CHAPTER 6: The Physical Self To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear, ~ Buddha his chapter explores the process of physical growth and development. Understanding the physical self requires an analysis of the life span and the | happens in each Stage. Particularly, | atthe start of adolescence result | hormones which Virtually affe life, particularly the way they Generally, girls are more dissa Physical development that the physical changes that occur largely from the secretion of: various Cts every aspect of an adolescent's view themselves (Feldman, 2010). tisfied than boys with their physical appearance and their overall body image. For girls, self-consciousness and dissatisfaction with their appearance reach their peak between the ages 13 and 15 (Newman & Newman, 2009). THE PHYSICAL SELF The physi€alself refers to the body. Both physical extremities and internal organs work together for the body to perform many of its functions such as breathing, walking, eating, and sleeping, among others. The body’s ability to perform its functions gradually changes through an individual's aging. In general, the body performs least during infancy and old age. Physical efficiency generally peaks in early adulthood between the ages of twenty and thirty, and then slowly declines into the middle age. Physical development and growth during childhood continue at a slow rate compared to the rapid rate of growth in babyhood. Adolescence begins with the onset of puberty. This stage is characterized by rapid physical changes that include the manaration of the reproductive system. Each individual goes through a succession of dcvelepmental stages throughout his or her life span. Life spanpat 2: Unpacking she Sel refers to the development from eon to death. Elizabeth B Hurlock outlines the stages in the life spP@™* _ fertilization t birth 2weeks of life 2nd year 1. Prenatal Infancy - birth to 2.weeks of Jife to ars old 2 years old Babyhood - childhood - 2 to 6 ye Early Oorl Late childhood - 6tol Puberty — 10 or 12 to 14 years old ‘Adolescence - 14 to 18 years old Early adulthood - 18 to 40 years old Middle adulthood — 40 to 60 years old 60 to death CPN AY Ro DP Late adulthood or senescence — Ss 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 fact an individual is exposed to throughout life which includes | i and experiences. Environmental factors such as diet, nutri ion, and diseases play an important role in an individual's physi Pee physical development. Sex and other physical trait mbin: its are determined i - ed by the combinati oe romsomes and genes during fertilization wvhen th eand ‘m cells unite. Chrom . aa ole he naan are threadlike tissues that carries sually found i i chromosomes which aipetts Thene/are 2a quit are classified “ a : (atipated al ‘ed as autosomes or trai it offen gonosomes or sex chro: meena pring depends on the pairin fansomes, Theweoll g of the sex chromosomes (23rd) traits and are classified a (weak genes),eerie ryan ser THEORIES OF PHYSICAL sei The theory of physiognom 'Y suggests th, " characteristics such as facial featur ggests that a person's physical es and expressions and bod 88 ly structures could be related to a Person's character or personality. According to the ancient Chinese practice of face reading, the face is a three-dimensional reflection of “who we are and how life has affected us.” This practice is rooted in the Five Element theory which makes use of the elements of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal as archetypes for everything occurring in the natural world. Each element is correlated to seasons, colors, shapes, sounds, as well as facial features, body types, the body's major organs, and behavioral tendencies. Face readers observe how facial features and markings correspond to a person's mental, emotional, and physical makeup. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates developed a theory based on the prominence of body fluids. The theory suggests that an excess of or deficiency in any of the four bodily fluids (or humors) ina person influences their personality, temperament, and well-being. The sanguine type has the prominence of red bile. They tend to be impulsive, cheerful, happy, and optimistic. The melancholic has the prominence of black bile. They tend to be depressed and pessimistic. The choleric has the prominence of yellow bile. They are easily angry, jumpy, and temperamental. The phlegmatic has excess phlegm. They tend to be sluggish, dull, and slow. In the 1940s, William Sheldon has developed a body-type theory based on physical characteristics. The three body types are endomorphic, mesomorphic, and ectomorphic. Physically, one who has the endomorphic body type is soft and plump. People with this body type are perceived to be easy going and sociable. Physically, the yy a strong muscular body. People mesomorphic type is characterized b who have mesomorphic body type até perceived to be energetic, adventurous, assertive, and courageous. They are competetive and tend to be dominant. Physically, one who has the ectomorphic body type is tall and thin. People who have this body type tend topacing te Sel istic. The illustrat ing the Se istic. T) ‘ations ant 2: Unpacing overted, and art belay, jntre i Sheldon. iet, cording to be resainety a body types ace differe: show the Ectomorph Mesomorph Endomorph Finally, in her work The Wisdom of Your Face, Jean Haner (2008) suggests that people with oval-shaped faces are generally hospitable and tactful. People with round-shaped faces tend to be friendly, kindhearted, and selfless, People with square faces tend tobe Witty, analytical, and great leaders, People who have heart-shaped faces are patient and intuitive by nature. People with long-shaped faces are perfectionists and tend to be aggressive. Persons with triangle-shaped faces tend to be cteative, artistic, sensitive, and determined. People with diamond faces are very detail-oriented and like to be in control, Haner also Suggests that people with full and thick eyebrows tend to be confident, assertive, and 80al-oriented highly-defined Jaws have stron, study by Squier and s ; : and angular. ‘Usgests that persons with long fs : © More responsive, assertive, and Persons with short a nd square-shaped faces who tend 8 and shrewd, to be more Testrained, Conformin,CHMPTER the Phys BoDY IMAGE Body image refers to hoy ing *, think, and feel about their body Pearance, Appearance refers to thers can observe such as height, “and hairstyle. Through appearances, Ww others the kind of Person he or she is 8, 2012). The age at which puberty begins has implications for the way adolescents feel about themselves as well as the way others treat them (Feldman, 2010). Body image is related to self-esteem which is a Person's overall evaluation of his or her own worth, and physical ap ything about a person that o weight, skin color, clothes an individual is able to sho Body image can affect both the adolescent's physical and psychological well-being. Adolescents worr of their bodies. Adolescent boys and girls ten self-image because they are in a stage of confusing to them. However, girls are about their physical appearance and over concern that girls express about theit b idealized notions of beauty. y about different parts id to experience negative development that is probably more concerned than boys rall body image. The greatest ‘odies is how they conform to The way adolescents react to their physical a 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). For both boys and girls, bullying and peer Pressure are associated with greater body dissatisfaction (Webb & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2014). Television, advertising, music, and movies are full of women who are thin, thus constructing the notion that the ideal body shape is slim. Some girls and young women compare themselves to models and actresses in advertisements. The result is that they try to change their physical appearance either through Cosmetic Surgery, dieting, or excessive exercise. For girls, in particular, too much concern with thinness and the ideal body shape may result ppearance depends oo>. npacking the Seth oe ART 2: Unpad sirls who have higher body dissatisfaction . on, Girls 1, low self-esteem, and eating disorde, depr oe anare jan eating disorder in wy, mple, 2 ; : ¥0 . Nes ay of gaining, weight which can resuhi, t for It mostly afflicts females between the ate, Fug men may a8 develop it Another dior P12 and 40, although 1 ° seipuiruiing after sas : inhi tbe person induces ging ging bulimia nervesa 7010). iti Jan, lange quantities of food (Feldman, ; in body dissatisfactio likely to experience (Demello, 2014)- finses to ea the person refuses jor and deat. severe starvati a y may THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTY Os , beauty is perceived in women with slim, high art, In Egyptian art, hair. In contrast, women with a waist, narrow hips, and long black : fal figure and oaited hips were considered beautiful during the Renaissance period. Some tribes (e.g, Africa) during the Medievg Age considered chubby, fat, or plump women beautiful. People in Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia used to consider flat noses to be attractive. However, standards of beauty have changed over time due to changing cultural values. Even so, all cultures have More or less the same concept of what is beautiful. Generally, humans who have clean and unblemished skin, thick shiny hair, well-proportioned bodies, and symmetrical faces, are traditionally considered the most — Beauty has always been considered important throughout ‘ory because these features indicate youth, health, good genes, and fertility (Demello, 2014). ; Festa Magazines, and televisions are filled with good- . ns orl which emphasize the value of physical attractiveness ii : e to re influenced by the beautiful faces and bodies they a in the way they determine what is beautiful and what is try dictates what is beautiful be it for 7 : re The reality, however, is that . are so Unrealistic, that even the T} Models cannot achieve it. i id andsome supCHAPTER 6: The Physical Self Some people desperately change their physical appearance through body modification. One form of body modification is tattooing—which injects ink onto the skin to drawa design. Makeup can also be permanently tattooed, Body piercing is another type of pody modification which lets people wear jewelry through different piercings in their body such as the ears, nose, and tongue, among others. Tattooing and piercing have been practiced across the globe since ancient times. Traditionally, tattooing and piercing were considered signs of one’s strength, bravery, and social status. Cosmetic surgery is another form of body modification which includes surgical and non-surgical procedures to restore, reconstruct, or alter body parts. Examples are breast enhancement, nose lift, liposuction, and botox. Although tattooing, piercing, and cosmetic surgery have become popular through time, these forms of body modification involve health risks. In particular, some women have died from complications of skin whitening treatments, diet pills, and cosmetic surgery. Infection, allergies, and other complications can result from the use of unclean and poor quality equipment. Whether beauty is biologically programmed or culturally constructed, it remains important in all societies. Admittedly, attractive people have a lot of advantages in life. For one, people who are perceived to be attractive are favored over those who are not in many social situations, Studies have shown that men and women who are physically attractive have more opportunities in finding jobs, getting promotions, and having higher income. Also, some people tend to view attractive people as happier, smarter, and better people. Generally, unattractive people are less liked and assisted (Demello, 2014). 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 *nos* teautiful in the world.CHAPTER 6: The Physical Self (B)'scover —————— 1. The physical self refers to the body. The body's ability to perform its functions gradually changes through the years. 2. Each individual goes through a succession of developmental stages. Life span is the development from conception to death. 3. 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 the individual is exposed to throughout life which include learning and experiences. 4. Body image refers to how individuals perceive, think, and feel about their body and physical appearance. It can affect both the adolescent's physical and psychological well-being. wn Some people desperately change their physical appearance through body modifications such as through tattooing, body piercing, and cosmetic surgery.x PART 2: Unpacking the Self d on physi judge others base Physical appea, i d to j Howe sea ppeane ae 0, nEN P true character. It is important to see eatin ees thoy and feelings—one’s inner self. Above 88 Physical, itis mor, important to be beautiful on the inside. Here are some ways to improve your body image and inner salt + Smile alot. Take good care of your health. Live a well-balanced life. ¢ Dress well and be neat. Spend some time alone to reflect. Be creative and do something new all the time. Develop a wholesome attitude toward sex. + Avoid temptations. + Respect individuality. + Make friends. + Face your fears, + Be independent. + Accept things as they are. + Ask and listen. + Think positive. + Pray. + Count your blessings, + Be thankful.