Physical Self

The Beautiful Me

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. determine the condition of your physical self,

2. classify the physiological needs of the self in each stage of life;
3. identify the forces and institutions that impact the development of the various aspects of
identity and the self; and
4. explain the importance of having good health.

The Young Me

Bring a close-up picture of yourself in your grade-school years. Be sure not to show your picture to any
of your classmates before the session. Your professor will collect all your pictures and randomly
distribute them back to the class. Study the features of the person in the photo. Try to identify whose
picture it is. Check if your guess is right by returning it to the owner.

Activity 1: Characterizing Myself

Fill out the chart below. Your professor may ask some of you to write your answers on a bigger chart
on the board.

My characteristics or traits My characteristics or traits My characteristics or traits

most similar to those of my most similar to those of my NOT similar to those of my
father mother father and mother

Positive

Negative
Analyze the chart by answering the following questions:

a. Are there more positive traits than negative traits written on your chart?

b. What type of traits have you listed on the chart? Which are observable and not?
c. Compare the traits written on the first two columns with those on the third column. Are there
more physical traits than non-physical traits that have been recorded?
d. Are you happy for having those traits? Have you ever expressed your gratitude to your parents
for passing those traits to you?

"The Miracle of Life" by RenderingCG

The Path Traveled by the Egg

1. Leaving the ovary, the mature egg travels through the fallopian tube.
2. The sperm enters the vagina, travels through the cervix and meets the egg at the female’s
uterus.
3. When it happens that a sperm has set foot inside the egg, fertilization follows consisting of two
chromosomes from each parent. This is where the genes are being transmitted.
4. Implantation occurs, the formation of the embryo until it transforms into a fully grown baby.

Factors in the Development of the Physical Self

The development of the individual is caused by two interacting forces: heredity and environment.

Heredity (nature) is the transmission of traits or characteristics from parents to offspring. It

provides the raw materials of which the individual is made up. Through the genes, hereditary
potentials like physical, mental, social, emotional, and moral traits are passed down to generations.

Environment (nurture) is the sum total of the forces or experiences that a person undergoes
from conception to old age. It also includes family, friends, school, nutrition, and other agencies one
is in contact with.

The Beginning of Life

Life begins at fertilization. Fertilization refers to the meeting of female sex cell and the male sex cell
this sex cells. These sex cells are developed in the reproductive organs called gonads. The male sex
cells called supermatozoa are produced in the male gonad called testes. On the other hand, the
female sex cell called ova are produced in the female gonads known as ovaries. The fertilized egg
cell known as zygote contains all the hereditary potentials from the parents. This zygote goes to the
uterus and continues to grow during the gestation period about nine calendar months.

Each parent contributes one sex chromosome to the offspring. A male parent may pass either an x or
y chromosome while a female always gives the x chromosome. When an x chromosome comes from
the father and meets the x chromosome from the mother, the resulting combination is xx which
indicates a female offspring. However, when the father produces a y chromosome which pairs with
the x chromosome from the mother the resulting combination is xy, signifying a male offspring.

Both male and female chromosomes contain several thousands of genes. Genes are small particles
in a string-like formation. They are the true carriers of hereditary characteristics of the parents. Within
the gene is a substance called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which is the code of heredity. It contains
information and instructions about the newly created organism, and programs the traits that should
be inherited. Maturation is the unfolding of the inherent traits.

Stages in the Life Span

An individual undergoes definite stages of development. In each phase, the child experiences
certain developmental characteristics to prepare him/her for the next.

Table 2. Stages of Human Development

Development Stage Age

Pre-natal period Conception to birth

Infancy Birth to end of the second week

Babyhood End of the second week to the end of the

second year

Early childhood or preschool age 2-6 years

Late childhood or elementary childhood 6-10 years

Puberty or preadolescence 12-13/14 years old

Adolescence 13/14-18 years old

Early adulthood 18-40

Middle age 40-60

 Old age or senescence 60- death

Taking Care of My Physical Self

Since the self is inseparable from the body, you should take very good care of your physical self.
Whether you plan to lose, gain, or maintain weight, the most important thing to do is to keep yourself
fit. To achieve this goal, a rigid plan has to be made.

Balanced Diet

To keep fit and healthy, one needs to have a balanced diet. Eating a balanced diet means
consuming the right kind of food at the right time also considering the proportions. One's food intake
should contain the necessary nutrients essential for the growth and survival. This practice prevents
malnutrition and diseases. It is also important to keep mealtimes pleasant and enjoyable. Thus, an
individual should be encouraged and motivated to eat more nutritious food. It should also be
remembered that junk food must be avoided.

Nutrient Functions Sources Amount per day

Carbohydrates Provide your body Bread, rice, cereals 225 and 325 grams
glucose that is
converted to energy
to support bodily
functions and physical
activities

Proteins For building and Legumes, meat, fish, 0.8 grams per kilo
repairing broken/worn poultry, milk
out tissue

Fats For maintaining heat, oil, dairy, ice cream, 66-97 grams
energy and cell chocolate
function

Vitamins and minerals For healthy skin and Fruits, vegetable, ▪ Vitamin A, 700-
hair, boost immune internal organs (isaw, 900mcg
system and support liver, baticolon) ▪ Vitamin C
normal growth and (ascorbic acid),
development: cell and 120mg
 organ function ▪ Vitamin D, 15-
20mcg
▪ Calcium, 100
mg
▪ Iron, 8mg (18mg
for pregnant)
▪ Zinc, 8-11mg

Water

An individual should drink at least 8 glasses of water every day because it allows the body to function
efficiently. It also washes away waste to keep the skin clear and healthy. With a high protein diet, the
body utilizes the water properly and avoids water retention. Liquids such as coffee tea or milk should
not be counted as water, although they contain lots of water but there is also build-up caffeine, acid
and fat.

Sleep

Sleep gives the bones, muscle and the mind time to recover. An individual needs eight or more hours
of sleep a day. One very important requirement for a refreshing sleep is a firm mattress. If one sleeps
in a slump, uncomfortable position in a mattress that is too, soft body aches may develop. A soft and
lumpy mattress should be replaced with a firmer one. Another way to improve the bed is to raise the
lower part of the mattress in order to elevate the feet. It is an ideal position because the blood easily
flows back to the heart and away from the feet. Moreover, sleeping in on one’s stomach can help
prevent varicose veins from developing as well as other circulatory problems.

The Physical Dimension of Self

This section identifies the biological and environmental factors that shape one’s physical self. It will
also delve into socio-cultural issues associated with.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this section, students are expected to:

 1. Discuss and elaborate the concepts associated with hereditary and maturation;
2. Identify biological and environmental factors that shape the physical self;
3. Analyze and evaluate issues associated with physical well-being.

Introduction

A crucial aspect of self is one's physical features. People are often perceived initially by their physical
features, including one's face, bodily structure, height, weight, and fitness. However, more than the
physical attributes a person possesses, people should also consider their physical competencies, their
valuation of physical worth, and perception of beauty. In this unit, factors that shape one's physical
self, including biological and environmental factors, will be discussed. Toward the end, issues
associated with physical health, hygiene, nutrition, standards of beauty, and other socio-cultural
factors will be tackled.

The Physical Self: The Biological Blueprint

Am I beautiful? Do people find me attractive? What can I do to enhance my features?

These questions underlie our physical self, which embodies our physical appearance, what we
see in the mirror, and what often triggers people's first impressions of others. However, our physical self
is not only limited to what can be directly seen by the naked eye; underneath our skin is a dynamic
system of biological and chemical processes that contribute to our physical features. Thus, the
philosophical statement "what is essential is invisible to the eye" can diso refer to the underlying
physiological processes that trigger bodily changes and eventually sustain our survival. The shape of
our bodies, our height, weight, skin color, hair color, and other physical characteristics do not just
develop at random: these are triggered by genetic transformations and biological development,
which are embodied in the concept of heredity.

Heredity has been defined as "the transmission of traits from parents to offspring." The traits are
made up of specific information embedded within one's gene, which is the basic unit of heredity. It is
not surprising that we have inherited our physical traits from both our parents. When you look at the
mirror, who do you think you resemble more, your father or your mother? If for example, you look
more like your father than your mother, it doesn't mean that you did not inherit any traits from your
mother and vice versa. This can be attributed to the concepts of genotype and phenotype.
Genotype refers to the specific information embedded within our genes; not all genotypes translate
to an observed physical characteristic. On the other hand, phenotype is the physical expression of a
particular trait. Genotype can only be determined through blood testing but one's phenotype can
be directly observed. For example, a man who has white skin and a woman who has brown skin
produced a brown skinned offspring. While one can assume that the newborn only took the skin
color of his mom, a close examination of his genotype may reveal that he also inherited the gene for
white skin from his dad. What explains this particular phenomenon? This is attributed to the concept
of dominant and recessive genes. The brown skin of the mom was the dominant gene and the white
skin of his dad was the recessive gene; thus, that was the skin color of the child. However, if he
marries and his spouse has a recessive gene for white skin, their offspring may have white skin.
Dominant and recessive genes are dependent on alleles, which are alternate versions of a particular
gene. Since human cells carry two copies of chromosomes, they have two versions of each gene.

Each individual carries 23 pairs of chromosomes, threadlike bodies in the nucleus of the cell
and the storage unit of genes. The 23rd pair, also known as sex chromosomes, determines the sex of
an individual. The XX is for males while the XY is for females. Within each chromosome is the
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying
the biological development of every individual. The DNA is often the unique blueprint of an
individual's physical features, thus, no two individuals have the same DNA. This is the reason why in
cases when paternity or maternity needs to be established, or identifying a suspect in a crime
situation, DNA is the most crucial genetic information to be gathered. These cellular components
trigger the physical growth and maturation that our bodies go through, from birth to adulthood.
Maturation is known as the completion of growth of genetic character within an organism of the
unfolding of an individual's inherent traits or potential. Maturation enables us to walk, run, talk, and
eventually, result in physical changes that are evident in the adolescent stage.

The Physical Self: Environmental Conditioning

While our genetic information determines the extent of our physical features, it is not the only
factor that influences our physical self. As we grow up we are exposed to environmental influences
that shape our physical self, including those from our social networks, societal expectations, and
cultural practices.

Family, being our first social group, forms a crucial foundation of our development, including
that of our physical self. Aside from factors of heredity, our family is also primarily responsible for how
we take care of our bodies. Our nutrition and sustenance was initially established by what was
cooked in the home. Our food intake and diet is often determined by the meals we were served.
Aside from food, practices on hygiene were first transmitted by our parents. For daughters, hygienic
practices were initially taught by the mothers while fathers tell their sons how to make themselves
handsome and attractive for the opposite sex.

As we grow older, we become exposed to a larger social group and thus, new practices and
standards. We become more conscious of our physical appearance as time goes on; we begin to
take note of our height, weight, facial features, and other physical characteristics, in comparison to
our peers. We start being conscious of our appearances, especially during the period of
adolescence. As a result, we begin engaging in acts that would make us attractive and acceptable
to others. For some girls, choosing the right outfit, haying the right make-up, acting more feminine
and demure are some of the consequences of this stage. For boys, beginning to have facial hair,
learning how to shave, going to the gym, and other similar activities start when they enter their
teenage years. Why do we do these things? One reason could be to meet society's standards of
physical beauty.

One aspect of beauty is the body type. Contemporary media has portrayed thin bodies as
the ideal body types for women and muscular bodies for men. Thus, adolescents indulge in activities
that would enable them to achieve these ideal body types. For some, having a healthy lifestyle,
eating the right food, and engaging in exercise are the steps in achieving the ideal body. However,
there are some adolescents who would resort to unhealthy habits just to achieve the right body type.
Hence, there has been a steady rise of teenagers who have eating disorders, including bulimia and
anorexia nervosa; the increase in this phenomenon has been attributed to the obsession of being
thin, and may also be triggered by family, peers, and significant role models. Majority of the victims
have been identified as females, but a significant number are represented by males.

Aside from eating problems, a substantial number has been resorting to cosmetic surgery to
alter certain facial features and surgical procedures to be thinner, even among adolescents. While
medical professionals do not forbid such practices, there have been extreme cases wherein these
procedures can have negative life altering consequences to the individual. There are those who
have already made it a habit of undergoing surgery that it is no longer healthy. It is important to
remember that physical beauty is only skin-deep, that what matters is feeling good about ourselves
and embracing a healthy perception of our physical worth.

The Physical Dimension of Self NOOPS evident in the adolescent stage. Unfolding the Biological Self
other physical characteristics do not just develop at random; these are triggered by genetic
transformations and biological development, which are embodied in the concept of heredity.

The Physical Self: Achieving Physical Well-being

There is nothing wrong with enhancing our physical self. What is problematic is when we focus too
much on physical beauty and disregard everything else. How do we take care of ourselves and our
body? Here are just some tips:

1. Healthy eating. We need to have the right combination of food to ensure our health and
sustenance. Having the right diet will result in healthy skin, ideal weight and better stamina.
2. Embracing a healthy lifestyle. Avoiding drinking, smoking, and other unhealthy habits will
reduce the risk of illness and diseases and make your immune system stronger. Physical
 activities such as walking running, going to the gym, and sports would also contribute to a
healthier body
3. Having the right hygiene. Taking care of our body by maintaining a hygiene regimen can also
help in making us feel good about ourselves.
4. Lastly, confidence in ourselves is our best make-up. Being secure in ourselves, embracing) a
positive outlook toward various situations and problems, and loving and accepting who we
are will surely result in an optimal physical well-being.