ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL SELF

OBJECTIVES: (JERONE)
1. Explore the different aspects of self and identity
2. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self and identity.
3. Identity the different forces and institutions that impact the Development of various aspects of
self identity.
4. Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self Discussed in class.

What is physical self in understanding the self?(JERONE)

Physical self concept is the individual’s perception of themselves in areas of physical

ability and appearance. Physical ability includes concepts such as physical strength and
endurance, while appearance refers to attractiveness and body image.

THE BIOLOGICAL BLUEPRINT:(JERONE)

A crucial aspect of the self is one’s physical features including the face, bodily structure,,height
and weight. However, people should also consider their physical competencies, valuation of
physical worth, and perception of beauty.

However, the physical self is not only limited to what can be seen by naked eye; underneath the
skin is a dynamic system of biological and chemical processes that contribute to one’s physical
features. Body structure, height, weight, skin color, hair color, and other physical characteristics
do not just develop random. These are triggered by genetic transformations and biological
development through heredity.

HEREDITY-(DANELYN) is defined as transmission of traits from parents to offspring. The traits

are made up of specific information imbedded within one’s gene, the basic unit of heredity.

GENOTYPE-(DANELYN)Refers to specific information imbedded within one’s genes; not all

genotypes Translate to an observed physical characteristic. It can be determined by blood
testing.
PENOTYPE-(DANELYN) Is the physical expression of a particular trait. It can be directly
observed. Each individual carries 23 pairs of chromosomes. The 23rd pair is the sex
chromosomes, determines The sex of an individual.

MATURATION (KAILA) is known as the completion of growth of a genetic character within and
organism. It enables to walk, run and talk which are evident in the adolescent stage.

Beauty by numbers (KAILA)

*Our attraction to another person’s body increases if that body is symmetrical and in proportion.
*If a face is proportion, we are more likely to notice it and find it beautiful.
*We perceive proportional bodies to be more healthy

Key points (JOSHUA)

• The self as impacted by the body
• The impact of culture on body image and self esteem
• The importance of beauty

• A self image problem happens when your looks doesn't match your beauty standards. For
example if you believed that attractive people slim ones and if you were not slim (but not obese)
then you might believe that you are unattractive even though others might believe that you are
attractive
• The problem here is with your own beauty standards and not with your looks. In order to like
your looks in such a case you must fix your false beliefs about physical. attractiveness. Body
image, self-esteem and the influence of society
• Society shapes us in many ways, possibly more than we realize from our interactions, to our
personal development through to others' perception of our bodies as a reflection of self worth
• We are social beings. Genetically, we rely on one another for the survival of humanity. That
primal connection makes nur interactions physiologically and psychologically important. So not
surprising that how society perceives us affect us on many levels.
• And it's partly how society perceives our bodies that is of concem, we're talking body image.
So what does that Involve? Body image is both internal (personal) and external (society) This
includes:
• How we perceive our bodies visually
• How we feel about our physical appearance
• How we think and talk to ourselves about our bodies
• Our sense of how other people view our bodies How we look has possibly never held as much
societal importance or reflected so significantly on our perceived self worth.

Stretching for health (JOSHUA)

The media in particular, has increasingly become a platform that reinforces cultural beliefs and
projects strong views on how we should look, that we as individuals often unknowingly or
knowingly validate and perpetuate. The more we look at parfect images of others and then look
to find those same idealized characteristics in ourselves and don't find them, the worse we feel
about ourselves. It's a cycle that breeds discontent. With such strong societal scrutiny it's easy
to see how the focus on how we look can slide into the dark side-negative body image.
Woman with food choices (PAULO)
The greater our discontent with how we measure up when compared to the societal or media
supported norms, the more negative our body image, and the greater the risk for extreme
weight or body control behaviors occurs. We're talking about:
• Extreme dieting
•Extreme exercise compulsion
•Eating disorders
• Extreme or unnecessary plastic surgery
• Using steroids for muscle building.
Who's to blame for our body perceptions, be it good or bad? (PAULO)
• Society gives us a number of reference points that shape our perceptions whether positive or
negative. When it comes to our bodies there are a number of sources that affect us more than
others.
TODAY'S EMBEDDED IDEALS - THE PHYSICAL (JOSHUA)
•Life today sees image upon image of fashionably clad women, perfect skin, tiny waists, ample
breasts, fashionably protruding behinds (of Kardashian and Beyonce fame) all with a weight of
no greater than 59kg.
•They are unrealistic images of beauty, genetically impossible for many of us to emulate. The
same thing applies to the 6- pack or ripped abs shoved in the face of men via famous
sportsmen and male fitness models, which for many is impossible to achieve without illegal
steroids.
• Yet we are told that these unattainable bodies are normal, desirable, and achievable. When we
don't measure up we develop a strong sense of dissatisfaction and the way that manifests can
be ugly.
PREJUDICE -SIZE (JERONE)
•Intolerance of body diversity has a lot to do with prejudice of size and shape in our culture.
Being thin, toned and muscular has become associated with the hard working, successful,
popular, beautiful, strong, and the disciplined.
• Being fat is associated with the lazy, ugly, weak, and lacking in will-power. • With this prejudice,
fat isn't a description like tall or redhead it's an indication of moral character and we are
conditioned to think that fat is bad.
THE MEDIA (JERONE)
• The images of perfection we see in print, film and television project an unrealistic version of
reality that we are continually told is attainable if we work out, eat less and lather our bodies in
transformative, firming and tightening creams.
• The media is a powerful tool that reinforces cultural beliefs and values, and while it may not be
fully responsible for determining the standards for physical attractiveness, it makes escaping the
barrage of images and attitudes almost impossible.
Those closest to us - family and friends (JERONE)
• We learn from other people, particularly those closest to us about the things that are
considered important.
• Friendships are particularly important in body image development because we place high
value on them, spend lots of time with our friends and develop shared experiences, values and
beliefs.
Close friends (DANELYN)
• Classrooms, University dorms and common rooms are often filled with negative body talk: "I
wish I had her stomach" "I hate my thighs" "I feel fat." Listening to this tends to reinforce the
need to focus on appearance and make comparisons between us and other people's bodies.
So how can we build a strong and positive body image? (DANELYN)
•Positive body image involves understanding that healthy attractive bodies come in many
shapes and sizes, and that physical appearance says very little about our character or value as
a person.
 FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH AND DELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENT (JERONE)
*The natural environment or natural world encompasses all biotic and abiotic things occurring
naturally, meaning in this case not artificial. The term is most often applied to Earth or some
parts of Earth.

NUTRITION (DANELYN)
*Nutritional science is the science that studies the physiological process of nutrition, interpreting
the nutrients and other substances in food in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction,
health and disease of an organism.

GENETICS (DANELYN)
*Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms. It is an important
branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian
Augustinian friar working in the 19th century in Brno, was the first to study genetics scientifically.

CULTURE (KAILA)
*Culture is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in
human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits
of the individuals in these groups. Culture is often originated from or attributed to a specific
region or location.

EDUCATION (KAILA)
*Education is the transmission of knowledge, skills, and character traits and manifests in various
forms. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public
schools, following a curriculum.

HEALTH (JOSHUA)
*Health has a variety of definitions, which have been used for different purposes over time. In
general, it refers to physical and emotional well-being, especially that associated with normal
functioning of the human body, absent of disease, pain, or injury.
RELATIONSHIP (JOSHUA)
*Relationships significantly affect our growth and development by providing emotional support,
teaching communication skills, building trust, sharing experiences, enhancing coping skills, and
shaping our social identity.

EXERCISE (PAULO)
*Exercise is physical activity that enhances or maintains fitness and overall health. It is
performed for various reasons, including weight loss or maintenance, to aid growth and improve
strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone athletic skills, improve health,
or simply for enjoyment.
HORMONES (PAULO)

*A hormone is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant
organs or tissues by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior.
Hormones are required for the correct development of animals, plants and fungi.