THE

PHYSICAL
SELF
I. LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to be able to:

A. Discuss the role of media and culture on the adolescent’s

understanding of beauty and self esteem and its influence on
their body image satisfaction;

B. Discuss the different views on beauty and reflect on the

true essence of beauty;
II. INTRODUCTION

• Physical appearance is among the major concerns of people today

especially in our world which is heavily influenced by media
(Villafuerte, 2018)

• According to Ervin Gooffman (1971), people are concerned with the

way others perceive them, and such concern serves as a motivation
to manage their behavior in order to present favorable and
appropriate images to others. Such self-presentation includes not
only the individual’s social behaviors but also his/her physical body
III. MOTIVATION
FOR YOU WHAT IS BEAUTY? HOW DO YOU DEFINE BEAUTY?

IV. INPUTS

• Generally, people judge a person based on his or her physical appearance.

The manner of dressing, behaving and even the body gestures are some of
the things that caught one’s attention and eventually formulate impression
of the person.
A. PHYSICAL SELF
The physical self is considered as an important component in the study of the person’s
self and identity. It is defined as the concrete or tangible aspect or dimension of the
person which is primarily observed and examined through the body (Villafuerte, et al.,
2018).

According to William James, a renowned psychologist and a pioneer of American

Sociology, “the self is the sum total of all that man call his, which includes his body, family
and reputation, also his clothes and his house”. Such body, family, clothes, and the like are
also described by Russell W. Belk as part of our Extended Self (will be discussed in the
topic, Digital Self). Furthermore, William James stated that “the body is the initial source
of sensation and necessary for the origin and maintenance of personality”
1.THE IMPACT OF THE BODY TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF
PROPONENT IDEAS

William James The body is the initial source of sensation and

necessary for the origin and maintenance of
personality.

Erik Erickson Experience is anchored in the ground-plan of the

body.

Sigmund Freud The physical body is the core of human experience.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty The body is at the center of human existence, as a

way of experiencing the world.
2. WHAT IS BEAUTY?
Based on your observation, what are the common standards of society today for beauty?

WOMEN MEN
Wavy, blond hair Muscular wash-board abs
Light skin Powerful legs
Big eyes Chiselled features
Tall and slender frame
Pointed nose
Large breasts
Well-formed biceps
Tiny waists
Round yet toned posterior (butt)
 3. BODY IMAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM
• Body image and self-esteem are impacted by culture. Specifically, the predominance of pop culture or popular
culture also influences how teens define themselves. In this concept, body image refers to the person’s
perception of the level of attractiveness of his or her body. It can be somebody’s own impression of how his or
her body looks. It may also be our sense of how other people view our bodies. Body image can be seen as both
internal (personal) and external (social). One’s perception of his or her body elicits either pleasant or unpleasant
feelings. Body image lies at the heart of an adolescent like you. It is the mental representation of your own body,
which is a very important aspect of identity.
TWO TYPES OF BEAUTY:

INNER BEAUTY EXTERNAL BEAUTY

- Refers to the inner qualities of the person.
- Focuses on the development of the person’s
character.
- Refers to the physical characteristics of the
person.
- Focuses on the physical features of the body.

To develop a positive body image which involves:

a. understanding that healthy, attractive bodies come in many shapes and sizes;
b. physical appearance says very little about our character or value as a person; and
c. how we get to this point of acceptance often depends on our individual development
and self-acceptance
 THE
SEXUAL
SELF
I. LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to be able to:

A. explain and characterize the diversity of human sexual behavior; and

B. discuss chemistry of lust, love, and attachment
 II. INTRODUCTION

• Genetics tells us that our chromosomes dictate who and what we are—our sex
chromosomes dictate our sex, both primary and secondary characteristics.
Psychology, on the other hand, acknowledges the important influence that our
environment has on how we see ourselves and express our sexuality.

• On a more neutral tone, it is believed that both our genetic endowments and the
experiences that we have help shape our sexuality. Since birth, we were assigned
to a sex that also defined our roles and the society’s expectations of us. But, as
we grow into a more experienced and matured individuals, we will come to
realize that task of deciding for and shaping our sense of sexuality is in our
hands.