UNDERSTANDING THE SELF #3

PHYSICAL SELF AND SEXUAL SELF

Through the years, the concept of physical self has gained a considerable attention in the fields of
Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology, including religious and biological or health studies. These
disciplines agree on the premise that the physical self is an important component in the study of the
person’s self and identity. As what William James said, “the self is the sum total of all that man can call
his, which includes his body, family and reputation, also his clothes and his house…”

William James states that the body is the initial source of sensation necessary for the origin and
maintenance of personality. Erik Erikson also claims that experience is anchored in the ground-plan of
the body. This is supported by Sigmund Freud who states that the physical body is the core of human
experience. Furthermore, Maurice Merleau-Ponty placed the body at the center of human existence, as
a way of experiencing the world.

The impact of Culture on Body Image and Self-esteem: The Importance of Beauty

Do you consider yourself beautiful? What is your concept of beauty? What is the society’s concept of
beauty? Do these perceptions really matter?

Well dressed, elegant, good-looking, attractive! These are the words we usually associate with beauty.
As Kenny and Nicolas describe, they are the determining factors shaping beauty. “Attractive children and
adults are treated more favorably by others in the society.”

Body image refers to the person’s perception of the level of attractiveness of his/her body or it can be
somebody’s own impression of how his/her body looks. To Croll, body image is the dynamic perception
of one’s body – how it looks, feels, and moves.

Audrey Tramel mentions that the predominance of “pop culture” in today’s society definitely has some
effects such as the way teenagers think of themselves, how they associate with others, and how they
express characteristics of their maturation. Pop culture is a culture widely accepted and patronized by
the public which is very appealing to the youth. Its influence on them goes to the point of imitating the
way they dress and style their bodies, the way they talk and express themselves. It influences the way
they define themselves.

The Sexual Self is the part of yourself here you learn and understand your sexual development and how
people’s sexual activity, beliefs, misconceptions and unlimited access from the internet on sex can
influence your own sexual behaviors and responses.

The Sexual Response Cycle is a model that describes the physiological responses that take place during
sexual activity.

Sexual motivation is a person’s overall sexual desire or drive for sexual activity.
1. Excitement – sexual urges occur in response to sexual cues or fantasies
2. Plateau – a brief period occurs before orgasm
3. Orgasm – ejaculation in males; contractions of vagina in females
4. Resolution – decrease in arousal occurs after orgasm
The Chemistry of Lust, Love and Attachment

Lust- this is a phase which is driven by the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen.
Attraction – this phase is said to be one of the beautiful moments of life. This is the phase when a person
actually starts to feel the love. This is the amazing time when you are truly love-struck and can think of
little else.
Attachment – is a bond helping the couple to take their relationship to advanced levels. It instigates the
feeling of bearing children and falling in love with them wholeheartedly.

Other Key Terms:

Sexual intercourse – is a behavior that produce sexual pleasure that often culminates in orgasm in
females and in males.

Premarital sex – is sexual activity practiced by people who are unmarried. The alternative terms for
premarital sex have been suggested including youthful sex, adolescent sex, and young-adult sex.

Sexually Transmitted Infections – they are passed through sexual contact or genital – through vaginal
intercourse, oral sex and anal sex. Examples are HIV/AIDS, crabs, genital herpes, scabies, syphilis,
chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.

Teenage Pregnancy – is pregnancy in human females under the age of 20 at the time the pregnancy
ends. In teenage pregnancy, there are risks of low birth weight, premature labor, anemia, and pre-
eclampsia. Every day in developing countries, 200, 000 girls under age 18 give birth.

Family Planning – is a simple way of regulating and spacing the births of children. It is giving birth
according to the health and economic conditions of the family, giving birth of the mother according to
her right age. Benefits derived from FP are identified as follows:
1. For the family - to promote healthy, happy family
2. For the mother – she can recover her health and strength after delivery
3. For the child – a better chance of growing healthier and well cared

Contraception – is a method or device used to prevent pregnancy. It is also defined as a deliberate

prevention of conception or impregnation.
1. Natural birth control – employs natural control methods that people do to help prevent an
unintended pregnancy without the use of modern/artificial ways of contraception.
2. Artificial birth control – employs artificial control methods to help prevent unintended
pregnancy that uses modern/contemporary measures.