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6 - Unit 2 - UTS

The physical self refers to the part of the self that interacts with the world through the body. It includes the body and lifespan from conception to death. Several psychological theorists have studied the importance of the body in understanding the self. Standards of beauty and body image vary across cultures and influence self-esteem. Improving self-esteem requires understanding how culture and environment shape perceptions of physical attractiveness.

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48 views

6 - Unit 2 - UTS

The physical self refers to the part of the self that interacts with the world through the body. It includes the body and lifespan from conception to death. Several psychological theorists have studied the importance of the body in understanding the self. Standards of beauty and body image vary across cultures and influence self-esteem. Improving self-esteem requires understanding how culture and environment shape perceptions of physical attractiveness.

Uploaded by

Angelose
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 6:

THE PHYSICAL SELF


PA R T 2 :
U N PA C K I N G T H E S E L F
THE PHYSICAL
SELF
• This is the part of the self which is
interacting with the world and other
people. It is tangible and observable.
• Refers to the body (both extremities
and internal organs work together for
the body to perform many functions)
• Lifespan refers to the development
from conception to death
PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES ON
UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSICAL SELF
• William James – the body is the source of sensation and origin
of personality.
• Sigmund Freud – the body is the core of human experience.
• Wilhelm Reich – the mind and the body are one.
• Erik Erikson – the body is critical in the sense of self of a
person.
• Carl Jung – the physical body and external world can be known
as psychological experiences.
• B.F. Skinner – a behaviorist, stresses how the body can be
influenced by the environment and vice versa.
THE DIFFERENT BEAUTY AROUND THE
WORLD
• The long necked women of Burma.
– Kayan long neck women begin wearing the rings as early as
four or five years old. The rings can weigh up to 25 pounds.
• Filipinos want people who have white complexion.
• Stretched earlobes and shaved head in Kenya and other parts of
Africa.
• Maori men and women in New Zealand sporting tattoo.
• Indian women accessorize themselves with henna during special
occasions.
• “Au naturel” for the French.
• The media has become increasingly a platform that reinforces
cultural beliefs and projects strong views on how we should
look that as individuals consciously and unconsciously
perpetuate. Celebrity’s facial features.
• The more we look at perfect images of others and then
compare it to us, we feel bad to ourselves.
• In some cases, some people develop negative body image.
– Extreme dieting
– Extreme exercise
– Eating disorders
– Extreme or unnecessary plastic surgery
– Steroids for muscle building
SELF-ESTEEM
• Societies and culture around the world has always
kept different standards of physical attractiveness and
also certain obligations.
• Body ornaments are heavily used to improve the
appearance, to make one more pleasing. This includes
body painting, tattooing, jewelries, and also surgery.
• Our perception of our physical body could influence
our sense of self-esteem. There are three: inflated self-
esteem, high self-esteem, and low self-esteem.
STAGES IN THE
LIFESPAN BY
ELIZABETH B.
HURLOCK
2 FACTORS AFFECTING PHYSICAL
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
• Heredity – biological process of the inheritance of traits from
parents to offspring
• Environment – refers to the factors an individual is exposed to
throughout life which includes learning and experiences.
THEORIES OF THE SELF

• Theory of Physiognomy (German


physician Franz Joseph Gall and Johann
Spurzheim, 1800) suggests that a person’s
physical characteristics such as facial features
and expressions and body structures could
be related to a person’s character or
personality.
• In ancient Greece, Hippocrates developed a
theory based on the prominence of body
fluids (humors), which influences a person’s
personality, temperament, and well being:
– Sanguine (red bile) impulsive, cheerful, happy,
optimistic
– Melancholic ((black bile) depressed and
pessimistic
– Choleric (yellow bile) easily angered, jumpy,
temperamental
– Phlegmatic (excess phlegm) sluggish, dull, and
slow
• Body type theory based on
physical characteristics by William
Sheldon (1940s):
– Endomorphic (soft & plump) easy
going and sociable
– Mesomorphic (strong muscular)
energetic, adventurous, assertive,
& courageous
– Ectomorphic (tall & thin)
restrained, quiet, introverted, and
artistic
• Body Image - Refers to how individuals perceive, think, and feel
about their body and physical appearance
• Appearance – refers to everything about a person that others can
observe such as height, weight, skin color, clothes, and hairstyle.
• Self esteem- a person’s overall evaluation of his or her own worth
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTY
• Standards of beauty have changed overtime due to changing cultural values.
• Beauty has always been considered important throughout history because
these features indicate youth, health, good genes, and fertility.
• Cosmetic surgery is another form of body modification which includes
surgical and non-surgical procedures to restore, reconstruct, or alter body
parts.
• Whether beauty is biologically programmed or culturally constructed, it
remains important in all societies
• Different cultures have different definitions and perceptions of beauty
• People often say beauty is in the eye of the beholder
SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE BODY
IMAGE AND INNER SELF

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