R STA ND NI NG

UNDE
THE SE L F
UNPACKING THE
SELF
This chapter explores the various aspects of self and identity such as the
physical or biological, sexual, material or economic, spiritual, political,
and digital self. Certain issues and concerns regarding self and identity
are to be explored in order to arrive at a better understanding of one’s
self.
§
 OBJECTIVES
What to Expect?

• This chapter seeks to realize the following outcomes:

2. Explore the different aspects of self and identity;

3. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self and identity;

4. Identify the different forces and institutions that impact the development of various aspects of self and identity; and

5. Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self- discussed in class.
 THE PHYSICAL
SELF
The Physical Self According to Erving
Goffman (1971), “people are concerned
with the way others perceive them, and
such concern serves as a motivation to
manage their behaviour in order to
present favourable and appropriate
images to others. Such self-
presentation includes not only the
individual’s social behaviours but also
his/her physical body”.
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, the student is expected to:

1.Identify and reflect on the different forces and institutions that impact the development of the physical self;

2.Explain the impact of culture on body images and self- esteem.

3.Discuss the role of media on the adolescents understanding of beauty and self-esteem and its influence on their
body image satisfaction;

4.Examine one’s self against the different concepts and aspects of the physical self.

5.Propose measures to enhance the adolescents’ “body image satisfaction”.

 THE SELF AS
IMPACTED BY THE
BODY
The concept of physical self has gained a
considerable attention in the fields of
Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology,
including religious and biological or
health studies.
According to William James,
“The self is the sum total of all
that man can call his, which
includes his body, family and
reputation, also his clothes and
his house..”

Physical Self- is the concrete

or tangible aspect or
dimension of the person which
is primarily observed and
examined through the body.
 WILLIAM JAMES ERIK ERICKSON

"The body is the initial source "experience is anchored in the

of sensation and necessary for ground-plan of the body⁹. "
the origin and maintenance of
personality."

MAURICE MARLEAU-
SIGMUND FREUD PONTY –

"the physical body is the "The body will be at the

core of human center of human
experiences." existence. "
 We experience life through our bodies
and senses (sight, smell, touch, etc.),
allowing us to interpret the world around
us. However, the body is not merely an
object in the world but we are also our
bodies in that the body is the vehicle for
our expression in the world.
 ag e a n d S e l f-
u re o n B o d y I m
I m p a c t o f C u lt
The o f B ea u ty
h e I m p o rt a n c e
Esteem : T
t h e p r o d u c t o f
a p p e a r a n c e a re
o f b e a u ty a n d
Standards i c a l in f l u e n c e s.
u r a l a n d h i st o r
r se m i x o f c u lt r t an ce a s
a d i v e it h g r e a t i m p o
r a n c e i s d ea l t w
P h y sic a l a p p e a e t o p o s s e s s
v e g o o d f o rtu n
o m e p e o p le h a a u t y.
of to d a y . S e d id e a ls o f b e
e t o st a n d a rd i z
s o f th a t a d h e r i th th e ir
fe a tu re d is s a t i s f i e d w
i n d i v i d ua l s a r e
m a n y r o u g h
However, e y se e k to a l te r t h e m th
tt rib u t e s t h a tt h
physical a
i c a l m e a n s .
surg
 y bo d y i m a g e?
ha t d o we e x actly mean b
W
r ce p t i o n o f t he
t h e p e r s o n ’ s pe
a g e – r e f er s to m a g e c a n b e
Body im b o d y . B o d y I
e s s o f h i s / he r
o f a t t r a c t i v e n n a l ( s o c i a l ) .
l e ve l a l ) a n d e x te r
t e r n a l ( per s o n
t h i n
s e e n a s bo
t h e c o n c e p t of
b o d y i m a g e is
t h e c o n c e p t of
Along with y p e s :
u t y ha s t w o t
be a u t y. B e a
a l i t i e s o f t h e
t o t h e i n n e r qu
b e a u t y – r e f ers
Inner
n . c h a r a c t e r i s t i cs
pe r s o t o t h e p h y s i cal
b e a u t y – r e f er s
External
.
of the person
 n d i n g o f
l t u re i n o u r Understa
o l e o f C u
Th e R l f-E st e e m
g e a n d S e
Body Ima
s t h e sh a r e d
y d e f i n e d a
s c o m m o n l a n d
C ul t u re i , b e h a v i o rs
h t s , b e l i e fs
n s o f t h o u g c r e a l m s.
patter n d s y m b o l i
m a t e r i a l a
s i n b o t h l o g y ,
habit g u a g e , t e c h n o
n c l u d e s l a n s t e m s ,
C ul t u re i c a t i o n a l s y
c a l a n d e d u
m i c , p o l i t i i a l
ec on o a t t e rn s , s o c
a e s t h e t i c p
a n d
religious .
s a n d s o o n
s t ru c t u r e
Margo de Mello (2014) -explains that the culture
of physical improvement trains us not only to
believe that all bodily processes are under our
control, but to feel ashamed about those parts of
our flesh that refuse to comply with the cultural
ideal. Body shame is a culturally conditioned
reaction to a commercially-fabricated fantasy of
physical perfection.
Audrey Tramel (2013) -mentions that the predominance of
“pop culture” in today’s society definitely has some
effects such as the way teenagers think of themselves,
how they associate with others, and how they express
characteristics of their maturation. Pop culture or popular
culture is a culture widely accepted and patronized by the
public as in pop music which is very appealing to the
youth. Pop culture influences how teens define themselves
as in the case of a recent famous K-pop boy band, named
“Exo” which gained the admiration of millions of Filipino
teenagers. It influences the way they define themselves.
Indeed, an important characteristic of every teenager’s
maturation is his/her self-definition. Self- definition refers
to the way a person sees himself. (may picture)
 A d o l e s c e n t’s
M e d ia o n t h e
f l u e n c e o f
The in -
i n g o f B e a u t y
U n de r s t a nd

i n th e f o r m o f
c r e a t e s i d e a l s ,
T he m e d i a d w o m e n to
l s , f o r m e n a n
s a n d m o d e
celebritie e s s u r e to c o n f o r m t o
e s e g i v e u s p r
a d m ir e . T h o f t e n m a k e
s i n t h e m e d i a
i o n s . I m a g e
e x p ec t at a p p e a r a n c e , d e f in i n g
a b o u t o u r o w n
us w o r r y h o n e i s n o t
c t iv e a n d w h i c
o d y i s a t t r a
w h at b a c t i v e .
g f a t a s u n a t t r
s e ein g b e in
Genesis M. Javellana (2014) -mentions that the
media plays a large role in how teenagers view
themselves by shaping images of what teenagers are
supposed to be or do. Research findings revealed
that the internet is the most frequently used media
with the respondents using it often. Magazines have
the strongest negative relationship with the weight
of the respondents; and proposed that measures
such as media awareness seminars and screening
and balancing of commercials and advertisements
on television and magazines are needed to balance
the effects of media on adolescents.
 e A d o l e s c e n t
f - e s t e e m o f th
ia o n t h e Se l
e d
Impact of M
t h e f i e l d s o f
o f s t u d i e si n
i f f e r en t t y p e s
m d
Evidence fro , p s y c ho l o g y , h e a lt h
o r d e r s , m e d i a t e s t h a t
e a ti n g d i s i c a t i o n i n d i c a
a s s c o m m u n
, a n d m e o f
psychology e m e l y i m p or ta n t s o u r c
i a a r e a n ex t r t h e n a t u r e
m a ss m e d i n r e l a t i o nt o
e i n f o r c e m e n t
m a t i o n a n d r a n d h o w to
i nf o r , it s i m p o r t a n c e ,
e a u t y i d e a l
of t h e t hi n b
a t ta in i t .
Davies & Furnham, found out that the average
teenager is sensitive to, and critical of, his/her
physical self. Constant exposure to cultural
standards of beauty in evaluating own body
image (via media and social networks) may
produce non-normative shift in the form of
dieting practices which may lead to eating
disorders as a result of body image
dissatisfaction, the feeling of discrepancy
between actual and ideal body image.
Stice and Withenton (2002), have
found body image dissatisfaction to be
a strong predictor of depression,
exercise dependence, eating disorders
and steroid use among young people
 i g n if i c an ce
Self- estee m and Its S
p l e f e e li n g
s e l f - e s t e e m can leave peo
.Too litt l e
d e p r e s s ed .
de f e a te d or
s e x h i b i te d i n
h o w e v e r, a
h s e l f - e s t ee m, n l y b e
To o m u c r , c a n c e r t a i
a l it y d i s o r d e
ss i s t ic p e r s o n p e r s o n a l
na r c i e v e n d am a g e
t h e r s a n d c a n
irritating t o o
.
relationships
Developing Self-esteem

1. Understanding that healthy, attractive bodies come in many shapes and sizes;
2. Physical appearance says very little about our character or value as a person;
3. How we get to this point of acceptance often depends on our individual development and self-acceptance.

To get to that all important point of balance, there are a few steps we can take:

1. A Talk back to the media and speak our dissatisfaction with the focus on appearance;
2. Emphasize numbers as pounds, kilograms or inches, feet and meters on the scale; they don’t tell us anything meaningful about
the body as a whole or our health;
3. Stop comparing ourselves with others and remember that each one is unique;
4. We need to appreciate and enjoy our bodies in the uniqueness of what we have;
5. Spend time with people who have a healthy relationship with food, activity, and their bodies;
6. Question the degree to which self-esteem depends on our appearance because basing our happiness on how we look is likely to
lead us to failure and frustration, and may therefore prevent us from finding true happiness;
7. Broaden our perspective about health and beauty by reading about body image cultural variances, or media influence and check
out a local art gallery payingparticular attention to fine art collections that show a variety of body types throughout the ages and in
different cultures;
8. Recognize that size prejudice is a form of discrimination, as shape and size are not indicators of character, morality, intelligence,
or success;
9. Approach health and well-being from a firm and socially engaging perspective and put importance on a healthy lifestyle and;
10. Keep in mind that the body, in whatever shape or size, is good and sacred, having been created in the image and likeness of
god. Such body deserves love and respect.
 We will have a positive body image when we
have a realistic perception of our bodies, when
we enjoy, accept and celebrate who or what
and how we are, and let go of negative societal
or media perpetuated conditioning.
 The team

FHARNIZA DENIELLE MARIE PSYCHE LAURENCE AXIL MAGALINO

PARASAN PARONG ORTEGA