Lakhasly

Body Image

The image of physical self, or body image, is how an indi The il perceives the size, appearance, and functioning of the body and its parts. Body image has both cognitive and affec tive aspects. The cognitive is the knowledge of the material body; the affective includes the sensations of the body, such as pain, pleasure, fatigue, and physical movement. Body image is the sum of these attitudes, conscious and uncon- scious, that an individual has toward their body.

Body image includes clothing, makeup, hairstyle, jew- elry, and other things intimately connected to the individ- ual (Figure 39.1). It also includes body prostheses, such as artificial limbs, dentures, and hairpieces, as well as devices required for functioning, such as wheelchairs, canes, and eyeglasses. Past as well as present perceptions and how the body has evolved over time are part of one's body image.

An individual's body image develops partly from others' attitudes and responses to that individual's body and partly from the individual's own exploration of the body. For example, body image develops in infancy as the parents or caregivers respond to the child with smiles, holding, and touching, and as the child explores their own body sensations during breastfeeding, thumb sucking, and the bath. Cultural and societal values also influence an individual's body image.

The various information and entertainment media have played a part over the years in how individuals view themselves and others. During adolescence, con- cerns related to body image are of paramount concern. The "ideal" individual portrayed by the media is really an unrealistic goal for many.

If an individual's body image closely resembles their body ideal, the individual is more likely to think posi- tively about the physical and nonphysical components of the self. The body ideal is greatly influenced by cultural standards. For example, currently in North America the fit, well-toned body is admired.

Another aspect of body image is the understanding that different parts of the body have different values for different individuals. For example, large breasts may be highly important to one woman and unimportant to another, or the occurrence of gray hair may be traumatic to one individual and barely noticed by another.

An individual with a healthy body image will nor- mally show concern for both health and appearance. This individual will seek help if ill and will include health- promoting practices in daily activities. An individual who has an unhealthy body image is likely to be overly concerned about minor illness and to neglect important activities like sleep and a healthy diet.

The individual who has a body image disturbance may hide or not look at or touch a body part that is significantly changed in structure by illness or trauma. Some individuals may also express feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, pow- erlessness, and vulnerability, and may exhibit self-destructive behavior such as over- or undereating or suicide attempts.