Unpacking the Self  experiences are anchored in the

ground-plan of the body.

Physical Self
Sigmund Freud
Important Component in the Study of
the Person’s Self & Identity:  The physical body is the core of
human experience.
 Psychology
 Anthropology
 Religious Studies
Maurice Merleau-Ponty
 Biological & Health Studies
 Sociology  The body is at the center of
human existence, as a way of
experiencing the world.
The Self as Impacted by the Body

William James
What do you mean by Physical Self?
 “The self is the sum total of all
 The concrete or tangible aspect
that man can call his, which
or dimension of the person
includes his body, family and
which is primarily observed and
reputation, also his clothes and
examined.
his house.”
 The body is the initial source of
sensation and necessary for the The human body is endowed with
origin and maintenance of
varied forms of social significance
personality. which Sociology addressed by asking
questions:
Russel W. Belk  To what extent do individuals
 describe that body, family, have control over their own
clothes, etc. are part of our bodies?
EXTENDED SELF.  How significant is the body to
the development and
performance of the self in
everyday life?

Erik Erickson
  What images of the body members of the
influence people’s expectations group/community/society/ are
of themselves and others? “nurtured” to perceived from
attractiveness from childhood.
1980s

 Humanities and Sociology

developed a new and broader Body Image
interest in the body.
 body image refers to the
1970s person’s perception of
attractiveness of his/her body
 Ulrich Beck & Anthony Giddens
or it can be somebody’s own
 The body is the only fix-point
impression of how his/her body
of identity.
looks.

Norms of Standard Beauty

Two types of Beauty
For women
 Internal—or personal beauty.
 Wavy blond hair This refers to the inner
 Light skin and eyes qualities of the person.
 Tall  External—or social beauty. This
 Large breasts refers to the physical
 A round yet toned posterior characteristics of the person.

For men The Role of Culture in our

 Muscular wash-board abs Understanding of the “Body Image”

and Self-Esteem
 Powerful legs
 Chiseled features  “Culture is the shared patterns
of thoughts, beliefs, behaviors,
and habits that includes
Plastic Surgery languages, technology,
 is beauty bond up with a economic, political and
dynamic, cultural aesthetic educational systems where
homed in the ways that oneself is shaped, in part,
 through interaction with o What our weight should
groups.” be?
o What happens when your o How is our leisure spent?
body does not look like o How should our bodies
how it supposed to look age?
like, or how it’s supposed o The use of beauty
to do? products.
o Who or what defines the o How our lifestyle be
ideals behind these dealt.
expectations?
o How can we challenge
them and live more The Influence of Media on the
peacefully in our bodies? Adolescent’s Understanding of
Beauty

 The media play a large role in

Pop culture
how teenagers are supposed to
 or popular culture is a culture be or do.
widely accepted and patronized
by the public as in pop music
which is very appealing to the Cultural Ideal Hypothesis
youth.
 Puberty brings boys closer to
Self-definition their ideal body while girls shift
further from theirs.
 refers to the way a person sees
himself.
 self-esteem and confidence
Self-Esteem (its significance)

 self-worth or self-respect, is
Media an important part of success.
 too little self-esteem can leave
 create ideals in the form of
people feeling defeated or
celebrities and models, for men
depressed.
and women to admire, giving us
 too much self-esteem may
pressure to conform to
exhibit narcissistic personality
expectations.
disorder.
o How should we dress?
Self-Esteem

 person’s overall sense of self-

worth or personal value
 often seen as a personality
trait which tends to be stable
and enduring.
 involves variety of belief of
yourself, such as appraisals of
your appearance etc.

Developing Self-Esteem

To overcome such adverse effects on

the issues of self-esteem, you need to
develop a positive body image which
involves:

 Understanding that healthy,

attractive bodies come in many
shapes and sizes.
 Physical appearance says very
little about our character or
value as a person, and
 How we get to this point of
acceptance often depends on
our individual development and
self-acceptance.

“Beauty is not about having a

pretty face. It’s about having a
pretty mind, a pretty heart, and a
pretty soul.”