Unpacking the self PPT

1. UNP
ACKINGTHESELF:
THEPHYSICALSELF
By:
Catherine T
. Basinillo, MAFS, EdD (cand.)

2. LEARNINGOBJECTIVES:
• Explore the different aspects of self and identity
•Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various
aspects of self and identity
•Identify the different forces and institutions that impact the
development of various aspects of self and identity
•Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self discussed
in class

3. DEFININGB
E
A
U
T
YCOMPLETET
H
ESENTENCES
BELOW…
1. For me, beauty means .
2. A beautiful person is .
3. I am beautiful because .
4.Mention names of people you know who are
beautiful.

4. BIOLOGICALBLUEPRINTOFSELF
A crucial aspect of the self is one’s
physicalfeatures including theface,
bodily structure,height and weight.
However, people should also consider
their physical competencies, valuation of
physicalworth, and perception of
beauty.
AM I BEAUTIFUL?
DO PEOPL
EFIND MEATTRA
CTIVE
?
WHATCAN I DO T
O ENHANCEMY
FEATURES?

5. However, the physical self is not
only limited to what can be
seen by thenaked eye;
underneath the skin is a
dynamic systemof biological
and chemical
processesthat contribute to
one’s physical features.
Bodystructure,weight, height,
skin color, hair color, and other
physicalcharacteristics do not
just develop at random. These
are triggered by genetic
transformations and biological
development through heredity.
HEREDITY. Isdefined as the transmissionof
traits from parents to offspring. The traits are
madeupof specific information embedded
within one’sgene, the basic unit of heredity.
GENOTYPE.It refers to specific information
embedded within one’sgenes; not all
genotypes translate to an observed physical
characteristic. It can be determined by blood
testing.
PHENOTYPE.Isthephysical expressionof a
particular trait. It can be directly observed.
Each individual carries23 pairs of
chromosomes. The 23rd pair is the sex
chromosomes,determinesthesexof an
individual.
MATURATION. It is known as the completion
of growth of a genetic character within an
organism.It enablesman to walk, run and
talk which are evident in the adolescent
stage.

6. BEAUTYBYNUMBERS
Our attraction to another
person’sbody increasesif that
body is symmetrical and in
proportion.
If a face is in proportion, we
are more likely to notice it and
find it beautiful.
We perceive proportional
bodiesto be more healthy.

7. KEYPOINTS
The self as
impacted by the body
The impact of
culture on body image
and self esteem
The importance of
beauty

8. A self image problem happens
when your looksdoesn't match your
beauty standards. For example if
you believed that attractive people
are slim ones and if you were not slim
(but not obese) then you might
believe that you are unattractive
even though othersmight believe that
you are attractive.
The problem here is with your own
beauty standards and not with your
looks. In order to like your looksin
such a case you must fix your false
beliefs about physical attractiveness.

9. BODYIMAGE,SELF-ESTEEM AND
THE INFLUENCEOFSOCIETY
Society shapesusin many ways, possibly
more than we realize – fromour interactions,
to our personal development through to
others’ perception of our bodiesas a
reflection of self worth.
We are social beings.
Genetically, we rely on one another for the
survival of humanity. That primal connection
makesour interactionsphysiologically and
psychologically important. So it’snot
surprising that how society perceivesus
affect uson many levels.

10. And it’spartly how society
perceives our bodies that is
of concern; we’re talking
body image.
So what does that involve?

11. BODYIMAGEISBOTHINTERNAL
(PERSONAL)ANDEXTERNAL(SOCIETY)
Thisincludes:
How we perceive our bodiesvisually
How we feel about our physical appearance
How we think and talk to ourselvesabout our
bodies
Our senseof 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

12. The media in particular, has
increasingly become a platform that
reinforces cultural beliefs and
projects strong views on how we
should look, that we as individuals
often unknowingly or knowingly
validate and perpetuate. The more
welook at perfect imagesof others
and then look to find those same
idealized characteristics in ourselves
and don’t find them, the worse we
feel about ourselves. It’sa cycle that
breeds discontent. With such strong
societal scrutiny it’s easy to see how
the focuson how we look can slide
into thedark side – negative body
image.

13. Thegreater our discontentwith howwe
measure up when compared to the
societal or media supported norm
s, the
more negative our body image, and the
greater theriskfor extreme weight or
body control behaviors occurs.
• Extreme dieting
• Extreme exercise compulsion
• Eating disorders
• Extreme or unnecessary plastic surgery
• Using steroids for muscle building

14. W
HO’STOBLAMEFOROURBODY
PERCEPTIONS,BEITGOODORBAD?
Society givesusa number of
reference points that shapeour
perceptions whether positive or
negative. When it comes to our
bodies there are a number of
sourcesthat affect usmore
than others.

15. TODAY’SEMBEDDEDIDEALS–
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 usto
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.
Yet we are told that these unattainable bodies
are normal, desirable, and achievable. When
we don’t measure up we develop a strong
sense of dissatisfaction and the way that
manifests can be ugly.

16. 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.

17. THEMEDIA
The imagesof 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 lessand
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.

18. THOSECLOSESTTOUS– F
AMIL
Y
AND FRIENDS
We learn from other people, particularly
those closest to usabout the things that are
considered important.
Friendshipsare particularly important in
body image development because we place
high value on them, spend lots of time with
our friends and develop shared experiences,
valuesand 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 tendsto
reinforce the need to focusonappearance
and make comparisonsbetweenusand other
people’s bodies.

19. SOHOWCANW
EBUILDASTRONG
AND POSITIVEBODYIMAGE?
Positivebody image involves
understanding that healthy
attractive bodiescome in many
shapesand sizes, and that
physical appearance saysvery
little about our character or
value as a person.

20. HOWWEGETTOTHISPOINT OFACCEPTANCE
OFTENDEPENDSONOURINDIVIDUAL
DEVELOPMENTANDSELFACCEPT
ANCE.
T
alk back to the media. All media and
messagesare developed or constructed and
are notreflections of reality. Soshoutback.
Speak our dissatisfactionwith the focuson
appearance and lack of size acceptance.
De-emphasize numbers. Kilogramson a scale
don’t tell usanything meaningful about the
body as a whole or our health. Eating habits
and activity patternsare much more
important.
R
ealize that we cannot change our body
type: thin, large, short or tall, we need to
appreciate the uniquenessof what we have
– and work with it.

21. Stop comparing ourselvesto others.We
are unique and we can’t get a sense of
our own body’sneeds and abilitiesby
comparing it to someone else.
We need to move and enjoy our bodies
notbecausewehaveto, but becauseit
makes usfeel 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 thedegree to which self-
esteemdepends on our appearance. If
we base our happiness on how we look it
islikely to lead to failure and
frustration, and may prevent usfrom
finding true happiness.

22. 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
attentionto fine art collectionsthat show a
variety of body typesthroughout the ages
and in different cultures
R
ecognize that size prejudice is a formof
discriminationsimilar to other formsof
discrimination. Shapeand sizeare not
indicators of character, morality, intelligence,
or success
Each of uswill have a positive body image
when we have a realisticperception of our
bodies, when we enjoy, accept and celebrate
how we are and let go of negative societal
or media perpetuated conditioning. But the
media and society in general, are not all
bad. As with most things, with the bad comes
the potential for good and increasingly,
people the world over are waking up to the
negativity and conditioning that we are
bombarded with daily.

23. REMEMBERT
H
IS!
“If youproject a positive self- image,people will be
more likely to see you as a positive, capable
person.”

24. T
h
a
n
ky
o
uf
o
rL
i
s
t
e
n
in
g
!