GSELF | Physical Self

Generated for Mid-Terms at Saint Louis Univerity.

Body Image

• is an individual’s mental representation of his/her own body.

2 Types of Body Image

1. Internal/Personal

2. External/Social

Internal/Personal Body Image

i. person’s perception of the level of attractiveness of his own body

ii. produces either satisfying or unsatisfying results

External/Social Body Image

i. sense of how other people view our bodies

ii. what if you don’t like the way you look? That is called Body Image Dissatisfaction

2 Types of Beauty

1. External

2. Internal

External Beauty

i. Physical characteristics of a person

ii. Usually what is considered as pleasant to the aesthetic senses

Internal Beauty

i. Pertains to the inner qualities of a person

Gillian Rhodes (2006)

i. Does facial beauty depend more on common physical qualities than on striking features?

1. Participants judged caricatures of faces, each of which was systematically varied from average to distinctive

2. Averageness, rather than distinctiveness, was correlated with facial attractiveness

Aesthetic Capital

Why does beauty matter?

a. Privileges and wealth people receive from aesthetic traits

b. Friend Selection, Career Mobility- Samantha Lovascio

Culture and Beauty

“All cultures everywhere have attempted to change their body in an attempt to meet their cultural standards of beauty, as well as their religious and/or social obligations” – De Mello

1. Body Adornment

2. Body Modification

3. Culture of Physical Improvement

Body Adornment

• physically enhancing the body by temporary means such as styling and decorating

Body Modification

Temporary or permanent physical alteration of the body through means such as surgery, tattooing, piercing and the like

Culture of Physical Improvement

1. This culture pertains to the belief of people that all bodily processes should be under our control.

2. This culture also trains us to be ashamed of body parts that refuse to comply with the cultural ideal.

Body Shaming

a. “Body Shame is not a natural response to being fat, physically impaired, chronically sick, or old. It is a culturally conditioned response to a commercially fabricated fantasy of physical perfection. “ - Lewica

1. Popular or “Pop” Culture

2. Media

3. Hyper-Mediated Society

Popular or “Pop” Culture

• a culture that is widely accepted and patronized by the public

Media

• celebrities and models that create ideals

Hyper-Mediated Society

• presence of advertisements representing appropriate body or skin types

Self-Esteem

a. is a person’s overall sense of self worth or personal value.

b. people who are dissatisfied with their bodies report having lower self-esteem.

c. puberty also plays a role in body image.

Developing a Positive Body Image

a. understand that healthy and attractive bodies come in many shapes and sizes.

b. physical appearance says very little about our character or value as a person

c. try to practice self-acceptance.