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The Physical Self: I. The Self As Impacted by The Body

The document discusses how culture impacts physical self and body image. It notes that according to theorists like Goffman, people are concerned with how others perceive them and manage their behavior and appearance accordingly. The physical body is at the core of human experience and identity according to theorists like William James, Erik Erikson, and Freud. Culture shapes standards of beauty, with attributes like good looks and attractiveness associated with beauty and influencing how people are treated. Norms of beauty are products of diverse cultural and historical influences.

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Joanne Laza
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448 views2 pages

The Physical Self: I. The Self As Impacted by The Body

The document discusses how culture impacts physical self and body image. It notes that according to theorists like Goffman, people are concerned with how others perceive them and manage their behavior and appearance accordingly. The physical body is at the core of human experience and identity according to theorists like William James, Erik Erikson, and Freud. Culture shapes standards of beauty, with attributes like good looks and attractiveness associated with beauty and influencing how people are treated. Norms of beauty are products of diverse cultural and historical influences.

Uploaded by

Joanne Laza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Physical Self

According to Erving Goffman (1971), “people are concerned with the way others
perceive them, and such concerns serves as a motivation to manage their behavior in order
to present favorable and appropriate images to others. Such self-presentation includes not
only the individual’s social behaviors but also his/her physical body.”

I. The Self as Impacted by the Body

Physical Self
 The concrete or tangible aspect or dimension of the person which is
primarily observed and examined through the body.
 Has gained a considerable attention in the fields of Psychology, Sociology,
Anthropology, including religious and biological or health studies.
 An important component in the study of the person’s self and identity.
 According to William James, “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...”
- Such body, family, clothes and the like are also described by
Russell W. Belk as part of our extended self.

Body
 It is the initial source of sensation and necessary for the origin and
maintenance of personality. (William James)
 Erik Erickson also claims that experience is anchored in the ground-plan
of the body.
- This is supported by Sigmund Freud who states that the
physical body is the core of human experience.
- Furthermore, Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1945)) placed the body
at the center of human existence, as a way of experiencing the
world.
 It 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.
 It is the sight for the articulation of all our identifications of gender, class,
sexuality, race, ethnicity, and religion.
 Sociologists, historians, and philosophers and anthropologies, including
scholars from sports studies and medical studies spoke about this interest
on the body, which was called “body culture”.
 Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens, agree in saying that body is the only
fix-point of “self-identity”.
 Studies show that one of the visible and deeper changes in relation to the
modern body concerns the dress report and the appearance of the naked
body.
 A contrasting model within modern body culture is delivered by mass
sports.
II. The Impact of Culture on Body Image and Self Esteem: The
Importance of Beauty

 Well dressed, elegant, good looking, attractive-are words we usually


associate with beauty
 As Kenny and Nichols describe, they are determining factors shaping
beauty. “Attractive children, and adults are treated more favorably by others
in the society.”
 Standards of beauty and appearance are the product of a diverse mix of
cultural and historical influences.
 Norms or standard of beauty includes wavy blond hair, light skin and eyes,
and a tall and slim form.

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