Lesson 1.

The Physical Self

Table of Contents

1 . Stages of LifeSpan
2 . Factors affecting physical growth and development
3 . Body Image
4. Concept of Beauty

1. STAGES OF LIFESPAN

Physical Self – refers to the body that includes basic parts such as head, neck, arms and legs.
• Made up of other organs such as the brain, heart, lungs, stomach, intestines and muscles.
• In general, the body performs its functions least well during (1) infancy and (2) old age.
• Physical efficiency generally peaks in early adulthood and declines into the middle age.

• Physical development and growth during childhood continues at a slow rate compared with
rapid rate of growth in babyhood.

ADOLESCENCE STAGE
• One of the most crucial stage of development is
the adolescence stage.
• Begins with the onset of puberty
• This stage is characterized by rapidly physical
changes that includes the maturation of the
reproductive system.

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• Adolescence is the transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and
adulthood.
• It is a unique stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundations of
good health.

LIFE SPAN
Development from conception to death

Elizabeth B. Hurlock
• Outlined the stages in the life span
• Divided the stages into 10 parts
STAGES OF LIFE SPAN

PRENATAL - Fertilization to birth

INFANCY - Birth to 2 weeks of life
BABYHOOD - 2 weeks of life to 2nd year
EARLY CHILDHOOD - 2 – 6 years old
LATE CHILDHOOD - 6 to 10 or 12 years old
PUBERTY - 10 or 12 to 14 years old
ADOLESCENCE - 14 to 18 years old
EARLY ADULTHOOD- 18 to 40 years old
MIDDLE ADULTHOOD - 40 to 60 years old
LATE ADULTHOOD- 60 years old to death

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 2. FACTORS AFFECTING PHYSICAL
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
• Human Nature: NATURE vs NURTURE
• Nature- Sociobiologists, psychologists and
others in the natural sciences argue that
behavior traits can be explained by genetics.
• Nurture-Sociologists, anthropologists and
others in the social sciences argue that human
behavior is learned and shaped through
interaction.

1. HEREDITY
-Biological process of transmission of traits from parents to offspring
-The sex and other physical traits are determined by the combination of (1) chromosome (2)
genes during the fertilization (the union of the two cells: Egg and Sperm)

Chromosomes

Thread like tissues that carries the genes are usually found in pairs 23 pairs of chromosomes
(2) types

1. Autosomes or trait chromosomes (22 pairs)

2. Gonosomes or sex chromosomes (the X and Y)

Genes

Basic carriers of heredity traits

Can be classified into:
1.Dominant (strong genes)
2.Recessive (Weak genes)

2. ENVIRONMENT

Refers to the factors to which the individual is exposed after conception to death which includes
learning and experience Factors such as diet, nutrition and diseases play an important role in
physical development.

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Lesson 2. Sexual Self

Sexual Self should not only be a biological process, but also as a preparation to entering into
and sustain an intimate, happy and long time relationships in the future.

Sex Characteristics

1. Primary Sex Characteristics

2. Secondary Sex Characteristics

Secondary Sex Characteristics

• Develop during the onset of puberty.
• For women, the earliest evidences of
puberty are the enlargement of the
breasts, menstrual cycle, widening of
hips, enlargement of buttocks and
growth of pubic hair.
• Testicular growth, sperm production,
appearance of facial, pubic and other
body hair, and deepening of voice are
some of the first signs of puberty in
men.

Hormones
• Natural substance that is produced in the body
• Influence the way the body grows or develops
Types of hormones:

1. Testosterone
2. Estrogen
3. Progesterone

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• During puberty, testosterone and other androgens stimulate the development of primary and
secondary sex characteristics and also increase sex drive.
• The level of testosterone production is fairly constant.
•In women, the ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone as well as small amount of
testosterone.
• Estrogen promotes female reproductive capacity and secondary sex characteristics.
• The production of female sex hormones follows a cyclical pattern, on an approximately 28-day
monthly cycle.
• The greatest production occurs during ovulation period, when an egg is released from the
ovaries.
• The ovaries produce, store and release egg cells during ovulation
• Ovulation period can occur 14 days after the beginning of the menstrual period

Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)

• Hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age

• Women with PCOS may have frequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male
hormone (androgen) levels.
• The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly
release eggs.

Top 8 Symptoms of PCOS

1. Irregular or missed periods

2. Excessive body hair growth (Hirsutism)
3. Acne (oily skin and pimples on your face)
4. Male pattern baldness or thinning hair
5. Mood changes
6. Trouble conceiving or infertility
7. Fatigue or excessive sleepiness
8. Lower sex drive

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The Human Reproductive System Erogenous Zones
• One way of knowing the self is to know the body.
• The physical self tells you who you are.
• For one’s sexual self, there are parts of the body where sexual awakening takes place.
• These areas of the body that have an unusually rich array of nerve receptors sensitive to
touch are known as erogenous zone.
• If persons are aware of them, they can be responsible. For protection, a person must be in
control and know when to say “no”.

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CHAPTER 2 Lesson 2. Sexual Self Continuation..

Sexual Orientation - Refers to a person’s sexual romantic interests to their people of the
opposite sex or people of the same sex

Different Sexual Orientation

1. HETEROSEXUAL - Refers to a person sexual and romantic interest to either people of the
opposite sex. Someone who is heterosexual is commonly referred to as straight.
2. HOMOSEXUAL - Attracted to and interested in relationship with people of the same sex
3. BISEXUAL - attracted to both men and women

What is gender identity?

• Is a person’s internal feelings of being a woman, men, both or neither

•Can be expressed in many ways through our clothes, speech, activities, hobbies, and our
behaviors
• It’s OK for any of these things to change at different times or in different situations depending
on what feels comfortable
• You decide your own identity

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Let’s define Gender…

The state of being male or female in typically regarding the social constructs rather than
physical attributes

Transgender
-refers to someone who does not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth
Cisgender
-refers to someone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth
Non binary
-refers to someone who does not identify as exclusive male or female
Gender fluid
-refers to someone whose gender identity changes over time from one end of the spectrum to
the other
Gender queer
-Refers to someone whose gender identity falls on the spectrum between male and female

Gender identity - who you are boy, girl both or neither

Sexual orientation - who you have a crush on

The Role of the Brain

The brain holds the key to sexual arousal and activates the other parts of a person’s system.
The brain, the master of the body, affects the nervous, circulatory, and reproductive systems.
The brain has many parts that are involved in sexual responses.

Parts of the Brain

1. Cerebral Cortex - It is the upper part of the brain called Gray matter that controls
higher-order functioning, such as language and judgment.
Subcortex - This is the lower part of the brain. It includes the following:
a. Cerebellum - which coordinates body movements.
b. Medulla oblongata - which regulates heartbeat, respiration, and the other basic physiological
process;
c. Pons - which regulates the sleep cycle, and
d. Diencephalon - which regulates emotions.

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Diencephalon - is made-up of the thalamus and hypothalamus.
Thalamus - relays sensory impulses from the other parts of the nervous system to the cerebral
cortex.
Hypothalamus - aside from being a key structure in sexual arousal is also the activator of the
automatic nervous system, hypothalamus controls basic body responses such as hormone
balance temperature and the other constriction and dilation of blood vessels.

2. Limbic system. This is the part of the brain that is

known to be the seat of emotions that produces
emotions in response to physical and psychological
signals.

3. Reticular Articulating System (RAS) - it is a

network of nerves that connects the cortex and
the subcortex it connects the mind and the body.

Why do we need to understand the brain?

• Understanding the self is understanding how the
brain is activated and sexually awakened.
• A person who encounters any kind of sexual stimulus
passes this message to the brain as the master of the
body through the nerves.
• From the brain, the message passes through the
reticular activating system either from or to the limbic
system and the thalamus, which serves as the switchboard and determines what to do with the
incoming messages.
• The hypothalamus is also activated, and at the same time, it activates the autonomic nervous
system and the endocrine system through messages sent by nerves or substances released
into the bloodstream; this is a general pattern of the brain.
• Take note that this can happen to any person at different levels. Individual
differences happen because no two people are alike in reacting to sexual
stimulation.

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The Sexual Response Cycle
• The sexual response cycle is the sequence of physiological and psychological reactions as a
result of sexual arousal.
• The research of William Masters and Virginia Johnson in 1966 has led to an understanding of
the regular pattern in the four phases of Human Sexual Response.
• This is included to understand the general sexual response pattern though it can vary
because of individual differences when young people are well-informed and guided they
can make wise and responsible decisions. Self-control is the key to avoiding sexual
problems.

Phases of Sexual Response Cycle

Excitement Phase
sexual stimuli lead to changes in the body of women and men the face includes increased heart
rate, blood pressure and muscle tension.
Plateau Phase
excitement becomes enhanced, and the body is prepared for orgasm, heart rate quickens,
blood flesh pressure rises, muscle increases and breathing becomes faster.
Orgasm Phase
also known as the climax or peak of the sexual excitement heart rate increases, dramatically,
blood pressure rises, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, muscles throughout the body
contract, and perspiration is evident there is an intense, pleasant, or pleasurable psychological
feeling associated with the release of sexual tension afforded by orgasm in this stage.
Resolution Phase
the last stage of sexual arousal. Thisleads to the return of the unaroused estate. Heart rate,
blood pressure, and breathing return to a normal state, and muscle tension decreases.

Ways of Dealing Sexual Energies

1. Repression - This means denying
one sexual energies and pushing it to
the unconscious. Repression is
unhealthy because one is unable to
express one’s natural sexuality.
2. Suppression - One is aware of his or
her sexual energies but controls it for
many reasons. Suppression of one
sexual energy can be healthy or
unhealthy depending on one’s reason. To suppress sexual energy because one has to prioritize
studies, career, health, vocation, concern for the beloved and family responsibility is healthy.
However married people who suppress sexual energies without any valid reason is unhealthy
because they have to express their sexuality and intimacy, creativity, and connection
the failure to express them mainly to anger, violence, and marital problems.

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3. Sublimation - It refers to redirecting one sexual energies to something else. Redirecting
sexual energies through sports, apostolate, leadership and areas of the arts like music literature
dance drama or theater is healthy sublimation. So the sublimation is unhealthy because sexual
desires can be satisfied through drinking liquor, smoking, overheating, and worse use of drugs.
4. Genital Satisfaction - It is giving in to one sexual desires through sexual gratification this
includes the sexual intercourse. Premarital sex, marital sex, and extramarital sex are
manifestation of genital satisfaction
5. Integration – Ability to integrate one’s sexual energies into friendship, marriage, vocation and
all levels of relationships.

How do we prevent pre-marital sex?

Sex education may help prevent premarital sex. The following are guidelines in preventing
pre-marital sex.
a) Respect, understand and appreciate of one’s body and that of others.
b) Develop a healthy attitude toward sex, which should start at home
c) Know the biological, physiological, psychological, moral and spiritual aspects of sex
d) Be fair and ethical in all relationships, including sex
e) Know that sex is sacred not evil and it is something beautiful created by God for procreation
and education of humankind.
f) Avoid play games regarding sex
g) Develop love for sports, arts, studies, hobbies and any other healthy activities as an outlet of
excess energies.
h) Ask questions from teachers, parents, guidance counselors and guardians about sex for
proper guidance
i) Choose to abstain with wisdom and courage.

LOVE and the BRAIN

CHEMICALS ASSOCIATED WITH FALLING IN LOVE
1. Cortisol
2. Dopamine
3. Oxytocin
4. Vasopressin
5. Norepinephrine
6. Phenylethylamine

Diversity of Sexual Behavior

1. Solitary
2. Heterosexual
3. Homosexual
4. Bisexual
5. Transsexual
6. Transgender
7. Sexually Fluid

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

1. Chlamydia
2. Genital Herpes
3. Gonorrhea
4. HIV
5. Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV)
6. Syphilis
7. Trichomoniasis

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