GE 1 - UTS

Module 6

Student’s Name: Mary Grace Lobina Colambo

Course, Year & Section: BTVTED FSM 1B Date Submitted: 11/10/22

Lesson 5: Unpacking the Self

THE PHYSICAL ASPECT OF SELF

I. Overview
 

Our face represents most of our physical self. It provides other people an initial
impression about who we are and what we are. Our facial features give initial clues about our
attitudes and the cosmetics put onto our faces may give hints about our economic status in life.
We give too much attention to our faces than any other part of our body from the time we
wake up to the moment before we sleep. Our face is the primary part of our body that we
protect in times of danger. We do not want any scars inflicted on any part of our face and
admittedly, many of us are willing to spend money to make it pleasing to other people.

We maintain a face value because we consider our face as our initial asset. Before other
people can discover our true attitude and capabilities, they first rely on what they can physically
see. The way we take care of ourselves, especially our faces, represents the kind of personality
we have. It is no wonder that people spend significant amounts of money just to make
themselves beautiful.

II. Learning Outcomes 

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

1. Define the physical aspect of self;
2. Discuss the impact of body on the self and the impact of culture on body image &
self-esteem; and
3. Discuss how culture shapes the notion of beauty and how it affects the self.

III. Discussion and

Self-Assessment
Activities (SAA)
The Self as a Body

The physical self refers to the body. It is the tangible aspect of the person that can be
directly observed and examined. In defining a human being, it can be said that a human being
has two arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth with a set of teeth, and a
body composed of bones, muscles, tissues, among others.

The physical self is defined by physical characteristics that are visible. 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 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 fat, thin, or average, and light, dark, fair, or anything in between in terms of
complexion. One can have lack, brown, or white hair which can be long or short, straight, curly,
frizzy, or he or she may even be bald. One’s nose can 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.

What is body image?

Body image is based on your thoughts and feelings about the way your body looks.
Sometimes the way you think other people are judging your appearance can affect your body
image. Poor body image comes from negative thoughts and feelings about your appearance,
and a healthy body image is made up of thoughts and feelings that are positive. Body image is
a major factor in self-esteem; which is the way you think and feel about yourself as a person.
Body image is mental and emotional: it’s both the mental picture that you have of your body
and the way you feel about your body when you look in a mirror.

What is self-esteem?

Self-esteem relates to how much you like yourself, and how you recognize or appreciate
your individual character, qualities, skills, and accomplishments. Like body image, self-esteem
can also be based on how you think other people look at you as a person. People who have low
self-esteem may not always feel confident about themselves or how they look. It is often hard
for them to see that they are an important and capable person. People with good self-esteem
often have a positive and confident attitude about their body and mind, and can recognize their
strengths as well as personal value and worth.

Self-esteem is how you value and respect yourself as a person—it is the opinion that
you have of yourself inside and out. Self-esteem impacts how you take care of yourself,
emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Self-esteem is about your whole self, not just your body.
When you have good self-esteem, you value yourself, and you know that you deserve good
care and respect—from yourself and from others. You can appreciate and celebrate your
strengths and your abilities, and you don’t put yourself down if you make a mistake. Good self-
esteem means that you still feel like you’re good enough even when you’re dealing with difficult
feelings or situations.

Why is good self-esteem important?

Good self-esteem is important for everyone because it helps you keep a positive outlook
on life and makes you feel proud of the person you are, both inside and out. Most teens with
good self-esteem find life much more enjoyable. They tend to have better relationships with
peers and adults, find it easier to deal with mistakes or disappointments, and are more likely to
stick with a task until they succeed. Good self-esteem gives you the courage  to try new things,
power to believe in yourself, and confidence to make healthy choices for your mind and body
now and throughout your life.

Ask yourself:
When is a person considered beautiful? -To be honest ,for me the first that I’ll considered
the person as beautiful is in Physical what they look in physical but I believe in
saying that being beautiful is having a good personality , cause we all know that
having a beautiful physical appearance can and for me I don’t want that the people
surround only know me of having a beautiful appearance not a having a beautiful
PERSONALITY .
What is the socially accepted standard of beauty? In our new Generation that the people
is very judgmental they truly considered the beautiful, if the person is in to their
standard whish is the standard is having a beautiful face, sexy body, flawless skin
and the beautiful white color or skin that’s the socially accepted of our society , if
we want to avoid of being judge by the others we our self will be adjust to them to
not being judge in this generation.

The impact of culture on body image and self esteem

Cultural Traditions Can Help or Hurt

The culture in which we are surrounded by has a significant impact on how we feel
about ourselves and the manner in which we think about our body. Many cultural traditions also
contribute to body image and can influence either negative or positive body image and self-
esteem. Depending on the culture and overall emphasis of traditions involved, a person may
find their surroundings either conducive to or resistant to the building of a healthy body
image and self-esteem.

Culture Is Just One Factor

While culture alone is not responsible for a poor or negative body image, the influence
and potential in which it can impact how a person feels about themselves and their body is
substantial. Being aware of your surroundings and understanding how culture and traditions
may affect and impact how you think and feel about your body can be helpful, especially in a
conscious effort to build a positive body image and increase self-esteem. Understanding each of
the components that contribute to your body image is an important step towards making a
difference in how you see and feel about yourself.

Society shapes us in many ways, possibly more than we realize – from our interactions,
to our personal development through to others’ perception of our bodies as a reflection of self
worth. We are social beings. Genetically we rely on one another for the survival of humanity.
That primal connection makes our interactions physiologically and psychologically important. So
it’s not surprising that how society perceives us affects us on many levels. And it’s partly how
society perceives our bodies that is of concern; we’re talking body image. So what does that
involve?

Body image is both internal (personal) and external (society). This includes:

• How we perceive our bodies visually

• How we feel about our physical appearance
• How we think and talk to ourselves about our bodies
• Our sense of how other people view our bodies 
• How we look has possibly never held as much societal importance or reflected so
significantly on our perceived self worth.

Who’s to blame for our body perceptions, be it good or bad?

Society gives us a number of reference points that shape our perceptions whether
positive or negative. When it comes to our bodies there are a number of sources that affect us
more than others.

Today’s Embedded Ideals – The Physical

Life today sees image upon image of fashionably clad women, perfect skin, tiny waists,
ample breasts, fashionably protruding behinds (of Kardashian and Beyonce fame) all with a
weight of no greater than 59kg. They are unrealistic images of beauty, genetically impossible
for many of us to emulate. The same thing applies to the 6-pack or ripped abs shoved in the
face of men via famous sportsmen and male fitness models, which for many is impossible to
achieve without illegal steroids.

The Media 

The images of perfection we see in print, film and television project an unrealistic
version of reality that we are continually told is attainable – if we work out, eat less and lather
our bodies in transformative, firming and tightening creams. The media is a powerful tool that
reinforces cultural beliefs and values, and while it may not be fully responsible for determining
the standards for physical attractiveness, it makes escaping the barrage of images and attitudes
almost impossible.

Prejudice – Size
 Intolerance of body diversity has a lot to do with prejudice of size and shape in our
culture. Being thin, toned and muscular has become associated with the hard-working,
successful, popular, beautiful, strong, and the disciplined. Being fat is associated with the lazy,
ugly, weak, and lacking in will-power. With this prejudice, fat isn’t a description like tall or
redhead – it’s an indication of moral character and we are conditioned to think that fat is bad.

Those closest to us – family and friends

We learn from other people, particularly those closest to us about the things that are
considered important. Friendships are particularly important in body image development
because we place high value on them, spend lots of time with our friends and develop shared
experiences, values and beliefs. Classrooms, university dorms and common rooms are often
filled with negative body talk: “I wish I had her stomach”, “I hate my thighs”, “I feel fat.”
Listening to this tends to reinforce the need to focus on appearance and make comparisons
between us and other people’s bodies.

So how can we build a strong and positive body image? 

Positive body image involves understanding that healthy attractive bodies come in many
shapes and sizes, and that physical appearance says very little about our character or value as
a person. How we get to this point of acceptance often depends on our individual development
and self-acceptance. To get to that all-important point of balance, there are a few steps we can
take:

 Talk back to the media. All media and messages are developed or constructed and are
not reflections of reality. So shout back. Speak our dissatisfaction with the focus on
appearance and lack of size acceptance 

 De-emphasize numbers. Kilograms on a scale don’t tell us anything meaningful about

the body as a whole or our health. Eating habits and activity patterns are much more
important 

 Realize that we cannot change our body type: thin, large, short or tall, we need to
appreciate the uniqueness of what we have – and work with it 

 Stop comparing ourselves to others. We are unique and we can’t get a sense of our own
body’s needs and abilities by comparing it to someone else 

 We need to move and enjoy our bodies not because we have to, but because it makes
us feel good. Walking, swimming, biking, dancing – there is something for everyone 

 Spend time with people who have a healthy relationship with food, activity, and their
bodies 

 Question the degree to which self-esteem depends on our appearance. If we base our
happiness on how we look it is likely to lead to failure and frustration, and may prevent
us from finding true happiness 
  Broaden our perspective about health and beauty by reading about body image, cultural
variances, or media influence. Check out a local art gallery paying particular attention to
fine art collections that show a variety of body types throughout the ages and in
different cultures 

 Recognize that size prejudice is a form of discrimination similar to other forms of

discrimination. Shape and size are not indicators of character, morality, intelligence, or
success

 Each of us will have a positive body image when we have a realistic perception of our
bodies, when we enjoy, accept and celebrate how we are and let go of negative societal
or media perpetuated conditioning.

The importance of beauty

In order to understand the importance of beauty, we must first define what beauty is. In
short, beauty is the manifestation of love in form. It is the quality or aggregate of qualities in a
person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or
spirit: loveliness.

Knight Dunlap (1875–1949) was an American psychologist who made a special study of
human beauty. He wrote, “Whatever its importance for the individual, beauty is for the race and
for civilization of such profound importance that no other fundamental consideration of human
welfare and progress can be divorced from it.”

Why does beauty appear to us? For what reason do we perceive it? After examination,
Dunlap found that “It is evident now that whether there are other considerations or not, the
most important element in the beauty of any individual is the evidence of her (or his) fitness for
the function of procreating healthy children of the highest type of efficiency, according to the
standards of the race; and ability to protect these children.”

He also said, “Human beauty is a sign of fitness for parenthood; fitness to propagate
children who shall be, in high degree, able to hold their own in the mental and physical struggle
with nature and with their human competitors. It is the sign which is intuitively recognized by
the race and upon which the process of sexual selection is based. It is therefore nothing
superficial: it is the external appearance of the germinal possibility which is the most important
of all things for society.”

In other words, beauty is the composite, or a kind of summary, of all those qualities that
experience has taught people, across perhaps thousands of years, are to be found in the
members of their own race who are best fitted to perpetuate the species through the
generation and protection of children.

Beauty is therefore not merely decorative but has a primary importance to survival.

Ask yourself:
Will there be beauty if there is no sight? Yes, we don’t need to focus only in the common
 meaning of beautiful which is having a good physical appearance, for we can
considered of having the word BEAUTIFUL in our self of what we doing good to
others or what we treat them as a human being ,the some people yes considered the
beautiful in physical appearance but for me no I will not considered that physical
appearance in the word BEAUTIFUL.
If beauty is referred to as something that is seen through the naked eye, then what is beauty
for the blind? For me the having a Good and Beautiful PERSONALITY because they
focus on what they can treat them good and will never feel that they are not belong
that they have a wrong with them , that’s why I can say that the word BEAUTY IS IN
PERSONALITY.

IV. Summary/Key
Points 

The only way you will experience beauty in life is by giving it to yourself.

Beauty exists everywhere and when you consciously connect with it you will feel that there is
abundance coming to you and that YOU can provide it for yourself.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What is important here is that you enjoy things, people
and places that are beautiful to you.

V. ASSESSMENT

A. Complete the sentences below:

1. For me, beauty means-A beauty means not can be only seen in the physical
appearance but also for your inside part which is your attitude. Beauty is beauty
of the soul. A person can be normal in looks, or less than normal, but still you feel
he or she is beautiful because you admire their soul. For me, beauty comes from
within, in ours self ,Without being comfortable in your own skin and sure of
yourself you can't be beautiful.”

A beautiful person is-have a good attitude that is a first People see have a good
attitude that is a first people see to be a gentlewoman helpful just like you
have a golden hearts and how being good to others. 
2. I am beautiful because- I am true to what I say, what I do, and who I am.  God placed
beauty in everything and everyone, and we are ALL beautiful when we live
through Him.  Beauty comes from happiness and bringing happiness to others.
 3. List down names of people who are beautiful and then explain what makes them
beautiful – The people that is beautiful for is My mother, my mother is good and
beautiful role model to us she make all everything okay and also she is beautiful
in and out , and for me the word Beautiful cant define my mother as who she is.

4.What habits of yours contribute to a healthy living? – For my to my healthy living

Do some exercise to become our muscle more stronger ang healthy and ,Always eat
breakfast to have a energy cause breakfast is the most important meal,
Practice healthy eating throughout the day eat healthy food like fruits and vegetables
cause it has a lot of vitamins that will help our body to become more healthy and also
avoid some junk food and softdrinks , Stay hydrated drink 5-8 glasses of water
instead of softdrinks or soda milktea and etc., Healthy sleeping routine sleep atleast
7-8 hours to have a good and healthy body.

5.Are there things that you consider unhealthy but you cannot stop yourself from doing?
– Yes using Cellphone at the late night cause a I need to use cellphone to do my
activities in school, and also not sleeping in the right time its because a I have a
lot of activities or doing that I need to finish
6.What do you plan to do to become physically fit? – If there’s have no activity I will
do the right doings to become a physically fit I will sleep in the right time and eat
in the right time

VI. APPLICATION

DIET PLANNING
Prepare an Ideal balanced diet for your breakfast, lunch and dinner

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

st
1 day- 3 Boiled eggs and
Wheat bread 1 mango
2nd day- Omelet and cereal
1 banana
3rd day- low card pancake
and butter 1 avocado
4th day- 3 boiled eggs and 1
1 cup fried rice 1 orange
th
5 day- 1 toast (whole
st
1 day- 2 hard boiled eggs
1 banana or toast(whole
grain)
2nd day- eggs salad and 3
slice of pine apple
3.rd day- ½ cup of rice low
card and fat chicken fresh
fruits..
4th day- vegetables salad
st
1 day- 3 hard boiled eggs
and 1 toast (whole grain)
and fresh fruits
2nd day- vegetable salad
and hard boiled fresh fruits
3rd day- sprouts and ½ cup
of rice fresh fruits
4th day- grilled fish and ½
cup of rice fresh fruits
5th day- 3 boiled eggs and
 grain) and scrambled egg
and 1 banana
6th day- Omelet And cereal
1 fresh apple
7th day- low sugar crackers
And 1 mango
5th day- 2 boiled eggs and
½ rice
6th day- ½ rice and low card
and fat chicken wings and
fresh fruits
th
7 day- egg salad and fruits
vegetable salad
6th day- steamed okra and
½ cup of rice and fresh
fruits
7th day- 3 boiled eggs and 1
toast (whole grain) fresh
fruits.

Prepare

VII. Self and Module

Evaluation 

Rate your learning experience in using this module according to the following scale.
Put a check mark on your response.

 4 – I learned a lot from this module.

VIII. References ✓ 3 – I learned just right.

✓ 2 – I still need guidance on certain topics.

 1 – I did not understand anything.

Corpuz, R., Estoque, R. & Tabolado, C. (2019). Understanding the Self. Quezon City:
C&E Publishing, Inc.

Alata, E. J., Bernardo, N. C. Jr., Serafica, J. P. & Pawilen, R. A. (2019). Understanding

the Self, 1st Ed. Manila: Rex Book Store.