Unit 2: The Physical Self Notes PDF

A. The Physical Self The Physical Self: The Biological Blueprint Am I beautiful? Do people find me attractive? What can I do to enhance my features? Our physical self to some extent, embodies our physical appearance, what we see in the mirror, and what often triggers people’s first...

A. The Physical Self The Physical Self: The Biological Blueprint Am I beautiful? Do people find me attractive? What can I do to enhance my features? Our physical self to some extent, embodies our physical appearance, what we see in the mirror, and what often triggers people’s first impressions of others. However, our physical self is not only limited to what we can directly see because of the dynamic system of biological and chemical processes that contribute to our physical features. The shape of our bodies, our height, skin color, hair color, and other physical characteristics do not just develop at random; these are triggered by genetic transformations and biological development as embodied by the concept of heredity. Heredity – the transformation of traits from parents to offspring. Traits are made up of specific information embedded within one’s gene. Genes are the basic unit of heredity. Genotype – the specific information embedded within our genes, and not all genotypes translate to an observed physical characteristic. o Can be determine through blood testing. Phenotype – the physical expression of a particular trait. o Can be directly observed. Each individual carries 23 pairs of chromosomes. o Chromosomes – threadlike bodies in the nucleus of the cell and the storage unit of genes. o The 23rd pair is also known as the sex chromosome, which determines the sex of an individual. ▪ XX for females; XY for males. o Within each chromosome is the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which is a nucleus acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying the unique blueprint of an individual’s physical features; thus, no two individuals have the same DNA. ▪ These cellular components trigger the physical growth and maturation that our bodies go through, from birth to adulthood. o Maturation – the completion of genetic character within an organism or the unfolding of an individual’s inherent traits or potential. ▪ Enables us to walk, run, talk, and eventually, result in physical changes that are evident in the adolescent stage. The Physical Self: Environmental Conditioning Our genetic information is not the only factor that influences our physical self, because as we grow, we are exposed to environmental influences that shape our physical self, including those from our social networks, societal expectations and cultural practices. Family, being our first social group, forms a crucial foundation of our development, because aside from factors of heredity, our family is also primarily responsible for how we take care of our bodies. o For example, our families teach us how to clean up after ourselves. o Moreover, our families are also responsible for providing us with nutritious food to sustain us. Aside from our family, socioeconomic status also influence how we develop physically. A family that has more resources to invest in the physical and nutritional wellness of their children has a positive impact on the children’s development, as opposed to those who grew up in poverty. Our culture also has a prominent role in the development of our physical self. A prominent example would be the difference between Western and Eastern cultures in terms of hygiene. o Another example would be the difference in our diet, where Eastern cultures emphasize the importance of rice in their diet, while Western cultures do not rely heavily on rice as their main source of carbohydrates. The Physical Self: Achieving Physical Well-being There is nothing wrong with enhancing our physical self. What is problematic is when we focus too much on physical beauty and disregard everything else. Tips to take care of ourselves and our body: 1. Healthy eating.  a. Right combination of food to ensure our health and sustenance. 2. Embracing a healthy lifestyle. a. Avoiding drinking, smoking, doing recreational drugs. b. Physical activities (e.g., walking, running, going to the gym, sports) i. Improves your immune system, reduces the risk of illness and diseases, and improves your mental health. 3. Having the right hygiene. 4. Confidence in ourselves is our best make-up. Reference Balah, K.O., Garcia, K.J., Llorente, J. (2020). Learning Module in Understanding the Self