Human Competence, Values, and Social Dynamics

Core Competencies and Human Knowledge

Competence consists of the knowledge and conduct provisions that allow an individual to perform an activity successfully. These competencies are categorized as:

• Being: Self-knowledge, self-learning, and emotional control.
• Knowledge: Culture, learning, and self-reported information.
• Doing: Initiative, motivation, and problem-solving.
• Living: Expression, respect, and solidarity.

Defining the Individual and Society

A person is a biological rational being possessing will and values. Society is defined as a group of people who share the same space to interact with each other, sharing ideas, cultures, and traditions.

The Hierarchy of Human Values

Values shape the human experience and are classified into several categories:

• Moral Values: These perfect a person, making them more human (e.g., wisdom, confidence, gratitude, and forgiveness).
• Intelligent Values: Those that surpass us in knowledge.
• Ethical Values: Means to achieve a social purpose, such as honesty, loyalty, fairness, and respect.
• Intellectual Values: Active reason involving curiosity, understanding, and culture.
• Affective Values: Satisfying the need to love and be loved (e.g., fidelity and love).
• Social Values: Tools to achieve social goals, including honesty, loyalty, and respect.
• Economic Values: Social worth related to material goods and hard work.
• Physical Values: Refers to mental and physical health care.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs

Abraham Maslow identified a hierarchy of needs essential for human development:

1. Physiological: Survival needs such as breathing, drinking water, and eating.
2. Security: Finding stability and a safe place to live.
3. Love and Belonging: The need for friends and family.
4. Esteem: Concerns self-esteem and being recognized by others.
5. Self-Actualization: The drive to seek continuous personal growth.

Understanding Cultural Patterns

Culture encompasses the knowledge, beliefs, and values learned from other individuals. It exists on two levels:

• Material: Physical objects such as rosaries and bibles.
• Ideological: Belief systems and concepts of gods.

Characteristics of Culture

• Learned: It is not part of human biology but is acquired through learning.
• Communicable: Transmitted from generation to generation.
• Social: Shared expectations within groups.
• Satisfactory: Meets biological needs.
• Adaptive: Constantly evolving to fit the environment.
• Integrated: Can vary and change rapidly.

Principles of Respect and Tolerance

Respect is an attitude toward another person divided into the recognition of all, unconditional respect for science, respect for rules, and the intrinsic value of every being. Tolerance involves being patient with others and is categorized into two types:

• Passive: Not necessarily supporting someone but being willing to learn about them.
• Active: Actively listening and learning from others.

The Role of Social Institutions

Social institutions are cultural patterns grouped to meet primary needs and influence human behavior. They consist of:

• Nature: Responsible for defining purposes and goals.
• Structure: The mechanisms used to implement these concepts.
• Rights: The duties associated with a person's role.
• Interaction: The process of social engagement and communication.