UNDESTANDING THE SELF C.

The Challenges of the Physical Self

UNPACKING THE SELF
The Physical and Biological Self: What the Self is Made of?
 People nowadays are too conscious of how they look.
How they see themselves in the mirror, how people will
look at them, and what will people say about them.
a. Nature vs. Nurture
The development of the individual is caused by two
interacting forces: heredity and environment.
Heredity [nature] is the transmission of traits from parents to
offspring it provides the raw materials of which the individual
is made up.

 Physical self refers to the body which we interface with Environment [nurture] is the sum total of the forces or
our environment and fellow beings. It is a tangible experiences that a person undergoes from conception to old
aspect of the person that can be directly observed and age. It includes family, friends, school, nutrition, and other
examined. agencies one is in contact with.

A. What the Self is Made of? b. Environmental Conditioning

 Heredity- transmission of traits from parent to offspring
 Genotype- specific information imbedded within our
genes, can only be determined by blood testing.
 Phenotype- physical expression of the genotype.
Physical characteristics
 Societal Expectations- issues like meeting the society’s
standard of physical beauty and body type
 Cultural Practices- how we take care of our bodies-
nutrition and hygienic practices and standard of beauty
and attractiveness

 Maturation- completion of growth of genetic character

within an organism or the unfolding of an individual’s
inherent traits or potential

 Genes- are small sections of DNA within the genome

that code for proteins. They contain the instructions for
our individual characteristics – like eye and hair color.

B. The Biological Self

The Sexual Self: Sexuality and Human Sexual Behavior

Human sexual behavior is defined as any activity – solitary or
between two persons – that induces or brings sexual arousal.
Classified in two types of behavior, the solitary and the socio-
sexual.

TYPES OF BEHAVIOR:
a. Solitary Behavior
Commonly called as self–gratification or self–stimulation that
Comparison of the FEMALE and MALE Reproductive System leads to sexual arousal and generally, sexual climax. This
FEMALE BOTH MALE takes place in personal and private as an end in itself.
-XY Chromosomes -Produce gametes -Produced in Nowadays, humans are frequently being exposed to sexual
-sex cells and hormones testes stimuli, especially from advertising and social media. Some
produced in -designed to -XX Chromosomes adolescents become much more aggressive when they
ovaries produce,nourish, -Sex organs respond to such stimuli.
-Sex organs and transport located outside of The challenge is to develop self-control so as to balance
located either the egg or the body. suppression and free expression.
entirely in the sperm -Sperm
pelvis -start making an -Sex Cell travels b. Socio-sexual Behavior
-Egg Sex Cell increasing number through Vas Socio-sexual behavior occurs between only one male and
travels through of hormones at deferens one female. Physical contact involving petting (hugging and
fallopian tubes puberty -testosterone kissing) is considered as an ingredient of the learning process
-produces sex -Penis-where sex and eventually of courtship and selection of a marriage
hormone Estrogen cell exits body partner. A behavior may be interpreted by society or
-Vagina-where sex individual as erotic depending on the context in which the
cell exits body behavior occurs.
Example, kissing as a gesture of intimacy between couples
while other sees this as respect and reverence.
Challenges of the Sexual Self

Sexual Reproductive Diseases

1. Chlamydia-Caused by bacteria and can lead to permanent
damage to a woman’s reproductive system

2. Gonorrhea-An STD that can cause infection in the genitals,

rectum, and throat.

3. Syphilis-Bacterial infection characterized by painless sore

on the genitals, rectum or mouth.

4. Human Papillomavirus- Transmitted through skin-to-skin

contact.

5. Herpes simplex virus-A common infection that can cause

painful blisters or ulcers.

6. HIV, AIDS-
(HIV) Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Interferes with your
body's ability to fight infection and disease.
(AIDS) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Responsible Sexual Behavior

O Respect for one’s body
O Maturity in thoughts and deeds
O Being guided by one’s personal beliefs and core values
O Being future-oriented
O Practice abstinence while you’re young
O Engage with safe sex; use oral contraceptives and condoms