BODY IMAGE

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Abstract
The articles prior to January 2008 are part of the back file collection and are not available with a current paid subscription. To access the article, you may purchase it or purchase the complete back file collection here Karen Esberger Aging is a phenomenon characterized by biological, psychological, and social changes. These three areas are all aspects of the evolving concept of one's body as related to his attitudes, perceptions, and emotions. It is important for those who work with the elderly to have some understanding of body image and how that constantly changing concept can affect their clients. The relationship of body image and self-concept is best described by Safilios-Rothschild.1 "A person's body image - including physical appearance, bodily sensations, beliefs and emotions about the body - makes up part of his self-concept. The importance of body image within the self-concept will vary mainly according to the nature and intensity of values and emotions invested in it." Although one's self -concept is seen to encompass more than the body image, this discussion will be limited to an indepth description of body image and its inferences for the elderly. Body image has been delineated in many varying ways in the literature. For this paper, the parts of body image will be summarized under four main points. First, the phenomenon of body image can be said to be the total of perceptions regarding one's own body and its performance. That is, a person receives stimuli relative to his body from many sources, both internal and external. Examples of internal stimuli include hormonal influences and distention of the gastrointestinal tract. Stimuli from external sources include such varied items as weather, mirrors, and intensity of available light. These external stimuli bring about inner reactions which affect the person's perceptions of his body image. Norris2 infers that the body image is "developed through the reflected perceptions about the surfaces of one's body and responses to sensations originating from the inner regions of the body as the individual copes with a kaleidoscopic variety of living activities." The necessity of integrating such multiple perceptions continues throughout one's entire life based on individual sensorimotor and affective experiences. Within this total of perceptions, the great influence wielded by factors such as significant others, culture, and society, along with one's role in life should be stressed. Also, the contrary may be true - that one's body image helps decide the role to which one is assigned. As a person grows and develops, he soon realizes that other people react positively or negatively to him; and he, in turn, responds to their perceptions. Although his understanding of others' perceptions may be distorted, he reacts to the way he thinks others see him.2-4 At the same time, he is projecting to others his own body image. Thus, the way in which others perceive him will be influenced by both the image he really projects and image perceived by others whose perceptions are, in turn, influenced by their own body images. One's significant others, or those to whom one feels closest, will hold more control over one's body image. That is, a person will be more sensitive to the opinions, both verbal and nonverbal, of significant others and will incorporate more of their opinions into his own concept of body image. The culture-and society to which one belongs are also determinants of one's body image. Personality or physical traits valued in one society or culture are often degraded in another, and wide variations exist among most societies and cultures. Even within one country, such as the United States, many discrepancies are found in regard to what physical or personality traits are more or less desirable. Religion sanctions may be imposed to limit many factors of one's life: one's associates, one's interactions with others, the choice of one's leisure pastimes, employment opportunities, and… 10.3928/0098-9134-19780701-11

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