Kyla Delaney A.

Lim Bachelor of Science in Psychology

TTH 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM ASAB – 248

1. Is the Philippines really a collectivist society?

Collectivism, as an expression of culture, connotes a system that values

or privileges the needs of an economy, society, or family as a whole rather than

individual interests or goals. Majority of the Filipino people, if not all, has been

centralizing the functions and parts of families and communities over individual values—

even before the Spaniards set foot on our islands. In actuality, I can say that, the

Philippines is indeed a collectivist society. Filipinos generally place an immense

significance on personal characteristics such as politeness, dependability, obedience,

generosity, loyalty, and mindfulness to the necessities of other people, in contrast to

individualism wherein assertiveness, unconventionality, and independence is of greater

emphasis. A typical Filipino’s perception of his / her own behavior, abilities, and

characteristics reveal that he / she has been influenced by his / her society, which

promotes collectivism. For instance, a Filipino woman might describe herself as a

respectful daughter or a loving sister, whereas an American woman would account

herself as intelligent or famous.

2. How do I understand myself? What led up to this self?

The most important key to understanding my self is to be myself—in order

to have a fulfilling and liberating life. Personal tranquility and peace of mind are two of
the most critical goals in a person’s life, yet these objectives are very hard to attain if

you are trying to live by someone else’s rules. I believe that being myself helps me

increase my confidence and happiness level. As a person being true to myself, I am

capable of recognizing my own beliefs, values, and lifestyle. I learn about what I am

really passionate of, what I can do with my life, what I plan to do with my life, and so

much more. My knowledge of who I am is affected or influenced by the external forces

or factors in my environment, as my self-concept is malleable and develops continually

as I expand my ideas about who I am.

3. Formulate your own theory about the self.

Who are you? A common question, yet responded with many unique

answers. For every individual is different—a singular organism, separated from all other

matters living or not. But a fact that we cannot deny is that, we are interconnected to

everything that surrounds us. A separate being, as most people say, that is dependent

only to what the cosmos could give. This reality alone makes me wonder if our

innermost-self is truly separated from other selves, or is the idea of separation just an

illusion caused by our own misconceptions between the differentiation and division of

selves?

The self is perhaps an endless mystery. A small part of it can be

understood, but its entirety is concealed within the depths of human intellect and

comprehension, waiting to be uncovered. Many have tried to illuminate its sense, in the

most logical and absurd ways, but it only creates more and more questions. Indeed, the

more you shed light onto something, the more you realize its total darkness. Thankfully,
some of these theories about the self make sense in truth. It only depends on us on how

we perceive it, and in through these theories, we can also create our own.

My own concept about the self is not entirely based upon, but somehow

related to Rene Descartes’ famous principle, “Cogito, ergo sum” or “I think, therefore I

am.” Along with Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler, and Kurt Koffka’s Gestalt Theory,

which emphasizes that, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” And George

Herbert Mead’s belief that one’s distinct identity is developed through social interaction.

My own understanding and use of these ideas may differ from its real meaning, but as I

have said, it only depends on our point of view.

For me, the beginning of one’s existence is the moment a mother realizes

that in her womb carries another human being. In baby development, an embryo or a

fetus cannot tell nor recognize its own existence; but fully developed humans can, such

as: doctors, parents, and other people. This fact makes me believe that the self does

not only begin to exist the moment you start to doubt and think, because there are other

selves around you who has already recognized you as another self that is starting to

exist. From this time, our self is already linked to other selves through their knowledge

of our own existence. And as time goes by, we grow and our brain develops. At this

phase, we are now able to perceive ourselves as an existent being and others’ as well.

We begin to realize that our physical self / appearance comes from our parents’

genetics, thus, this part of our self was taken from the selves of our parents making us

undeniably connected. The molding of oneself is affected by our surroundings. We are

flexible, and most of the time, we try to change to fit in to the norms of the society. In

accordance with Mead’s theory, I also believe that our self-concept is based on how we
interact with others. The society might change our perspectives but it is up to us on how

it will change us and which part of ourselves are we letting them to change. This is what

makes us different from the other selves, but not divided, because there are no walls

separating us from interacting and changing each other’s lives. 

The world is a jigsaw puzzle, wherein every living and non-living matter

has its own piece of the puzzle. Everything that is of existence has its own part and is

there for a reason, for the puzzle will not be complete, nor will make sense without it.

Therefore, I can say that, the self is only a piece of this jigsaw puzzle. The only

difference is that, we are born with no fixed shape or identity because we ourselves,

with the influence of others, are the one to mold it as we think and grow. The piece next

to you is also changing; rotating, flipping, cutting, and adding its parts, and will continue

to do so until both sides of your piece is right. The puzzle is never-ending, as long as

the universe exists, it has infinite space for another piece to grow and fit. We were never

separated nor divided, we are only different pieces in one puzzle. And that for me is the

self.