Physical Self

Physical Self
(Understanding the Self)

Physical Self Defined
refers to the body which is a wonderful and complex

container.
is a responsive machine with which we interface with our

environment and fellow beings.
is a concrete dimension; tangible aspect of the person

that can be directly observed and examined
(Singh, 2018)
The truth is we all want to appear
physically beautiful.
The body is one of the objects that

most people would enhance to
appear appear beautiful.
Beauty
could be the person or nature or things’ combination of

qualities, such as shape, color, or form that pleases the
aesthetic sense, especially the sight…
(Oxford English Dictionary)
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
A. BEAUTY IS UNIVERSAL.
According to De Mello (2014), this is true if all cultures

appear to have the same notion of what beauty is.
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
B. BEAUTY IS NOT UNIVERSAL.
■ Cultural conditioning influences perception of beauty.

■ Ideas of beauty vary throughout history and across
different cultures.
■ Tastes change over time hence BEAUTY IS NOT
UNIVERSAL
■ Beauty is a subjective concept
Evolutionary perspective explains that both men and
women have considered certain physical features such
as HEALTH AND GOOD GENE as indicators of beauty
Fitness and BEAUTY is characterized by a clean and
unblemished skin, thick shiny hair, and symmetrical
face.
That is, individuals with unusual facial features are seen

as more beautiful since they are more noticeable than
those with average facial features.
Swami and Harris (2012) further added that a person’s
inclination for physical attractiveness and choice of a
mate is dependent on the latter’s capability for
reproduction.
Female beauty is also defined
by youthfulness and fertility.
Features such as
high cheekbones,
full lips,
narrow jaws and
large eyes
imply low testosterone
and high estrogen,
which are indicators
of fertility.
Male beauty on the other hand
is said to be associated with
physical traits that are
predominantly determined by
their hormone (testosterone)
and good gene such as
strong jaws,
big muscles,
heavy brows,
thin lips, tall structure, and
broad cheekbones.
HOWEVER, a woman who is thinking of a long-term or
short-term relationship with a man would have varied
preferences.
It is mentioned that for women who intend to have a long-

term relationship, men with capabilities to raise their
family on the basis of financial means are said to be
more attractive than those who possess physical
masculinity and fertility.
Influence of Culture to Beauty
Beauty is cultural as well.
De Mello (2014) noted that in:
India, beauty comprise

* cleanliness
* graceful use of clothing
* how a woman carries herself
* if her skin, hair and bindi
on the forehead are well cared of
Africans in the past…
* only a woman with

face or body
scarification is
considered beautiful;
* a woman with large

plates inserted into the
lower and sometimes
upper lip is beautiful
and marriageable.
Long nose for European implies beauty.
Few Asian countries like
Malaysia, Philippines and
Indonesia consider
flat noses as beautiful
before colonization.
In Japan, beauty is
symbolized by
the geisha (a Japanese
to entertain men with conversation,
hostess trained
dance, and song.)
In South Korea,
standards of beauty
include round eyes,
pale skin, sharp nose and
long legs although in reality,
these features are unusual
among them.
In the Philippines, our preference
for beauty is highly influenced by
our much love for movie and
television actors and actresses
that we idolize. Thus, standards
of beauty are characterized by
fair skin, long, straight black hair,
tall nose, and slanted eyes.
For scientists, a face is attractive
when ideal measurement is achieved
for the space between the eyes,
the length of the chin,
the height of the eyes,
the length and width of the nose,
and the width and the shape
of the mouth.
In real life situation, the face as well as the physical
appearance of an individual are the ones given attention
when we encounter people.
However, what we observe (see) in the physical

appearance may be different from the way we perceive
them.
Both men and women, although women appear to be more
conscious of their beauty, take extra effort, time and money
to engage in activities that enhance their appearance just
to meet the beauty standards that modern society seem to
promote.
Reasons why some people adapt to the seemingly
unrealistic and unattainable standards of beauty
The harsh treatment from various media (e.g. magazines

and advertisements) received by women who do not meet the
society’s standards of beauty.
This kind of treatment has psychological implication as it affects

women at its core. The latter leads to the development of low
self-esteem, negative body image, eating disorders, stress, and
anxiety.
Britton (2012) mentioned that by putting photo-shopped and
computer-enhanced models in advertisements, society has
built up impossible standards of beauty, which has led to
feelings of inadequacy among women.
Despite the costs (financial and psychological), some still

risk undergoing procedures to compensate for the negative
feelings they have about their body image.
Why is it that women and men alike
feel bad when their physical appearance
is put in bad light?
Good looks seem to be one of the

sources of esteem.
But this is not a good source of

esteem since beauty fades as one
gets older; still a lot of women and
men conform to the society’s
standards of beauty to maintain
their youthful look.
Ultimately, looking young
despite
old age, increases one’s self-
esteem.
De Mello (2014) also noted the significant role that beauty
plays in possible success. Career and relationship push
women to conform to beauty standards.
According to psychologists, the overwhelming emphasis

on beauty results to difficulty in obtaining gratification in
their relationship for both men and women, as well as,
women being forced to subscribe to costly beauty
products and risky cosmetic surgeries.
Others go to extreme measures as body modification to
meet the society’s standards of beauty.
Body modification refers to the physical alteration of the

body through the use of surgery, tattooing, piercing,
scarification, branding, genital mutilation, implants, and
others (De Mello,2014).
In contrast to health-risky procedures that unsatisfied men
and women go through with their physical appearance in
most societies through body mortification, some practices
are promoted for body preservation.
These are usually observed in some religious practices

like
fasting, abstinence, and self-mortification.
SELF-MORTIFICATION comprises avoidance of activities that gives pleasure to
the body like sex and eating meat to the extent of assuming a modest living
condition.
While FASTING is said to be an act of refuting oneself which may take in the
form of refraining from consuming meat during the Lenten season as practiced
by the Christians, the purpose of which is to attain oneness with Christ.
Another practice which promote the latter is part-taking in the EUCHARIST.

The mentioned religious practices have been an important part of Christian life
which for many years provided guidance in terms of what to do with the body.
In conclusion:
BEAUTY or BEING BEAUTIFUL is a concept that we

automatically attached to the body or physical appearance.
The society’s standards of beauty sometimes contribute
to the development of a person’s unhealthy body image
or incapacitating beliefs.
Therefore, beauty should not be the only measure of a

person’s worth. Nonetheless, the physical aspect is one
of the areas that a person may improve on so that he
can achieve a healthy self-image.
References:
Britton, A.M. (2012). The Beauty Industry’s Influence on Women in Society.

Retrieved from
http://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1085&context=honors
Swami, V. and Harris, AS. (2012). Evolutionary Perspectives on Physical

Appearance in Cash, F. (2012). Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human
Experience.
De Mello, M. (2014). Beautiful Bodies. Pp.173-188. Fat and Thin Bodies. 189-205.
Modified Bodies. 209-243. In Body Studies: An Introduction. Routledge.
Singh, S. (2018). All about psychology. Retrieved from www.all-about-

psychology.com: https://www.all-about-psychology.com/the-concept-of-physical-self-
in-psychology.html

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Physical Self

(Understanding the Self)

refers to the body which is a wonderful and complex

is a responsive machine with which we interface with our

is a concrete dimension; tangible aspect of the person

The body is one of the objects that

could be the person or nature or things’ combination of

According to De Mello (2014), this is true if all cultures

B. BEAUTY IS NOT UNIVERSAL.

■ Cultural conditioning influences perception of beauty.

That is, individuals with unusual facial features are seen

It is mentioned that for women who intend to have a long-

De Mello (2014) noted that in:

India, beauty comprise

* only a woman with

* a woman with large

However, what we observe (see) in the physical

The harsh treatment from various media (e.g. magazines

This kind of treatment has psychological implication as it affects

Despite the costs (financial and psychological), some still

Good looks seem to be one of the

But this is not a good source of

According to psychologists, the overwhelming emphasis

Body modification refers to the physical alteration of the

These are usually observed in some religious practices

Another practice which promote the latter is part-taking in the EUCHARIST.

BEAUTY or BEING BEAUTIFUL is a concept that we

Therefore, beauty should not be the only measure of a

Britton, A.M. (2012). The Beauty Industry’s Influence on Women in Society.

Swami, V. and Harris, AS. (2012). Evolutionary Perspectives on Physical

Singh, S. (2018). All about psychology. Retrieved from www.all-about-

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