Understanding the self (physcial self)

1. The
Physical
Self
DR. MICHAEL TOMAS SEBULLEN

2. “ Don’t judge people by their physical
appearance if you truly want to get to
know them. Just watch their frequent
footsteps and you would surely know
their true personalities.”
- E D M O N D M B IA KA

3. Physical Self- concept is the individual’s
perception of themselves in areas of physical
ability and appearance. The self-concept is a
schema that contains knowledge about
oneself . It is primarily made up of physical
characteristics, intellectual, and aesthetic
capacities and traits.
>The self is a combination of physical and
psychological attributes that is unique in
each person.

4. The self is the physical self that can be interpreted as:
1.Physical self is a concept of a person’s perception of description of the self which
includes the physical appearance.
2. Physical self is the condition, body attractiveness, strength, self-esteem along the overall
score of physical self-esteem.
3. Physical self-esteem is the evaluation of the physical including the evaluation of both
physical appearance and physical-competence. Physical self-esteem is likewise self- worth.
4. Physical self is the physical qualities of a person.

5. Famous Psychologists and Sociologists Defining the Concept of
Physical Self
William James, aside from his idea of self-identification, he considered the body as
the initial source of sensation and important for the origin and maintenance of personality.
But James attests that the body must be subservient to the mind that is if concentration can
be fully found, not only to erase ordinary sensation also the most painful sensation.
Sigmund Freud, in his Psychoanalysis, maintains that construction of the self and
personality make the body the core of human experience. To Freud, the ego is the first and
foremost a body ego.
Erik Erikson, attest that experiences are rooted in the ground plan of the body.
He expounded the role of the bodily organs that are important particularly in the early
stages of development of the person’s life. Later in the physical development and the
intellectual capacity help determine if the person will acquire a sense of competence.
Erikson is aware of the constant interplay of the body, psychological process and the
social forces.

6. Wilhelm Reick who is most concerned with body, yet says that the mind and the
body as one and all psychological processes, are parts of physical body and that is
important dynamics in all psychological process.
Bf Skinner, a behaviorist, attests that the body is of primary importance. To
Skinner’s words personality and self are only explanatory factions and all there is just
the body. The is so because Skinner was never interested in the body. He treats human
being as an open box although not empty.
Carl Gustav Jung, in his Analytical Psychology did not deal clearly with the role
of the body but chooses to direct his effort to just the psychology. He argued that
physical process, is important only to the extent they are represented to psychology
experiences.
>Physical Self is the being of a person that starts with the given truth that he an
individual being; a real tangible being, alive, concrete and in search for meaning and
happiness by constant unfolding of his wealth of being.( Bernando, 2016). The physical
self is a being an intellectual, social, moral, spiritual, aesthetic, and sexual being.

7. Intellectual Self, the person’s rationality is the ultimate and most specific
attribute that put him on wall God’s creations. According to St. Thomas, a man who
has an intellectual soul can perceive and understand. The self as a rational being
must think more consciously outside of himself. An intellectual person can reason
out logically and act by his goal he wishes to attain.
Cultural Self. Culture humanizes a person. Culture encompasses all that a
person thinks of and all that he owns as a member of a given society. The customs.
Beliefs, values and norms make up the person and in fact one is judged by his kind of
culture. A person who behaves well is admired and respected by people around him
and in the end he develops self-esteem. To Abraham Maslow,(2001) self-esteem
relates to the feelings of self-worth because of self-awareness of his competence,
capabilities and values.
Aesthetic Self. Life is an art; hence a person must be an artist can create an
image that is a reflection of what he want to be. A person’s body is a wonderful
creation. Posture is the proper position of the body when setting, walking, standing
even in lying down. Good grooming and appropriate choice of wardrobes, correct
body size and weight add to the totality of beauty in the person.

8. Self Esteem- and Self Concept
The basis of beauty in a person is a body fit and healthy image,
and self-esteem. High self-esteem and proper awareness of self-concept are
important characteristics of a person’s happiness. Self-esteem pertains to global
or overall evaluation of the self. Self- esteem is likewise self-worth or self-
image. Self concept is one’s own specific evaluation of the self.
The foundation of self-esteem and self-concept emerged from the quality of
parent-child interaction in infancy and early childhood. In adolescents, self-
esteem is strongly correlated with physical appearance than other aspects like
scholastic competence, social acceptance and behavior.
Adding to the improving self-esteem are emotional support and social
approval which are powerful influence to self-esteem. Developing self
confidence and believing that a person has the ability to do what it takes to
improve self-esteem. Achievement can likewise improve one’s self-esteem.

9. Self- Awareness
-refers to the extent to which a person is currently fixing his/her attention on
his/her own self-concept. When the self-concept becomes highly accessible because
of one’s concerns about being observed and potentially judged by others, one
experiences the publicly induced self-awareness known as self-consciousness.
Physical Self and Self-consciousness
> Private Self-consciousness refers to the tendency to introspect about
one’s inner thought” and feelings. People who are high in private self-
consciousness tend to think about themselves a lot and agree with statements:
“ I’m always trying to figure myself out”
“I am generally attentive to my inner feelings”

10. Public self-consciousness
- refers to the tendency to focus on outer public image and to
be particularly aware of the extent to which people are meeting the
standards set by others. Those high in public self-consciousness agree with
statements such as;
“ I’m concerned about what other people think of me.”
“ I care a lot about how I present myself to others.”
> https://www.all-about-psychology.com/the.concept -of physical-self-in-psychology.htmIm#:-text=Physical
%20Self%20refers%20to%20the.be%20directly%20observed%20and%20examined.
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOrzmFUJtrs