Physical Self: Nature vs. Nurture

Physical Self

• Nature is the biologically developed traits
• Nurture is acquired traits resulting from environmental and social influences

Biological Blueprint

• Genes, heredity, and nature describe the inheritance of physical and psychological characteristics from parent to offspring

DNA

• Thread-like structure holding coded instructions
• Composed of 46 chromosomes
• Both parents contribute 23 chromosomes in offspring production
• The 46 chromosomes determines the heredity of a child

Genes

• Part of the chromosome that influences physical characteristics
• Organized by chance and cannot be controlled
• Each person is different

Heredity

• Decides physical features like eye and skin color, height, and bone structure
• Provides physical development of body and brain through maturation

Environmental Factors/Influences

• Shapes physical growth and development through social groups, societal expectations, and cultural practices
• Family is the primary agent of socialization and impacts physical development

Impact of the Body on Self

• Self is affected by body characteristics including build, height, complexion, and hair
  • Endomorph
  • Mesomorph
  • Ectomorph

Importance of Physical Characteristics

• To impress others in social settings
• Feeling good and looking good
• Attracting people
• Boosting self-confidence and self-esteem
• Enhancing personality
• Aesthetic appeal is fundamental to beauty

Mass Media and the Concept of Beauty

• Mass media are influential in depicting body image and beauty standards

Thin Ideal

• The idea that a slim female body is ideal
  • It can lead to dissatisfaction and eating disorders

Cosmetics and Skin Whitening

• Skin color can define perceptions of beauty
• This can lead to discrimination called colorism

Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeries

• Cosmetic surgery enhances appearance
• Plastic surgery repairs, reconstructs, or modifies the body

Body Image

• Body image is how you perceive your body's sexual attractiveness relative to societal standards
• Shaped by experiences, peers, media, family, community, and culture
• A positive body image involves loving and appreciating your body
• Negative body image stems from negative perceptions

Aspects of Body Image

• Perpetual body image: the way you envision your body
• Affective body image: how you feel about your body
• Cognitive body image: how you think about your body
• Behavioral body image: the actions you do in relation to your body

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

• Obsession or dissatisfaction with slight body imperfections can lead to body image disorder
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a psychological disorder regarding body imperfections

Gender Prevalence of BDD Symptoms

• Males with BDD
  • Focus on body fluid, genitalia, thinning hair, and substance abuse
  • Weight lifting and camouflage
• Females with BDD
  • Focus on breasts, buttocks, excessive hair, teeth, thighs and weight
  • Eating disorders and skin bleaching

Factors Affecting Body Image

• Low self-esteem
• Bullying
• Influence of mass media
• Natural changes during adolescence
• Heredity
• Individual traits
• Psychological or emotional issues
• Perfectionism

Materialistic Self

• According to William James, the Material Self is comprised of the body, clothes, immediate family, and home
• The Material Self is defined as physical or tangible elements that represent the self

Parts of the Material Self

• BODY: The innermost part of the material self
• CLOTHES: Clothes create an identity
• IMMEDIATE FAMILY: They cause pain and anger if lost
• HOME: Experiences occur there, making it part of the self

Possessions and the Extended Self

• Extended self defined by external objects surrounding the individual
• The greater control over these things, the more closely association with these things

Levels of Possessions

• Individual level is through personal belongings (e.g., jewelry, makeup, clothes)
• Family level includes the home and its decor
• Community level refers to attachment to neighborhood with decorations
• Group level determines reliance on a group for identity (e.g., landmarks, sports teams)

Integrating Possessions into the Extended Self

• Integration through personal use
• Incorporating objects by creating or buying
• The object becomes part of the self by knowing or being inspired by it

Consumer Behavior

• Study of how people buy, use, and dispose of objects
• Consumer behavior is influenced by psychological, social, cultural, and personal factors
• Freud says buying unnecessary things links to conflicts between id, ego, and super ego

Pleasure, Reality, and Moral Principles

• Id: "pleasure principle," seeks pleasure and satisfaction
• Ego: "reality principle," balances id and super ego
• Super ego: internalized values from family and society

Sexual Self

• People are sexual by nature
• Humans are born through sexual processes

Human Reproductive System

• The reproductive system enables the human race to survive
• Sexual intercourse leads to offspring

Male Reproductive System Parts

• Prostate gland: Increases sperm mobility
• Seminal vesicle: Nurtures sperm cells
• Penis: Primary reproductive system for penetration
• Vas deferens: Transports sperm from epididymis to urethra
• Testes: Supplies sperms and testosterone
• Scrotum: Holds testes

Female Reproductive System Parts

• Fallopian tube: Delivers egg cells to the uterus.
• Uterus (womb): Nurtures female gametes
• Ovary/Ovaries: Produces gametes, estrogen, and progesterone
• Cervix: Allows menstrual blood flow and directs sperm
• Vagina: Opening of the uterus

Hormones

• To generate hormones, a good cholesterol diet is needed

Phases of the Human Sexual Response Cycle

• Physical and emotional changes during sexual activity
• Introduced by William Masters & Virginia Johnson in 1966

Excitement Phase

• Desire Phase - Sexual fantasies trigger sexual urges
  • Arousal Stage
    • Stimulation of sexual pleasure
    • Penile tumescence (male) is increased blood flow into the penis
    • Vasocongestion (female) is released vaginal lubrication

Plateau Phase

• Characterized by rapid breathing
• Penis grows in size and testes enlarge
• Outer vagina contracts and clitoris retracts

Orgasm Phase

• Climax of sexual activity
• Male experiences inevitable ejaculation
• Vagina contacts for females

Resolution Phase

• Sexual drive slows down after ejaculation
• Refractory period is the recovery time

Diversity of Human Sexuality

• Flexible ideas of gender and identity
• Sex is a biological concept given at birth
• Gender is a social concept of masculinity and femininity

Sex vs Gender

Sexuality

• Is a human expression of one's sexual desires, thoughts, and feelings
• Main function is human propagation
• More about who you are

Values of Sexuality

• Sensuality
  • Acceptance and enjoyment of one's own and others' bodies
• Intimacy
  • Being close to someone through caring, self-disclosure, and trust
• Sexual Identity
  • Perceiving oneself as a sexual being
• Sexual Health & Reproduction
  • Attitudes and behaviors related to sexual health and consequences
• Sexualization
  • Using sexuality to control others.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

• Infections transmitted through unprotected sexual activity
• Caused by pathogens, parasites, yeast, and viral infections

Common STIs

• Genital herpes
  • Sores on genital/rectal areas caused by unprotected sex
• Gonorrhea
  • Infects genital tract, mouth, or anus, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• HIV/AIDS
  • Slows down immune system, caused by unprotected sex, infected syringes, or mother-to-child transmission
• HPV
  • Causes warts, spread through skin contact
• Syphilis
  • Infects genital area, lips, mouth or anus, caused by Treponema Pallidum
• Trichomoniasis
  • Spread through sex, causes discharge, itching, or painful urination

Prevention of STIs

• Abstinence
  • Not engaging in sexual activity
• Monogamy
  • Engaging with only one person
• Vaccinations
  • Vaccines to prevent infection
• Check for infections
  • Early detection is a must
• Education
  • Educate yourself

Contraception

• Methods that prevent pregnancy

Natural Methods

• Calendar method
  • Predict fertility by tracking menstrual cycles
• Temperature method
  • Tracks body temperature changes
• Cervical mucus method
  • Monitors vaginal discharge changes
• Withdrawal
  • Removing the penis from the vagina

Hormonal Methods

• Injection or shot
  • Progestin injected into buttock/arms every 3 months
• Pill
  • Taken orally to prevent pregnancy
• Patch
  • Worn on lower abdomen
• Vaginal ring
  • Placed inside the vagina

Barrier Methods

• Diaphragm/cervical cap
  • Blocks sperm cells
• Sponge
  • Like a cervical cap, must be left in place for 6 hours after sex
• Male condom
  • Prevents sperm from entering the vagina
• Female condom
  • Blocks sperm cells from entering
• Spermicides
  • Kill sperm cells

Permanent/Surgical Methods

• Female sterilization (ligation or "tying tube")
  • Fallopian tubes are tied to prevent sperm and eggs from meeting
• Male sterilization (vasectomy)
  • Vas deferens is cut and tied to prevent sperm during ejaculation

Reproductive Technology

• Advancements in science offer new parenting methods

Examples of Reproductive Technology

• Artificial Insemination
  • Fertilization aided by placing semen inside with a syringe
• In vitro Fertilization (IVF)
  • Fertilization outside the woman’s body
• Surrogacy
  • Donor or surrogate carries a pregnancy for another woman