The Psychology of Body

The word ‘body’ evokes many images – some of which are sexual and some others are more aesthetic, spiritual or even clinical. We perceive the human body differently and that explains how indifferent or concerned we are about our bodies. For instance, some monks living in the Himalayas sometimes live without clothes and without food and reduce themselves to skeletons. In the same vein some women in fashionable societies may also like to live with minimal clothes and minimal food but of course, the whole purpose in the two cases would be completely different. The monks try to move beyond the body and try to understand their purpose in life through sacrifice whereas the extremely body conscious people are unhealthily bothered about becoming physically attractive. So we see similar behavior can actually have very different goals and it’s funny how different people perceive the body differently. These days’ men and women shed clothes and show their bodies for all sorts of reasons – to protest against global warming, to make money, to give away money to charities, to protect the environment and even to sell a car. Philosophers would disagree that the body is really that important, considering it only as an instrument or tool to express the personal/interpersonal identity. However the body is an important aspect of art, culture and society and with so much importance given to the body in modern times, it is necessary to have a psychology of the body.

I will try to construct a psychology of the body considering three aspects –

1. Body Image - This is our perception of the body or personal aspect that provides us with a sense of identity;

2. Body Language - This is the main communicative or social aspect of the body and helps us to interact with others; and

3. Body Awareness – This highlights the mind-body connection or psychological aspect that shows the link between our thoughts and bodily reactions.

The body is thus first and foremost a tool through which we recognize ourselves and others. Our perception of our own bodies or other people’s bodies is directly related to the body image. The body image is the perception of our shape and size and is basically about our physical appearance. The body defines our identity and it is through our body that we project ourselves to the world. So, we are what are bodies are, we have no other identity. It’s almost like we are trapped in one particular body and the body image determines whether we like or dislike the body we are in. A positive body image is necessary for developing self confidence and a sense of inner beauty. A negative body image would mean decreased liking for the body and this is seen for instance in young men and women who may become increasingly concerned about their excess fat or lack of muscles. Men try to develop muscles and women try to reduce their weight according to social perception of beauty which directly affects the body image. The way we perceive our body is related to how we perceive other people’s bodies so our negative body image is largely triggered by our own idea of a perfect body. If an obese girl considers a woman with slim waist as having the perfect body, she will naturally develop a negative body image. The body image thus affects our personal life, our lifestyle and our emotions; it determines our direct relation with the body. Although taking care of the physical appearance should be encouraged, being overtly concerned about the body image could be detrimental to an individual’s well being. Considering the enormous importance given to nudity, cosmetic surgery, perfect figure, beauty contests and such issues in modern times in most urban societies, there are naturally many debates and questions on the body image. Psychologists and sociologist should determine how far men and women can pursue their body interests and whether there should be some limitations to the societal enthusiasm on the body factor.

This of course brings us to the other more important function of the body – the interactive element and the role of the body in communication. The body language is as important as verbal language in communication and the interaction of two people is based largely on non-verbal communication, much of which is through body language. In fact, the body language cues are sometimes even more important than what is said to us through verbal language. If your girlfriend says she loves you, that is verbal communication, but when she shows covert interest in other men as well, that is non verbal communication and you might consider both these modes of communication as equally important in determining whether your girlfriend truly loves you. The body is an important communicative agent – the eyes, the lips, the hands and gestures, postures and movements, determine our thoughts and feelings. The facial expression is also as important and sometimes we try to understand a person through his facial expression rather than his words. So if a person praises you when you least expect it from him, you might want to determine whether the person is genuine in his praise or simply being sarcastic by examining his facial expression. When the verbal language deceives, the body language gives away the truth and real feelings or intentions. The body is an interface between you and another human being, and the body language is a social aspect of this interface and important part of our social life and daily communication. Turning away your eyes while talking to a person can imply discomfort, and hands on the waist can indicate aggression. Certain body postures could be disrespectful in certain cultures, although there are some universal body postures and gestures that are common across cultures. Body language is thus not just about our sense of identity but about how we maintain this identity and express ourselves through social interaction and communication.

The final part of this discussion is about body awareness and many recent studies on the connection between mind and body have shown how stress related events could affect the physiological mechanisms in the body. Higher blood pressure for instance has been recorded in people who were asked to participate in stressful events, such as dangerous sports or even cultural activities like drama. Developing strong emotional health is about controlling the body with the mind through body awareness. When we are ‘aware’ of the changes within the body due to stress or any emotional change, we are also able to control the mind in a way that our physiological systems are not affected adversely. Thus controlling the mind with the body or the body with the mind through exercise or meditation or other stress reducing/ relaxation techniques could help to maintain a mind-body balance that is absolutely necessary for a healthy life. Although the mind-body connection was known to many cultures in ancient times, this is quite a recent discovery in psychology. In psychology, the mind-body connection has been emphasized in cognitive psychology and health psychology and research initiatives in psychology on the mind-body link are only in the early stages.

The body is an important aspect of our existence, and is almost all that we have to define our existence. It provides us with a sense of identity through personal emphasis on body image and also provides us with social skills and helps us to communicate with others through body language. Yet it is through the psychological and almost spiritual aspect of mind-body connection that we develop body awareness and realize how the body could be used beyond measures of physical attractiveness or social interaction for a wider relation with the mind and even the universe. Finally, being human is not just about being within a body but also about moving beyond the body and its limitations to realize our greater purpose of existence.