Reviewer 5

The Physical Self

PHYSICAL SELF
The concrete dimensions of the body, that can be clearly observed and examined is
the tangible part of the individual.

SELF- UNDERSTANDING
Self-comprehension, according to Santrock (2004), is the cognitive self-representation
of the entity that consists of the substance and the meaning of self-conceptions.
In adolescence the development of self-understanding can be characterized from easy to perplexed and
involves a number of aspects of self.

GROWING UP
As the age advances, desires and bodies are also changing. The changes are also sudden, as
they are no longer babies but unstable teenagers before the parents realize it.

The parents should value their children's privacy in growing up and give them enough space to
develop, but at the same time let them know they are ready to listen and help.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Physical characteristics are distinguished by the naked eye like facial features, hairstyles, clothes or figure. It is
the defining traits or features of the person’s body
William James considered the body to be the initial source of sensation, and necessary for the origin and
preservation of personality.
ADOLESCENCE
In the Philippines, ages from 15-30 years old are the youth.
PUBERTY
Santrock considered puberty as the most important marker of the beginning of adolescence. Girls reached
puberty earlier than boys and they experience menarche (first menstrual flow) Boys two to three years later
experienced semenarche (first ejaculation/ wet dreams) Puberty is a brain-neuroendocrine cycle that
begins predominantly in early adolescence, initiating the rapid physical changes that arise in the adolescent
developmental period.

PITUITARY GLAND- master endocrine gland

that controls growth and regulates the function BODY IMAGE
of all other endocrine glands. The way one sees himself/ herself or the way he/ she
imagines how he/ she looks.
GONADS How they see themselves can either be positive or
Ovaries for girls negative.
Testes for boys.
Adolescents typically encounter an imaginary
ESTROGEN- hormones in girls that is responsible audience that corresponds to an egocentric
for physical change like increase in height, environment in which the person imagines and assumes
widening of hips and increase in fatty tissues in the that many people listen to or watch him or her
breast. actively.

ANDROGEN AND TESTOSTERONE- hormones for Spotlight effect refers to the assumption that
boys that is responsible for the boy’s growth of facial others pay more attention to the appearance and
and body hair, muscles and changes in the voice. behavior of the person than they really are.
 FACTORS THAT AFFECT PERCEPTION OF THE PHYSICAL SELF
PERSONAL FACTORS
a. Introspection and Self- reflection
Introspection is the mechanism through which one
explores and discusses one's inner (mental and
emotional) state after behaving in some way. It
means that people have a poor self-awareness on
aspects about the self that they wish to have not
been true, and many people tend to overestimate Two types of Social Comparison:
their positive aspects.
Upward social comparison
b. Self- Perception Theory When an individual compares himself to others who are
Explains that since one 's internal state is difficult to better than him.
perceive, people can infer their iiner states by
observing their own behaviors, as if they are outside Downward social comparison
observers. When an individual compares himself to someone who is
in a worse situation than he is especially when he is
c. Self-concept feeling so low.
Self-concept is a cognitive self-knowledge
representation that involves the total sum of all the e. Social Identity Theory (Collective Identity)
beliefs that people have about themselves. People need positive social identity, which is why they
link to wider social network, which helps to increase their
d. Personal Identity self-esteem
This is the concept about oneself that develops over
the years. Includes different aspects of his life like
nationality, gender, physical traits as well as choices
he makes THE IMPACT OF CULTURE ON
BODY IMAGE AND SELF- ESTEEM:
SOCIAL FACTORS
a. Attachment Process and Social Appraisal
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTY
According to Bowlby, when people experience how
their mother or caregivers care for them and respond
to their needs, they learn about their value and
lovability. 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 WHAT IS CULTURE?
constantly formed by ongoing interaction with others,
Culture is defined as a social system that is
and functions as "private audiences" which carry an
characterized by the shared meanings that are
internal dialogue that people are not aware that they
attributed to people and events by its members.
are being influenced.
Beauty is defined as the quality of being physically
c. The Looking- glass Self Theory
attractive, or a person's quality that gives
Charles Horton Cooley stated that a person’s self grows
pleasure to the senses or the mind.
out of society’s interpersonal interaction and the
perception of others. The self image is shaped and
But it should be noted that in every culture and in
reflected from the social world. Many reactions can
every individual, the standards of beauty may vary.
serve as a mirror in which people see themselves
especially in the way others view them.
Adolescent body image that includes perception
and emotions about themselves could either be
d. Social Comparison
positive or negative, it is focused on how
It is the process of comparing oneself with others in
they measure up to body image cultural standards.
order to evaluate one’s own abilities and opinions.
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.
The beauty standards of "tisoy" and "tisay" (those with eurocentric features of having fair skin) is strongly
promoted in media.

An eurocentric dimension called colorism is described as "the prejudicial or preferential treatment of people of
the same race based solely on skin color."

The impression that society gives is that having dark complexions and a flat nose does not define beauty.
Indeed, Eurocentrism and colorism have major effects on the typical Filipino 's body image and identity.

SELF-ESTEEM AND THE IDEAL BODY IMAGE

SELF- ESTEEM
A measure of the person’s self-worth based on some personal and/or social standard.

One of the factors that may affect the self-esteem is the one’s physical appearance – as the children
advanced to adolescence they form a body image.

ADOLESCENT’S BODY IMAGE INCLUDES:

• Perception of their physical self when they look in the mirror.

• Feelings of like or dislike about the physical self that they see.
• Their thoughts and how they relate to their physical self.
• Perception of how other people view them physically.

ASPECT IN CULTURE THAT MAY HAVE LED TO THE AFOREMENTIONED

MISCONCEPTIONS:

Mass media is a powerful source that enhances societal traditions and values. While youth may initially
disagree with the set ideals of beauty, repeated media exposure leads to misconceptions.

Since society has set a standard and the media reinforce it, any feature that does not adhere to the norm is
labelled as ugly.

The following misconceptions have a strong influence on how young people form their body image and it’s
influence on their self-esteem