Background of The Study
Background of The Study
Background of The Study
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Human physical appearance is the outward phenotype or look of human beings. There are infinite
variations in human phenotypes, though society reduces the variability to distinct categories.(Wikipedia)
and sometimes this is the basis of other people about you/us. They will judge you the way you look and
the way you move, not the way you express what’s inside you. It's really needed like to be formal in
front of other people in times of job interview, in your work and in you normal life living to be attractive
and hygienic in the eyes of others. Physical appearance is almost our capital in living in this world and
this is maybe the reason why most people have consciousness in their appearances.
In our everyday life living here in the world, we often receive evaluations and even nasty criticism from
others such as friends, family members or everyone. And these evaluations may refer to a person’s
performance, physical appearance, their competency, social skills or any quality. Some people may react
more strongly to these evaluations than do others that's why people use or consume adornments such
as cosmetics. According to Mentor Resource Center Accessed March 3, 2014. Among high school
students, 44% of girls and 15% of guys are attempting to lose weight. In Rosenberg’s (1965, p.370)
research he found that, “the lower a person’s self-esteem, the more he was bothered by the poor
opinion of another person”.
Trust in your own self is what I can connect to the word confidence or self-esteem. According to the
study of (Kernis, Cornell, Sun, Berry,& Harlow, 1993) physical appearance is the indicator or something a
trigger that makes your self esteem boost. It is because the more physically attractive you are the more
people attracted to you and when many people are always in your side or approaching you, it will just be
normal facing other people for you. You really need to stand out from others in order for you to compete
with others.
This study focuses on how people relate the physical appearance to the development of the self-esteem
based on their experiences and what are their perspectives about the said topic.
Does physical appearance really have a big effect on the development of our self-esteem? How does it
affect? And Why does it affect the development of the self-esteem? Well the answer is based on you,
your experience is the answer.
This study is conducted to analyze how physical appearance affect the development of the self-esteem
and this study answer the following questions.
1. What are the different effects of physical appearance to the development of the self-esteem.
2. How does the physical appearance affect your daily life.
3. What are the experiences of the students that proves that physical appearance affect the
development of the self-esteem.
Significant of the Study
To the students - this study will help the students for them to know how physical appearance affect the
development of the self-esteem and also for them to know why they are doing or making such thing.
To the parents - the result of this study can help the parents think and adjust or change their mindset
about the work or doings of their children. This can also help the parents know how to guide or support
their children about this topic.
To the teachers - for them to know and to help the other student boost their confidence and also for
them to be a good guide, trainer or second parent of the student.
To the community - this study can help our community solve this issue which is about the self-esteem
development because this is the fundamental need of the community so that our community leaders
will be able to decide and take some steps that will answer this issue.
To the future researchers - the result of this study is beneficial to the future researchers in order for
them to enhance their analysis and use the result of this study as a reference for a accurate and precise
result.
This study has the limitations. It ranges only 10 students of senior high school students specifically grade
11 students. It aims to know their experiences about how physical appearance affect the development of
the self-esteem.
Theoretical Lens
“The importance of perceived competence and perceived physical attractiveness consistently emerged
as predictors of stability of self-esteem”, as shown in the studies done by (Kernis, Cornell, Sun, Berry,&
Harlow, 1993), the greater the importance is placed on competence and physical attractiveness as
determinants of a person’s self-worth, the greater the degree of unstable self-esteem.
Definition of terms
Physical appearance - Human physical appearance is the outward phenotype or look of human beings.
There are infinite variations in human phenotypes, though society reduces the variability to distinct
categories.
Phenotype - the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its
genotype with the environment.
Organization of the Study
Chapter I : Introduction
This chapter discussed the background of the Study. The problem is identified and also give its scope and
limitations, theoretical lens, and the definition of terms.
Chapter II
This chapter cover the basic theories regarding the research topic, which support the study and make
this study more reliable.
Chapter III
Chapter IV
This chapter determines the results of the study if it is correct, effective, or helpful in different aspects.
Chapter V
This stage is where you need to listen to the opinions of others specially to the teacher so that the
mistakes will be correct.
Review of related literature II
Many early theories suggested that self-esteem is a basic human need or motivation. American
psychologist Abraham Maslow, for example, included self-esteem in his hierarchy of need. He
described two different forms of esteem: the need for respect from others and the need for
self-respect, or inner self-esteem (Maslow, 1987). Respect from others entails recognition,
acceptance, status, and appreciation, and was believed to be more fragile and easily lost than
inner self-esteem. According to Maslow, without the fulfillment of the self-esteem need,
individuals will be drawn to seek it and unable to grow and obtain self-actualization.7
Sociometer theory maintains that self-esteem evolved to check one‟s level of status and
acceptance in one‟s social group. According to terror management theory, self-esteem serves a
protective function and reduces anxiety about life and death (Greenberg, 2008). Carl Rogers,
the greatest exponent of humanistic psychology, exposed that the origin of problems for many
people is that they despise themselves and they consider themselves to be unvaluable and
unwotrthy of being loved; hence the importance he gave to unconditional acceptance of client
(Bonet 1997). Indeed, the concept of self-esteem is approached since then in humanistic
psychology as an inalienable right for every person, summarized in the following sentence:
“Every human being, with no exception for the mere fact to be it, is worthy of unconditional
respect of everybody else; he deserves to esteem himself and to be esteemed”. (Bonet, 1997).
By virtue of this reason, even the most evil human beings deserve a human and considered
treatment. This attitude, nonetheless, does not pretend to come into conflict with mechanisms
that society has at its disposition to prevent individuals from causing hurt-of any type to others
(Bonet, 1997). One study has shown that inflating self-esteem by itself can actually decrease
grades (Baumeister, Jennifer, Joachim, & Kathleem, 2005). The relationship involving self-esteem
and academic results does not signify that high self-esteem contributes to high academic
results. It simply means that high self-esteem may be accomplished due to high academic
performance (Baumeister, Campbell & Krueger, 2003). High self-esteem correlates highly with
subjective thinking. (Baumeister, Jennifer, Joachim & Kathleem, 2005). Additionally, self-esteem
has been found to be related to forgiveness in close relationship, in that people with high self-
esteem will be more forgiving than people with low self esteem (Eaton, Wardstruthers &
Santelli, 2006).
Another variable that is of interest to the present study is body image. Body image refers to a
person‟s perception of the aesthetics and sexual attractiveness of their own body. Human
society has all times placed great value on beauty of the human body, but a person‟s
The concept of body image is used in numerous disciplines, including psychology, medicine,
psychiatry, psychoanalysis, philosophy, cultural and feminist studies. The term is also often used
in the media. A person body image is thought to be, in part, a product of their personal
experiences, personality, and various social and cultural forces. A person‟s sense of their own
physical appearance, usually in relation to others or in relation to some cultural “ideal” can
shape their body image. A person‟s perception of their appearance can be different from how
A 2007 report by the American Psychological Association found that a cultural-wide sexual
typing of girls (and women) was contributing to increased female anxiety associated with body
image (APA, 2007). However, other scholars have expressed concern that these claims are not
based on solid data (Ferguson, Winegard & Winegard, 2011). Dolto (1984) has developed a
theory of unconscious body image. Negative perceptions of a person‟s body image, such as a
perception that they are fat, can in some cases lead to mental disorders such as depression or
eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, though there can be a variety of different reasons why
these disorders can occur. Studies have found that females tend to think more about their body
shape and endorse thinner figures than men even into old age (Ferraro, Muehlenkamp,
Paintner, Wasson, Hager, & Hoverson, 2008). Hawkins, Richard, Granley, Stein, Richards, Granley
and Stein (2004), observed that when female undergraduates were exposed to depictions of
thin women their body satisfaction decreased, but rose when exposed to larger models.
The desire to lose weight is highly correlated with poor body image, with more women than
men wanting to lose weight. Kashubeck – West, Mintz and Weigold (2005), reported that when
considering only men and women who desire to lose weight, sex differences in body image
becomes inconsequential. Also, a study by Garner and Garfinkel (1980), demonstrated that
those in professions where there is a particular social pressure to be thin (such as models and
dancers), were much more likely to develop anorexia during their career, and further research
suggests that those with anorexia have much higher contact with cultural sources that
Hence, female body shape or figure is the cumulative product of a woman‟s skeletal structure
(her build) and the quantity and distribution of muscle and fat on the body. There have been
wide differences on what should be considered an ideal or preferred body shape, both for
attractiveness and for health reasons. These have varied among cultures simultaneously. As
with most physical traits, there is wide range of normality of female body shapes. Human beings
and their cultures have perennially focused attention on the female body as a source of
cultures, what is beautiful is assumed to be good; attractive people are assumed to be more
extroverted, popular, and happy. This could lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, as from a young
age, attractive people receive more attention that help them develop these characteristics.
C Abamara Nnaemeka. Relationship between Body Image and Self-Esteem among ... - IOSR
Physical appearance is one of the first individual characteristics noticed by others and has an
important impact on social interactions. Appearance in general and body image in particular
have become very important constructs in contemporary Western societies (Tiggeman, 2011).
Body image is not just a cognitive construct, but also a reflection of attitudes and interactions
with others. The tendency to link physical attractiveness with positive personal qualities has
become a cultural stereotype, not only in western culture, but also globally. The avalanche of
perfect bodies in mass media, advertising and social media is burdensome to the subconscious,
causing people eople to accept that “what is beautiful is good,” with physical attractiveness
often being linked with success.Physical appearance was far less important in earlier times. The
ancient Greek ideal was “kalokagathia” – a man refined in mind and body: physical beauty
(kalos) was acquired by exercising in the palestra, practicing agonistic disciplines, while the
intellectual and spiritual goodness (agathos) were refined by practicing music, song, dance,
rhetoric and philosophy (Corral et al., 2010, p 5). In a Hymn to Hygieia (sec. V or VI BC), it was
said that “To have good health is the best for a mortal. / Second is to be born handsome in
appearance.” The link between health and beauty trespassesthe centuries through the medieval
age. Despite the tones of pink flash painted by Rubens (1577-1640), depicting the presumptive
beauty ideal of the epoch, some studies have suggested that a small waist was actually a symbol
of feminine beauty, health and fertility. Singh, Ren & Singh (2007), after examining over 7000
documents containing prose, poetry and drama references to women’s physical appearance in
sec XV – XVII, concluded that “the marker of health and fertility - a small waist - has always been
an invariant symbol of feminine beauty,” not only in the European countries, but also in the
In present times, the personal physical image is a mean of gaining a distinct place in the social
products and procedures, piercing and tattoos, plastic surgeries, sportive material and
equipment, etc.) have notably increased for women and men as well.
As they grow up, children build a picture or image of themselves. This image develops through
the things that they can or cannot do and by how other people see them. Poor opinions of our
bodies can cause low self-esteem and self-confidence. An important contribution to the
construction of a youth’s body image is the media. Constantly watching ‘perfect’ bodies can
feed youth insecurities over attractiveness and weight. Studies show that idealized body image
contributes to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, steroid use, protein
During adolescence, girls, more than boys, have particular concerns about weight, body shape
and self-image.There is scientific evidence that body image is experienced negatively by the
majority of women and girls (Furham, Badmin & Snead, 2002; Grogan, 2008). Many are
dissatisfied with their body size and weight because slimness is seen as the desirable standard
and as the beauty pattern,especially for young women. Even in adulthood, underweight is much
more prevalent among women than men (Ali & Lindstrom, 2006).
For an overweight person, the awareness of his or her body size and volume will determine
social reluctance, timidity and low self-confidence, reflected in her/his posture and attitudes.
Additionally, socio-cultural patterns associate fatness with laziness, and overweight persons are
in BMI, a measurement very important to contemporary understandings of health and risk for
fundamental importance for the maintenance of life functions and is an essential part of having
a healthy lifestyle, as it has been proven to play a protective role against the development of
cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, skeletal disorders and even mental illness
(Andersen, 2009).In the last 20 years, psychologists have had a constant regard of self-esteem as
a significant psychological predictor for health and quality of life. An important number of
studies has linked the self-esteem concept with a wide range of topics from violence and
aggression (Baumeister, Smart, Boden, 1996) to life satisfaction (Zhang & Leung, 2002),
body image perception,studies have revealed a preference for Caucasian female samples
confronted with Western cultural patterns. Despite the abundance of scientific articles linking
selfesteem with various physical aspects, in the Eastern European space this topic has only
Seasoned marketers across all industries know that “sex sells.” The general public recognizes
this principle too, although both groups may not fully appreciate the widereaching effects the
physical attractiveness of those around us has on our everyday attitudes and behaviors. Within
the hospitality, service and leisure industries these effects apply not only to impersonal
coworkers and between company representatives and customers. With this in mind, we review
and summarize classic and contemporary literature on the psychology of physical attractiveness.
This foundation leads to a discussion of how companies can properly maintain the delicate
balance between effective marketing versus adherence to ethical principles when it comes to
taking advantage of the psychology of physical attractiveness. Keep in mind that we use the
term physical attractiveness here to refer to the perceived beauty of a person’s anatomical
features. Non-anatomical physical features obviously play a role in physical attractiveness, but
they are not the main focus of this paper. Where the latter are discussed, it will be in the
demonstrate that physical appearance does matter and that people intuitively equate beauty
fourteen beautiful facts: 1. On measures of affect and mood, physically attractive people score
2. People perceive physically attractive people as smarter, more successful, more sociable, more
dominant, sexually warmer, mentally healthier and higher in selfesteem than their physically
strong22, studies show that attractive people are neither more nor less intelligent than less
attractive people26,43,633. Physically attractive people are more relaxed and socially adept and
less socially anxious and lonely than less physically attractive people26,32
4. We prefer to interact with people who are physically attractive28. For instance, physically
attractive people are generally liked more than less physically attractive people13 and they have
5. We are more likely to divulge personal information about ourselves to physically attractive
people than we are to divulge less physically attractive people66. We are more likely to help a
physically attractive person than we are a physically unattractive person137. If we are presented
with a group of people and asked to use non-physical cues to identify who has psychopathology,
we are more likely identify physically unattractive people as we are to identify more physically
attractive people28,448. Physically attractive people with psychological disturbance are judged
to be more maladjusted and to have a poorer prognosis than less physically attractive people
with the same psychological disturbance129. A physically attractive person charged with the
same crime as a less attractive person is more likely to be found not guilty of that crime23
10. In court cases in which the crime is sex-related, physically unattractive defendants are
This effect is often independent of the actual grooming or attire of the defendant.
11. Physically attractive individuals found guilty of a particular crime are more likely to receive
more lenient sentences than less attractive defendants1812. We are more drawn towards
physically attractive strangers than to unattractive strangers of either sex10. For example, on a
passenger train service in the UK, people avoided sitting next to people with physical
deformities4213. Good-looking faces trigger the same kinds of brain networks that are activated
14. There appears to be a universal, cross-cultural undesirability for people with facial
disfigurements and other flaws27. Even babies seem to prefer physically attractive faces to
traits to beautiful people also means that we give them more breaks in life. This is nowhere
more pronounced than in human resources. Physically attractive job candidates whose
qualifications are similar to those of less attractive candidates are more likely to be hired for the
same job30,55,56. This effect is particularly pronounced when the job application is of average
quality. If the application is exceptional, physical attractiveness plays less of a role in the
selection process71. The preference for physical attractiveness is often independent of actual
grooming; the hiring bias occurs even against physically unattractive candidates who are well
groomed.Physical attractiveness bias does not end in the interview room. Compared with their
less attractive counterparts, physically attractive workers earn more money19,70. In fact, one
study35 found that employees above-average in looks earn 5% more than average-looking
employees, whereas employees below-average in looks earn about 7-9% less than average-
looking employees4. In other research36, it was discovered that men of above average height
earn about 6% more than men of average height, whereas men belowaverage in height
experience a penalty of about -4%. There was also a significant penalty of about-5% for obese
women (but not men).Not only does the beauty premium benefit attractive employees, it also
can benefit employers. Researchers58 looked at advertising agencies and found that firms
whose executives are good-looking have higher revenues and faster growth than similar firms
whose executives are not attractive. When it comes to persuasion, beautiful people also have a
definite advantage. They are more likely to be successful in changing other people’s attitudes
and in getting what they want14. Good-looking people even get money when they ask for it!
When solicited for charitable donations, the more attractive the solicitor, the more money they
get51. To be sure, physically attractive people are more likely to be successful in changing other
The Darker Side of BeautyThe sections above underscore the prevalence of a physical
attractiveness bias. However, reactions to beauty can be so psychologically potent that they
lead to interpersonal tension and conflict. For example, individuals who are unusually physically
attractive are often at a disadvantage, because people attribute greater negative and egocentric
advances37 and members of their own sex typically resent them. In fact, attractive people often
are unsure of whether others like them for their appearance or for their inner qualities. They
are also more likely to rely on their looks than on their other attributes. Furthermore, there is a
negative correlation between physical attractiveness and honesty and concern for
others22,26,43
that we do not assess people and situations in fair and objective ways. What complicates
matters is that we often have specific criteria for what qualifies as “physically attractive, yet we
The following sections explore the nature of physical attractiveness by providing three
additional lists. The features in the first list — Physical Features — are the foundation of
“attractiveness” in general, and physical attractiveness specifically. Few of us would consider the
qualities in this list to be unattractive. Most of us are drawn to these physical features, if only
because they are the first thing we perceive when we first encounter someone, and we argue
here that they account for the largest proportion of our physical attraction to people.
However, the factors in the second and third lists — Situational and Intra-individual Factors —
often cause us to evaluate the features in the first list in a new ways. In fact, these factors make
it impossible to conclude that two people with the exact same physical features are even
wholly subjective, but there is an effective heuristic for answering the question of what is
physically attractive—attractiveness is associated with physical and psychological traits that are
perceived to be indicators of good physical (and reproductive) health. Clearly there is variation
in what specific individuals find personally attractive due to genetic, cultural, historical,
psychodynamic and behavioral influences, but experts15 have noted that people across cultures
tend to agree that the following physical qualities make a person physically
attractive: In both sexes clear skin and vibrant hair is admired as a sign of youth, vigor and
good nutrition. In both sexes having a symmetrical face and body are indicative of good
Qualities desirable in men include substantial height9,24, square jaw, wide brow, wide
shoulders, strong arms, defined chest and a waist-to-hip ratio of about 1.0. Many of these
and voluptuous buttocks. Many of these features indicate that a woman is able to bear healthy
In both sexes (although much more for men than women) features that are typically
associated with a baby’s face are deemed attractive. In other words, there is an apparent
preference for “cuteness”, which includes large, closely spaced eyes, a small, slightly upturned
(or “button”) nose and a soft, rounded chin. Such baby-like features signal nurturance and non-
dominance—traits that men appear to find very attractive. Women find these traits attractive
too, often because nurturance is a positive quality in a mate15,45; however, women have a
more significant preference for facial features which signal maturity, strength and dominance60
. In both sexes an “average” face and body3,53 are perceived as optimal. Few people like a
nose, for instance, that is too large or too small. Average faces and bodies are composites that
wash out extreme ends on the continuum of various features (i.e., they indicate the absence of
potentially maladaptive genes). In both sexes unattractive facial features are often offset by
attractive physiques. In both sexes certain physical, but non-anatomical features are especially
desirable. In fact, these features can either counteract anatomical flaws or—at least for some
people—can by themselves be more physically attractive than the kinds of anatomical features
mentioned above. Examples include: A person’s physical style, such as posture, stature, gait,
eye contact and smile. Some people have a smile that is warm or bright enough to accentuate
more physically unattractive than a person who dislikes their appearances (whether or not they
are considered generally physically attractive). In fact, a physically unattractive person’s comfort
with his/her own looks can sometimes make up for any physical flaws and actually become
more physically attractive than a person who is already above-average looks (and especially a
person above-average in looks who does not think that s/he is physically attractive). The
person’s level of physicality with others: some people are quite physically attracted to those
who are more “touchy-feely” (e.g., people who like to give pats on the back, brushes on the
arm, hugs or massages). A person’s personal hygiene, grooming and dress. In some cases,
exceptional presentation can make average or not-so-attractive faces and bodies look quite
physically attractive.20
In both sexes a person who is similar to us in physical attractiveness. The reasons for this may
include the following: We are comfortable (and feel safer) with people who are similar to us.
We know ourselves well; if we consider ourselves to be physically healthy, then we will consider
We do not like to be around people who are more attractive than us because we fear they will
steal the limelight from us.Eddy M. Elmer, Simon Fraser University James Houran, President, 20
Methodology III
Research design
This study will be using qualitative phenomenological study. This type of study interview the participants
or the respondants one by one this interview is confidential, it's main purpose is just to collect and
analyze the data, which is the experiences coming from the respondants and this data will be used in
order to get a accurate result.
The role of the researcher of this study is to assist and make the research happen, researcher is really
important or needed especially in the time of the interview or data gathering, for the researcher is
responsible of the study.
Researchers is also the one who will analyze the data carefully without biases in order to get the exact
result and to find the best solution of the problem.
During the gathering of the data I will going to first, I will choose or approach some grade 11 students I
give some enough time to the participants so that they will not be irritated and they will accept my
invitation whole heartedly, those students who are willing to be interviewed are informed about the
topic which is the "physical appearance affecting the development of the self-esteem ,since this is a
school base research I will just wait for a exact time that the grade 11 students have vacant time. There
will be a briefing to the participants about what they are going to do.
When they have a vacant time I will interview them one by one only without any other person so that
they will not be disturb or influenced by other's ideas, they will going to write their experiences feelings
and ideas , they are free and open to express their feelings in order to get a real/exact experience of the
participant. When the data are all collected it will be analyze to interpret the data.
Data Source
The data are the experience of the grade 11 students which are obtained through one by one interview
and also from the internet, these data are trusted because it is all validated and all data coming from the
internet are coming from the professionals which are aldo obtain through studies.
Validation of findings
To validate the accuracy of findings. The first step in ensuring the validity is allowing it to be counter
check by our adviser. The adviser will check personal bias and expectations at the door. The adviser is
interested as much as candid information from the research participants as possibl, and respectful
neutrality. For this reason, the researcher will let the adviser with rich experience
Data Analysis
The data will be analyze through examining their similarities and comparing them one by one and then
regroup the data with their different similarities and then interpret these data and when that thing is all
done I will make a conclusion so that I can finally decide or declare the result.