Lesson 5:
Physical Self
(Unpacking the Self)
This photo is taken from Peralta(2018)
Review:
Psychological Perspective of SELF
A well-integrated self is achieved with the careful
balancing and harmonizing capacity of the ego or
conscious mind between the warring id and
superego.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Learning Objectives:
1. Examine one’s self using the physical
aspect of Self;
2. Describe the concept of physical self
and explain how this it can influence
the development of the Self.
3. Exhibit appreciation to one’s physical
self.
Physical Self Defined
Physical self refers to the body
which is a wonderful and complex
container.
…is a responsive machine with
which we interface with our
environment and fellow beings.
…is a concrete dimension;
tangible aspect of the person that
can be directly observed and
examined. (Singh, 2018)
The body is one of the objects that most
people would enhance to change one’s
appearance to appear beautiful.
Influence of Culture to Beauty
De Mello (2014)) noted that for evolutionary
psychologists, beauty is universal if all cultures
appear to have the same notion of what
beautiful is.
Influence of Culture to Beauty
Evolutionary perspective explains that both
men and women have considered certain
physical features that are believed to be
indicators of beauty: health and good gene.
Fitness and BEAUTY is characterized by a clean
and unblemished skin, thick shiny hair, and
symmetrical face.
That is, individuals with unusual facial features are
seen as more beautiful since they are more
noticeable than those with average facial features.
Swami and Harris (2012) further added that
for the evolutionary psychological approach,
a person’s inclination for physical
attractiveness and choice of a mate is
dependent on the latter’s capability for
reproduction.
Female beauty is also defined
by youthfulness and fertility.
Features such as
high cheekbones,
full lips,
narrow jaws and
large eyes
imply low testosterone
and high estrogen,
which are indicators of fertility.
Male beauty on the other hand
is said to be associated with
physical traits that are
predominantly determined by
their hormone (testosterone)
and good gene such as
strong jaws,
big muscles,
heavy brows,
thin lips, tall structure, and
broad cheekbones.
HOWEVER, a woman who is thinking of a long-term or
short-term relationship with a man would have varied
preferences.
It is mentioned that for women who intend to have a
long-term relationship, men with capabilities to raise their
family on the basis of financial means are said to be more
attractive than those who possess physical masculinity and
fertility.
Beauty is cultural as well.
De Mello (2014) notes that in:
India- beauty comprise
cleanliness,
graceful use of clothing,
how a woman carries herself,
if her skin, hair and bindi
on the forehead are
well cared for.
Beauty is cultural as well.
Africans in the past
only a woman with
face or body scarification
is considered beautiful;
a woman with large plates
inserted into the lower and
sometimes upper lip
is beautiful and
marriageable.
Beauty is cultural as well.
Long nose for European
implies beauty.
Beauty is cultural as well.
Few Asian countries like
Malaysia, Philippines and
Indonesia consider
flat noses as beautiful
before colonization.
Beauty is cultural as well.
In Japan, beauty is
symbolized by
the geisha
(a Japanese hostess trained to entertain
men with conversation,
dance, and song.
Beauty is cultural as well.
In South Korea,
standards of beauty
include round eyes,
pale skin, sharp nose and
long legs although in reality,
these features are unusual among
them.
Beauty is cultural as well.
In the Philippines, our
preference for beauty is highly
influenced by
our much love for movie and
television actors and actresses
that we idolize.
Thus, standards of beauty are
characterized by fair skin, long,
straight black hair, tall nose,
and slanted eyes.
For scientists, a face is
attractive when ideal
measurement is achieved
for the space between the eyes,
the length of the chin, the height
of the eyes, the length and width
of the nose, and the width and
the shape of the mouth.
Importance of beauty
The importance of BEAUTY is derived in
the premise that it is the face that we
become aware of when we encounter
people.
What we observe (see) makes a difference in the way
we perceive them.
Both men and women, although women appear to be
more conscious of their beauty, take extra effort, time
and money to engage in activities that enhance their
appearance just to meet the beauty standards that
modern society seem to promote.
Reasons why some people adapt to the
seemingly unrealistic and unattainable
standards of beauty
*The harsh treatment from various media (e.g. magazines
and advertisements) received by women who do not meet
the society’s standards of beauty.
This kind of treatment has psychological implication as it
affects women at its core. The latter leads to the
development of low self-esteem, negative body image,
eating disorders, stress, and anxiety.
Britton (2012) mentioned that by putting
photo-shopped and computer-enhanced models
in advertisements, society has built up impossible
standards of beauty, which has led to feelings of
inadequacy among women.
Despite the costs (financial and psychological),
some still risk undergoing procedures to
compensate for the negative feelings they have
about their body image.
Why is it that women and men alike
feel bad when their physical appearance
is put in bad light?
Good looks seem to be one of the
sources of esteem. But this is not a
good source of esteem since
beauty fades as one gets older,
still a lot of women and men
conform to the society’s
standards of beauty to maintain
their youthful look.
Ultimately, looking young despite
old age, increases one’s self-esteem.
De Mello (2014) also noted the significant role
that beauty plays in possible success-- career and
relationship wise push women to conform to
beauty standards.
According to psychologists, the overwhelming
emphasis on beauty results to difficulty in
obtaining gratification in their relationship for
both men and women, as well as, women being
forced to subscribe to costly beauty products
and risky cosmetic surgeries.
Others go to extreme measures as body modification to meet
the society’s standards of beauty.
Body modification refers to the physical alteration of the
body through the use of surgery, tattooing, piercing,
scarification, branding, genital mutilation, implants, and
others (De Mello,2014).
In contrast to health-risky procedures that unsatisfied
men and women go through with their physical
appearance in most societies, some practices are
promoted for body preservation.
These are usually observed in some religious practices
like are fasting, abstinence, and self-mortification.
SELF-MORTIFICATION comprises avoidance of activities that
gives pleasure to the body like sex and eating meat to the extent of
assuming a modest living condition.
While FASTING is said to be an act of refuting oneself which
may take in the form of refraining from consuming meat during the
Lenten season as practiced by the Christians, the purpose of which
is to attain oneness with Christ.
Another practice which promote the latter is part-taking in the
EUCHARIST. The mentioned religious practices have been an
important part of Christian life which for many years provided
guidance in terms of what to do with the body.
In conclusion:
BEAUTY or BEING BEAUTIFUL is a concept that we
automatically attached to the body. The society’s standards of
beauty sometimes contribute to the development of a person’s
unhealthy body image or incapacitating beliefs.
Therefore, beauty should not be used as a measure of a
person’s worth. Nonetheless, the physical aspect is one of the
areas that a person may improve on so that he can achieve a
healthy self-image.
References:
Britton, A.M. (2012). The Beauty Industry’s Influence on Women in Society. Retrieved
from [Link]
Swami, V. and Harris, AS. (2012). Evolutionary Perspectives on Physical Appearance in
Cash, F. (2012). Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Experience.
De Mello, M. (2014). Beautiful Bodies. Pp.173-188. Fat and Thin Bodies. 189-205.
Modified Bodies. 209-243. In Body Studies: An Introduction. Routledge.
Singh, S. (2018). All about psychology. Retrieved from [Link]:
[Link]
