Understanding the self: Module 1

Summary

This lecture explores the concept of 'self' through an engaging discussion that delves into the factors influencing our identity, such as social, environmental, and biological elements. It challenges the audience to reflect on their self-perception through a series of statements and encourages an understanding that both nature and nurture shape our being. The talk aims to help individuals evaluate the impact of these factors on their self-appraisal and synthesize their understanding through group assessment, ultimately fostering a deeper comprehension of the self.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The lecture aims to explore the journey of understanding the self, highlighting factors such as social, environmental, and biological influences on personal development.
• 🤔 The audience is prompted to reflect on their views of themselves through a series of statements about self-control, desires, and the extent of self-discovery.
• 👪 A statement about the influence of parents or family members during formative years is presented, suggesting that their impact may be limited to those developmental stages.
• 🔍 The script discusses the concept of 'self' and 'identity', emphasizing the everyday use of these terms and their importance in understanding who we are.
• 🧬 The nature versus nurture debate is introduced, with genetics being highlighted as a significant contributor to the description and understanding of the self from a biological perspective.
• 🌱 The role of the environment in shaping the self is also discussed, with social sciences providing insights into how various nurturing factors contribute to personal development.
• 🤷‍♂️ The script suggests an eclectic standpoint on the nature versus nurture debate, acknowledging that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in forming the self.
• 📚 The lecture touches on different disciplines such as philosophy, science, sociology, psychology, and anthropology to provide a comprehensive understanding of the self.
• 📝 The audience is encouraged to engage in reflective activities to better understand the influence of nature and nurture on their current state of being.
• 📖 The lexical definitions of 'self' and 'identity' are provided, with 'identity' referring to the qualities that distinguish an individual and 'self' being the entire being of an individual.
• 💭 The script concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding one's self in terms of both nature and nurture, and the role of self-concept in personal identity.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the lecture?

The main topic of the lecture is understanding the self, which includes the exploration of various factors such as social, environmental, biological, and other life factors that contribute to the development of one's identity.

What is the purpose of the diagnostic statements at the beginning of the lecture?

The diagnostic statements are used to gauge the audience's initial beliefs about the self and its formation, providing a starting point for discussion and reflection throughout the lecture.

What does the term 'self' refer to in the context of the lecture?

In the context of the lecture, 'self' refers to the individual's entire being, encompassing personal characteristics, beliefs, and tendencies that make up one's identity.

What is the difference between 'self' and 'identity' according to the script?

According to the script, 'identity' refers to the qualities, beliefs, etc., that distinguish an individual from others, while 'self' is the entire being or person that someone truly is.

What is the nature versus nurture debate discussed in the lecture?

The nature versus nurture debate discusses whether the self is predominantly a product of natural processes (genetics) or is largely influenced and constructed by one's social environment.

How does genetics contribute to the understanding of the self?

Genetics contributes to the understanding of the self by predisposing individuals to specific tendencies through the transmission of traits from parents through genes.

What role does the social environment play in the development of the self?

The social environment plays a significant role in the development of the self by influencing and shaping an individual's beliefs, behaviors, and interactions with others.

What is an eclectic standpoint on the nature versus nurture debate?

An eclectic standpoint on the nature versus nurture debate suggests that both nature (genetics) and nurture (environmental factors) contribute to the formation of the self.

How can reflecting on personal characteristics help in understanding one's identity?

Reflecting on personal characteristics can help in understanding one's identity by allowing individuals to consider what makes them unique and how these traits contribute to their self-concept.

What is the significance of the phrase 'I am mine' in the context of the lecture?

The phrase 'I am mine' signifies the individual's unique identity and self-concept, emphasizing the personal characteristics that define who they are.

What is the lecturer's final message to the audience?

The lecturer's final message is a hope to see the audience again, implying an ongoing journey of self-discovery and understanding, which is an essential part of personal growth.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Understanding the Self: Introduction and Diagnostics

The video begins with an introduction to the concept of understanding the self, emphasizing the impact of social, environmental, and other life factors on personal development. The lecture aims to help viewers identify the various factors that contribute to their being, evaluate their impact, and synthesize their influence. To start, viewers are presented with diagnostic statements to agree or disagree with, exploring beliefs about personal control, innate tendencies, and the influence of family during formative years. The script then delves into the concept of 'self' and 'identity', discussing how these are expressed in everyday language and how scholars across different disciplines have attempted to explain them.

05:02

🌿 Nature vs. Nurture: The Foundations of Self

This paragraph explores the nature versus nurture debate in relation to the development of the self. It discusses the biological perspective, suggesting that genetics plays a significant role in predisposing individuals to certain traits. The video also considers the social environment's influence, with social scientists arguing that the self is largely a product of nurturing factors within one's social context. The paragraph highlights the contributions of various social sciences to understanding the self at both micro and macro levels. The discussion concludes with a reflective activity for viewers to consider the impact of nature and nurture on their current selves.

10:03

👤 Self vs. Identity: Defining the Concepts

The video script distinguishes between the concepts of 'self' and 'identity'. It defines 'identity' as the qualities and beliefs that make a person or group distinct from others, while 'self' refers to the entire being of an individual. The paragraph discusses how personal characteristics contribute to one's self-concept and how understanding these can help in self-appraisal. It encourages viewers to reflect on their personal characteristics and how they make up their identity. The script also touches on the importance of understanding the self in terms of both nature and nurture.

15:26

👋 Conclusion and Farewell

The final paragraph brings the lecture to a close, thanking viewers for their participation and expressing hope for a future encounter. It is a brief conclusion that signals the end of the video, leaving viewers with the insights gained from the discussion on the self and identity.

Keywords

💡Self

The 'Self' is a central concept in the video, referring to the individual's entire being or essence. It encompasses a person's thoughts, feelings, and actions that define who they are. The script discusses the self from various perspectives, including social, environmental, and biological factors that contribute to its development. For example, the video mentions how we use the term 'I' in everyday language, which is an expression of self.

💡Identity

Identity in the video is defined as the qualities, beliefs, and characteristics that distinguish an individual from others. It is a part of the self that helps to form one's self-concept. The script explores the difference between self and identity, noting that while self refers to the whole person, identity is more about the specific traits that make someone unique. For instance, the video uses the phrase 'I am mine' to illustrate personal characteristics, which are part of one's identity.

💡Nature vs. Nurture

The debate between 'Nature vs. Nurture' is a key theme in the video, discussing the extent to which innate biological factors (nature) versus environmental and social influences (nurture) shape an individual's self. The script suggests that both nature and nurture contribute to the development of the self, with genetics predisposing certain traits and the environment influencing how these traits manifest.

💡Heredity

Heredity is mentioned in the context of the nature side of the nature vs. nurture debate. It refers to the transmission of traits from parents to offspring through genes. The video explains that heredity makes individuals predisposed to specific tendencies, thus contributing to the formation of the self.

💡Environmental Influence

Environmental Influence is presented as a critical factor in the development of the self, particularly from the nurture perspective. The script discusses how social and environmental contexts can shape an individual's behaviors, beliefs, and personality. For example, the video mentions that even though one may have inherited certain traits, the environment can influence how these traits are expressed.

💡Self-Appraisal

Self-Appraisal is the process of evaluating oneself, which is mentioned in the video as a way to understand the impact of different factors on one's self. It involves reflecting on personal experiences and characteristics to gain insight into how they contribute to the development of the self.

💡Group Assessment

Group Assessment is introduced as a method to synthesize the influence of different factors on the self based on collective evaluation. It is a process where individuals reflect on their identity and self within a group context, allowing for shared insights into the development of the self.

💡Diagnostics

Diagnostics in the video refers to the initial self-evaluation activity where viewers are asked to agree or disagree with statements about the self. This activity serves as a starting point for the discussion on understanding the self and its formation.

💡Personal Characteristics

Personal Characteristics are the specific traits and qualities that make up an individual's identity. The video uses the phrase 'I am mine' to prompt reflection on these characteristics, which are integral to understanding one's identity within the broader concept of the self.

💡Eclectic Standpoint

The Eclectic Standpoint mentioned in the video suggests taking a balanced view that incorporates elements from multiple perspectives. In the context of nature vs. nurture, it implies recognizing the contributions of both biological and environmental factors to the development of the self.

💡Philosophical Foundation

Philosophical Foundation refers to the underlying principles and theories that provide a basis for understanding complex concepts like the self. The video indicates that understanding the self involves not just one discipline but a combination of various fields, including philosophy.

Highlights

Introduction to the lecture on understanding the self, which will explore the impact of social, environmental, biological, and other life factors on an individual's development.

The goal of the lecture is to enable participants to determine the different factors contributing to one's being, evaluate their impact, and synthesize the influence based on self-appraisal and group assessment.

Diagnostics activity to gauge participants' views on statements related to self-control, innate tendencies, and the influence of family and upbringing.

Discussion on the concept of 'self', highlighting its importance in everyday language and the various ways it is expressed.

Exploration of the terms 'I' and 'me', and their significance in representing the actor and object of interest in the context of the self.

Introduction of the interdisciplinary approach to understanding the self, combining philosophical, scientific, sociological, psychological, and anthropological perspectives.

The nature versus nurture debate, with some insisting that the self is predominantly a product of natural processes and heredity.

The role of genetics in predisposing individuals to specific tendencies and contributing to the description of the self from a biological perspective.

Counterarguments that the self is largely influenced and constructed by the social environment, emphasizing the impact of nurturing factors.

Insights from social sciences on how groups and social contexts influence the development of the self.

A reflective activity for participants to consider the influence of nature and nurture on their current state, using the prompt 'We are what we are right now because...'

The unresolved controversy between nature and nurture, suggesting an eclectic standpoint that acknowledges the contributions of both.

Differentiation between 'self' and 'identity', with identity referring to the qualities and beliefs that distinguish an individual, while self encompasses the entire being.

The role of personal characteristics in shaping one's identity and self-concept, as part of the self-understanding process.

Concluding remarks, emphasizing the importance of understanding the self in terms of both nature and nurture for a comprehensive self-awareness.

Transcripts

[Music]

good day

now welcome to understanding

and that would be social environmental

and other life factors by the way

this lecture comes no don't celebrate

not understanding the self na sinhola

doctor uh jonathan mahayan

professor uh yes jasmine

john christopher castillo at the end of

this

discussion uh you'll be introduced

there's a journey of understanding the

self which

would highlight the different factors

from social environmental

biological and other life factors that

contribute

to the development of the cell and it is

intended that

at the end of this lecture at least

you'll be able to determine

the different factors that contributes

to one's being

evaluate the impact of the different

factors

of the cell according to self-appraisal

and synthesize the influence of the

different factors

of self-based on group assessment

okay so let's now get started but to

start with

let's have a diagnostics let's see

how you view yourself just say if you

agree or disagree

with this statement number one statement

we can be whatever or whoever

we want to be do you agree or disagree

next statement our tendencies

are completely controllable

agree or disagree number three

we are what we are right now

because we want to be like this

agree or disagree number

four there there are still many things

that we have not discovered

about ourselves agree or disagree

and lastly our parents or family members

can only influence us while we are

in the growing up years or formative

years

agree or disagree so you'll answer

nothing

those are our questions nato disagree or

disagree

hopefully we'll be able to answer them

as we go through

the lessons that we will be discussing

let's now talk about the self and

identity

the self is one of the most interesting

topics that people talk about

every day we may not be conscious about

it

but every time we mention the term

i for example i will go to school

or i love to hang out with my friends

or i like to eat burgers

or

[Music]

okay uh aside from that

we always mention also the term

me so tell me about

it i

um it makes me feel awesome

man so these are some of the things that

unconsciously

talks about the cell the identity and we

can say

i is an actor

and the me has the object our interest

about

cell is even more evident in the

functionality of this word

variation of i and me

i am termina i

me mine myself

so everyday language nothing our

consciousness

the existence of the self has been

almost automatic

and we are almost unaware that in our

everyday lives

we are constantly talking about

i me and myself and many scholars like

theories scientists and philosophers in

different

fields not across generations have

attempted to explain and thoroughly

expound

on several issues and controversies

about the nature

existence and dimensionality of the cell

yitupalam understanding the cell hindi

lang

mangagali na

so we'll not just talk about

philosophical foundation

we'll not just talk about scientific

foundation or sociological foundation

or say psychological foundation or

in the united pagusa palamaleon

anthropological basis but

the combination of these disciplines

as we understand the term self

okay so similarities

and difference themselves and identity

and cell and identity by a

uni or multi-dimensional

uni-dimensional or multi-dimensional

and apart nature

versus nurture about the cell

so let's talk about the nature versus

nordstrom

well some insist that the cell is

predominantly a product of

a natural process all right so dianna

do something before

heredity no ready the transmission of

traits from parents

of spring through genes

[Music]

[Music]

uh

explains that our traits are passed on

from one generation to another

[Music]

okay so it makes us uh predisposed

to anything among specific

tendencies

okay so genetics contributed a lot about

the description of the cell

nature or biological perspective

of understanding the cell and lagging

similarities and differences

of individuals okay so while some insist

that the cell is predominantly a product

of the natural process

to which people are inherently

predisposed some

argue that the self is largely

influenced and principally constructed

by one social environment

although young inherited traits nothing

i mean

influences

contributions environment

if we're going to look into

developmental psychology

[Music]

individual okay social scientists argue

that

though the cell should be primarily

viewed

as an outcome of various nurturing

factors in the context of one social

life

social sciences have provided many

insights and explanations about the cell

both on the micro

and macro level of one social life

okay uh so different fields in social

science

sciences stresses how group like young

influence

is

[Music]

[Music]

so now let's try to reflect though as

individual and understand more issues

so this could be an activity now for the

teachers out there

influence not nature or non-nodes

torture what if we complete this

statement

and form this into a paragraph not 10

sentences

paragraph we are what we are right now

because

of then allow the students to answer

this

we are what we are right now because

oh that's one of the reflective

activities the body

well arguments about the predominance of

either nature

or nurture are still unresolved

until you get out nothing in nature

versus nurture

controversy we could settle

for an eclectic standpoint

an eclectic standpoint on this issue

puerto rico

both nature and nurture contributed

to the product of the cell

my contribution you having genetics my

contribution then

your environment and

my contribution then your perception

called

the environment so that's how important

understanding the self in terms of this

nature

versus nurture and now let's go

to self versus identity and

sabinetin identity this is based on the

lexical definition

identity as a noun is referred to

as the qualities beliefs etc

that make a particular person or group

different

from others an identity

okay it distinguishes your character or

personality

from other individual or other

person while young celtic based on the

lexical definition

the person that someone normally or

truly

is or the entire

being the entire person of an individual

okay so uh answering

what do you think are you are your

similarities and differences with

other people but new banks

uh phrase nato continue this phrase

i am mine

then

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

talks about personal characteristics

so um

asking ourselves about the personal

characteristic

would help give us young acting

identity identities make up one's

self-concept

and various described as what comes to

mind

when one think of oneself

[Music]

non-subject not understanding the cell

okay thank you very much and i hope to

see you again

[Music]

goodbye