THE PHYSICAL SELF

THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE

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Have you ever asked these questions
to yourself?
• Am I beautiful?
• Do people find me attractive?
• What can I do to enhance my features?
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• These questions concern the physical self, which
embodies one’s appearance, what ones sees in the
mirror, and often triggers a person’s first impressions of
another.
• However, the physical self is not only limited to what can
be seen by the naked eye; underneath the skin is a
dynamic system of biological and chemical processes
that contribute to one’s physical features.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• Body structure, height, weight, skin color, hair color, and
other physical characteristics do not just develop at
random; these are triggered by genetic transformations
and biological development through heredity.
• The physical self is shaped by biological and
environmental factors. The physical self, however, is
surrounded by issues associated with health, hygiene,
nutrition and standards of beauty.
• However, more than the physical attributes, people should
also consider their physical competencies, valuation of
physical worth, and perception of beauty.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• Heredity is defined as the transmission of traits from parents
to offspring.
• The traits are made up of specific information embedded
within one’s gene.
• Gene is the basic unit of heredity.
• The manifestation of particular traits can be attributed to
the concepts of genotype and phenotype.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• Genotype refers to the specific information embedded
within one’s genes; not all genotypes translate to an
observed physical characteristic.
• Phenotype is the physical expression of a particular trait.
• Genotype can be determined through blood testing while
phenotype can be directly observed.
• A man who has fair skin and a
woman who has brown skin
produced a brown-skinned male
offspring.
• While you may assume that the
newborn inherited only the skin color
of his mom, a close examination of
his genotype may reveal that he
also got the gene for fair skin from his
dad.
• The phenomenon can be attributed
to concept of dominant gene and
that of his dad was the recessive
gene; thus, the dominant
manifested in the child.
• However, if the child in the future
marries a woman who has a
recessive gene for fair skin, their
offspring may have fair skin.
• Dominant and recessive genes
are dependent on alleles, which
are alternate versions of a
particular gene.
• Since human cells carry two
copies of chromosomes, they
have two versions of each gene.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• Each individual carry 23 pairs of chromosomes, which are
threadlike bodies in the nucleus of the cell and the
storage unit of genes.
• The 23rd pair, also known as sex chromosomes, determines
the sex of an individual.
• The XX combination indicates a male and the XY
combination indicates a female. Within each
chromosome is the
• deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is a nucleic acid that
contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological
development of every individual.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• The DNA is considered as the blueprint of life; thus, no two
individuals have the same DNA.
• This explains why DNA sample is the most crucial material
needed in establishing paternity or maternity or identifying a
suspect in a crime. These cellular components trigger the
physical growth and maturation of organisms, from birth to
adulthood.
• Maturation is known as the completion of growth of a genetic
character within an organism or the unfolding of an
individual’s inherent traits or potential. Maturation enables
people to walk, run, and talk. It also results in physical changes
that are evident in adolescent stage.
 ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONING
• Not only genetics determines
the extent of his or her
physical features; it is not the
only factor that influences
the physical self.
• 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.
ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONING
• Family, being your first social group, forms a crucial
foundation of your development, including that of your
physical self.
ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONING
• Aside from factors of heredity, your family is also primarily
responsible for how you take care of your body. Nutrition
and sustenance were initially established by what was
cooked in the home, thus, your food intake and diet is
often determined by the meals you were served.
ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONING
• Aside from food, practices on hygiene were first
transmitted by your parents.
ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONING
• As you grow older, you get
exposed to a larger social group
with new practices and
standards. You become more
conscious of your physical
appearance.
• As time goes on, you begin to
take note of your height, weight,
facial features, and other
physical characteristics in
comparison to your peers,
especially during adolescence.
ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONING
• As a result, you may begin engaging in acts that would
make you attractive and acceptable to others. For some
girls, these include choosing the right outfit, wearing the
right make-up, and acting more feminine.
ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONING
• On the other hand, boys may begin to have facial hair,
learn how to shave, go to the gym, and do other similar
activities.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• One aspect of physical beauty is a person’s body type.
Contemporary media has portrayed slim bodies as the
ideal body type of human and muscular bodies of men.
• Thus, adolescents indulge in activities that would enable
them to achieve these ideal body types.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• For some, these activities involve having a healthy lifestyle,
eating the right food, and engaging in sports.
• However, some adolescents may resort to unhealthy
habits just to achieve the ideal body type.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• There has been a steady to rise of teenagers who have
eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia nervosa.
This phenomenon could be attributed to the obsession of
being thin, and may also be triggered by family, peers,
and significant role models.
• Majority of the victims have been identified as females,
but a significant number are still represented by males.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
• Weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight <85%
of ideal body weight
• Intense fear of weight gain
• Self-evaluation is highly influenced by perceived weight
and shape
• Amenorrhea (absence of at least three consecutive
menstrual cycles)
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
• SPECIFIC TYPES
• 1. Restricting only
• 2. Binge-eating/purging
(regular binge eating and
vomiting, or misuse of
laxative, diuretics, or enemas)
BULIMIA NERVOSA
• Recurrent episodes of binge eating (i.e., eating very large
amounts of food within two-hour period, feeling out of
control of eating during the episode)
• Recurrent episodes of vomiting, laxative, misuse, diuretic
or enema misuse, fasting, or excessive exercise to
compensate for food eaten
• Binge/purge cycle occurs at least two times a week for
three months
• Self-evaluation is highly influenced by weight and shape.
BULIMIA NERVOSA
• SPECIFIC TYPES
• 1. Purging (use vomiting, laxative, diuretics, or enemas)
• 2. Non-purging (use fasting, over-exercise)
BULIMIA NERVOSA
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• Aside from eating problems, a substantial number have
been resorting to cosmetic surgery to alter certain facial
or body features, even among adolescents.
• While medical professionals do not forbid such practices,
there have been extreme cases of these procedures
causing negative life-altering consequences.
THE BIOLOGICAL BLUE PRINT
• It is important to remember that physical beauty is only
skin-deep; that what matters is feeling good about oneself
and embracing a healthy perception of one’s physical
worth.
ACHIEVING PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
• There is nothing wrong with enhancing one’s physical self.
What is problematic is when a person focuses too much
on physical beauty and disregard everything else.
• Below are some tips in taking care of yourself and your
body.
1. Healthy eating
• You need to eat the right amount and combination of
food to ensure your health and sustenance.
• Following a healthy diet results in healthy skin, ideal
weight, and better stamina.
 2. Embracing a healthy lifestyle.
• Avoid drinking, smoking,
and doing other
unhealthy habits to
reduce the risk of illness
and diseases and to
make your immune
system stronger.
• Activities such as
walking, running, going
to the gym, and
engaging in sports also
contribute to a healthier
body.
3. Maintain proper hygiene
• Taking care of your body
by consistently following
a hygiene regimen can
also help you feel good
about yourself.
4. Being confident
• Self-confidence is your best make-up and results in an
optimal physical well-being.
• Be secure in yourself, embrace a positive outlook toward
various situations and problems, and love and accept
who you are.
4. Being confident
• Self-confidence is your best make-up and results in an
optimal physical well-being.
• Be secure in yourself, embrace a positive outlook toward
various situations and problems, and love and accept
who you are.