96 CHAPTER 6 The Physical Self: pe mel iced t At the end of the chapter, you should be able to: @ identify the stages of life and explain the physical changes that occur during each stage; @ recognize the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the physical development of the self; describe the factors that affect body image; @ examine the im Pact of culture on body image and self; and develop a positive body image,CHAPTER 6: The Physical Self To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. - Buddha development. Understanding the physical self requires an analysis of the life span and the physical development that happens in each stage. Particularly, the physical changes that occur at the start of adolescence result largely from the secretion of various hormones which virtually affects every aspect of an adolescent’s life, particularly the way they view themselves (Feldman, 2010). Generally, girls are more dissatisfied than boys with their physical appearance and their overall body image. For girls, self-consciousness and dissatisfaction with their appearance reach their peak between the ages 13 and 15 (Newman & Newman, 2009). T his chapter explores the process of physical growth and THE PHYSICAL SELF The physical self refers to the body. Both physical extremities and internal organs work together for the body to perform many of its functions such as breathing, walking, eating, and sleeping, among others. The body’s ability to perform its functions gradually changes through an individual's aging. In general, the body performs least during infancy and old age. Physical efficiency generally peaks in early adulthood between the ages of twenty and thirty, and then slowly declines into the middle age. Physical development and growth during childhood continue at a slow rate compared to the rapid rate of growth in babyhood. Adolescence begins with the onset of puberty. This stage is characterized by rapid physical changes that include the maturation of the reproductive system. Each individual goes through a succession of developmental stages throughout his or her life span. Life span 97PART 2: Unpacking the Self refers to the development from conception to death. Elizabeth p, Hurlock outlines the stages in the life span: 1. Prenatal - fertilization to birth Infancy - birth to 2 weeks of life Babyhood - 2 weeks of life to 2nd year Early childhood - 2 to 6 years old Late childhood - 6 to 10 or 12 years old Puberty - 10 or 12 to 14 years old Adolescence - 14 to 18 years old Early adulthood - 18 to 40 years old Middle adulthood — 40 to 60 years old 10. Late adulthood or senescence - 60 to death eo wrnar Pr YD Two Factors Affecting Physical Growth and Development Physical growth and development is the product of heredity and environment. Heredity is the biological process of the inheritance of traits from parents to offspring. Environment refers to the factors an individual is exposed to throughout life which includes learning and experiences. Environmental factors such as diet, nutrition, and diseases play an important role in an individual’s physical development. Sex and other physical traits are determined by the combination of chromosomes and genes during fertilization when the egg and sperm cells unite. Chromosomes are threadlike tissues that carries the genes, and are usually found in pairs. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes which are classified as autosomes or trait chromosomes (22 pairs) and gonosomes or sex chromosomes. The sex of the offspring depends on the pairing of the sex chromosomes (23rd) from the father and mother. Genes are the basic carrier of hereditary traits and are classified as dominant (strong genes) and recessive (weak genes).CHAPTER 6: The Physical Self THEORIES OF PHYSICAL SELF The theory of physiognomy suggests that a person's physical characteristics such as facial features and expressions and body structures could be related to a person's character or personality. According to the ancient Chinese Practice of face reading, the face is a three-dimensional reflection of “who we are and how life has affected us.” This practice is rooted in the Five Element theory which makes use of the elements of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal as archetypes for everything occurring in the natural world. Each element is correlated to seasons, colors, shapes, sounds, as well as facial features, body types, the body's major organs, and behavioral tendencies. Face readers observe how facial features and markings correspond to a person's mental, emotional, and physical makeup. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates developed a theory based on the prominence of body fluids. The theory suggests that an excess of or deficiency in any of the four bodily fluids (or humors) in a person influences their personality, temperament, and well-being. The sanguine type has the prominence of red bile. They tend to be impulsive, cheerful, happy, and optimistic. The melancholic has the prominence of black bile. They tend to be depressed and pessimistic. The choleric has the prominence of yellow bile. They are easily angry, jumpy, and temperamental. The phlegmatic has excess phlegm. They tend to be sluggish, dull, and slow. In the 1940s, William Sheldon has developed a body-type theory based on physical characteristics. The three body types are endomorphic, mesomorphic, and ectomorphic. Physically, one who has the endomorphic body type is soft and plump. People with this body type are perceived to be easy going and sociable. Physically, the mesomorphic type is characterized by a strong muscular body. People who have mesomorphic body type are perceived to be energetic, adventurous, assertive, and courageous. They are competetive and tend to be dominant. Physically, one who has the ectomorphic body type is tall and thin. People who have this body type tend toPART 2: Unpacking the Self be restrained, quiet, introverted, and artistic. The illustrations by show the different body types according to Sheldon. low Ectomorph Mesomorph Endomorph Finally, in her work The Wisdom of Your Face, Jean Haner (2008) suggests that people with oval-shaped faces are generally hospitable and tactful. People with round-shaped faces tend to be friendly, kindhearted, and selfless. People with square faces tend to be witty, analytical, and great leaders. People who have heart-shaped faces are patient and intuitive by nature. People with long-shaped faces are perfectionists and tend to be aggressive. Persons with triangle-shaped faces tend to be creative, artistic, sensitive, and determined. People with diamond faces are very detail-oriented and like to be in control. Haner also suggests that people with full and thick eyebrows tend to be confident, assertive, and goal-oriented. Persons with large o" highly-defined jaws have strong values and firm beliefs. An eatlet study by Squier and Mew (1981), suggests that persons with long and angular-shaped faces tend to be more responsive, assertive, genuine than persons with short and square-shaped faces who te#4 to be more restrained, conforming, and shrewd. 100CHAPTER 6: The Physical Self BODY IMAGE Body image refers to how individuals perceive, think, and feel about their body and physical appearance. Appearance refers to everything about a person that others can observe such as height, weight, skin color, clothes, and hairstyle. Through appearances, an individual is able to show others the kind of person he or she is (DeLamater & Myers, 2012). The age at which puberty begins has implications for the way adolescents feel about themselves as well as the way others treat them (Feldman, 2010). Body image is related to self-esteem which is a person's overall evaluation of his or her own worth. Body image can affect both the adolescent's physical and psychological well-being. Adolescents worry about different parts of their bodies. Adolescent boys and girls tend to experience negative self-image because they are in a stage of development that is probably confusing to them. However, girls are more concerned than boys about their physical appearance and overall body image. The greatest concern that girls express about their bodies is how they conform to idealized notions of beauty. The way adolescents react to their physical appearance depends in part on sociocultural factors. The emphasis that peers, parents, or the media put on ideal body types which is slim or thin leads girls to experience body dissatisfaction (Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008; Dunkley, Wertheim, & Paxton, 2001). For both boys and girls, bullying and peer pressure are associated with greater body dissatisfaction (Webb & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2014). Television, advertising, music, and movies are full of women who are thin, thus constructing the notion that the ideal body shape is slim. Some girls and young women compare themselves to models and actresses in advertisements. The result is that they try to change their physical appearance either through cosmetic surgery, dieting, or excessive exercise. For girls, in particular, too much concern with thinness and the ideal body shape may result 101PART 2: Unpacking the Self in body dissatisfaction. Girls who beve higher body sation likely to experience depression, low sel Be me seating isorde, (Demello, 2014). For example, anorexia isan when erin whi, the person refuses to eat for fear of, gaining wei rw ch can result severe starvation and death. It mostly afflicts femal les between the age. of 12 and 40, although men may also develop it. Another disorder ig bulimia nervosa in which the person induces purging after binging on large quantities of food (Feldman, 2010). THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTY In Egyptian art, beauty is perceived in women with slim, high waist, narrow hips, and long black hair. In contrast, women with a full figure and rounded hips were considered beautiful during the Renaissance period. Some tribes (e.g, Africa) during the Medieval Age considered chubby, fat, or plump women beautiful. People in Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia used to consider flat noses to be attractive. However, standards of beauty have changed over time due to changing cultural values. Even so, all cultures have more or less the same concept of what is beautiful. Generally, humans who have clean and unblemished skin, thick shiny hair, well-proportioned bodies, and symmetrical faces, are traditionally considered the most beautiful. Beauty has always been considered important throughout history because these features indicate youth, health, good genes, and fertility (Demello, 2014). Advertisements, magazines, and televisions are filled with goot looking faces which emphasize the value of physical attractivene* People tend to be influenced by the beautiful faces and bodies theY see in media in the way they determine what is beautiful and what's not. As long as the fashion industry dictates what is beautiful, bei men or women, many people can never be satisfied with their bodies They; are willing to spend a great deal of money to pay for the physic attractiveness that they want to achieve. The reality, however, is . beauty standards presented in media are so unrealistic, that even most beautiful and handsome supermodels cannot achieve it 102CHAPTER 6: The Physical Self Some people desperately change their physical appearance through body modification. One form of body modification is tattooing—which injects ink onto the skin to draw a design. Makeup can also be permanently tattooed. Body piercing is another type of body modification which lets people wear jewelry through different piercings in their body such as the ears, nose, and tongue, among others. Tattooing and piercing have been practiced across the globe since ancient times. Traditionally, tattooing and piercing were considered signs of one’s strength, bravery, and social status. Cosmetic surgery is another form of body modification which includes surgical and non-surgical procedures to restore, reconstruct, or alter body parts. Examples are breast enhancement, nose lift, liposuction, and botox. Although tattooing, piercing, and cosmetic surgery have become popular through time, these forms of body modification involve health risks. In particular, some women have died from complications of skin whitening treatments, diet pills, and cosmetic surgery. Infection, allergies, and other complications can result from the use of unclean and poor quality equipment. Whether beauty is biologically programmed or culturally constructed, it remains important in all societies. Admittedly, attractive people have a lot of advantages in life. For one, people who are perceived to be attractive are favored over those who are not in many social situations. Studies have shown that men and women who are physically attractive have more opportunities in finding jobs, getting promotions, and having higher income. Also, some people tend to view attractive people as happier, smarter, and better people. Generally, unattractive people are less liked and assisted (Demello, 2014). Different cultures have different definitions and perceptions of beauty. People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The fact that a number of Filipinas have won international beauty contests shows that Filipinas are among the women.who are perceived to be most beautiful in the world. 103PART 2: Unpacking the Self People tend to judge others based on physical appearance However, physical appearance alone is not enough o know person true character, It is important to see into a persons inner thou, and feelings—one’s inner self. Above all things physical, it is more important to be beautiful on the inside. Here are some ways to improve your body image and inner self, 104 Smile alot. Take good care of your health. Live a well-balanced life. Dress well and be neat. Spend some time alone to reflect. Be creative and do something new all the time. Develop a wholesome attitude toward sex. Avoid temptations. Respect individuality. Make friends. Face your fears. Be independent. Accept things as they are. Ask and listen. Think positive. Pray. Count your blessings. Be thankful.