THE PHYSICAL

SELF [GROUP 6]

TO KEEP THE BODY IN GOOD HEALTH IS A DUTY...

OTHERWISE
WE SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR MIND
STRONG AND CLEAR.
- BUDDHA
 The physical self refers to the body, which functions
through both physical extremities and internal organs. As
an individual ages, their ability to perform functions
gradually changes, with infancy and old age being the
least efficient. Physical efficiency peaks in early
adulthood between 20-30, then declines into middle age.
Childhood development and growth are slower than in
babyhood, with the body's ability to perform functions
gradually changing over time.
 Adolescence begins with the onset of puberty. This
stage is characterized by rapid physical changes that
include the maturation of the reproductive system. Each
individual goes through a succession Life span of
developmental stages throughout his or her life span. Life
Span refers to the development from conception to death.
ELIZABETH B. HURLOCK OUTLINES THE
STAGES IN THE LIFE SPAN:
1. Prenatal - fertilization to birth
2. Infancy - birth to 2 weeks of life
3. Babyhood - 2 weeks of life to 2nd year
4. Early childhood - 2 to 6 years old
5. Late childhood - 6 to 10 or 12 years
6. Puberty - 10 or 12 to 14 years old
7. Adolescence - 14 to 18 years old
8. Early adulthood - 18 to 40 years old
9. Middle adulthood - 40 to 60 years old
10. Late adulthood or senescence - 60 to death
 TWO FACTORS AFFECTING PHYSICAL
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Physical growth and development is the product of heredity and environment.
Heredity is the biological process of the inheritance of traits from parents to offspring.
Environment refers to the factors an individual is exposed to throughout life which
includes learning and experiences. Environmental factors such as diet, nutrition, and
diseases play an important role in an individual's physical development.
Sex and physical traits are determined by the combination of chromosomes and
genes during fertilization. Chromosomes, threadlike tissues, carry the egg and genes in
pairs. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes, classified as autosomes or trait chromosomes
and gonosomes or sex chromosomes. The sex of offspring depends on the pairing of
sex chromosomes from the father and mother. Genes carry hereditary traits, classified
as dominant or recessive.
 THEORIES OF PHYSICAL SELF

The physiognomy theory suggests that physical characteristics, such as facial

features and body structures, can be linked to a person's character or personality. Face
reading, an ancient Chinese practice, uses the Five Element theory to analyze facial
features and body types. Each element is correlated to seasons, colors, shapes, sounds, and
body types, allowing face readers to understand a person's mental, emotional, and physical
makeup.
Hippocrates, an ancient Greek philosopher, proposed that a person's personality,
temperament, and well-being are influenced by their bodily fluids. The four types of
bodily fluids are red bile, melancholic, yellow bile, and phlegmatic. Red bile indicates
impulsivity, happiness, and optimism, while black bile indicates depression and
pessimism. Yellow bile indicates anger, jumpiness, and temperamentality, while
phlegmatic bile indicates sluggishness, dullness, and slowness.
 William Sheldon's body-type theory, developed in the 1940s, identifies three body types:
endomorphic, mesomorphic, and ectomorphic. Ectomorphic individuals are tall and thin, restrained, quiet,
introverted, and artistic. Mesomorphic individuals have a strong muscular body, are energetic, adventurous,
assertive, and courageous, and are dominant. Endomorphic individuals are soft and plump, sociable and
easy-going. Sheldon's illustrations illustrate these different body types.
 Jean Haner's The Wisdom of Your Face (2008) identifies facial shapes as key
factors in personality traits. Oval-shaped individuals are generally hospitable, round-
shaped individuals are friendly, kindhearted, and selfless, square-shaped individuals are
witty, analytical, and great leaders, heart-shaped individuals are patient and intuitive, long-
shaped individuals are perfectionists, triangle-shaped individuals are creative, artistic,
sensitive, and determined, and diamond-shaped individuals are detail-oriented. Full and
thick eyebrows are considered confident, assertive, and goal-oriented. Large or highly-
defined jaws indicate strong values and beliefs. Long and angular-shaped individuals are
more responsive, assertive, and genuine than those with short and square-shaped faces.
 BODY IMAGE
Body image is the perception, thought, and feelings individuals have about their physical
appearance, including height, weight, skin color, clothes, and hairstyle. It influences how adolescents feel
about themselves and how others treat them. Body image is closely linked to self-esteem, which is a
person's overall evaluation of their worth.
Adolescents' body image significantly impacts their physical and psychological well-being. Both
boys and girls experience negative self-image due to their developmental stages. Girls are more concerned
about their physical appearance and overall body image, particularly how they conform to idealized beauty
notions.
• The adolescents react to their physical appearance depends in part on sociocultural factors.
• The emphasis that peers, parents, or the media put on ideal body types which is slim or thin leads girls to
experience body dissatisfaction (Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008; Dunkley, Wertheim, & Paxton, 2001).
• Television, advertising, music, and movies are full of women who are thin, thus constructing the notion
that the ideal body shape is slim.
• For girls, in particular, too much concern with thinness and the ideal body shape may result in body
dissatisfaction. Girls who have higher body dissatisfaction are likely to experience depression, low self-
esteem, and eating disorders (Demello, 2014).
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTY
Egyptian art depicts beauty in women with slim, high waists, narrow hips, and long black hair.
During the Renaissance period, women with full figures and rounded hips were considered beautiful. In
Africa, chubby, fat, or plump women were considered beautiful. In Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia,
flat noses were considered attractive. Beauty has always been considered important throughout history, as it
indicates youth, health, good genes, and fertility. However, standards of beauty have changed over time due
to changing cultural values.
Advertisements, magazines, and televisions often highlight the value of physical attractiveness,
leading people to be influenced by the beauty standards presented in media. However, unrealistic beauty
standards often prevent even the most beautiful supermodels from achieving their desired appearance. Some
people resort to body modification, such as tattooing, body piercing, and cosmetic surgery, to change their
appearance. Tattooing involves injecting ink onto the skin to draw designs, while body piercing allows
people to wear jewelry through various piercings in their bodies. These practices have been practiced since
ancient times and have been considered signs of strength, bravery, and social status. Cosmetic surgery,
including breast enhancement, nose lift, liposuction, and botox, involves surgical and non-surgical
procedures to restore, reconstruct, or alter body parts. However, these methods also carry health risks, such
as skin whitening treatments, diet pills, and surgery complications, as well as infection, allergies, and other
complications due to the use of unclean and poor-quality equipment.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTY
Beauty, whether biological or culturally constructed, is crucial in all societies.
Attractive individuals are often favored in social situations, have more job opportunities,
promotions, and higher income. They are often viewed as happier, smarter, and better,
while unattractive individuals are less liked and assisted.
Different cultures have different definitions and perceptions of beauty. People
often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The fact that a number of Filipinas have
won international beauty contests shows that Filipinas are among the women who are
perceived to be most beautiful in the world.
People tend to judge others based on physical appearance. However, physical
appearance alone is not enough to know a person's true character. It is important to see
into a person's inner thoughts and feelings-one's inner self. Above all things physical, it is
more important to be beautiful on the inside.
 HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR BODY IMAGE AND
INNER SELF:

Smile a lot. Make friends.

Take good care of your health. Face your fears.
Live a well-balanced life. Be independent.
Dress well and be neat. Accept things as they are.
Spend some time alone to reflect. Ask and listen.
Be creative and do something new all the Think positive.
time. Pray.
Develop a wholesome attitude toward sex.
Count your blessings.
Avoid temptations.
Be thankful.
Respect individuality.