The Physical Self

Understanding the Self

STANDARDS OF BEAUTY
and body types
Importance of Beauty
 In Egyptian art, beauty is perceived in women with slim, high waist,
narrow hips and long black hair.
 During the Medieval Age, considered chubby, fat or plump women
beautiful
 Generally, human who have clean and unblemished skin, thick shiny hai,
well-proportioned bodies, and symmetrical faces are considered the most
beautiful
FILIPINOS STANDARDS OF BEAUTY
Beauty & facial symmetry
Facial symmetry and
attractiveness
 Based on evolutionary advantage theory.
 Symmetrical faces are perceived as more attractive
because symmetry indicates good health in a person.
 More symmetrical, more
attractive
 We may prefer those with
facial symmetry in the
abstract, but we usually end up
with someone who match our
attractiveness level =
MATCHING HYPOTHESIS
BEAUTY & ATTRACTION
Birds of a feather DO flock
together, , especially if they’re
attractive
 Good-looking people tend to seek out equally beautiful
people in social situations
 Researchers asked 172 strangers to mingle and randomly
form groups
 They found attractive people tend to gather with other
good-looking types
 Attractive women were most likely of all to be at the
center of a group
BODY IMAGE
Worst Possible Effect of Negative
Body Image: ANOREXIA NERVOSA


4 Aspects of Body Image

 Perceptual (how you “see” your body)

 Affective ( how you “feel” about your body)
 Cognitive (how you “think” about your body)
 Behavioral (behaviors you engage in as a result of your
body image).
 A SELF-IMAGE problem happens when your looks doesn’t
match your beauty standards.
 Ex. If you believe attractive people are slim ones and
you are not slim (but not obese) then you might believe
that you are unattractive even if others believe that
you are attractive.
 The problem here is with your own beauty standards
and not with your looks. In order to like your looks, in
such a case you must fix your false beliefs about
physical attractiveness
Lizzie Velasquez
 American motivational speaker, author, activist and novelist
 Born with “Neonatal progeroid syndrome” that among other symptoms,
prevents her from accumulating body fat and gaining weight
 Similar to progeria (also very rare; genetic mutation)
 Never gained more than 29 kgs; blind in her right eye
 Required to eat many small meals throughout the day
"Am I going to let the people who
called me a monster define me?
Am I going to let the people who
said 'Kill it with fire' define me?"
she said. "No. I'm going to let my
goals and my success and my
accomplishments be the things
that define me. Not my outer
appearance."
Some messages about body
image
 Your body should NOT define
solely who you are.
 You are MORE THAN your
body.
 BUT, your body is a your
vessel, it should be
nourished, protected and
kept in shape.
POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
USING WORDS TO TRANSFORM
PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

The Peace Pilgrim

Some ways to improve body
image and inner self
1) Be your own best friend. == IF YOU ARE MET WITH A
DIFFICULT SITUATION, DO YOU ASK, “if a friend of mine had
this problem, what would I tell him/her? Use a frame of
reference. If ____ was in my position, what would he/she
do?
2) AT least 30 minutes a day of Exercise improves your overall
mood, skin condition, mental health.
3) When you are stuck in a bad situation, remember, your are
responsible for your own feelings. You can control only your
feelings, not the external environment.
4) Reward yourself!
5) Inner rock star = Einstein said, “everybody is a genius!” We
all have our own little things.
6) Find a support group. And stick with them.
REMEMBER TO
1. Smile a lot
2. Take good care of your
health
3. Live a well-balanced life
4. Dress well and neat
5. Spend sometime alone to
reflect
6. Be creative and do
something new all the time
7. Develop wholesome
attitude towards others
8. Avoid temptations
9. Respect individuality
10. Make friends
11. Face your fears
12. Be independent
13. Accept things they are
14. Ask and listen
15. Think positive
16. Pray
17. Count your blessings
18. Be thankful
 Summary
 The physical self refers to the body.
 Each individual progresses in life through the developmental stages, that
significantly affects one’s physical self.
 Physical growth & development is affected by heredity and environment.
 Body image affects one’s physical and psychological well-being.