Understanding the self of in different classification of physical aspects is one way to

discover a person’s real self.

The concept of Physical Self

● The understanding of the Physical self is shaped by biological and environmental factors.

● The Biological blueprint involves Heredity and its important factors. Heredity is defined as the

transmission of traits from parents to offspring. The traits are made up of specific information
embedded

within one’s gene. Genotype refers to the specific information embedded within one’s genes; not all

genotypes translate to an observed physical characteristic. Phenotype is the physical expression of a

particular trait. Each individual carries 23 pairs of chromosomes, which are 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. 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.

● Maturation is known as the completion of growth of a genetic character within an organism or the

unfolding of an individual’s inherent traits or potential.

● As you grow up, you are exposed to environmental influences that shape your physical self, including

those from your social networks, societal expectations, and cultural practices that will lead a person to

understand themselves.

● According to Santrock (2014), self-understanding is the individual’s cognitive representation of self

which consists of substance and the content of self-conceptions. Self-understanding can be described as

simple to perplex and involve a number of aspects of the self. It also changes throughout the life span

as the person grows older.

● As children advance in age, their interests change and with these come changes in their bodies. The

changes are rapid and before parents notice it, they are no longer babies but teenagers. An obvious
change

in teenagers are the changes in Physical Self. The 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 or features of a person’s body. This is also the first thing

people see when they look at another person that could include facial features, hairstyle, clothes, or

figure. They encompass everything that one can describe about a person or group of people, by just

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 basis to whether a person has achieved a sense of

GED 101 UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

competence and be able to manage and face the demands of life complexities. William James, on the

other hand, considered the body as the initial source of sensation and necessary for origin and

maintenance of personality.

● A period of rapid physical changes is in Puberty. According to Santrock (2016), puberty is not the same

as adolescence because puberty ends prior to the end of the adolescent period. But the recognized
puberty

as the most essential marker of the beginning of adolescence. The changes experienced during puberty

are different from girls and boys. Girls reach puberty earlier than boys and experience menarche which

is her first menstrual flow. Boys, two or three years later, 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. The Pituitary gland is the master endocrine gland that controls growth and regulates

functions of all the other endocrine glands including gonads. The chemical substances secreted by the

gonads promotes physical changes such as height, widening of the hips and increase in fatty tissues in

the breast of girls and responsible for boy’s growth of facial and body hair, muscles, and changes in

voice.

The self as impacted by the body

● Different levels of connectedness characterize the relationship between self and body. These

connectedness may be in a positive or negative ways, or in helpful or destructive ways.

Nevertheless, it is between individuals as well as across situations. The potential of the physical
body to be regarded as an object introduces the possibility of trait and state body as well as the state

of the self.

● Perspectives in Understanding Physical Self:

1. Psychodynamic Perspective

Freud’s theory of the ego was primarily known as body ego, that solidifies the importance

of body in understanding the self. The body and its evolving mental representations form the

basis of a sense of self (Krueger, 2002). The development of a body self mainly has three

stages: early psychic experience of the body in which sensations like tactile like in infants

enable babies to discriminate bodies from their surroundings, which contribute to the sense of

self. Next is defining body surface boundaries which is the stage of being awareness of body

image in contrast to surface boundaries. Last stage is the distinguishing of the body’s internal

states which is the stage of having cohesion of the body. In these images and experiences of

the body and the body, surfaces can be organized into holistic understanding of the body.

Theory suggests that Physical body both has objective and subjective components.

Individual’s conception and acknowledgment of their physical bodies substantiate their

assessment of the sense of totality which is an integral to his/her experience of the physical

world. Moreover, one’s experience of one’s physical body may be a key predictor of a variety

of behaviors.

2. Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on perceptual, cognitive, and affective aspects which is a multidimensional

experience that can aid a more precise understanding of the body . The cognitive-behavioral

perspective makes multiple distinctions to facilitate precise conceptual and operational

definitions of body-image related variables.

GED 101 UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

The cognitive behavioral model of body image recognizes multiple determinants of

body image with a distinction between those determinants that are historical versus those

determinants that are proximal or concurrent that predispose or influence how people come to
think, feel, and act in relation to their body.

3. Feminist Perspective

Relies on the social construction in which there is a possibility of individuals to

experience their bodies in distorted ways (especially, women). women’s dissatisfaction with

their bodies as a systematic social phenomenon rather than a result of individual pathology

(McKinley, 2002).

Specifically, the duality established between the mind and body in Western societies

and the pairing of men with the “mind” and women with the “body” contribute to women

experiencing their bodies differently than men.

● Factors that affect perception of the Physical Self:

1. Personal Factors

a. Introspection and Self-reflection. Looking inward is one of the simplest

ways to achieve self-knowledge. According to Hewstone, et al., (2015)

Introspection is the process is the process by which one observes and

examines one’s internal state (mental and emotional) after behaving in a

certain way.

b. Self-Perception Theory. As stated by Hewstone and Bem (2015) 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.

c. Self-concept. According to Hewstone, et al., (2015), 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 experience involving one’s characteristics, social roles, values,

goals and fears. Physical 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 living, who his friends are and what he

believes in.

2. Social Factors

a. Attachment Process and Social Appraisal. According to Bowlby (1969),

people learn about their value and lovability when they experience how

their mothers or caregivers care for them and respond to their needs.

GED 101 UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

b. Maintaining, Regulating and expanding the self in interpersonal

relationships .

c. The Looking-glass Self Theory. Charles Horton Cooley stated that a

person’s self grows out of society’s interpersonal interactions and the

perception of others. The view of oneself comes from a compilation of

personal qualities and impressions of how others perceive the individual.

Therefore, in a looking-glass self, the self-image is shaped and reflected

from the social world. Other people’s reactions would serve as a mirror

in which people see themselves particularly the way in which they are

perceived and judged by others.

d. Social Comparison. The work of Leon Festinger in 1954 introduced

another way of understanding oneself by comparing one’s traits, abilities,

or opinions to that of others. Social Comparison is a process of comparing

oneself with others in order to evaluate one’s own abilities and opinions.

There are two types of social comparison:

● Upward social comparison happens when an individual compares

themselves to others who are better than them.

● Downward social comparison happens when an individual

compares themselves to someone who is in a worse situation than

they are in especially when they are feeling low.

e. Social Identity Theory (Collective Identity). This was formulated by tajfel

and Turner 1973 which provides a framework about how people achieve

understanding about themselves by being a member of their group. This

idea assumes that as a member of the group they will not be discriminated

against by an out-group. It will enhance their self-esteem because they

feel secured with the shield of group membership where they belong.

Social groups include gender, ethnicity, religion, profession, political

membership and business organizations.