Self and
Identity (Part
1)
Vanessa M. Vinluan
Department of Liberal Arts
Mapúa University
Reflection Time:
What makes
you who you
are today?
Social, Environmental,
and other Life Factors
(S.E.L.F)
• Determine the different factors
that contribute to one’s being.
• Evaluate the impact of the
different Factors of the Self
according one’s self-appraisal.
• Synthesize the influence of the
different Factors of the Self
based on group assessment.
Do you agree?
We can be
whatever or
whoever we want
to be?
Issues on
Understandi • Many scholars (i.e., theorists, scientists, philosophers) in different fields and
across generations have attempted to explain and thoroughly expound on
ng the Self several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and
dimensionality of self.
Nature Vs. Nurture
Are we born this way, or the environment made us the way we are?
Nature
Here, the self is being studied structurally
and functionally, from the molecular level
to the entirety of human physiological
systems. Genetics for example
contributed so much information about
the descriptions of the self. This field of
biology primarily deals with the study of
heredity (transmission of traits and
characteristics from generation to
another) as a process, as well as on the
characterizations (similarities and
differences) of organisms.
Nurture
Social Sciences argue though that the self
should be principally viewed as an
outcome of various nurturing factors in
the context of one’s social life. Social
Sciences have provided manifold of
insights and explanations about the self
both on the micro and macro level of
one’s social life. Different fields of social
science stresses how group life (formal
and informal) affects individuals’
behavior and attitude, and emphasizes
on the impact of various social institutions
to the self-construal of an individual.
Parent’s Influence on Child
Development
Peer Influence on
Child Development
Three Identical Strangers
The mystery of nature vs.
nurture
Self vs. Identity
Do you have…
Identity
Identity: Based on lexical definition,
Identity (noun, iden·ti·ty\ī-ˈden-tə-tē, ə-,
-ˈde-nə-\) referred to “the qualities,
beliefs, etc., that make a particular
person or group different from others…
or the distinguishing character or
personality of an individual”
Self
• Self: Based on lexical definition,
Self (noun) is “the person that
someone normally or truly is… or
the entire person of an
individual”.
UNI vs. MULTI
Dimensionality of the Self
Multidimensional
• Some people believe that the Self
or Identity can be more accurately
depicted using a single factor or
aspect. For example, we often hear
people ask another to describe a
particular person using a number
of words. Can we really describe
someone using only a few words?
Do you have a best
friend?
• Can you please describe your best
friend?
How will you categorize this
description in terms of aspect
of the self?
• Physical
• Sexual
• Emotional
• Social
• Intellectual
• Spiritual
The Self
• Our Self cannot be singly represented by a certain trait because our
Self/Identity is composed of multidimensional aspects and that we
are a PRODUCT of multidimensional FACTORS.
Society
Heredity
Multidimensional
ity of the Self
En
vir
o n
nm
en o l itio
t V
Social Factors of the
Self
Refers to the influences of significant
people in a person’s life. This
particularly includes the social groups
where and individual identifies oneself.
Social factors are strong foundations of
one’s being. The characteristics that we
acquired from the influences of the
social groups where we interact with
during the growing up years are
integrated to form our identity, or our
uniqueness and similarities with others.
Family
Peer Groups
Organizations
And other significant people in a
person’s life (e.g., teacher, role-
model, relatives, etc.)
Environmental
Factor of the Self
Broadly includes the physical and communal elements
present in our everyday surrounding, and is invariably
dealt with by individuals in a specific geographic region
or area. This is not only about the physical properties of
the surrounding (i.e., climate and temperature, forms of
land, etc.) but this factor principally includes the larger
society or community and the expectations and norms
operating in that particular locality or place.
For example:
• A person who grew up in a city, where
competitiveness and resiliency are needed in order to
survive would tend to adapt in to that kind of
environment by consciously strengthening certain
traits and skills that will manifest competitiveness
(e.g., communicative, intellective, etc.). In the process,
the harnessed characteristics become an integral part
of one’s Self or Identity.
• diverse group of people
Hereditary Factor of the Self
• Heredity is a biological process by which certain traits
and characteristics are passed on from one generation
to another. This factor compared with the two
previously discussed factors can be depicted as the non-
negotiable factor. If one has the choice whether or not
to adopt the influence of social groups and to change
(improve) one’s environment, heredity as a factor of
one’s being and identity is relatively fixed and
permanent.
• Physical Attributes (e.g., height, complexion, color of
eyes, etc.)
• Some Cognitive Traits (e.g., I.Q)
• Some other Personal Characteristics
Person-Volition Factor of
the Self
The most controversial factor of the Self or Identity. This
refers to the inclination of a person to form and
construct a specific identity, which will set him apart or
unique compared with others. Such factor emanates
from within the mentality of an individual, but also
brought about by the aggregated social-life experiences.
Social scientists (e.g., sociologist) may refer to this type
of person as deviant and non-conformist. But being one
is not necessarily negative, in fact, some of the people of
this type turned in to trend-setters, discoverers and
inventors.
Reflection:
Knowing the factors that constitute yourself:
1. Do you accept, like, love yourself?
2. Don’t you accept, like, love yourself?
3. Still confused?
