Physical self and material self, Lecture notes of Psychology

Download Physical self and material self and more Lecture notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! The Physical Self Terms used to describe or are associated with the “Self” Physical self > refers to the body >a container, a complex, finely tuned, machine with which we interface with our environment and fellow beings. >The concrete dimension, the tangible aspect of the person that can be directly observed and examined Image >a reflection of our lifestyle and the kind of lives we lead Identity composed of personal characteristics, social roles, and responsibilities, as well as affiliations that define who one is (Oyserman, Elmore, and Smith, 2012). Self-concept what comes to your mind when you are asked about who you are how people see or describe themselves (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjan, 2014) Body image the subjective picture or mental image of one's own body The Concept of Beauty Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Beauty as the quality of aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit. >Ideas of beauty vary throughout history + across different cultures. > Tastes change over time => Beauty is not universal > Beauty is a subjective concept > Globalization leads to universal idea of beauty The Role of Society on Body Image Society shapes us in many ways, including our interactions, our personal development and even _ others’ perception of our bodies as a reflection of self worth. Body image _ is_ both _ internal (personal) and external (society) This includes: > How we perceive our bodies visually >How we feel about our physical appearance >How we think and talk to ourselves about our bodies > Our sense of how other people view our bodies The media is highly influential in reinforcing beliefs or “ideals” on how we should look and we unknowingly or knowingly validate and perpetuate. The more we are exposed to the “perfect” images of the others, the more we seem to scrutinize ourselves for having or not having them, and if it is the latter, we feel bad about ourselves. It's a cycle that breeds discontent. The greater our discontent with how we measure up when compared to the societal or media supported norms, the more negative our body image, and the greater the risk we are in. for example: > Extreme dieting > Extreme exercise compulsion > Eating disorders >Extreme or surgery » Using steroids for muscle building unnecessary _ plastic Societal reference points that shape our perceptions: The Physical -unrealistic images or standards of beauty that are genetically impossible to imitate: -perfect skin, -tiny waists, -protruding behinds, -ripped abs that is apparently impossible to achieve without chemical enhancers — that if we don’t measure, we are met with dissatisfaction. The Media The media is a powerful tool that promotes ‘must-haves’ and ‘the cool ones’. It may not be fully responsible for determining the standards of beauty, it makes escaping the stream of images and attitudes almost impossible. Prejudice to size Intolerance of body diversity has a lot to do with prejudice of size and shape in our culture. Being thin, toned and muscular has become associated with the hard-working, successful, popular, beautiful, strong, and the disciplined. Being fat is associated with the lazy, ugly, weak, and lacking in willpower. “ Everyday interaction with people results in their observation and formation of opinion about our attitude, behavior, practices, mannerisms, etc. A positive or negative self-concept reflects a dominant or prevailing trend of positivism or negativism in the self. Hence, if a person is labeled as having a positive self-concept, it means that his/her prevailing behavior and general outlook if himself / herself are on the positive side. HOWEVER, it does not mean that the person does not have any low or negative thoughts or ideas about oneself — it's just the prevailing positive outlook that characterizes the person as having a positive self-image or self-concept “In the same manner, a person who has a negative self-concept may also have positive or high points in his/her self- concept 2 KINDS OF ROGERS) SELVES (CARL Real Self - image of the self based ona person’s actual experience and represents how he/she actually sees himself/herself (what one thinks in terms of personal characteristics and abilities Ideal Self — the self based on one’s hopes and wishes (how one likes to see himself/herself to be) THE DYNAMICS OF _ PHYSICAL HEALTH Personal Hygiene The physical self is a_ significant component in one’s image and personality, hence being clean and hygienic creates a good image and makes one feel good about the ‘self. Good Grooming Careful grooming and observance of proper clothing in specific occasions is an important practice in building one’s self-esteem. Social Graces Skills used to interact politely in social situations. This includes manners, etiquette, deportment, fashion, and refinement. Good manners, on the other hand, are reflection of one’s education, values, and sensitivity Proper bearing and posture Composure and bearing affects not only one’s physical self and image but his or her level of confidence. An individual who has the right degree of confidence conducts themselves well in front of others Health Our health affects our performance in our daily tasks; Illnesses and diseases make us weak physically and intellectually causing us to underperform or be unproductive 4, It is alleged that cherished wealth provides an individual with more friends and relationships through greater interaction. OTHER CORRELATES OF MATERIALISM 1. Materialism and _ happiness reportedly do not go well together as it was shown that people who value possessions and_ material wealth over other more significant life goals are said to be less happy and are more prone to depression. Materialism and self-esteem show an inverted relationship. The desire for much material possessions manifests low self-esteem. It can mean that the demand for gadgets and techie possessions are signs that the individual has a low self-esteem. Materialism and___ financial Stability show an_ inverted relationship as well. Spending, of course, does not promote sharing and saving. Shopaholics are, of course, proof to this as they cannot control their desire to spend using their credit cards for objects that they do not actually need. Materialism and well-being manifest opposite relationship as individuals practicing this principle tend to _ isolate themselves from the significant others as they According to materialism make people unhappy for the following reasons: continue try to derive gratification from amassing objects rather than interacting with the people around them, Materialism and self-concept prove how insecurity motivates people to work so hard for material possessions as the same wealth becomes their source of security. Hence, the absence of these objects means a great degree of emptiness and the feeling of deficiency. . Materialism and lack of engagement means losing one's ability to empathize with others as they become callous to other people’s needs. Their ability to accumulate possessions separates them from others and as_ they considered inferior. Gregoire (2017) 1. Consumer culture may be harming individual well- being. Young adults born in this period of affluence are less happy and are subjected to risk of depression and mental disorder as their well-being is not positively influenced by consumerism. Allegedly those who pursue more wealth and greater material possessions are less satisfied as they experience less positive emotions. 2. Materialist values are linked to Type-A behavior. Those who are __ highly ambitious are highly competitive and materialistic. These are the traits of a Type- A personality. A 2008 study published in the Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology supported the revelations that Type A qualities include the motivation to acquire much wealth and material possessions and are highly aggressive as well. . Money really can't buy you happiness. Research has shown that there is no direct correlation between income and happiness. Once our basic needs are met, wealth makes very little difference to one's overall well-being and happiness. And in _ fact, extremely wealthy people suffer from higher rates of depression. Research have also shown that money is not exactly what brings about dissatisfaction and the unhappiness but the extreme desire to earn more. . Materialism could ruin your relationships. In a research published in the Journal of Couple & Marriage Therapy involving 1,700 couples it was revealed that those partners who are materialistic showed lower marital quality compared to those who are less materialistic. Materialistic values result to low-quality relationships and disconnectedness. And since these kinds of people are less pro-social and emphatic about others, they are less happy and less contended with life as well as with their partners. . Consumer cultures may breed narcissistic personalities. Some psychologists have suggested that consumer cultures may contribute to the development of narcissistic personalities and behaviors, “by focusing individuals on the glorification of consumption,” psychologist Tim Kasser wrote in The High Price Of Materialism. Narcissists generally act with arrogance and are deeply concerned with issues of personal adequacy, seeking power and prestige to cover for feelings of inner emptiness and low- self-worth, Kasser explains. Narcissists’ desire for external validation fits well with our conception of materialistic values as extrinsic and focused on others’ praise," he writes. "Thus it was not surprising to find that students with strong materialistic tendencies scored high on a standard measure of narcissism, agreeing with statements such as ‘| am more capable than other people’ ... ‘| wish somebody would write my biography someday.” 6. Consumerism is fueled by insecurity -- and remedied by mindfulness. Research suggests that materialistic values are fueled by insecurity. A 2002 — study published in the journal Psychology and Marketing found that those who chronically doubt themselves and their own self- worth tend to be more materialistic. Consumerism -- which has been called a “modern religion" -- tends to capitalize on this insecurity and use it to sell products. “In a practical sense, consumerism is a belief system and culture that promotes consuming as the path to self- and social improvement,” Stephanie Kaza, University of Vermont Environment Professor and Buddhism practitioner, wrote in Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. "As a dominant cultural force, consumerism offers products to address every dissatisfaction." So what's the antidote? Mindfulness -- the focused awareness on_ the present moment, which can be cultivated through meditation and contemplative practice -- may be an effective remedy to empty or compulsive consumption. As beat writer and American Buddhist thinker Allen Ginsberg put it in a 1966 letter to the Washington Post: "You own twice as much rug if you're twice as aware of the rug.” IS MATERIALISM BAD? William James James describes the self as the totality of everything that one calls his or hers which includes the ‘material self’. In his book, The Principles of Psychology (1890), he mentioned that understanding the self can be examined through its different components: Its constituents* Self-feelings (the feelings and emotions they arouse) Self-seeking & Self- preservation (the actions to which they prompt) *The constituents of the self are composed of the material self**, the social self, the spiritual self, and the pure ego (Trentmann, 2016 & Green, 1997). James furthers that the material self** is about our bodies, clothes, immediate family, and home. Gy Material Self Investment Diagram Body. The commodity that we cannot live without; We strive hard to make sure that our body functions well and good. Any ailment or disorder directly affects us. And we have certain preferential attachment or intimate closeness to certain body parts because of its value to us. Body Clothes Immediate Family Home