Part II: Unpacking the Self

Lesson 1: The Physical

Self
ALESSANDRA ROBERT N. DIZON
INSTRUCTOR
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES – DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
Questions to Ponder:

 How do people perceive their physical

self?
 How do people form their body image?
 What is the significance of beauty?
Self-Understanding
Self-understanding - knowledge or understanding of one's
own capabilities, character, feelings, or motivations. -
Merriam Webster Dictionary.

Self-understanding is the individual's cognitive

representation of the self which consists of the substance
and content of self-conceptions. -Santrock (2014)

In adolescence, the development of self-understanding

is from simple to perplex and involves a number of
aspects of the self.
 Growing Up
Teenage years
 Time when RESPECT and SUPPORT of parents
is very essential.
• Changes in physical self.

Physical self – refers to the concrete dimensions

of the body, it is the tangible aspect of the
person which can be directly observed and
examined.
Physical characteristics – are the defining traits
and features of the person's body. The first
thing a person sees when he looks at another
could be their facial features, hairstyle, clothes
or figure (can easily be distinguished by the
naked eye, describes a person just by looking).
 • Erik Erikson believed in the importance of
the body from early development
because the physical as well as
intellectual skills will somehow serve as a
Growing Up basis to whether a person has achieved a
sense of competence and be able to
manage and face the demands of life
complexities.
• William James considered the body as
the initial source of sensation and
necessary for the origin and maintenance
of personality.
Growing Up
Age 10-12 years old – beginning of puberty,
adolescent period. This transition period lasts from
18-22 years old (Santrock, 2016).
The World Health Organization describes
adolescents as young people whose age ranges
from 10-19 and are often thought as a healthy
group.

According to healthy children.org, adolescence is

divided into three periods:
1. Early adolescence (from 11 to 14 years old)
2. Middle adolescence (from 15 to 17 years old)
3. Late adolescence (from 18 to 21 years old)
 Growing Up
Youth in Nation Building Act (1994) defined
youth according to ages which cover
between 15-30 years. Age range is created by
the National Youth Commission.
There are different age range for what is
considered as young, the physical changes
that these youth undergo in the period of
adolescence are virtually the same as other
adolescents anywhere in the world.
Puberty: A Period of Rapid Physical Changes
 According to Santrock (2016), puberty is
not the same as adolescence because
puberty ends prior to the end of
adolescent period.
 Puberty is the most essential marker of the
beginning of adolescence.

 Puberty is the time in life when a boy or a

girl becomes sexually mature.
Changes in Girls:
• Girls reached puberty earlier than boys.
• The first sign of puberty is usually breast
development.
• Then hair grows in pubic area and
armpits.
• Menarche (first menstrual flow) happens.
Changes in Boys:

• Puberty usually begins with the

testicles and penis getting better.
• Then hair grows in pubic area and
armpits.
• Muscles grow, the voice deepens,
and facial hair develops as
puberty continues.
• Boys experience spermarche or
semenarche which is his first
ejaculation or nocturnal emission
(wet dreams).
 Puberty is a brain-neuroendocrine
process occurring primarily in early
adolescence that triggers the rapid
physical changes that occur in the
adolescent stage of human
development.
 Pituitary gland - is the master
endocrine gland that controls growth
and regulates the functions of all other
endocrine glands including gonads
(ovaries for girls and testes for boys)
 Gonads (sex glands) -
secrets hormones, distributed by the
blood stream throughout the body.
 Estrogen – hormone (girls), promote
physical changes such as increase in
height, widening of the hips and
increase in fatty tissues in the breast of
girls.
 Androgen and testosterone –
hormone (boys), responsible for the
boy's growth of facial and body hair,
muscles and changes in the voice.
 Changes would either be classified
as secondary sexual changes which
are physical changes that
distinguish boys from girls and
primary sexual changes which are
changes in the reproductive organs
that prepare both boys and girls and
procreation.
 Body Image

"Adolescents become preoccupied with their bodies and develop

images of what their bodies and develop images of what their bodies
are like". - Santrock (2016)
Body image – refers to the way one sees himself/herself or the way
he/she imagines how he/she looks. How they see themselves can
either be positive or negative.
- adolescents with the most positive body images are engaged in
health enhancing behavior such as eating a balance diet and
exercising regularly.
- In general, girls are less happy with their body images than boys
throughout puberty. Moving towards the end of puberty, however,
both girls and boys feel positive about their body images.
Body Image
 Adolescents with poor body image have negative
thoughts and feelings about their appearance
which can be neither true or not. A healthy body
image is made up of positive thoughts, feelings, and
acceptance of one's body and overall physical
appearance.

Imaginary audience - refers to an egocentric state

where the individual imagines and believes that many
people are actively listening to or watching him or her

Spotlight Effect – refers to the belief that others are

paying more attention to the person's appearance
and behaviour than the really are. People, especially
adolescents, sometimes tend to over-estimate the
extent to which others notice them or their bodies
(Myer, 2015).
 Read the following and indicate whether or not it applies to
you by writing Yes or No.
1. I always check m y body in the m irror.
2. I put extra effort to m aintain m y body figure.

My Body 3. I always post m y photos on Facebook.

4. I always use sunblock and moisturizers.

Image 5. I take it personally when I receive negative comments

about m y body.
6. I am satisfied with m y body.
7. It m atters to m e how I dress.
8. I m ake it a point to eat well.
9. I always take time for physical activities.
10. I take m y vitamins every day.

Evaluate Yourself: If m ost of your answers are YES, what does

it m ean about how you perceive your body? If m ost of
your answers are NO, what does it m ean?
 Factors That Affect Perception of the
Physical Self –Personal Factors

a. Introspection and Self-reflection.

❖ Introspection is the process by which one observes and examines one's internal state (mental
and emotional) after behaving in a certain way.
❖ Studies show that introspection is limited because people are commonly motivated to keep
unwanted thoughts and experiences out of memory and consciousness. This means that people
have a low self-insight on aspects about the self where they wish were not true and many
people tend to overestimate their positive aspects.
b. Self-Perception Theory
❖ As stated by Hewstone (2015), Bem in 1972 self-perception theory explains that since one's
internal state is difficult to interpret , people can infer their inner states by observing their own
behavior – as if they are an outside observer.
❖ Physical perception includes all aspects of a person's perception of his physical self.
 Factors That Affect Perception of the
Physical Self –Personal Factors

c. Self-Concept
❖ Self-concept is a cognitive representation of self-knowledge which includes the sum total of all
beliefs that people have about themselves.
❖ It is a collection of all individual experiences involving one's characteristics, social roles,
values, goals and fears.
❖ It pertains to all characteristics the person enumerates when asked to describe who he is.
❖ Physical self-concept is the individual's perception or description of his physical self, including
his physical appearance.
d. Personal Identity
❖ This is the concept a person has about himself that develops over the years. This includes aspects
of his life that he was born into like family, nationality, gender, physical traits as well as the choices
he makes, such as what he does for a living, who his friends are and what he believes in
(study.com/.../lesson/what-is-personal-identity-philosophy-development).
 Factors That Affect Perception of the
Physical Self –Social Factors

a. Attachment Process and Social Appraisal

❖ According to Bowlby (1969), people learn about their value and lovability when they experiences
how their mothers or caregivers care for them and respond to their needs. These earliest
interactions are important indeveloping who they are.
❖ Caregiving that is consistent and appropriately responds to the infant's needs promote
positive self-concept; whereas caregiving that is neglectful and
unresponsive creates a negative self-concept believing that they are not worthy and that others
cannot be trusted.
b. Maintaining, Regulating and Expanding the Self in Interpersonal Relationships
❖ The sense of self is continuously shaped through ongoing interaction with others or with significant
relationship partners. They act as private audiences with whom people carry an internal dialogue.
Oftentimes, however, people are not aware that they are being influenced by these private
audiences.
 Factors That Affect Perception of the
Physical Self –Social Factors

c. The Looking-glass Self Theory

❖ The view of oneself comes from a compilation of personal qualities and
impressions of how others perceive the individual
(https://www.google.com.ph/searchLooking+glass+self+theory)
❖ The image is shaped and reflected from the social world. Other
people's reaction would serve as a mirror in which people see
themselves particularly the way in which they are perceived and
judged by others.
❖ Reflected appraisal - inferences regarding other's appraisal of
a person. It is gained by observing how people reacts towards the I am not what I think I
individual. These reflected appraisals are ingternalized and become amI am not what You
part of self-concept which guides future behavior (Santrock, 2016) think I amI am what I
think You think I am
 Factors That Affect Perception of the
Physical Self –Social Factors

d. Social Comparison
❖ Social comparison is a process of comparing oneself with
others in order to evaluate one's own abilities and opinions.
❖ Upward social comparison - happens when
an individual compares himself to others who are better than
him. Positive - serves as inspiration and motivation. On the
negative, when an individual compares himself with
someone better than him, he may experience inferiority, envy
or frustration.
❖ Downward social comparison - happens when an
individual compares himself to someone who is in a worse
situation than he is especially when he is feeling low. This may
make himself feel better knowing that he is more fortunate
than this person. On the other hand, it may give rise to
feeling of superiority and arrogance.
 Factors That Affect Perception of the
Physical Self –Social Factors

e. Social Identity Theory (Collective Self Identity)

❖ Formulated by Tajfel and Turner in 1979
❖ People have a need for positive social identity that is why
they connect to a wider social network. This idea assumes an
out-group.It enhances self esteem because they feel
secured with the shield of group membership where they
belong.
❖ Self-esteem - a measure of how much you value, respect,
and feel confident about yourself.
❖ Social groups include gender, ethnicity, religion, profession,
political membership, and business organizations.
Factors That Affect Perception of the
Physical Self –Social Factors

SELF IDENTITY ❖ Identity is based on societal or

The person that Is who a person believes, he or cultural level analysis such as
someone truly is or the she is, representing a synthesis cultural concept of oneself and
entire person of the and integration of self-
cultural make up which makes a
person who he is
individual. understanding (Santrock 2014)
The total characteristics The traits and characteristics, ❖ Identity is a description of who a
or qualities of a person social relations, roles, and person is, his roles, likes and
dislikes, as well as his history or
both known and social group memberships that
experiences based on his
unknown to others but define who he is.
understanding of himself.
known to self.
❖ Social milieu (social environment)
A way of making sense of
is important.
some aspect or part of self-
concept (Lary and Tangley
2012)
The Impact of Culture on
Body Image and Self-
Esteem: The Importance
of Beauty
 The Impact of Culture on Body Image and
Self-Esteem: The Importance of Beauty

Culture – is defined as a social system that is characterized by the

shared meanings that are attributed to people and events by its
members (Hewstone, 2015)
➢ Young adolescents are forced to adhere to society's definition
of beauty lest they be labelled ugly or "pangit" in the local
dialect.
➢ Plastic surgery, water-proof and oil-proof make-up, hair color
and highlights, colored contact lenses, photoshop - NOBODY is
ugly.

Beauty is the quality of being physically attractive or the qualities in

a person or a thing that give pleasure to the senses or the mind.
➢ Beauty standards in every culture varies.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 The Impact of Culture on Body Image and
Self-Esteem: The Importance of Beauty

➢ Fora young adolescent beauty is

what social media dictates, what
fashion model looks like, and hoe
his/her favorite celebrity dresses
and behaves. This will be the basis
of his/her body image and self-
esteem.
 FILIPINO CONCEPT OF BEAUTY

➢ Eurocentrism – a tendency to interpret the world in terms of

European or Anglo-American values and experiences
➢ Tisoy and Tisay beauty standard is strongly promoted in
media today.
➢ Colorism - the prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race
people based solely on the color of their skin. (
➢ Use of whitening products.
➢ Comments like "pumuti ka lang gaganda ka na", "kung maputi ka lng ang
ganda mo siguro", "maputi ka lang kaya maganda ka"
FILIPINO
CONCEPT
OF
BEAUTY
FILIPINO
CONCEPT
OF BEAUTY
FILIPINO CONCEPT
OF BEAUTY
➢ Being fair-skinned gives the impression of
beauty, health and wealth.
➢ Mixed Filipinos as seen as more
desirable because they are closer to
looking Caucasian which indicates wealth
and good breeding.
➢ Dark-skinned Filipinos tend to have a
negative body image. They feel ashamed
and embarrassed of their bodies because
they think they are valued less compared to
those with lighter skin. This proves the
importance of visibility and representation
in mass media.
➢ The message that society gives is that
flat noses and dark complexions do not
define beauty, which strongly impacts the
youth.
SELF-ESTEEM
AND THE
IDEAL BODY
IMAGE
 SELF-ESTEEM AND THE IDEAL BODY IMAGE

➢ Self-esteem – is the overall evaluation that a

person has of himself which can be positive or
negative, high or low. (Hewstone et.al,2015)
➢ It is a measure of the person's self-worth based
on some personal or social standards.
➢ Positive or high self-esteem = happier,
accomplished, relates well with others.
➢ According to research, the level of self-
esteem flactuates across the life-span and
may not always match reality (Santrock, 2014).
SELF-ESTEEM AND THE IDEAL BODY IMAGE

➢ Adolescents' body image includes the following:

1. Perception of their physical self when they look in the mirror.
2. Feelings of like or dislike about physical self that they see.
3. Their thoughts and how they relate to their physical self.
4. Perception of how other people view them physically.

➢ A person with positive body image will have a high self-esteem and will often spend
more time in taking care of their appearance. The attention a person gets also elevates
self-esteem.
➢ When a person is not satisfied with what he sees which affects how he perceives himself
and feels that he does not measure up his culture's standard of beauty, will have a
negative body image and low self-esteem. He/she may not perceive him/herself
as beautiful. He/she may seeks ways to attain the society's concept of beauty.
 ➢ The following are some aspects of culture that may have
led to the aforementioned misconceptions.
1. Society's ideals of the perfect physical form which are : for
women: white perfect skin, small waistline, big breast and
behind, long straight hair, long manicured nails, slender and
tall, for men: tall, tanned perfect skin, muscled physique, with
6-pack abs.
2. Images of perfection adolescents see in all types of media
i.e. print, television, film and internet. Mass media is a powerful
SELF-ESTEEM tool that reinforces cultural beliefs and values. Though young
people may initially disagree with the set ideals of beauty,
AND THE IDEAL repeated exposure via media lead them to believe in
misconceptions.

BODY IMAGE 3. Since a standard has been set by society and reinforced by
media, any characteristics that does not conform to the
standard is labelled as ugly. Body diversity in size and structure
due to genetic heritability is not tolerated. Being pretty and
white skinned or tanned and muscular had become
associated with the intelligent, successful, popular, healthy,
and disciplined. Opposite characteristics are associated with
dull, lazy, ugly, and the weak.
SELF-ESTEEM AND THE
IDEAL BODY IMAGE
✓ Misconceptions strongly affects how the young form
their body image and its influence on self-esteem.
✓ It is important for adults in the environment to
listen to this young people and provide proper
guidance and support.
✓ Beauty is important. But, being beautiful still
depends on how a person defines beauty and the
standards he sets to meet this definition. it is a big
mistake to base beauty on someone else's
standard.
✓ Having a positive body image involves
understanding that healthy attractive bodies come
in many shapes and sizes, and that
physical appearance says little about a person's
character or his value as an individual.