Understanding the Self - Lesson 7: The Physical Self

Study Notes

Philosophical Perspectives on Beauty:
- Beauty is traditionally valued alongside goodness, truth, and justice.
- St. Augustine questioned if things were beautiful because they brought delight, or if delight came from their inherent beauty.
- Plato linked beauty to love and desire.
- Aristotle argued that beauty consists of order, symmetry, and definiteness.
Modern Philosophical Perspectives on Beauty:
- David Hume posited that beauty is not an inherent quality of things, but rather an experience within the mind of the observer.
- Francis Hutcheson believed that the perception of beauty depends on the external sense of sight.

Beauty and Social Perception:
- Physically attractive people often earn more money than those deemed less attractive.
- Voters sometimes choose candidates based on perceived physical attributes rather than policy positions.
- The Halo Effect: Attractive individuals are often perceived more favorably in terms of personality and character traits.
Eating Disorders
- Bulimia Nervosa: Characterized by out-of-control eating episodes followed by purging behaviors like self-induced vomiting or laxative abuse.
- Anorexia Nervosa: Involves eating minimal amounts of food or excessive exercise to avoid weight gain, potentially leading to dangerous health consequences.
- Binge-eating Disorder: Individuals repeatedly binge but do not purge. They experience significant distress.

Cultural Influence on Body Image:
- Cultural traditions can have both positive and negative influences on body image and self-esteem.
- Perceptions of ideal body size vary across cultures.
- The pursuit of ideal body shapes can lead to body dissatisfaction.
- Americans traditionally emphasize thinness, while Filipinos often emphasize dieting and body appearance.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): Individuals with BDD are preoccupied with perceived flaws in their appearance, even if they appear normal to others. This preoccupation significantly impacts their daily lives.

Psychological Influences:
- Anxiety related to appearance and social presentation.
- Distorted body image.
Biological Influences:
- Inherited vulnerability.
- Excessive/unstable neurobiological response to stress.
- Impulsive eating tendencies.
Social Influences:
- Cultural pressure to conform to specific appearance standards.
- Family dynamics and social pressures related to body image.