NAVOTAS POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

Office of the Academic Affairs

Bangus St., Corner Apahap St., NBBS, City of Navotas

Course Title: GE 4 – Understanding the Self

Name of Faculty: Ms. Bernardita S. Solatorio

Module Number: 3 (Unit 2 – Lesson 1)

Lesson Title Topic: Unpacking the Self: The Physical Self

Week Number: 6

This module tackles on the Physical aspect of the Self. It presents the impact of the bodily parts on the development of
the physical self and its effect on body image and self-esteem. There is no concrete definition as to who is beautiful,
hence, every part of the world has its own concept of what beauty is like a tattooed face, full-figure, long neck, or even a
lotus foot. This recent times, much of what people consider as beautiful is all because of the influence of media, the
glassy fair even-toned skin splashed on giant billboards, the washboard abs of men seen on the pages of magazines and
the long and slender frame of women on television commercials become a basis of a beautiful physical self nowadays.

As globalization arises, we watch and celebrate with both awe and disappointment the many people who are famous
because of their body change and modifications. Fat people want to become slim, white people bake under the sun to
get a darker skin tone, not to mention LGBTs who even want to change their inner organs such as famous celebrities like
Caitlyn Jenner and Jazz Jennings. The younger generation admire the courage of these people who are so brave to show
who they really are, but some lambasted their decisions. Why do you think people would want to spend a great sum of
money, go to a great length and endure physical pain just to change a part of their physical self? Obviously, these people
would want to look better, so they adhere to what they believe is the standard of what is beautiful or handsome.
Through the efforts that they take, they believe that this will boost their self-esteem and increase acceptance by other
people.

At the end of the topic, you should be able to:

1. Explore the different aspects of physical self

2. Explain the importance of physical self and its development
3. Compare self-identity, self-image, self-concept and self esteem
4. Discuss in detail the factors that influence the development of physical self
5. Understand the different cultural perspective about beauty.
6. Recognize the role of media on the understanding of beauty and self-esteem and its influence on body image
satisfaction.

Module, powerpoint presentation, worksheets, prescribed websites, pen & paper

Physical Self refers to the body, this marvelous container and complex, finely tuned, machine with which we interface
with our environment and fellow beings. The Physical Self is the concrete dimension, the tangible aspect of the person
that can be directly observed and examined.
These characteristics are the defining traits and features of the body. Sex, height, weight, complexion, hair and facial
features are among the common, physical features identified when one is asked to describe another person. One’s
gender is first mentioned, whether one is a male or female, then he or she is described to be either tall, short, or
average in terms of height. A person can either be thin, fat or average and light, dark, fair or anything in between in
terms of complexion. One can have a brown, black or blonde hair which can either be long, short, straight, curly, frizzy or
he or she may even be bald. One’s nose can either be flat or pointed; one’s eyes can be almond-shaped, hooded, deep-
set, round, downturned or chinky. The physical aspect of the self does not include characteristics that are internal to the
self-such as kindness, generosity, loyalty, obedience and other similar qualities.

ASPECTS OF THE PHYSICAL SELF:

How many times do you stand before a mirror and ask yourself, Am I beautiful? Am I satisfied with how I look?
The image you are gazing at the mirror is your physical self – the body, the tangible part of your “self” that can be
directly seen and examined. We give value to our physical self because it is the seat of all other selves:
material/economic self, spiritual self, political self, sexual self, and digital self.
This is the concept that has developed over the years. Aspects of his life like nationality, gender, physical traits as well as
choices he makes.

In the story of creation, God created man in His image and likeness and is given the authority to subdue the earth. We
manifest our gratitude and respect for God’s work by preserving and sustaining continually all the gifts through proper
care of ourselves and our environment including the right attitude.
As we mature, our idea of good and beautiful changes as we interact with our surrounding, with what we see in others,
and what we observe in western culture.
 We tend to compare ourselves to others particularly in style and fashion
 We tend to imitate others
 We have the tendency to prefer imported products
 Our idea of good and beautiful have features commonly seen among western people.
 Our beauty standard has been elevated by flooding beauty products and rising of salons, gyms and technology.

What are the consequences of altering or enhancing one’s physical appearance? Is it good or bad?

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
-the defining traits or features of the person’s body. Physical characteristics are distinguished by the naked eye
like facial features, hairstyles, clothes or figure.
-According to Erik Erikson, he believed in the importance of the body from early development because the
physical as well as intellectual skills will somehow serve as basis to whether a person has achieved a sense
of competence and be able to manage and face the demands of life complexities.
-According to William James, he considered that the body as the initial source of sensation and necessary for the
origin and maintenance of personality.

Stages of transition from childhood to adulthood:

1. Early adolescence – between 11-14 years old.
-adolescents would rather tell their stories to peers rather than their family
2. Middle adolescence – between 15 – 17 years old.
-demonstrate consistency to achieve their goals in life
3. Late adolescence – between 18 – 24 years old
 -become more concern of others rather than themselves
-become more conscious on how they look
-affected by the changes in their body and by what people say about them
 In the Philippines, ages from 15-30 years old are the youth.

Children at this period need guidance from the significant others to realize that they should not only be
concerned of their physical self but on the formation of their positive self-identity, self-image, self-concept anf
self-esteem.
PUBERTY
-According to Santrock, puberty is the same as adolescence because puberty ends prior to the end of adolescent
period but he recognized puberty as the most essential marker of the beginning of adolescence.
-Puberty is a brain-neuroendocrine process occurring primarily in early adolescence that triggers the rapid
physical changes that occur in the adolescent stage of human development.

Physical changes occur as part of the natural course of nature that become evident at the onset of puberty:
Boys:
 Voice gets deeper
 Hair starts to show on their faces
 Growth spurt (rapid growth in a span of 2 years)
 Attains body maturity 2 – 3 years later than girls (experience semenarche – ejection of semen through the penis)
Girls:
 reached puberty earlier than boys and they experience menarche (first menstrual flow)

BODY IMAGE
-The way one sees himself/ herself or the way he/ she imagines how he/ she looks.
-How they see themselves can either be positive or negative.
Adolescents usually experience imaginary audience which refers to an egocentric state where the individual imagines
and believes that many people are actively listening to or watching him or her.

In social psychology, it is called spotlight effect refers to the belief that others are paying more attention to the person’s
appearance and behavior than they really are.

Self-identity, Self-image, Self-concept, Self- Esteem

Factors that affect Perception of the Physical Self

● PERSONAL FACTORS

a. Personal Identity
This is the concept that has developed over the years. Aspects of his life like name, status, profession,
nationality, gender, physical traits as well as choices he makes. This is how you are known.

b. Self-esteem/self-confidence
Refers to how much you appreciate, value or like yourself. What you hear from other people, their influences
and beliefs contribute to the formation of self-concept.
The positive self-concept brings positive self-esteem and vice versa.
 What you think of yourself is more important than what others think of you.

c. Self- image
Explains that since one’s internal state is difficult to interpret, people can infer their inner states by observing
their own behavior-as if they are an outside observer. It is the idea that you have for yourself.
d. Self-concept
Self-concept is a cognitive representation of self-knowledge which includes the sum total of all beliefs, thoughts,
feelings that people have about themselves and the responses of others about him/her.

● SOCIAL FACTORS

a. Attachment Process and Social Appraisal

According to Bowlby, people learn about their value and lovability when they experience how their mother or
caregivers care for them and respond to their needs. This is developed prior to achieving self-awareness.

b. Maintaining, regulating and expanding the Self in Interpersonal Relationships

When individuals are still young, the sense of self is continuously shaped through ongoing interaction with
others and act as “private audiences” which carry an internal dialogue that people are not aware that they are
being influenced.

c. The Looking-glass Self Theory

Charles Horton Cooley stated that a person’s self grows out of society’s interpersonal interaction and the
perception of others. The self image is shaped and reflected from the social world. Other reaction will serve as
mirror in which people see themselves particularly the way they are perceived by others.

d. Social Comparison
It is the process of comparing oneself with others in order to evaluate one’s own abilities and opinions

Factors affecting Growth and development of a Person:

1. Heredity -the transmission of physical characteristics from parents to children through their genes.
-influences all aspects of physical appearance such as height, weight body structures, eye color, etc.
Two biological factors that contribute to a child’s growth and development:
a. Nutrition
b. Gender – factor in cognitive maturation
Ex. Research suggests that boys have lower level of school readiness than girls.
2. Intelligence - the capacity for abstraction, logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge,
reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
3. Environment
-a well-nurtured child does better than the deprived one raised in a stressful environment
4. Sex: Boys and girls grow in different ways, especially nearing puberty.
- Boys tend to be taller and physically stronger than girls.
- girls tend to mature faster during adolescence, while boys mature over a longer period of time.
- The physical structure of their bodies also has differences which make boys more athletic and suited
for activities that require physical rigor.
- Their temperaments also vary, making them show interest in different things.
5. Geographical Influence - the opportunities offered by the community and their peer circles. The world one lives
has cultural factors that help shape the child’s thought, attitudes, and behavior.
6. Socio-Economic Status
The socio-economic status of a family determines the quality of the opportunity a child gets. Well-off families
can also offer better learning resources for their children and they afford special aid if the kids need it. Children
from poorer families may not have access to educational resources and good nutrition to reach their full
potential. They may also have working parents who work too many hours and cannot invest enough quality time
in their development.
7. Familial Influence
Families have the most profound impact in nurturing a child and determining the ways in which they develop
psychologically and socially. Whether they are raised by their parents, grandparents or foster care, they need
 basic love, care and courtesy to develop as healthy functional individuals. The most positive growth is seen
when families invest time, energy and love in the development of the child through activities, such as reading to
them, playing with them and having deep meaningful conversations. Families that abuse or neglect children
would affect their positive development. These children may end up as individuals who have poor social skills
and difficulty bonding with other people as adults. Helicopter parenting also has negative effects as they render
children dependent on the parents even as young adults and unable to deal with difficulties in life on their own.
8. Exercise and Health
refers to the normal playtime and sports activities which help the body gain an increase in muscular strength
and put on bone mass. Proper exercise helps children grow well and reach milestones on time or sooner.
Exercise also keeps them healthy and fights off diseases by strengthening the immune system, especially if they
play outside. This is because outdoor play exposes them to microbes that help them build resistance and
prevent allergies.
9. Hormones
Hormones belong to the endocrine system and influence the various functions of our bodies. They are produced
by different glands that are situated in specific parts of the body to secrete hormones that control body
functions. Imbalances in the functioning of hormone-secreting glands can result in growth defects, obesity,
behavioral problems and other diseases.
10. Nutrition
Nutrition is a critical factor in growth as everything the body needs to build and repair itself comes from the
food we eat. Malnutrition can cause deficiency diseases that adversely affect the growth and development of
children. On the other hand, overeating can lead to obesity and health problems in the long run, such as
diabetes and heart disease. A balanced diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats is
essential for the development of the brain and body.

THE IMPACT OF CULTURE ON BODY IMAGE AND BEAUTY

When is a person considered beautiful? What is the socially accepted standard of beauty? Usually, only the physical
features such as the face and body figure are considered as the bases of beauty. The cultural implications of beauty are
prominent in every culture and have a strong influence on the way men and women are perceived. Across the world,
different cultural perceptions uphold an ideal of beauty that is linked to sexual appeal and social status. The purpose of
beauty is the feeling and consequences from being beautiful.
In ancient cultures, according to Julian Robinson, “the enhancement and beautifying of the human form by various
means appeared to be an inborn human trait-an essential part of our genetic makeup and an expression of our psyche.
“Both genders are aware of the societal need to embellish them, in order achieve something that is closer to the ideal.
People have endured some sort of process to beautify ourselves, and in each culture the process varies. Robinson makes
a valid point, that "human beauty is an expression of this inventive and aesthetic nature, a reflection of our inner sprit, a
biological imperative sculpted into our soul by some seemingly godlike life force, about which we can do little except
accept its reality and validity."
The culture you identify with can have a vast influence on your inner thoughts, feelings, and opinions. This can, in turn,
go a long way toward shaping how you feel about your body.

THE CONCEPT OF BEAUTY IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

What is Culture?
Culture is defined as a social system that is characterized by the shared meanings that are attributed to people and
events by its members. Significant aspect of culture that strongly influences adolescents who are in a face-to-face
encounter with their physical selves is how their culture conceptualizes beauty.
What is beauty?
Merriam and Webster defines beauty as the quality of being physically attractive or the qualities in a person or a thing
that give pleasure to the senses or the mind.

"Beauty is not one's own, but a reflection of one's culture. “Across the globe, few people have difficulty recognizing
someone who is considered beautiful. Beauty is often sought after, revered, and sometimes interpreted as a personal
virtue. Standards of beauty are usually social markers determining cultural status, social acceptance and suitability as a
mate. However, beauty remains an elusive notion. Scientists continue to study the biological and anthropological factors
behind physical attractiveness, while advertisers continue to employ ideals of beauty to sell products. Countless people
continue their quests to become or remain beautiful to receive the benefits society offers for beauty. A physical
aesthetic has remained constant over time throughout the diverse cultures of the world. In this sense, beauty has been
regarded as a reflection of health, vitality, sexual allure and social appeal. Although the specifics of what makes
someone beautiful can differ across countries, cultures and communities, the concept of beauty has existed for as long
as there have been people. In the Philippines, we see our standard of beauty everywhere, in magazines, televisions and
billboard ads. Just as we have a unique cultural perception of beauty, so do other cultures and peoples

1. Face Tattoos:
Tattooing the chin and lips of Māori women of New Zealand is considered beautiful.
This tradition has been around for centuries, and consists of patterns called
Ta-Mako in black or dark blue ink on the woman’s face. Ta-Mako tattoos are
also a public declaration of one’s membership in the Māori tribe.

2. Decorated Skin
Instead of accessorizing with extravagant jewelry, women in India turn to
nose rings, bindis and henna to make themselves more attractive for
festivals and celebrations, like weddings. Brides in particular will often
wear a dot of red powder on the face known asakumkum to look more beautiful.

3. Long Earlobes
To the Masai tribe of Kenya, long, stretched earlobes are the ideal
for both men and women. They are known to shave their heads and use
everything from elephant tusks to twigs to pierce and stretch their lobes
to become more attractive.

4. Long Necks
Long, giraffe-like necks are the ultimate sign of beauty and female
elegance to the Kayan tribe. At 5 years old, Kayan women start priming their
necks with heavy brass rings. Each year, more coils are added,
pushing down their shoulders and creating the effect of a longer neck. The
rings in this centuries-old ritual can weigh up the 22 pounds

5. Monobrows
While Filipino women always want their brows to be on fleek by plucking or
shaving, the women of Tajikistan embrace their natural eyebrows, and will
even draw on them to make it appear that they have a monobrow.
The Filipino Concept of Beauty:

What is Eurocentrism?
-It is defined as a tendency to interpret the world in terms of European or Anglo-American values and
experiences.
-Filipino with eurocentric features are with their fair skin and tall skin that sweeps what is Filipino beauty is (Dark
skin and flat nose).
-The “tisoy” and “tisay” beauty standards is strongly promoted in media, that perpetuating the idea that the
European standard of beauty is the only thing that can deemed as beautiful.

An aspect of eurocentrism called colorism is defined as “the prejudicial or preferential treatment of people of the same
race based solely on the color of their skin”.

The message that society gives is that flat noses and dark complexions do not define beauty. Eurocentrism and colorism
indeed have significant effects on the body image and identities of the common Filipino.

THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON THE ADOLESCENT’S UNDERSTANDING OF BEAUTY

Today's young people are bombarded by thousands of advertising messages a day. These come not only via television
and magazines but also websites, blogs, social media, music videos, films, and even smartphones. The way that people
are portrayed in this advertising – both the words and the pictures – has a big impact on the way adolescents view
themselves and who they aspire to be. The mass media play a critical role in people’s self‐image by informing and
reflecting what people consider to be beautiful or attractive. One of the ways in which they do so is through the
common use of very thin and attractive models in print and other media, often termed the ‘thin ideal’, which
communicate the way that people believe they should look in order to be attractive and desirable to others. There are
different aspects of appearance about which the media can convey beauty ideals, including hair, skin, and facial
features. The media has increasingly become a platform that reinforces cultural beliefs and projects strong views on how
we should look, that we as individuals often unknowingly or knowingly validate and perpetuate.
The more we look at perfect images of others and then look to find those same idealized
characteristics in ourselves and don’t find them, the worse we feel about ourselves. It’s a cycle that breeds discontent.
How we see our body size, shape, weight, physical characteristics, performance, and movement, and an evaluative
component, which refers to how we feel about these attributes and how those feelings influence our behaviors. Body
dissatisfactions experienced when one perceives that their body falls short of the societal ideal in terms of size and/or
shape, regardless of a person’s objective size or shape. In other words, body dissatisfactions influenced not only by
how we interpret societal ideals, but by how we perceive ourselves. Therefore, body dissatisfaction and
perceptions of beauty are inextricably linked. Body dissatisfaction is the number one risk factor for a number of
unhealthy behaviors, including eating disorders and chronic dieting.

Body image and self-esteem directly influence one another. When you have healthy body image, you feel comfortable
about your body and know how to care for it.
Here are a few other things that you can try to increase your self-esteem:
1. Make a list of the stuff you’re good at. It can be anything from drawing or singing to playing a sport or telling a
good joke.
2. Give yourself three compliments every day. Don’t just say, “I’m so great.” Be specific about something good
about yourself, like, “I was a good friend to Jill today” or “I did better on that test than I thought I would.” While
you’re at it, before you go to bed every night, list three things in your day that really made you happy or that
you feel thankful for.
3. Remember that your body is your own, no matter what shape, size, or color it is. If you are worried about your
weight or size, you can check with your doctor to make sure you’re healthy. Remind yourself of things about
your body that are cool, like, “My legs are strong and I can skate really well.”
4. Remember that there are things about yourself you can’t change. You should accept and love these things —
such as skin color and shoe size — because they are part of you.
 5. When you hear negative comments in your head, tell yourself to stop. Remind yourself of things you’re good at
and if you can’t think of anything, ask someone else! You can learn a new skill (for example, calligraphy, dance, a
musical instrument) so you can feel good about that! By focusing on the good things, you do and all your great
qualities, you learn to love and accept yourself — the main ingredients for strong self-esteem! Even if you’ve got
room for improvement (and who doesn’t?), knowing what you’re good at and that you’re valuable and special to
the people that care about you can really help you deal with growing up

The ff. practices are popular to stay physically fit, youthful and naturally glowing:
1. Improve sleeping habit.
2. Observe correct eating habit
3. Do regular exercise
4. Maintain healthy lifestyle
5. Practice right hygiene
6. Feel confident

Summary:
Undeniably, our physical self is such a marvelous creation. It is one of the core aspects of who we are as individuals.
Having an in-depth understanding of the physical self will help us answer the most difficult question, “Who Am I”. It is in
fact that our physical appearance, our face and our body shape greatly influence how we perceive others and
ourselves. Every culture has its standard metrics of beauty and the negative effects on people who cannot cope up
with the metrics are very alarming. It is vital for us to show appreciation of our own physical bodies by constantly
respecting and accepting our body image.

1. Arcega, A., Cullar, D., Evangelista, L., Falculan, L. Understanding the Self. Mutya Publishing House, 2018.
2. Corpuz,R., Estoque R. Tabotabo, C. Understanding the Self. C & E Publishing, 2019.
3. Cuevo, FM, De Guzman, D., Larioque, R., Tapadera, M., Understanding the Self. St. Andrew Publishing, 2018
4. https://erietigertimes.com/1907/world/different-cultures-definitions-of-beauty/
5. http://www.drsunaina.com/blog/how-culture-influences-beauty/
6. http://roughdraft.eu/concept-beauty-different-cultures
7. Copuz, B. B., Lucas, M. R. D., Andas, C. D., Dayagbil, F. T., Gacasan, E. M. P. (2020) Lorimar Publishing Inc.

Self-Esteem Sentence Completion

1. My friends say I’m great at ____________________________________________

2. Something I am really proud of is ______________________________________________________
3. One thing unique about me is __________________________________
4. My friends think I’m awesome because ______________________________________
5. I like who I am because_____________________________________________________

Let’s Reflect!

Reflection:
Listen to the song ‘Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera

Reflect on the lyrics of the song and cite a line that has an impact to you and explain.
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