UNDERSTANDING THE SELF: UNPACKING THE PHYSICAL SELF | Magallen Fam

Summary

In this lecture, Jerome explores the concept of physical self, emphasizing its importance in shaping identity. He discusses how biological factors like genetics and environmental influences, including socio-cultural aspects, affect one's perception of physical self. The lecture delves into the philosophical debate on beauty, highlighting both objective and subjective views. It also touches on the psychological impact of beauty, such as the halo effect and its influence on social and professional life. Jerome concludes with advice on achieving physical well-being through healthy habits and a positive self-image.

Takeaways

• 🧍 Physical self refers to the body, the tangible aspect of a person that can be observed and examined.
• 🌱 Biological factors, such as heredity, influence physical development and characteristics.
• 🌍 Environmental and socio-cultural factors, including social networks and cultural practices, shape one's physical self.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family plays a crucial role in shaping one's physical development and self-image.
• 💄 Beauty is both objective and subjective, with different philosophical views and cultural perceptions.
• ✨ The 'halo effect' suggests that people perceive attractive individuals more favorably, while the 'devil effect' shows the opposite for unattractive individuals.
• 🌸 Cultural traditions influence body image and self-esteem, with Western standards favoring slim and muscular bodies.
• 🧠 Body image and self-esteem are closely linked, impacting one's mental health and sense of worth.
• 🏃‍♂️ Physical well-being can be achieved through proper sleep, healthy eating, physical activity, and maintaining hygiene.
• 💪 Confidence and self-acceptance are essential for maintaining a healthy physical self and overall well-being.

Q & A

What is the 'physical self' according to the lecture?

The 'physical self' refers to our body, which is the concrete and tangible aspect of a person that can be directly observed and examined.

What are some of the factors that shape the physical self?

The factors that shape the physical self include biological factors, such as heredity, and environmental and socio-cultural factors, such as societal expectations and cultural practices.

How does heredity influence the physical self?

Heredity influences the physical self by transmitting traits from parents to offspring. These traits are embedded in one's genes and affect biological development, including physical characteristics.

How do environmental and socio-cultural factors impact the physical self?

Environmental and socio-cultural factors shape the physical self by influencing individuals through their social networks, societal expectations, and cultural practices, which impact how one views and engages with their body.

What is 'beauty' according to ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle?

Plato connected beauty to love and desire, asserting that beauty exists in the realm of forms, and objects are beautiful because they reflect the idea of beauty. Aristotle emphasized that the chief forms of beauty are order, symmetry, and definiteness, demonstrated by mathematical sciences.

How does the concept of beauty differ between objective and subjective views?

The objective view holds that beauty is an inherent quality in objects, while the subjective view asserts that beauty is a perception in the mind of the observer, varying from person to person.

What is the 'halo effect,' and how does it relate to attractiveness?

The 'halo effect' is a cognitive bias where people tend to rate attractive individuals more favorably for their personality traits or characteristics, even if there is no direct connection between their appearance and these traits.

How does culture influence body image and self-esteem?

Culture significantly impacts how a person feels about their body. Cultural traditions and societal expectations can positively or negatively affect body image and self-esteem, often setting ideal standards for appearance.

What role does contemporary media play in shaping body image?

Contemporary media, particularly in the Philippines, often promotes slim bodies as the ideal for women and muscular bodies for men. This influences adolescents to engage in activities aimed at achieving these body types, sometimes leading to unhealthy behaviors.

What are some tips for maintaining good physical self-care?

Some tips for good physical self-care include developing a regular sleep routine, eating a healthy diet, engaging in physical activities, maintaining proper hygiene, and embracing confidence and a positive outlook.

Outlines

00:00

🧍 Understanding the Physical Self

This paragraph introduces the concept of the physical self, explaining that it refers to our tangible, observable body. It discusses how people often focus on physical attributes like face, body structure, height, and weight. The speaker asks the audience to reflect on their self-perception and confidence regarding their physical appearance. Biological and environmental factors are highlighted as influences on one's physical self, with heredity playing a key role in shaping physical traits.

05:03

💡 Philosophical Views on Beauty

This section explores how beauty is perceived, focusing on historical and philosophical perspectives. It highlights two main views: beauty as objective and beauty as subjective. Key philosophical figures like Saint Augustine, Plato, and Aristotle are mentioned, each presenting different ideas about beauty's connection to love, order, and symmetry. The paragraph also discusses how beauty became associated with personal pleasure and preference in the 18th century.

10:03

👥 The Halo Effect and Body Image

Here, the discussion shifts to psychological findings about how physical appearance affects social perceptions. It introduces the 'halo effect,' where attractive individuals are judged more favorably, and its opposite, the 'devil effect,' where unattractive individuals are judged harshly. The influence of appearance in various aspects of life, from online dating to judicial systems, is highlighted, emphasizing the impact of societal standards on body image.

15:06

🌍 Cultural Impact on Body Image

This paragraph explores how cultural traditions influence body image and self-esteem. It discusses how Western media has shaped ideals of slim bodies for women and muscular physiques for men, leading to unhealthy behaviors among adolescents. The connection between body image, societal expectations, and personal self-esteem is examined, with references to different historical and cultural standards of beauty, such as those from the Renaissance and Arab cultures.

20:07

🛠️ Practical Tips for Physical Self-Care

The final section offers practical advice on how to maintain physical well-being. Key tips include developing a regular sleep routine, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, embracing physical activity, and maintaining proper hygiene. The paragraph encourages confidence and a positive self-image, urging gradual changes for long-term success in physical self-care.

Keywords

💡Physical Self

The term 'Physical Self' refers to the tangible and observable aspects of a person, including their body, appearance, and physical attributes. In the video, it is discussed as a significant part of one's identity that can be directly observed. The script emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting one's physical self, as societal and cultural factors can greatly influence how individuals perceive their bodies.

💡Biological Factors

Biological factors encompass the genetic and inherited traits that influence a person's physical characteristics. The script mentions 'heredity' as a key biological factor, which is the transmission of traits from parents to offspring through genes. This concept is crucial as it sets the foundation for understanding how our physical selves are shaped from a biological perspective.

💡Environmental and Socio-Cultural Factors

These factors refer to the external influences that shape an individual's physical self, including societal expectations and cultural practices. The script discusses how growing up in a particular environment can lead to certain behaviors aimed at conforming to social standards of attractiveness. This concept is integral to understanding how our physical self is not only a product of biology but also of our social and cultural surroundings.

💡Beauty

Beauty, as discussed in the script, is a multifaceted concept that varies across cultures and time. It is traditionally considered alongside goodness, truth, and justice. The video explores both objective and subjective views of beauty, suggesting that while some believe beauty exists independently (objective), others argue it is a matter of personal perception (subjective). The script uses historical philosophical views to illustrate the enduring nature of discussions around beauty.

💡Halo Effect

The Halo Effect is a cognitive bias where attractive individuals are perceived more favorably in terms of personality traits. The script uses this term to explain how physical attractiveness can influence perceptions in various social contexts, such as the workplace or online dating. This concept is important for understanding the impact of physical self on social interactions and judgments.

💡Devil Effect

The Devil Effect, or negative halo effect, is the counterpart to the Halo Effect, where unattractive individuals are assumed to possess negative characteristics. The script mentions this to highlight the potential biases and unfair judgments that can occur based on physical appearance. This term is crucial for understanding the negative consequences of focusing solely on physical attributes.

💡Body Image

Body Image is defined in the script as how one thinks and feels about their body. It is closely linked to self-esteem and can be influenced by cultural traditions and societal standards. The video discusses how body image can affect mental health and behaviors, emphasizing the need for a healthy perception of one's physical self.

💡Self-Esteem

Self-esteem, as coined by William James, refers to how individuals value themselves and perceive their worth in the eyes of others. The script connects self-esteem to body image, suggesting that a positive body image can enhance self-esteem. This term is central to the video's message about the importance of feeling good about one's physical self.

💡Physical Self-Care

Physical Self-Care encompasses activities that maintain and improve one's physical health, such as regular sleep, healthy eating, physical activity, and proper hygiene. The script provides tips on achieving physical well-being, emphasizing that taking care of one's body can lead to better mental and emotional health.

💡Cultural Traditions

Cultural Traditions are practices and beliefs passed down within a culture that can significantly impact an individual's body image and self-esteem. The script discusses how different cultures have varying standards of beauty, which can either positively or negatively influence a person's perception of their physical self.

💡Health Perception

Health Perception in the script refers to an individual's understanding of what constitutes a healthy body and lifestyle. It is mentioned in the context of challenging societal beauty standards that may promote unhealthy habits. The video encourages embracing a healthy perception of one's physical self as part of overall well-being.

Highlights

Physical self refers to the tangible aspect of a person, observable and examinable.

Biological and socio-cultural factors shape the physical self.

Heredity is defined as the transmission of traits from parents to offspring, affecting physical characteristics.

Environmental and cultural conditioning also play a role in shaping physical self through social networks and societal expectations.

Beauty is an enduring theme in Western philosophy, with both objective and subjective interpretations.

Saint Augustine believed that beauty is perceived before it brings delight.

Plato asserted that beauty exists in the realm of forms, a reflection of the idea of beauty.

Aristotle claimed beauty involves order, symmetry, and definiteness, demonstrable by mathematics.

By the 18th century, philosophers like David Hume viewed beauty as subjective, existing in the mind of the perceiver.

Research shows a 'halo effect' where attractive people are viewed more favorably in terms of traits and personality.

The 'devil effect' leads to negative perceptions of unattractive people, especially in areas like online dating.

In judicial settings, more attractive defendants tend to receive lenient penalties compared to less attractive ones.

Cultural influences impact body image, with media portraying ideal body types that lead to unhealthy habits.

Body image is closely linked to self-esteem, affecting a person’s mental health and self-worth.

Tips for physical well-being include healthy sleep, diet, physical activity, hygiene, and confidence in oneself.

Transcripts

good day to all

once again i am jerome and today we will

be having a lecture

about unpacking the physical self

physical self refers to our body

it is the concrete dimension

the tangible aspect of the person that

can be directly observed and examined

many people are so particular with one's

physical attributes and features

like their face

body structure

their height and weight and so on

how about you

can you say these lines

i am beautiful

i am attractive

i am confident

i am healthy

how do you feel while saying those words

are you happy

how do you assess your physical self

there are several factors that shape the

physical self which include the

following first biological factors

and second

environmental and social cultural

factors

now talking about biological factors

this refer to our biological blueprint

most specifically attributed to the

rabity

heridity is defined as the transmission

of traits

from parents to offspring

the traits are made up of specific

information embedded within one's gene

and of course

it will affect the biological

development of the person

including the physical characteristics

now with regards to environmental and

socio-cultural factors this may refer to

environmental and

cultural conditioning

as you grow up you are exposed to

environmental influences that shape your

physical self

including those

from your social networks

societal

expectations

and

cultural practices

then of course the family family is

being your first social group

forms a crucial

foundation of your development

including that of your physical self

as you grow older you get exposed to a

larger

social group

with new practices and standards

and as a result you may begin engaging

in acts that would make you attractive

and acceptable to others

every person is unique

our individual experiences and memories

tie together

to form our identity

one aspect of physical self is beauty

now what is beauty

how beauty is appreciated

varies through time

culture and various perceptions about

the world

the nature of beauty is one of the most

enduring and controversial themes in

western philosophy

beauty traditionally was among the

ultimate values

along with goodness

truth and justice

even before beauty is already being

emphasized it was a primary theme

among ancient greeks

hellenistic and medieval

philosophers

the two most debated views about beauty

are

first

beauty is objective and second beauty is

subjective

here are some western philosophical

views

on beauty treated as an objective

quality first

saint augustine

asked whether things were beautiful

because it gave the light

or whether

it gave the light because it was

beautiful saint augustine believed it to

be the laughter it means that we shall

perceive beauty first

before we can say that it is delightful

she can is plato

connected beauty

as a response to love and desire he

asserted that beauty exists in the realm

of forms and that objects are found

beautiful

because

they are a reflection of the idea of

beauty that already exists in the realm

of forms

then we can say that if something is

beautiful

then it is worthy of love

and it is also desirable

we don't do things which are not

desirable

which are not

lovable

and

because

they are not

beautiful

third is aristotle who asserted that the

chief

forms of beauty are order

symmetry and definiteness

that can be demonstrated by mathematical

sciences

if people are organized and orderly then

we can say they are beautiful

on the other hand by

18th century

some philosophers hold the view

that beauty was associated

with pleasure and personal preference

or it is

a subjective one

subjective in the sense that beauty

can be beyond what we see

david yum

said beauty is no

quality and things themselves

it exists

merely in the mind which contemplates

them

and its mind perceives a different

beauty

second is immanuel kant

who said the judgment of taste is

therefore not a judgment of cognition

and is consequently not logical

but aesthetical

by which we understand that whose

determining ground

can be no other than subjective

france's hot sun

said the the perception of beauty

does not

or does depend

on the external

sense of sight

however the internal sense of beauty

operates as an internal or

reflex

sense

the same

is the case with hearing

hearing music does not necessarily give

the perception of harmony

as it is distinct from the hearing

if you feel good

then it is something beautiful

we have many definitions of what is

beautiful

of what is beauty

beauty may be about sensations

feelings and situations

beauty can be considered as inherent for

those who believe that beauty is

objective

however

for the other perspectives

it can also be a subjective one meaning

it is not equality in itself

beauty can be perceived by the perceiver

what is beautiful for you

might not be beautiful for me

this perhaps the explanation and the

saying

that beauty is in the eyes of the

beholder

now what did psychology discover about

beauty

research found that a person who is

perceived

as attractive

makes more money than a person of low

average looks

in

politics voters who are not actively

engaged in social and political issues

choose candidates based on looks

90 percent of the time

so this study

results can be attributed to a cognitive

bias called halo effect

a cognitive bias is an error in

reasoning

evaluating

remembering

or any other mental process

that is result

or often a result of holding on to one's

preferences and beliefs

regardless of contrary

information

the halo effect refers to the tendency

of people

to rate attractive individuals more

favorably

for their personality traits

or characteristics as compared to those

who are less attractive

on the other hand

the devil

effect or negative halo effect

comes into play

when people assume that others possess

the so-called

bad characteristics

such as

an

entra and

attractiveness

so the halo and the devil effect

often comes into play when people view

others

profiles on online dating

sites

based on the results

the study of gibson and gore believe

that

unattractive

men

who provide

unusual or alarming information in their

profiles may not receive

a second glance from women

in the judicial system

an attractive defendants are also known

to receive

more severe penalties

than more

than those who are

more attractive ones

even if they committed the same crime

this is according to springer's journal

in social psychology in 2015.

now how cultural traditions shape body

image

culture

has a significant impact on how a person

feels about himself

or herself

as well as his or her

body image

cultural traditions can either be a

positive or a negative influence on body

image and self-esteem

body image is generally defined as how

one thinks

and feels toward one's body

commonly it is associated

with a person's body type

physical self concept

is the individual's perception of

themselves in areas of physical

ability

and appearance on the other hand

physical ability

includes concepts

such as physical strength and endurance

while appearance

refers to

attractiveness

and body image

people see cultural group membership as

an integral part of who they are

hence they are more likely to engage in

events and behaviors that are related to

their culture

the philippines is undoubtedly

influenced by western culture

more particularly the american culture

contemporary media has portrayed slim

bodies as the ideal body type for women

and muscular bodies for men

thus adolescence indulge in activities

that would enable them to achieve these

ideal

body types

the media advertisements

and society are so powerful that they

can make a person stop eating so that

they can look like a model

or make boys

go to the gym

to lift weights so that they can be

attractive as

hollywood stars or actors

fashion

social pressure and comparison

are all enemies that can cause a lot of

harm and take away the love you have for

your body

the body understood as the physical

entity that allows you to act in the

external world

is an extremely important part of

yourself

your body your emotions and your thought

form

a whole that differentiates you from

everyone else

today's standards of beauty

and erroneous perceptions of health

have led you to hate the shell that

houses you

according to literature

some adolescents may resort to unhealthy

habits

just to achieve the ideal body type

it is important to remember

that physical beauty is just part of

it

that what matters is

being able to feel good about oneself

and embrace a healthy perception of

one's

physical

world

however the meaning of beauty in terms

of body is quiet relative

and it changes over time for example

during the renaissance period beautiful

women

were

larger

and in arab culture

girls who are

too thin

are not sought out by men

for marriage

and there are dozens of other examples

now does your body image have an impact

on your self-esteem

self-esteem

was coined by

william james

and self-esteem is about how you value

yourself

and how you feel others

value you self-esteem is important

because it can affect your mental health

as well as how you behave

body image is how you view your physical

body

whether

you feel that you are attractive

and how you feel some other people

like

your looks

for many people body image is closely

linked to self-esteem

how important is physical beauty

physical beauty is extremely important

the dictionary defines beauty as the

degree to which a person's physical

traits

are considered

pleasing or beautiful

however physical beauty standards differ

from one person to the other

a self-image problem

happens when your looks do not match

your beauty standards

now your problem actually

is your

own beauty standards and not with your

looks

to have a positive image and higher

self-esteem

you must fix your false beliefs about

the physical

attractiveness

issues

we can become healthier with smart

choices

the human body is truly amazing and if

we desire to live a long well

satisfying life

we can choose to join physical

activities

that help you

stay healthy

and provide you with enough energy to

enjoy life

you need to take care of your body

if you want to run it efficiently

keep in mind that there is a strong

connection between your body and your

mind when you caring for your body

you'll think

and

feel better too

physical self-care includes how you're

fueling your body

how much sleep you're getting

how much physical activity you are doing

and how well you're caring for your

physical needs

managing your health

are all part of good physical

self-care

now here are some tips

on achieving

a physical well-being first develop a

regular sleep routine

experts recommend

seven to eight hours per night

for adults

and there are many reasons for this

as you drip off to sleep

your body begins healing damaged

cells

boosting your immune system

recovering from the day's activities

and recharging your heart

and cardiovascular system for the next

day

second is

healthy

eating

following a healthy diet

results in healthy skin

ideal weight and

better stamina and of course

drinking plenty of water like seven to

eight glasses per day will really help

you

to have a healthy physical self

third

embracing a healthy lifestyle physical

activity such as walking

running jogging or going to the gym and

engaging in sports

can also contribute to a healthier body

fourth

maintaining proper hygiene

taking care of your body

by

consistently following a hygiene

regimen

so that you will be helped

in feeling good about yourself

and fifth

be confident

be secure in yourself embrace a positive

outlook towards various situations and

problems and love and accept who you are

now i hope that these simple tips will

help you gauge

where you currently are with your

physical self-care

and create awareness for areas where you

could improve

success usually comes when you take

small

steps so do not pressure yourself

to make a great deal of sweeping

changes

at once

thank you so much and good day