MODULE 6-7

PHYSICAL SELF

PHYSICAL SELF

• Refers to the body 

• The part of us that can be directly seen and observed by everyone. 

• All of us have their own physical appearances or physical characteristics.

BIOLOGICAL BLUEPRINT

Underneath the skin is a dynamic system that cannot be seen by the naked eye which includes the biological and chemical processes that contribute to one’s physical features.

HEREDITY

- the sum of all biological processes by which particular characteristics are transmitted from parents to their offspring.

BODY IMAGE

- how and what you think and feel about your body.

- It includes the picture of your body that you have in your mind, which might or might not match your body’s actual shape and size.

POSITIVE/HEALTHY BODY IMAGE

feeling happy and satisfied with your body, as well as being comfortable with and accepting the way you look.

NEGATIVE/UNHEALTHY BODY IMAGE

feeling unhappy with the way you look. People who feel like this often want to change their body size or shape.

BODY IMAGE IS

BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL

INTERNAL (PERSONAL)

• how we perceive our bodies visually 

• how we feel about our physical appearance 

• how we think and talk to ourselves about our bodies 

• our sense of how other people view our bodies

EXTERNAL (SOCIETAL)

• view of others about our physical appearance which include strangers, our families, close friends 

• standards of beauty dictated by culture and media

VIEW OF OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT OUR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

• We learn from other people, particularly those closest to us about the things that are considered important. 

• Friendships and families are particularly important in body image development because we place high value on them, spend lots of time with them and develop shared experiences, values, and beliefs.

GOLDEN RATIO

THE PERFECT FACE by STEPHEN MARQUARDT

1. THE LONG-NECKED WOMEN (MYANMAR)

• known as the "long-neck" or "giraffe" tribe (Padaung group) 

• The odd practice is a sign of beauty and wealth.

2. WOMEN SHOWING OFF THEIR NOSE JOBS (IRAN)

• Iran has become the rhinoplasty capital of the world. 

• Women are so proud of going under the knife that they will continue to wear their bandages long after they're needed, in order to show off their beauty.

3. STRETCHED EARLOBE AND SHAVED HEAD (KENYA & AFRICA)

Members of the Masai tribe in Africa are known for their practice of wearing heavy jewelry made of stones or elephant tusks to stretch their earlobes over time.

4. LIP STRETCHING (PARTS OF AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA)

A Mursi or Suri woman in Ethiopia, considers this as denoting female maturity, signaling that she has reached childbearing age.

5. TATTOOS OF MAORI WOMEN (NEW ZEALAND)

• Māori women have traditionally adorned a tattoo on their chin as a means to attract a mate. 

• The sacred tradition is known as Ta Moko. 

• Each moko is different and includes ancestral tribal information specific to the wearer.

6. WOMEN WITH PALE SKIN (ASIAN COUNTRIES)

• Women in these countries abhor the sun because pale skin is a sign of beauty and desirability. 

• Pale skin depicts the life of luxury and wealth.

7. KAJAL UNDERLINING THE EYES (MIDDLE EAST)

something that is kept secret from the human eye, enhancing mystery and a specific charm

8. WOMEN WITH FULLER FIGURES (MAURITANIA)

• being overweight has traditionally been a sign of prosperity. 

• A heavier woman has been so desirable that girls as young as 7 were sent to fat farms to put on weight.

PUBERTY

- The process when the body starts to mature

- transition from childhood to adulthood.

When you feel good about your body

you are more likely to have good self-esteem and mental health as well as a balanced attitude to eating and physical activity.

HOW CAN WE BUILD A STRONG AND POSITIVE BODY IMAGE?

1. Appreciate all that your body can do.. 

2. Keep a list of what you like about yourself.. 

3. Remind yourself that “TRUE BEAUTY” is not simply skin-deep.. 

4. Look at yourself as a whole person.

5. Surround yourself with positive people.

6. Shut down those voices in your head.

7. Wear clothes that are comfortable and make you feel good.

8. Become a critical viewer of social and media messages.

9. Do something nice for yourself.

10. Use the time and energy that you might have spent worrying about food, calories, and your weight to do something to help others.

RETAIL THERAPY

- The act of buying special things for yourself in order to feel better when you are unhappy.

WILLIAM JAMES' THEORY OF THE SELF

• Principles of Psychology (1890)

I

component of the self refers to the pure ego or the thinking self, which could not be further broken down.

Me

is divided into the MATERIAL, SOCIAL, and SPIRITUAL components of the self.

MATERIAL SELF

• Possessions were among the things that make up one’s self-identity and makes up who we are 

• Building up one's self-image depends on the attainment of these materials

COMPOSITION OF THE MATERIAL SELF

1. BODY

2. FAMILY AND REPUTATIONS

3. POSSESSIONS LIKE CLOTHING, ETC

4. MONEY

BODY

• is the core or the innermost part of the self. 

• The body is a commodity one cannot live without, hence we invest time, money, and effort in our body.

FAMILY AND REPUTATIONS

• These people are likely to shape and influence the development of self-identity 

• What they do and become affects us 

• We place huge investments in our immediate family as the nearest replica of ourselves 

• When an immediate family member dies, part of our self dies.

POSSESSIONS LIKE CLOTHING, ETC

• Clothes can express how a person feels about himself 

• Attitudes and behavior can also be affected by the kind of clothing one has.

• Clothes contribute to the formation and maintenance of self-image - means to show status in the society 

• Clothing can provide a sense of belongingness and self-identity.

MONEY

• the amount of money one has could change the person 

• there is a direct link between having a steady source of money and having positive self-esteem and psychological adjustment 

• as part of the material self has the potential to foster a sense of self-efficacy in individuals 

• It can activate mindsets

EFFECTS OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

• Possessions can be used as status, symbol.

• Cars, house gadgets, and clothes are the most valuable possessions because they are the most visible in the eye of the others.

• It can be a reflection of hard work and success 

• People tend to measure success through material possessions 

• It can make people motivated to work harder to achieve them.

Possessions

can be used as status, symbol.

Cars, house gadgets, and clothes are the most valuable possessions

- because they are the most visible in the eye of the others.

MATERIALISM

• The importance people give on material possessions

• The negative effect of the strong desire for material possessions

COMPULSIVE BUYING DISORDER

• The psychology dysfunction or impairment in functioning caused by strong desire of material possessions 

• Characterized by an obsessions with shopping and buying behaviorist that causes adverse consequence. (e.g. debts)

SOCIAL STATUS

• Home as identify shell 

• The value and meaning of a status symbol change over time.

THE MEANING OF GIVING GIFTS

Separating it from the clean intentions… Gift are also used to show who you are… your STATUS in life.