Physical Self

• William James said, "The self is the sum total of all that man can call his, which includes his body, family, and reputation, also his clothes and his house…"
• The concrete or tangible aspect or dimension of the person which is primarily observed and examined through the body is known as the physical self.
• 1. The Self as Impacted by the Body

  The body is not merely an object in the world but we are also our bodies in that the body is the vehicle for our expression in the world.
• The sociologists, Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens, agree in saying that the body is the only fix-point of "self-identity".
• 2. The Impact of Culture on Body Image and Self-esteem: The Importance of Beauty

  Body Image refers to the person's perception of the level of attractiveness of his/her body or it can be somebody's own impression of how his or her body looks. It may also be our sense of how other people view our bodies. In that sense, body image can be seen as both internal (personal) and external(social). Body image lies at the heart of adolescence and it is the mental representation of one's own body, which is a very important aspect of identity.
• Beauty is of two types: the inner beauty which refers to the inner qualities of the person and the external beauty which refers to the physical characteristics of the person.
• Aesthetic capital covers the privileges and wealth people receive from aesthetic traits, such as their face, hair, body, clothes, grooming habits and other markers of beauty.
• For Samantha Lovascio, visually appealing traits greatly impact our lives, in matters of modest importance (friend selection) to great importance (e.g. getting a job and career mobility).
• 2.1 The Role of Culture in our Understanding of "Body Image " and "Self-esteem "

  Kenny and Nichols explain that, "Drawing on contemporary culture, our bodies are not only biological but also cultural that we say, we all shape and manipulate our bodies. We are all body-builders as we build and style our bodies on a daily basis ... The body is enthralled to cultural regimes, telling us how we should look - especially how we should dress and what our bodies' weight (fat levels) should be".
• Body adornment refers to the practice of physically enhancing the body styling and decorating certain parts of the body.
• Body modification, on the other hand, refers to the physical alteration of the body. Body modifications can be permanent or temporary, although most are permanent and alter the body forever" (Margo deMello, 2014).
• Body adornments are by definition temporary.
• Morgan De Mello explains that the culture of physical improvement trains us not only to believe that all bodily processes are under our control, but to feel ashamed about those parts of our flesh that refuse to comply with the cultural ideal. Lelwica clarifies however that such shame is not a natural response to being fat, physically impaired, chronically sick, or old. Rather, body shame is a culturally conditioned reaction to a commercially-fabricated fantasy of physical perfection.
• Audrey Tramel (2013) mentions that the predominance of "pop culture" in today's society definitely has some effects such as the way teenagers think of themselves, how they associate with others, and how they express characteristics of their maturation
• Important characteristic of every teenager's maturation is his/her self-definition.
• Self-definition refers to the way a person sees himself. For teens, that image is influenced to a large extent by personal choices, which are, in turn, influenced by the images and associations teens glean from pop culture on a daily basis. It can be intrinsically tied into self-esteem and confidence, two critical components of a healthy disposition throughout maturation and into adulthood.
• The media creates ideals, in the form of celebrities and models, for men and women to admire. These give us pressure to conform to expectations.
• "Human beauty can cause a great deal of pain, especially from the perspective of those who may not 'measure up' to the standards of beauty. The closer the appearance of the body resembling the prevailing prototypes standardized by the culture, the higher the 'exchange value' for the individual" (Featherstone, 1991).
• 2.1.a The Influence of Media on the Adolescent's Understanding of Beauty

  Genesis M. Javellana (2014) mentions that the media plays a large role in how teenagers view themselves by shaping images of what teenagers are supposed to be or do. Magazines have the strongest negative relationship with the weight of the respondents; and, proposed that measures such as media awareness seminars and screening and balancing of commercials and advertisements on television and magazines are needed to balance the effects of media on adolescents
• 2.1.b Impact of Media on the Self-esteem of the Adolescent

  Davies & Furnham, found out that the average teenager is sensitive to, and critical of, his/her physical self. Constant exposure to cultural standards of beauty in evaluating body image (via media and social networks) may produce non-normative shift in the form of dieting practices which may lead to eating disorders as a result of body image dissatisfaction, the feeling of a discrepancy between actual and ideal body image
• Simmons and Blyth's "Cultural Ideal Hypothesis" indicate that puberty brings boys closer to their ideal body while girls shift further from theirs.
• Caufmann and Steinberg say that girls in western cultures are more concerned about appearance and express more worry and concern about how other people respond to them than in other cultures. If body shape is far from dominant cultural ideal of slimness, teens are more likely to develop low self-esteem and negative body image.
• Fredrickson and Roberts mention that western girls are socialized to constantly think of whether their bodies and physical appearance are pleasing to others or not. May it be in a chronic state of anxiety, Stice and Withenton further claim that body image dissatisfaction is a strong predictor of depression in the US.
• To Jillian Croll, body image is the dynamic perception of body - how it looks, feels, and moves.
• Croll further explains that puberty for boys brings characteristics typically admires by society - height, speed, broadness, and strength. On the other hand, puberty for girls brings characteristics often perceived as less desirable.
• "Exposure to thin-ideal media images may contribute to the development of eating disorders by causing body dissatisfaction, negative moods, low self-esteem, and eating disorders symptoms among women" (Hawkins, et. al., 2010).
• "Self-esteem, sometimes referred to as self-worth or self-respect, is an important part of success. Too little self-esteem can leave people feeling defeated or depressed. It can also lead people to make bad choices, fall into destructive relationships, or fail to live up to their full potential. Too much self-esteem, however, as exhibited in narcissistic personality disorder, can certainly be irritating to others and can even damage personal relationships". (Kendra Cherry)
• Self-esteem


  Can play a significant role in one's motivation and success throughout life
• Low self-esteem


  May hold you back from succeeding at school or work because you don't believe yourself to be capable of success
• Healthy self-esteem


  Can help you achieve because you navigate life with a positive, assertive attitude and believe you can accomplish your goals
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs


  • People need both esteem from other people as well as inner self-respect
  • Both of these needs must be fulfilled in order for an individual to grow as a person and achieve self-actualization
• Self-esteem


  One of the basic human motivations
• We will have a positive body image when we have a realistic perception of our bodies, when we enjoy, accept and celebrate who or what and how we are, and let go of negative societal or media perpetuated conditioning.
• Dr. Ben Carson, a retired world renowned neurosurgeon, and Republican Presidential aspirant, once wrote: "If beauty and fame bring ideal relationships, then celebrities should have the best marriages. But for those who live simply, walk humbly and love genuinely, all good will come back to you! That's life. Enjoy yours!"
• The physical self is integral to identity, as noted by psychologists like William James and Erik Erikson.
• Societal norms and media shape perceptions of the physical self and body image.
• Unrealistic beauty standards in media contribute to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, especially among adolescents.
• Culture and media influence individuals' self-perception and adherence to societal beauty ideals.
• Self-esteem plays a crucial role in personal development and success, impacted by factors such as societal feedback and adherence to beauty standards.
• Promoting positive body image and self-esteem is essential for mental well-being and personal growth.