Understanding the Self: Physical Self

A collection of flashcards based on the key concepts from the lesson on understanding the physical self.

What is the Physical Self defined as?

The concrete dimensions of the body, the tangible aspect of a person that can be directly observed and examined.

What factors shape the understanding of the Physical Self?

Biological and environmental factors.

What is heredity?

The transmission of traits from parents to offspring.

What is puberty?

A process occurring primarily in early adolescence that triggers rapid physical changes.

What do Santrock's views on self-understanding include?

It consists of the individual's cognitive representation of self, including substance and content of self-conceptions.

Who emphasized the body as the initial source of sensation?

William James believed the body serves as a basis for achieving competence.

What did St. Augustine question about beauty?

Whether things are beautiful because they give delight or if they give delight because they are beautiful.

What is the Halo Effect?

A positive first impression that leads us to treat someone more favorably.

What does body image refer to?

The way one sees himself/herself or imagines how he/she looks.

What is the Spotlight Effect?

The belief that others are paying more attention to a person's appearance than they actually are.

What is introspection?

The process by which one observes and examines one's internal state after behaving in a certain way.

What is self-perception theory?

The theory explaining that people infer their inner states by observing their own behavior.

What is self-concept?

A cognitive representation of self-knowledge that includes all beliefs about oneself.

What did Charles Horton Cooley contribute to understanding self?

He stated that a person's self grows out of society's interpersonal interactions and perceptions of others.

What is upward social comparison?

When an individual compares himself to others who are better off.

How does culture impact body image?

Culture can positively or negatively influence body image and self-esteem.

What does essentialism mean in the context of the body?

The belief that bodies are defined entirely by biological make-up.

What is self-esteem?

The overall evaluation a person has of himself, which can be positive or negative.

What is the social constructionist approach?

It focuses on how reality is constructed through human interaction.