Understanding the Self. Nature of identity; factors and forces that affect the development and maintenance of personal identity. 3 units.
Adolescence is a developmental stage commonly thought to be a time of physical, emotional, and psychological vulnerability. Foremost among the concerns of this life stage are issues of self and identity. The course is intended to enable the process of exploration and thereby help students arrive at an understanding of the concepts of personality, self, and identity. Two major objectives are thus envisioned: the introduction of major theories of personality--its nature, development, and dynamics as well as those forces and factors that lead to the formation of a self and identity; and the provision of experiential learning so as to ground these theories and perspectives in students' concerns and issues relating to their personal self and identity.
Thus self-discovery exercises and activities, reflection papers a,nd personal journals will be used as the focal point of lectures and class discussions, thereby providing the foundation and structure for all course learnings. Other learning tools such as personality tests and measures will also be used.
At the end of the course, the student is expected to have acquired: (a) a basic knowledge of personality theories; (b) a better understanding of their personality, self and identity, along with knowledge of the influential forces which impact on these such as gender, culture, family and relationships; and (c) basic skills in managing the self and identity.