Understanding the Physical Self

Understanding the Self

• This presentation discusses the physical self, focusing on its development and cultural influences.
• Learning outcomes include understanding the stages of life and physical changes, the roles of genetics and environment, body image, and cultural impact.
• The presentation includes an activity asking students to reflect on their body image.

Part II, Chapter 6: The Physical Self

• The physical self is the tangible aspect of a person that can be observed and examined.
• It encompasses physical extremities and internal organs, functioning together for activities like breathing, walking, eating, and sleeping.
• Physical capabilities change gradually throughout an individual's aging process.

Elizabeth Hurlock Stages of Development

• Prenatal: Fertilization to birth
• Infancy: Birth to two weeks
• Babyhood: Two weeks of life to two years
• Early Childhood: Two to six years
• Late Childhood: Six to ten or twelve years old
• Puberty: Ten or twelve to fourteen years old
• Adolescence: Fourteen to eighteen years old
• Early Adulthood: Eighteen to forty years old
• Middle Adulthood: Forty to sixty years old
• Late Adulthood or Senescence: Sixty years to death

Two Factors Affecting Physical Growth and Development

• Heredity: The biological process of inheriting traits from parents.
• Environment: Factors a person is exposed to throughout life, including learning and experiences.

Quotes

• "Man is a transitional being? This body is a bridge." —Sri Arubindo.
• "To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." —Buddha.

The Physical Self (Detailed)

• The physical self is the concrete dimension, the tangible aspect of the person observable and examined.
• It refers to the body, encompassing physical extremities and internal organs which work together for bodily functions like breathing, walking, eating, and sleeping.
• The body's ability to perform its functions changes with aging.

Key Psychological Figures on the Physical Self

• William James considered the body as the initial source of sensation and essential for personality.
• Sigmund Freud's theory of self and personality places the physical body at the core of human experience.
• Erik Erikson (1963) emphasized the role of bodily organs, particularly in the early development stages of individuals, influencing the development of skills and sense of competence.
• Humanists like Maslow recognized physiological needs as fundamental but emphasized that after meeting these needs, individuals focus on higher order needs (and in that context, the body is recognized to be important).

Eastern Traditions on the Physical Self

• Eastern traditions, particularly Indian philosophies (like Yoga), have varied views on the body.
• Attitudes range from rejecting the body (as a source of desires and attachments) to appreciating it as the vehicle for spiritual growth and self-realization.

Beauty and Ageing

• The multibillion-dollar beauty industry significantly influences attitudes toward physical appearances. (e.g., effects of the multibillion-pound business of the beauty industry)
• There's a pressure to perfect the female and male body that is driven by the culture.

Origins of Perfection

• Polyclitus in ancient Greece established a canon of proportions as a model of perfection for the human body.
• The human head conforms to a Golden Rectangle, with the eyes at the midpoint. The mouth and nose each align with Golden Section proportions of the face, which can be used to craft and evaluate beauty.

The Grooming Industry

• Multinational corporations like Estée Lauder, L'Oréal, Shiseido, and Unilever control the beauty industry.
• There are debates about the industry's positioning of women as objects of consumption or enabling self-determination.

Cultural Views on the Physical Self—Orbach

• Orbach highlights a cultural belief in a perfectible body, which ironically creates instability and suffering.
• Media images of airbrushed perfection contribute to dissatisfaction with physical appearances, especially for women.

Cultural Views on the Physical Self—Other Perspectives

• Germaine Greer noted that a woman's value is often tied to her beauty.
• Media portrayals can lead women to feel guilty for their choices about careers and children, as depicted through media images.

Nip 'n' Tuck

• The author of Living Dolls, Natasha Walter, criticizes the media's portrayal of female body modifications as acts of empowerment.
• Common practices including breast implants, fake nails, spray tans, are NOT acts of empowerment per se, according to Walter.

Male Beauty

• Male beauty standards and practices in the beauty industry are also influenced by societal pressure.
• Males participate in waxing, use numerous beauty products, and sometimes undergo surgery (e.g., Rhinoplasty, tummy tucks).

Metrosexuality

• The term "metrosexuality" describes a young, metropolitan man who invests significantly in his appearance.
• There is an increasing pressure on men to regulate and sculpt their bodies to maintain muscularity standards.

Media Images and Perspectives

• Magazine articles often contribute to feelings of dissatisfaction among readers about their own appearance.
• Media often discusses women and their need to manage choices about careers or children.

Ageing

• "Ageing" is a significant cultural topic that deals with identity, specifically with the identity of "oldness".
• People experience anxiety about ageing due to how ageing is portrayed in culture.
• Cultures vary on how ageing people are valued by society, sometimes leading to a desire to counteract the effects of ageing (anti-ageing creams, etc.).

Cultural Variation in Body Modification

• Different cultures have widely varying ideas about body modifications.
• Examples of cultural body modifications are displayed in the presentation.

Conclusion—Beauty

• To conclude, the concept of beauty is culturally contextual and has varied interpretations from different cultures and historical periods.
• Beauty and body modifications are viewed differently by genders and individuals regardless of historical/cultural background.
• Coco Chanel's quote "Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself" reflects a focus on self-acceptance and authenticity.