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Integrative Reflection Paper in Understanding the Self My initial impression upon learning that I would be taking Understanding the Self during my first semester at university was that it would undoubtedly not be a dull experience. We will be addressing various facets of the self, which excites me as someone who is interested in human existence and identity. That piqued my interest in learning more about the processes involved in identity formation and the variables at play. It became clear to me that I had a lot of fresh insights after talking about every module, writing essays, and reflecting upon myself. So please allow me to discuss a portion of it in this paper on integrative reflection. The first topic, Philosophical Perspective of the Self, taught me about various philosophers' distinct yet connected perspectives of the self. However, of all the viewpoints, Merleau-Ponty's "The self is embodied subjectivity" was the one I found most believable because I think that our true self changes as a result of our unique experiences which is somehow related to his belief. It explained that the self is integrated, developing, and innate. Because the self is innate, self-awareness comes naturally to humans and is a significant attribute that exists from birth. Because the self is emergent, it is a product of interactions with both the social and physical worlds. The self is dynamic and integrated; it is made up of many parts that change over time. It makes use of the curious mind to ascertain the fundamental causes, rationales, and principles underlying everything. I also relate with Immanuel Kent's philosophy, which holds that we create the self—that is, we have the opportunity to construct ourselves every day. Every new experience and lesson we gain throughout the day molds and advances us as individuals. It shapes who we will become in the future and frequently gives us an idea of the path we will follow. In conclusion, there is always hope for a better future. I think that every day offers us fresh opportunities. I don't focus on my errors too much because of this. Furthermore, Immanuel Kent claimed that each of us creates our own reality. We construct a recognizable and dependable world. which I can relate with because, despite my preference for intellectual exchange, I tend to be a reserved individual. Being someone who doesn't give up easily is greatly aided by discovering my own philosophy of the self. Finding our purpose in life and
our true self seems too difficult and confusing. However, the first lesson gave me more knowledge like a light guiding me to find my true self. The Sociological Perspective of the Self as a product of society was covered in the second lesson. Sociology, as a scientific field that examines social groups and human relationships, sheds light on how interconnected humans are to one another. Sociologist Charles Horton Cooley taught me about the "Looking Glass Self," which emphasizes how the people one interacts with become a reflection of themselves. A key idea in self-understanding is that every society has its own unique culture. It has been observed too that individuals tend to evaluate themselves based on how they think others see them. I came to understand that while it's common to worry about how other people see us, we shouldn't alter who we are in order to appear flawless to them. Rather, we ought to put our attention inward and schedule time for personal growth according to the criticism we hear from others–especially from people we can trust. George Herbert Mead also introduced his own theory of self development and self conceptualization which is composed of three stages. In the preparatory stage, children ages two years old and below mimics behavior without comprehending the underlying motives. So, at this stage, they have no sense of self and are just preparing for role-taking. The next one is called the play stage where children ages two to six years old start to view themselves concerning others as they learn to communicate through language and other symbols. The last is called the game stage; children ages between seven and up understand their social position and others around them (Hartinet al., 2023). While this focuses on children and might seem unimportant, we should take note that construction of self identity also starts at the young age. Therefore, it is very important to take note of this theory. The Anthropological Perspective of the Self explores humanity's origins, focusing on our unique species identity, evolutionary roots, and social diversity. Joseph Ledoux explains that our "self" is contained in our brains, with two distinct memories: explicit and implicit. Explicit memories are easily recalled, while implicit memories are stored in the brain but rarely accessed. These unconscious memories impact our thoughts and actions, influenced by both internal and external factors. Our behavior varies depending on societal norms and
Another one is the Eastern and Western Concepts of Self. The Western concept of the self is defined as a limited, distinct, roughly integrated motivational and cognitive universe; it is a dynamic center of awareness, feeling, judgment, and action arranged into a unique whole and contrasted with other such wholes as well as its social and natural background. The philosophical and religious discussions in the East are mixed together. Eastern religions, including Confucianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism, are therefore frequently associated with Eastern philosophy. The characteristics and methods used by these Eastern intellectual traditions to address different questions regarding selfhood are very different. Eastern is referred to as pluralistic as a result. In addition, it claims that all four of these Eastern philosophical systems strive to teach people how to become flawless individuals, despite the fact that they have different perspectives on the idea of the Self. I gained knowledge about how the Western and Eastern conceptions of the self differ and overlap with one another in the course The Western and Eastern Concepts of the Self. Whereas the Eastern self employs both intuition and religious beliefs, the Western self places more value on reason than faith. The Physical Self refers to a person's physical body, including internal and external organs that support healthy function. As we age, our body's capacity to operate varies, becoming less effective from birth, peaking in early adulthood, and declining as we age. Our physical appearance, including traits like skin color, body type, hairstyle, height, and clothes, is acquired through heredity and can be affected by environmental factors like diseases, diet changes, and nutrition. Techniques to enhance our perception of our body include grinning, working hard, scheduling time, and accepting who we are. Body image refers to how people perceive and feel about their physical selves, with appearance significantly impacting sensitivity and confidence. Social media and beauty standards have led to dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and self-doubt, leading some individuals to undergo cosmetic surgery. Accepting our uniqueness and physical appearances is crucial for developing a positive body image and self-esteem. Self-care and improvement can lead to self-acceptance, self-worth, respect, and love, which can be shared with others. It's important not to judge others based on their physical appearance.
In this paragraph, the concept of "Sexual Self will be explored as well as its connection to reproductive systems, sexual orientation, STDs, early pregnancy, and contraceptive use. The reproductive system is a complex system of sex organs responsible for sexual activity and reproduction, influencing people's sexuality, relationships, and self-perception. Puberty begins when secondary sex develops, with signs including pubic hair, hip and buttock enlargement, menstruation, and breast enlargement in women. The development of primary sex characteristics is influenced by chromosomes in embryonic cells and hormones. The sexual response cycle, which involves bodily changes during sexual stimulation, highlights the similar biological reactions between males and females. It is very important to address these issues, especially in today's increasingly premarital era. I also believe that safe sexual activities are none at all, despite the availability of contraceptives. The importance of the Reproductive Health Law, ensuring access to contraceptive methods, fertility control, sex education, and maternal healthcare should also be given attention. I discovered while studying the topic of the Material Self that material possessions can satisfy our material selves, even if money cannot purchase true happiness. Before, I believed that all we needed to satisfy our material selves was material stuff, like money, clothing, a car, and a home. But after the discussion about this topic, I learned that our relationships with friends and family, our body, and our pets are also part of our material self because the material component of self can be anything that one considers his or her possession. These possessions often reflect a person's success or failure, motivating them to compete and achieve higher occupational achievements. Examples include a newly graduated employee who constantly submits resumes for job interviews or a worker who completes tasks on time for promotion and salary increases. The more valuable possessions, the more respect and compliments they receive. Material possessions provide a sense of belonging, growth, and purpose, but they can also impact mental health. Loss of possessions can lead to addiction, impulsive buying, and indebtedness. Materialism, where individuals prioritize possessions, can cause psychological dysfunction. It's crucial for individuals to recognize and manage their possessions to maintain their
The term "digital self" describes the persona we present when interacting with others online. Some people have several online personas, while others have just one that is true to who they are offline. Our online persona is a manifestation of our character on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. The things that people do online are a reflection of who they are as people; the things that we watch, where we go, what we post, and the things that we like and dislike become meaningful, self-defining decisions. Being a Gen Z, I can say that I personally experienced being a part of the digital world and creating my digital self. I like it because the social media platforms allow me to express my thoughts and ideas. The community provides a sense of belonging, as people share similar interests. However, people must adhere to rules and regulations. While the digital world offers freedom, it can also have harmful effects as we don't really know who we interact with and many people don't actually reveal their real selves. I can say that Learning to be a Better Student was a little personal for me as a student myself. I actually believe that learning never stops as it is a lifelong process. Learning takes many forms, it can be knowledge, skills, or experiences. This is the reason why I also think it's important to learn how to be a better student, because we never stop being a student. What we learn becomes a part of who we are and lets us discover something new which also shapes us and helps us discover who we are. It allows us to adapt to different situations and environments. It also allows us to explore how our brain works, discovering each parts’ role in the way we absorb and store information. We will be fascinated and surprised to know how complex our brain is. Learning is an ongoing process that promotes the acquisition of competencies. knowledge, and skills in order to develop future opportunities. Learning is important because it motivates us. A goal is an imagined future or intended outcome that an individual or group plans, commits to, and strives to achieve. Goals are ideas for the future or necessary discoveries that individuals surround themselves with, plan, and dedicate themselves to. Goals arise from our needs and values, which influence our behavior and drive our actions. There are two types of goals: short-term and long-term. The former are completed quickly, like getting
up early for class, and the latter are completed over a longer period of time, like owning a home or earning a degree. Setting goals is crucial for success and well-being, as it boosts motivation and provides a clear roadmap for the future. Goals also release dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to positive feelings, which stimulates individuals to take on new challenges. Goal success is influenced by mindset and self-efficacy. Self-efficacy evaluates one's abilities, while mindset determines whether to set goals. Goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound to avoid confusion and waste of time. We should remember that we are more than we think we are capable of. Learning how to set goals is important because it guides us to our success. Taking charge of one's health is very important. While we are busy discovering our true identity, learning how to be better and setting goals towards our success, I wish we don't forget to also take care of our health. I realized in this module that our health is our investment and therefore, even if we have a lot of plans for ourselves, once our health declines then it's over. Our health is not only composed of our physical health but also our mental, cognitive, social, moral, spiritual and emotional. We don't only get hurt physically, sometimes we also experience things that are not physically seen but also need to be taken care of. A self-care plan is crucial for self-reflection and self-awareness. It helps in addressing unhealthy habits like bottle-building and focusing solely on studies, which hinders discovering new opportunities and long-term goals. Implementing a self-care plan can guide a more organized, healthier life. It is not selfish to take care of oneself, as we only live once, so it's important to live life to the fullest. However, it's important to practice kindness, compassion, and respect while striving to improve and take care of oneself. We should live life to the fullest, savoring every moment and reaching our full potential. It's true that time flies when you're having fun, and these past few months have been filled with lots of fun learning. I never imagined that this subject would be so helpful to me; I've learned so much that I'm using it in my everyday life already. I was able to connect with each topic we covered and express myself through the essays I wrote throughout the semester. I used to think that all we needed to understand ourselves was our mind. Nonetheless, this subject helped me to differentiate between the different facets of who I
