No. 20, s. 2013)
I. Intellectual Competencies
 Higher level of comprehension (textual,
visual, etc)
 Proficient and effective communication
(writing, speaking and use of new
technologies)
 Understanding of basic concepts across the
domains of knowledge
 Critical, analytical and creative
 Application of different analytical modes
(quantitative and qualitative, artistic and
Unpacking the Self
scientific, textual and visual, experimental,
observation, etc.) in tackling problems
methodically
II. Personal and Civic Competencies
 Appreciation of human condition
 Capacity to personally interpret the human
experience
 Ability to view the contemporary world from
both Philippine and global perspectives
 Self-assuredness in knowing and being a
Filipino
 Capacity to reflect critically on shared
concerns and think of innovative, creative
solutions guided by ethical standards
 Ability to reflect on moral
norms/imperatives as they affect individuals
and society
 Ability to appreciate and contribute to
artistic beauty
Course Objectives
The Self from various perspectives
 Discuss the different representations and
conceptualizations of the self from various
disciplinal perspectives
 Compare and contrast how the self has been
represented across different disciplines and
perspective
 Examine the different influences, factors, and
forces that shape the self
 Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in
analyzing the development of one’s self and
identify by developing a theory of the self
 Explore the different aspects of self and identity
 Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in
integrating the various aspects of self and
identity
 Identify the different forces and institutions
that impact the different aspects of self and
identity
 Examine one’s self against the different aspects
of self discussed in class
Managing and Caring for the Self
 Understand the theoretical underpinnings for
how to manage and care for different aspects of
the self
 Acquire and hone new skills and learning for
better managing of one’s self and behaviors
 Apply the new skills to one’s self and
functioning for a better quality of life
  Understanding and respect to human rights
 Ability to contribute personally and
meaningfully to the country’s development

III. Practical Responsibilities

 Working effectively in a group

 Application of computing and using
information technology to assist and
facilitate research
 Ability to negotiate the world of technology
responsibly
 Problem-solving skills ( including real-world
problems)
 Basic world-related skills and knowledge
Course Plan

Weeks Topics Learning Outcomes Methodologies Assessment Tools

Course Introduction  Identify learning outcomes of  Course Overview  Checklist
the course  Group Activity:  Learning Journal
1
 Understand the course Acquaintance
requirements Game
Defining the Self:
Personal and
Developmental
Perspectives on Self and
Identity
 Discuss the different  Discussion  Summary of Learning
The Self from Various representations and  Activity: Self  Learning Journal
2-3 Philosophical Perspectives conceptualizations of the self Analysis
from various disciplinal
perspectives
The Self, Society, and  Examine the different  Discussion  Reflection Paper
4-5 Culture influences, factors, and forces  Activity: Self  Learning Journal
that shape the self Through the Years
The Self as Cognitive  Demonstrate critical and  Discussion  Research Paper
Construct reflective thought in analyzing  Activity: You  Learning Journal
6 the development of one’s self through others’
and identify by developing a eyes
theory of the self
The Self in Western and  Compare and contrast how the  Discussion  Concept Map
Eastern Thoughts self has been represented  Activity: Two Sides  Learning Journal
7–8
across different disciplines and of the Same Planet
perspective
Unpacking the Self
The Physical and Sexual  Explore the different aspects  Discussion  Program Proposal
Self of self and identity  Activities:  Learning Journal
9 - 10
-Defining Beauty
-Debate
To Buy or Not to Buy?  Identify the different forces  Discussion  Collage making
11
That Is the Question! and institutions that impact  Activity:  Research Paper
 the different aspects of self
and identity
Supernaturals: Believe It  Demonstrate critical,
or Not reflective thought in
12
integrating the various
aspects of self and identity
The Political Self and  Examine one’s self against
13 Being Filipino the different aspects of self
discussed in class
Who Am I in the  Identify the different forces
Cyberworld? (Digital Self) and institutions that impact
14 the different aspects of self
and identity
Managing and Caring for
the Self
Learning To Be a Better  Understand the theoretical
Learner underpinnings for how to
15
manage and care for
different aspects of the self
Do Not Just Dream, Make  Acquire and hone new skills
It Happen and learning for better
16 – 17
managing of one’s self and
behaviors
Less Stress, More Care  Apply the new skills to one’s
self and functioning for a
better quality of life
18
-Debit card  Learning Journal
challenge
 Discussion  Multi-media
 Activity: Art Recall Presentation
 Reflection Paper
 Learning Journal
 Discussion  Acrostics
 Activity: Who is a  Reflection Paper
Filipino?  Learning Journal
 Discussion  Group Poster/Slogan
 Activity: Three Making
Facts, One Fiction  Research Work on Fake
News
 Learning Journal
 Discussion  Study Plan/Diagram
 Activity: How do  Learning Journal
you think about
thinking?
 Discussion  Jack Canfield Quote Hunt
 Activities: 5-10-20  Collage
Selfie  Graphic Organizer
 Goal Setting Plan  Dream Board
 Discussion  Reaction paper
 Activities:  Self-Care Plan
- Self Stress  Reflection paper
Assessment  Learning Journal
- Self-compassionate
letter
Course Grading System

Performance Tasks
 Checklist
 Journaling
 Reflection Paper
 Research Paper
 Concept Mapping
 Program Proposal
 Acrostics making
 Summaries
 Multi-media presentation
 Slogan/Poster Making
 Graphic Organizer Making
 Quote Hunt
 Study Plan Making
 Self-care Plan Making
 Dream Board Making

Midterm/ Final Examination - (in case there is exam)

List of References
 Main Reference/Core Textbook :

Alata, Eden Joy. et al (2018). Understanding the Self. Manila. Rex Bookstore Inc.

 Other References:

Chaffee, John. 2015. The Philosopher’s Way: Thinking Critically About Profound Ideas. 5th Ed. Boston: Pearson.

Gebhard, Paul Henry. 2017. Human Sexual Behavior. Accessed October 11, 2017. https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-sexual-behaviour.

Gleitman, Henry, James Gross, and Daniel Reisberg. 2011. Psychology. 8th Ed. Canada: W.W. Norton and Company.

Jhangiani, Rajiv, and Hammond Tarry. 2014. Principles of Social Psychology. 1st Ed. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
License.

Marwick, Alice. 2013. “Gender, Sexuality and Social Media.” In Senft, T. & Hunsinger, J. (Eds), The Social Media Handbook (59–75). New York: Routledge.

Neff, Kristin. 2012. “The Science of Self-Compassion.” In Compassion and Wisdom in Psychotherapy edited by C. Germer and R. Siegel. New York: Gilford Press.
Accessed October 31, 2017. http://self-compassion.org/wp-content/ uploads/publications/SC-Germer-Chapter.pdf

Papaleontiou-Louca, Eleonora. 2003. “The Concept and Instruction of Metacognition.” Teacher Development Vol. 7, No. 1. DOI: 10.1080/13664530300200184.

Popova, Maria. 2013. “Viktor Frankl On the Human Search for Meaning.” In Brainpickings. Accessed October 20, 2017. https://www.brainpickings.
org/2013/03/26/viktor-frankl-mans-search-for-meaning/.

Prepared by:

Eden Joy Alata

Bernardo Caslib, Jr.
Ryan Pawilen
Janice Patria Serafica