Unfolding the Biological Self:
The Physical and Sexual Self
GE 1 - Understanding the Self
BSA LEVEL 1 | SEM 1 2023 | wynotes
The Physical Dimension of the Self
Physical Dimension of Self
➢ Physical self is an important aspect because
we are readily recognized due to our physical
features.
➢ Physical attributes include physical
competencies, valuation of physical worth, and
perception of beauty.
➢ Physical Self is shaped by biological and
environmental factors. (hygiene, nutrition,
standards of beauty).
➢ Physical Self is not just superficial but rather
includes what is inside our bodies.
Factors that affect the Development of the
Biological Self
➢ Biological Blueprint
○ Heredity
○ Genotype
○ Phenotype
○ DNA
○ Maturation
➢ Environmental Conditioning
○ Family
○ Media
The Biological Blueprint
➢ A crucial aspect of the self is one’s physical
features including the face, bodily structure,
height and weight. However, people should
also consider their physical competencies,
valuation of physical worth, and perception of
beauty.
➢ Body structure, weight, height, skin color, hair
color, and other physical characteristics do not
just develop at random.
➢ These are triggered by genetic transformations
and biological development through heredity
➢ Heredity- defined as the transmission of traits
from parents to offspring
➢ Genotype- refers to the specific information
embedded within one’s genes
➢ Phenotype- physical expression of a particular
trait
➢ Each individual carries 23 pairs of
chromosomes. The 23rd pair is the sex
chromosome, which determines the sex of an
individual.
➢ DNA-contains the genetic instructions
specifying the biological development of every
individual
➢ Maturation- completion of growth of a genetic
character within an organism or the unfolding
of an individual’s inherent traits or potential
Beauty by Numbers
➢ Our attraction to another person’s body
increases if that body is symmetrical and in
proportion.
➢ If a face is in proportion, we are more likely to
notice it and find it beautiful.
➢ We perceive proportional bodies to be more
healthy.
➢ The self is impacted by the body
➢ The impact of culture on body image and self
esteem
➢ The importance of beauty
Body Image, Self-Esteem and Influence of Society
➢ Society shapes us in many ways, possibly
more than we realize—from our interactions, to
our personal development through others'
perception of our bodies as a reflection of self
worth.
➢ We are social beings. Genetically, we rely on
one another for the survival of humanity. The
primal connection makes our interactions
physiologically and psychologically important
Body image is both internal (personal) and external
(society)
This includes the following:
➢ How we perceive our bodies visually
➢ How we feel about our physical appearance
➢ How we think and talk to ourselves about our
bodies
➢ Our sense of how other people view our bodies
Media and Body Image
➢ The greater our discontent with how we
measure up when compared to the societal or
media supported norms, the more negative our
body image, and the greater the risk for
extreme weight or body control behaviors
occurs.
➢ Extreme Dieting, Extreme exercise
compulsion, Eating Disorders, Extreme or
unnecessary plastic surgery, Using steroids for
muscle building

Signs of Negative/Distorted Body Image
People who have a negative or distorted body image
exhibit negative signs. According to society today,
these include:
➢ Obsessive negative thoughts around
appearance
➢ Viewing oneself as unattractive
➢ Excessively focusing on a minor appearance
flaw
➢ Avoiding social engagements
➢ Constantly needing assurance from others
➢ Constantly, obsessively grooming oneself
➢ Pursuing excessive cosmetic surgery or
procedures
Today’s embedded ideals of the Physical
➢ Society nowadays allows us to see an image
of fashionably clad women, perfect skin, tiny
waist, ample breasts, fashionably protruding
behinds, all with a weight of not greater than
59kg.
➢ They are unrealistic images of beauty,
genetically impossible for many of us to
emulate. The same thing applies to the 6- pack
or ripped abs shoved in the face of men via
famous sportsmen and male fitness models,
which for many is impossible to achieve
without illegal steroids
➢ Yet we are told that these unattainable bodies
are normal, desirable and achievable. When
we don’t measure up, we develop a strong
sense of dissatisfaction and the way that
manifests can be ugly.
Prejudice-size
➢ Intolerance of body diversity has a lot to do
with prejudice of size and shape in our culture.
Being thin, toned, muscular has become
associated with the hard-working, successful,
popular, beautiful, strong and disciplined.
➢ Being fat is associated with the lazy, ugly,
weak and lacking in will-power.
➢ With this prejudice, fat isn’t a description like
tall or redhead, it's an indication of moral
character and we are conditioned to think that
fat is bad.
The Media
➢ The images of perfection we see in print, film,
television project an unrealistic version of
reality we are continually told is attainable-if we
work out, eat less and lather our bodies in
transformative, firming and tightening creams.
➢ The media is a powerful tool that reinforces
cultural beliefs and values, and while it may not
be fully responsible for determining the
standards for physical attractiveness, it makes
escaping the barrage of images and attitudes
almost impossible.
Family & Friends
➢ We learn from people, particularly those
closest to us about the things that are
considered important.
➢ Friendships are particularly important in body
image development because we place high
value on them, spend lots of time with our
friends and develop shared experiences,
values and beliefs.
Building a Strong and Positive Body Image
➢ Positive body image involves understanding
that healthy attractive bodies come in many
shapes and sizes, and that physical
appearance says very little about our character
or values as a person.
➢ Be Mindful of the things you watch, follow and
listen to on social media
➢ De-emphasize numbers
➢ Realize that we cannot change our body type
➢ Stop comparing ourselves to others
➢ We need to move and enjoy our bodies not
because we have to, but because it makes us
feel good
➢ Spend time with people who have healthy
relationship with food, activity, and their bodies
➢ Question the degree to which self-esteem
depends on our appearance
➢ Recognize that size, prejudice is a form of
discrimination similar to other forms of
discrimination
➢ Each of us will have a positive body image
when we have a realistic perception of our
bodies, when we enjoy, accept and celebrate
how we are and let go of negative societal or
media perpetuated conditioning
The Sexual Self
Sexuality
➢ is a word we use to talk about how we
understand our bodies and how we understand
our relationships.
➢ This includes all aspects of who we are – our
values and beliefs, bodies, desires,
relationships, gender and our thoughts and
feelings about all of these.
➢ Our understanding of our own sexuality is
ever-changing and unique to each person
Biological
➢ Sex – Label “assigned sex” includes sex
organs, such as ovaries defining what it is to
be female- or testes- defining what it is to be a
male
Sex Hormones
➢ are chemical substances produced by sex
organs.
➢ For example, testosterone is the male sex
hormone produced by the testes, and estrogen
is the female sex hormone produced by the
ovary.
➢ Generally, females and males have the same
hormones (i.e., estrogens, progesterone and
testosterone), but their production sites, their
blood concentrations, and their interactions
with different organs, systems, and apparatus
are different (Svechnikov & Soder, 2008).
 ○ Growth
○ Sexual characteristics
Differences in Sexual Development (DSD) ○ The ability to have children
➢ is a group of rare conditions involving genes, ○ Metabolism
hormones and reproductive organs, including ○ Personality
genitals. It means a person's sex development ○ Mood swings
is different to most other people's.

Intersex The Roles and Functions of Estrogen and

➢ have genitals, chromosomes or reproductive
organs that don't fit into a male/female sex Proestrogen
binary. ➢ Estrogen Effects
➢ Their genitals might not match their ○ Builds up uterine lining
reproductive organs, or they may have traits of ○ Increses body fat
both. ○ Depression, headache/migraine
➢ Being intersex may be evident at birth, ○ Interferes with thyroid hormone
childhood, later in adulthood or never ○ Increases blood clotting
➢ estimated 1.7% of the population is born with ○ Decreases libido
intersex traits ○ Impairs blood sugar control
An intersex infant may have: ○ Increases risk of endometrial cancer
○ Increases risk of breast cancer
● No vaginal opening ➢ Proestrogen Effects
● Labia that do not open ○ Maintains uterine lining (secretory)
● A penis without a urethral opening ○ Helps use fat for energy
● A smaller penis than expected ○ Anti-depressant
● A larger clitoris than expected ○ Facilitates thyroid hormone action
*Adolescence stage: secondary sex characteristics ○ Normalizes blood clotting
have unusual development or absence of it (e.g. ○ Restores libido
menstruation, male breast growth) ○ Regulates sugar levels
*Adulthood: Discover upon trying to conceive, while ○ Protects from endometrial cancer
others may find out during an unrelated medical ○ Probable prevention of breast cancer
procedure. (e.g. having no uterus, undescended ➢ Optimal Testosterone
testes) ○ Sharper mind
○ Happy
○ Confident
Puberty ○ Increased muscle mass
➢ the time in life when a boy or girl becomes ○ Heart health
sexually mature. ○ Plenty of energy
➢ It is a process that usually happens between ○ Strong erections & libido functions
ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 ○ Strong bones
for boys. ➢ Low Testosterone
➢ It causes physical changes, and affects boys ○ Low energy
and girls differently. ○ Increased fat tissue
➢ In girls: ○ Increased risk of E.D. and low libido
○ The first sign of puberty is usually ○ Increased risk of alzheimer’s disease
breast development. ○ Depressed
○ Then hair grows in the pubic area and ○ Increased risk of osteoporosis
armpits.
○ Menstruation (or a period) usually Sexuality: Human relationships
happens last. ➢ Innate need for social connections
➢ In boys: ➢ Sternberg’s 3 Components of Love
○ Puberty usually begins with the ○ Intimacy
testicles and penis getting bigger. ○ Passion
○ Then hair grows in the pubic area and ○ Commitment/decision
armpits.
○ Muscles grow, the voice deepens, and
facial hair develops as puberty
continues
➢ Both boys and girls may get acne. They also
usually have a growth spurt (a rapid increase
in height) that lasts for about 2 or 3 years. This
brings them closer to their adult height, which
they reach after puberty.

Hormones
➢ chemicals that coordinate different functions in
your body by carrying messages through your
blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other
tissues.
 ➢ is a widely accepted judgment or bias about a
person or group- even though it’s overly
simplified and not always accurate
➢ Sexism: stereotypes about gender that cause
unequal and unfair treatment because of a
person’s gender
○ Sexist jokes, Excluding participation,
Shaming, Rape/ Sexual Harassment,
Condoning violence against women

Family Planning
➢ allows people to decide when and if to have
children, using the information, means and
methods they need to do so.
➢ It involves a wide range of contraceptives,
such as pills, implants, intrauterine devices,
surgical procedures that limit fertility, and
barrier methods such as condoms

Psychological
➢ Gender Identity
➢ Sexual Orientation

Gender
➢ Refers to the socially constructed roles,
behaviors, expressions and identities of girls,
women, boys, men, and gender diverse
people.

Gender Identity
Family Planning Methods:
➢ Refers to how you feel inside and how you
● Natural family planning
express your gender through clothing,
● Vaginal ring
behavior, and personal appearance regardless
● Contraceptive patch
of your assigned sex.
● Oral contraceptive pills
➢ Cisgender: People who identify with their sex
● Intrauterine device
assigned at birth
● Injectables
➢ Transgender: People whose gender identity
● female/male condom
does not coincide with their sex.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexual Orientation
➢ (STDs) are caused by sexually transmitted
➢ It pertains to the gender(s) you’re sexually
infections (STIs).
attracted to and want to have relationships
➢ They are spread mainly by sexual contact.
with. Sexual orientations include gay, lesbian,
➢ STIs are caused by bacteria, viruses or
straight, bisexual and asexual.
parasites.
➢ A sexually transmitted infection may pass from
Social person to person in blood, semen, or vaginal
➢ Gender Roles and other bodily fluids.
➢ Gender Stereotypes Risk Factors of STDS:
➢ Human Relationships ➢ Increased number of partners
➢ Inconsistent condom use
Gender Roles ➢ Breaks in skin
➢ A set of social expectations about behaviors, ➢ Severity of your partner’s infection (as
characteristics and thoughts for what is measured by things like viral load)
considered masculine and feminine. (how Common STI’s:
we’re expected to act, speak, dress, groom, ● Bacterial Vaginosis - a common, treatable,
and conduct ourselves based upon our vaginal condition which can increase chance of
assigned sex) getting an STD
● Chlamydia - common, but treatable, STD. If
Gender Stereotypes left untreated, it can make it difficult for a
 woman to get pregnant
● Gonorrhea - common STD that can be treated
with the right medication. If left untreated,
gonorrhea can cause very serious health
problems
● Genital Herpes (HSV-2) - common STD, but
most people with the infection do not know
they have it. While there is no cure, there are
medicines available that can prevent or
shorten outbreaks. These medicines also can
make it less likely to pass the infection on
● Genital Warts (HPV)
● Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection - the
most common STI in the US, but most people
with the infection have no symptoms. It can
cause some health effects that are preventable
with vaccines
● Hepatitis B - is the leading cause of liver
cancer and the most common reason for liver
transplants
● HIV and AIDS - people who have STDs are
more likely to get HIV, when compared to
people who do not have STDs
● Pubic lice
● Syphilis - can have very serious problems
when left untreated. It is simple to cure with the
right treatment
● Trichomoniasis
● Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) - an STD
that can be treated with antibiotics. People
receiving treatment for Mgen should take all of
the medication as prescribed
● Pelvic Inflammatory DIsease (PID) - can lead
to serious consequences including infertility
● STDs & Infertility - Chlamydia and gonorrhea
can cause PID and infertility, but both are
preventable
● STDs during Pregnancy - for a healthier
baby, ask your doctor about STD testing

Responsible Sexual Behavior

➢ Respect for one’s body.
➢ Maturity in thoughts and deeds.
➢ Being guided by one’s personal beliefs and
core values.
➢ Being future-oriented