The Epistemic Basis of Human Personal Development. MODULE 1: GENEALOGY

THE EPISTEMIC BASIS OF 

HUMAN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

(IN 4 MODULES)

MODULE ONE: GENEALOGY

• Genes play a major role in our lives. We inherit them from our parents. They determine our health, behaviour, temperaments, etc.
  

Your Tribe/Ancestors

What is the origin of your tribe? Or what is the origin of your father’s tribe (and by extension, your mother’s tribe)

• Father & Mother = You & Your Siblings

• Paternal Grandpa & Grandma = Your Dad & his Siblings (Your Paternal Uncles and Aunties)

• Maternal Grandpa & Grandma = Your Mum & her Siblings (Your Maternal Uncles and Aunties) 

JESUS’S GENEALOGY (Matt. 1: 1 – 17)

• “Roll of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham” (Matt. 1: 1)

• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jesse, King David, Solomon, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Eleazer, Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary “of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.” (Matt. 1: 16)

• Rahab (who was a prostitute) the mother of Boaz whose father was Salmon

• Ruth the mother of Obed whose father was Boaz (Obed fathered Jesse who fathered King David)

• Uriah’s wife (Bethsheba) was the mother of Solomon. His father was King David

Jesus’s genealogy contains some imperfect men & women. Don’t worry about the imperfect state of your genealogy. Learn how to change the narrative with the powers of your mind.

GENEALOGICAL ILLNESS

• High Blood Pressure

• Asthma

• Diabetes (Type 1 shows up early; Type 2 depends on lifestyle)

• Sickle Cell Anemia

• Liver Diseases

• Cancer

• Heart Diseases

• Arthritis

• Dementia/Mental Problem

• Down Syndrome (21st Chromosome doubles)

Our awareness of them aids longevity.

TEMPERAMENTS

(References: Tim Lahaye, Why You Act The Way You Do, 1984;

Dag Heward-Mills, Model Marriage, 2^nd Ed., 2005)

Temperaments are predisposed behaviours, attitudes, or emotions inherited from our parents

• Four (4) Basic Temperaments: Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy, Phlegmatic

• Temperament in Action:

FOOD/EATING:  

Sanguine: Eats or tastes everything served/available

Choleric: Follows the menu, eats big chunks, and eats fast.

Melancholy: Indecisive & picky, but enjoys every choice eventually made.

Phlegmatic: Eats slowly & often the last to finish eating.

DRIVING

Sanguine: Speeding one minute and slow the other minute. Easily distracted by events or a talking partner while driving.

Choleric: Often speeds in other to accomplish much at the shortest possible time.

Melancholy: Obeys traffic rules meticulously, & keeps record of car expenses, etc

Phlegmatic: Meticulously too slow for comfort while driving. Can be a road menace. 

SHOPPING

Sanguine: Not price sensitive, overloaded cart most times

Choleric: Buy what he/she needs and leaves

Melancholy: Compare prices and quality, test clothes or items to be bought, may create traffic while making up his/her mind

Phlegmatic: Shops slowly & frugally, and often indecisive

COMPOUND MAINTENANCE

Sanguine: Enthusiastic with tools to work; later talking with a neighbour, talking on the phone, replying to messages; work becomes uncompleted.

Choleric: Works haphazardly with speed, neatness is out of the question

Melancholy: Maintains the yard with care, attention, and passion

Phlegmatic: Slow to work, scrupulous about it, rests too early and procrastinates.

STUDIES

Sanguine: Restless and undisciplined students, anything is a distraction, short interest span

Choleric: Clever but not brilliant, poor spellers,  curious minds.

Melancholy: Inquisitive & retentive mind, good spellers, concentrate well, but messy study/desk

Phlegmatic: analytic and deductive mind; Procrastinates; needs short-term projects,

BILL PAYING

Sanguine: Overspends; prefers to make more money rather than reduce expenses, pays bills after several reminders due to distractions.

Choleric: Pay bills on time, but not good with details of expenses.

Melancholy: Conscientiously pays bills on time, and keeps a record of receipt.

Phlegmatic: Systematize everything, and pay bills on time to save money

CHILD DISCIPLINE

Sanguine: Laud while giving instructions / threatens without effect, tender-hearted, loving, & playful,

Choleric:   Authoritative, spanks, may make children (‘late bloomers’) ‘feel inferior’, 

Melancholy: Too high expectations, rarely praise, legalistic & Procedural, spank most times, keep record of wrong

Phlegmatic: Less assertive, firm, & confrontational, shows more understanding and excuses others (including children) to a fault, 

SUMMARY

TEMPERAMENT: SANGUINE

STRENGTHS

• Loud / Talkative * Outgoing / Carefree / Spontaneous * Emotionally warm / Friendly / Fun to be with   * Motivates others to action  *      Quick to apologize / None judgmental               * Compassionate / Accepts people   * Has childlike faith and trust in human beings  * Has a strong trust in God / Less prone to fear and worry  *  Creative in Fashion, Food, Decoration, etc.

WEAKNESSES

•   Too talkative / Prone to exaggerate  * Restless / Unstable / Hot-Tempered / Too emotional

• Weak-Willed / Lacks discipline / Undependable * Prone to Unfaithfulness   * Untidy at home & work * Fussy / Complains about work  * Financially undisciplined * Forgetful of appointments & schedules  * Spiritually disorganized  * Prone to unfaithfulness

TEMPERAMENT: CHOLERIC

STRENGTHS

• Strong-willed / Decisive / Opinionated / Determined / Quick / Active * Born leader / Takes charge / Crusader *   Open & Honest / Frank / Practical  *  Self-Sufficient / Independent    * Not discouraged by problems / Courageous  *  Optimistic / Confident / Make things happen / Effective disciplinarian

WEAKNESSES

• Unemotional / Cruel / Unsympathetic / Insensitive / Sarcastic / Can be a sadist

• *  Prone to anger / Hostile even to family * Keeps grudges for long  *  Proud / Mean  * Unromantic / Rigid / Dogmatic / Inconsiderate  *  Workaholic / Bossy / Domineering  * Crafty / Self-Centred / Uses people

TEMPERAMENT: MELANCHOLY

STRENGTHS

• Analytical / Sees the obstacles and dangers in things, events, and persons * Perfectionist / Very tidy / Meticulous / Organized / Idealistic / Intelligent * Sensitive emotional nature / Thoughtful * A disciplined Christian * Gifted / Reads & Updates/ Aesthetic sense in Arts, Music, etc

• * Self-sacrificing / Loyal / Faithful / Dedicated / Listens to people

WEAKNESSES: Self-Centred / Needs a lot of love, acceptance & attention  *  Introvert / Moody / Pessimistic * Unsociable / Too quiet / Unpopular  *  Too critical / Rigid / Fault finding / Revengeful / Keeps record of wrongs  *  Prone to fear & Self-Pity / Lacks confidence / Needs external motivation *  Picky / Magnifies little issues / Constantly tidying things / Resents untidiness   *  Sets unrealistic goals and standards * Too modest with Life, Sex & Body  *  Can be jealous of spouse’s friendliness with others  *  Finds it difficult to accept spouse as he/she is / Prone to change others

TEMPERAMENT: PHLEGMATIC

STRENGTHS

• Calm / Easy going / Likeable / Unruffled / Dependable / Efficient / Consistent  *  *Conservative / Loyal / Protective / Faithful / Adjusts to others  *  Leader / Not solicit or volunteer for leadership / Diplomat / Practical  *  Humorous / Friendly / Natural Peacemaker / Positive / Patient / *  Emotional / Empathetic / Good listener / Thoughtful / Retentive Memory  *  Spectator / Sees all the sides of an issue / Aesthetic

WEAKNESSES: Lacks Drive & Ambition / Maintains status quo * Selfish & unconcerned about others’ need for activity / Miserly / Stubborn * May appear a Christian, though unbelieving / Unmotivated about spirituality * Procrastinates / Slow in decision making / Unmotivated about Sex, Finances * Fearful about life / Compromising / Avoids confrontation / Self-righteous * Unconcern about dressing & the home / Prone to forget dates & appointments * Turns attention to children when having problems with spouse

DAY 2 (MODULE ONE)

VIRTUES & VICES

VIRTUE: From the Greek ‘arete’ (aretai) meaning: Character, ‘excellence in being’, ‘effectiveness in action’, ability/power to do something, grace. 

From the Latin ‘vir’. Stands for excellence, power, 

VICE: From the Latin ‘vitium’ meaning: ‘failing or defect’, ‘bad habit’, weakness in character, ‘irregularity’, ‘misdemeanour’, 

VICES (Deficiency)                           VIRTUES                     VICES (Excess)

Cowardly                                        Brave                           Rash

Ascetic                                                     Temperate                  Addictive

Stingy                                                        Generous                 Extravagance

Self-deprecating                                     Truthful                        Boastful

Quarrelsome                                        Friendly                     Bootlicking

Depraved (immoral/wicked)          Conscientious          Deferential (Status)

Mean                                                 Benevolent (kind)      Too Self-Sacrificing

Lazy                                                          Industrious              Single-Minded(solo)

Too Modest                                               Chastity                         Unchaste 

Low Self-Concept                                  Humility                             Pride

CONSEQUENCES OF VIRTUE & VICES IN NATURE

AFFECTS ALL HUMANS

• Crop Rotation: Help organic grown food

• Exploiting & Destroying Nature; E.g. Depletion of the Ozone Layer (Global warming, melting of ice, more rainfall)

• Deforestation: Terrible wind

• Pollution (air and water): No Clean drinking water, No Clean air to breathe, Less Oxygen

• Crude Oil: Excess Carbon in the air 

CONSEQUENCES OF VIRTUES & VICES IN HUMANS

AFFECT ALL HUMANS

NIGERIA: Structural (Federal Character), Social, and Economic Challenges (Rich oppressing the Poor) are Transmitted genealogically and politically.  Antidote: True Federalism.

• BIBLICAL: The Supreme Being created Humans virtuous (very good: cf Gen. 1 & 2); The Fall (Gen. 3) produced Vices: Woman: Labour Pains, Yearn for and be dominated by man; Man: In Pain and Sweat he will toil for food, the ground will yield weeds, he will return to dust (death). Transmitted genealogically (Cain/Abel; Noah/Wicked people; Abraham’s Faith & covenant of circumcision/Hagar & Ishmael; Jacob and Esau, Jacob & Laban (Rebekah’s brother); Joseph & his brothers; David and Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba); 

• Can you identify the Virtues and Vices in your Genealogy?

ASSIGNMENT (3 – 5 pages):

1. Write a brief history of your Paternal and maternal Tribe.

2. From the age of your ancestors at the time of their death, can you infer longevity?

3. List some genealogical illnesses in your paternal and maternal family.

4. Have you inherited any of these illnesses?

5. What is your dominant temperament? Can you meliorate or eliminate your dominant temperamental weaknesses with the strength of your less dominant temperament?

6. What are the Virtues and vices (if any) in your lineage? Suggest ways you can continue the virtues and minimize or eliminate the vices in your lineage.

SUBMISSION DATE: On or before 6 pm on Wednesday next week.

Sylvester Idemudia Odia, Ph.D. (CEO)