Understanding the Physical Self

Physical Self Overview

• Understanding the physical self involves analyzing the lifespan and physical development.
• Physical changes during adolescence are largely from hormone secretion, affecting how adolescents perceive themselves.
• Girls generally express more dissatisfaction with their physical appearance and body image than boys.
• Self-consciousness and dissatisfaction peak for girls between 13 and 15 years old.

Defining the Physical Self

• The physical self refers to the body's physical extremities and internal organs working together.
• Body functions change with aging, performing least efficiently during infancy and old age.
• Physical efficiency peaks in early adulthood, between ages 20 and 30.
• Physical development in childhood is slower compared to babyhood.
• Adolescence begins with puberty, marked by rapid physical changes and reproductive system maturation.
• Everyone goes through developmental stages across their lifespan, which is from conception to death.

Stages in the Lifespan

• Prenatal: Fertilization to birth
• Infancy: Birth to 2 weeks of life
• Babyhood: 2 weeks of life to 2nd year
• Early Childhood: 2 to 6 years old
• Late Childhood: 6 to 10 or 12 years old
• Puberty: 10 or 12 to 14 years old
• Adolescence: 14 to 18 years old
• Early Adulthood: 18 to 40 years old
• Middle Adulthood: 40 to 60 years old
• Late Adulthood/Senescence: 60 years old to death

Impact of Puberty on Behavior

• Physical changes during puberty affect behavior, causing uncertainty about abilities, interests, and self-perception.
• Body changes can lead to dissatisfaction and an unfavorable self-concept.

Factors Affecting Physical Growth

• Physical growth and development are influenced by heredity and environment.
• Heredity is the inheritance of traits from parents.
• Environment includes life-long exposures and experiences, like diet, nutrition, and diseases.
• Sex and physical traits are determined by chromosome and gene combinations during fertilization.
• Chromosomes are threadlike tissues carrying genes, usually in pairs.
• Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes: 22 pairs of autosomes (trait chromosomes) and 1 pair of gonosomes (sex chromosomes).
• Offspring sex is determined by the pairing of sex chromosomes (23rd pair) from parents.
• Genes are the basic carriers of hereditary traits, classified as dominant (strong) or recessive (weak).

Theories of Physical Self

• Physiognomy: Physical characteristics relate to personality.
• Ancient Chinese face reading: The face reflects who we are and life's impact using the Five Element theory.
• Five Element Theory: Water, wood, fire, earth, and metal are archetypes correlated to seasons, colors, shapes, sounds, facial features, body types, body organs, and behavior.
• Face readers observe facial features and markings to understand mental, emotional, and physical makeup.
• Hippocrates' theory: Body fluid prominence influences personality and well-being.
  • Sanguine: Prominence of red bile; impulsive, cheerful, happy, optimistic.
  • Melancholic: Prominence of black bile; depressed and pessimistic.
  • Choleric: Prominence of yellow bile; easily angry, jumpy, temperamental.
  • Phlegmatic: Excess phlegm; sluggish, dull, slow.
• William Sheldon's Body-Type Theory (1940s): Based on physical characteristics.
  • Endomorphic: Soft and plump; easygoing and sociable.
  • Mesomorphic: Strong muscular body; energetic, adventurous, assertive, courageous, competitive, dominant.
  • Ectomorphic: Tall and thin; restrained, quiet, introverted, artistic.
• Jean Haner's Face Shape Theory (The Wisdom of Your Face):
  • Oval-shaped faces: Hospitable and tactful.
  • Round-shaped faces: Friendly, kindhearted, selfless.
  • Square faces: Witty, analytical, great leaders.
  • Heart-shaped faces: Patient and intuitive.
  • Long-shaped faces: Perfectionistic and aggressive.
  • Triangle-shaped faces: Creative, artistic, sensitive, determined.
  • Diamond faces: Detail-oriented and like control.
  • Full, thick eyebrows: Confident, assertive, goal-oriented.
  • Large, defined jaws: Strong values and firm beliefs.
• Squier and Mew (1981): Long, angular faces tend to be responsive, assertive, and genuine. Short, square faces tend to be restrained, conforming, and shrewd.

Body Image

• Body image is how individuals perceive, think, and feel about their body and physical appearance.
• Appearance includes height, weight, skin color, clothes, and hairstyle.
• Physical appearance communicates one’s persona to others.
• Puberty timing influences how adolescents feel about themselves.
• Body image relates to self-esteem, affecting physical and psychological well-being.
• Adolescents worry about their bodies, with girls more concerned about appearance and body image than boys, worrying about conforming to beauty standards.

Sociocultural Factors

• Adolescent reactions to physical appearance depend on sociocultural factors.
• Peer, parent, and media emphasis on ideal body types leads to body dissatisfaction.
• Bullying and peer pressure correlate with greater body dissatisfaction.
• Media promotes a slim ideal, causing comparison and potential changes through cosmetic surgery, dieting, or exercise.
• Excessive concern about thinness results in body dissatisfaction, depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders.
  • Anorexia: Refusal to eat due to fear of weight gain, potentially leading to starvation and death, mainly affecting females aged 12-40.
  • Bulimia Nervosa: Purging after binging.

Importance of Beauty

• Conceptions of beauty vary across cultures and time.
  • Egyptian art: Slim with high waist, narrow hips, long black hair.
  • Renaissance: Full figure, rounded hips.
  • Medieval Africa: Chubby, fat, plump.
  • Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia: Flat noses.
• Clean skin, shiny hair, well-proportioned bodies, and symmetrical faces are generally considered beautiful.
• Beauty indicates youth, health, good genes, and fertility.
• Media emphasizes physical attractiveness, influencing perceptions of beauty.
• Media-set beauty standards can be unrealistic, leading to dissatisfaction.

Body Modification

• Body modification alters physical appearance:
  • Tattooing: Injecting ink for designs.
  • Body piercing: Wearing jewelry through piercings.
  • Cosmetic surgery: Restoring, reconstructing, or altering body parts (breast enhancement, nose lift, liposuction, Botox).
• Body modification involves health risks like infections, allergies, and complications.

Impact of Attractiveness

• Beauty is important across societies.
• Attractive individuals are often treated more favorably.
• Attractive people are perceived as good, happier, smarter, and better.
• Adolescents feel self-conscious, seeking appearance improvements.
• Beauty standards vary across cultures.

Improving Body Image

• Ways to improve body image and inner self:
  • Smile a lot.
  • Take good care of your health.
  • Live a well-balanced life.
  • Dress well and be neat.
  • Reflect alone.
  • Be creative and do new things.
  • Develop a wholesome attitude towards sex.
  • Avoid temptations.
  • Respect individuality.
  • Make friends.
  • Face your fears.
  • Be independent.
  • Accept things as they are.
  • Ask and listen.
  • Think positive thoughts.
  • Pray.
  • Count your blessings.
  • Be thankful.