Related concepts: Freud and Ego
Physical self refers to the body, which is physically observable by others.
Different Perspectives on the Self
William James
- The body is the base for generating and maintaining personality
- The mind precedes the body; our mind can override physical sensations
- The body is an expression of our consciousness; however, both the body and consciousness mutually affect each other—e.g., when you are healthy, your consciousness is filled with satisfaction.
Sigmund Freud
- The body is central to our personality and self. he thinks that our ego originates from our body.
Wilhelm Reich
- The body and mind are one thing (not separate).
- The body and the mind is interdependent, both influences each other.
- The body plays an crucial role in storing and releasing bioenergy (the basis of our existence and experiences).1
Erik Erikson
- The body is crucial for the early stages of development for humans
- Both physical and intellectual skills inform us of what roles we can take in society
- Despite the ability of our biological self to influence our motivations, they can still be altered through social factors.
Carl Gustav
- The only physical processes relevant to the self are the ones which directly affect our psychological experiences.
- Things we know about our body only comes from our psychic experiences.
B. F. Skinner
- Personality and self are social constructs that do not correspond with reality. Only the body is real.
Abraham Maslow
- Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory: Once the physiological needs are met, we shift our focus to higher-order needs (like intellectual and moral needs).
Yoga
- Beliefs ranges from outright rejection of the physical self (rejection of clinging desires) to appreciation of the body (the driver for spiritual growth and self-actualization).
- Advocates for the middle ground between excess and deficient when it comes to satisfying the physiological needs
Buddhism
- Like Yoga, moderation of your physical needs is best because it manifests one’s love and respect for their own body.
Sources
- Sanjay Singh, ALL-ABOUT-PSYCHOLOGY.COM, “The Concept of Physical Self in Psychology” - 2013-04-22, archived on 2024-07-16
Footnotes
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I think he’s referring to internal energy? ↩