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Plagiarism Declaration
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Title
Understanding Bodily Experience and Notions of Embodiment
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I declare that this essay is my own original work. Where other people’s work has been
used (either from a printed source, internet, or any other source), this has been properly
acknowledged and referenced in accordance with the requirements as stated in the
University’s plagiarism prevention policy.
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Understanding Bodily Experience and Notions of Embodiment
Introduction
Anthropology is one of the greatest fields that help understand our body experiences in
response to what surrounds the body. There have been many questions on what makes the body
and would make the body a whole or the gaining the best shape or structure. An essential thing
that has been addressed and has to continue being highlighted is what happens in the body that
one in it resides knowledge and that it is also capable of gaining knowledge. In addition, when
seeking to address this parameter, several parameters have been developed explaining the power
manifested in our bodies, especially after engaging in various routines and other daily tasks. This
piece examines anthropology’s role in understanding bodily experience and notions of
embodiment.
Research Question:
What is the connection between daily bodily experiences and the routine of
human nature?
Research Background
Embodiment is a term used in anthropology to describe bodily experiences sensed and
brought to life in inhabited surroundings. In anthropological research, embodiment serves as a
dynamic conceptual framework. Dissatisfaction with dualistic conceptions of mankind, such
as nature and culture, object and subject, and mind and body, gave rise to the methods used in
anthropology. These interpretations divide humans into two categories. The early interpretations
of the physical body were restricted to the natural sciences and were not regarded as issues of
social or cultural study (Helmus, 2023). On the other hand, as opposed to just a single thinker,
other scholars and thinkers have further investigated the embodiment theory. From an
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anthropological point of view, the concept of embodiment has been advanced by the
contributions of some different theorists.
Marcel Mauss is widely recognized for his contributions to understanding the
embodiment theory. In his results, Mauss described how ancient bodily practices made it
possible for bodies to adapt to the demands of social use. Mauss mentioned dance, hygiene, and
consuming habits among the examples of bodily procedures he provided. The human body was
the first instrument used by man in the history of society and the lives of groups (Moya, 2014).
The acts of man acknowledged the relationship between the effect of cultural, material, and
cognitive factors on human conduct. These ideas gave early recognition of embodiment from
both practice and perception viewpoints. They were based on Mauss’s discovery that
humans have a feeling of individuality and are self-aware.
The notion that embodiment is viewed from a phenomenological standpoint is one of the
most important things. The objectification process, human experience, and the way people
perceive things are the primary focal points of the embodiment. Yes, these are real objects;
nevertheless, for man to understand them, they should start with perception. When a man initially
becomes embodied, he has his first experiences of the outside world and adjusts how he thinks
about how items are perceived in the body. However, after this, the body will interact with the
surrounding environment, the stage for forming cognition and perception (Aartun et al., 2022).
The potential of subject and object dualisms is removed when one takes a phenomenological
viewpoint to study embodiment. This idea is essential to interpreting the diverse experiences that
people have had concerning the landscape.
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Research Design
A descriptive survey method will be utilized for this investigation. The goal is to present
the most significant findings objectively. Descriptive research's outcomes included discovering
new meaning, summarizing what already existed, confirming the frequency of an event, and
categorizing the data. The researcher chose this study's design because it gives the freedom to
carry out the precise tasks required, like identifying issues with the status quo and offering
support for it.
A research strategy is the initial component of the paradigm for the research process. This
makes the researcher's actual prejudices and points of view clear. Following positivist principles,
this study will first provide statistical support for the statements it makes, and only then will it
draw conclusions regarding the topic at issue. The researcher will have a better chance of using
statistical analysis to get meaningful conclusions from their data if they adhere to these
guidelines.
Data Collection
Data from the participants were gathered using a modified and structured interviewer-
administered questionnaire. Each answer to the questionnaire was given one point for attitude
and one point for knowledge, and the scores were converted into a percentage for use in
analyzing the findings.
Setting and Selection of Participants
Only middle-aged men and women from a public school are being selected for this study.
For the statistical analysis of the research hypothesis to be reliable and effective, this study will
use a quantitative research methodology. The core research technique and quantitative method
will be the foundation for all the data gathered for this study. The investigation of recent trends
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and new changes in individual’s body experience led to the selection of the primary quantitative
method.
Ethical Consideration
The research's goal and methodology were clearly explained to the participants and they
were given assurances regarding their right to privacy, autonomy, withdrawal from the study at
any time, confidentiality, and informed consent. Unlike secondary research methodologies,
primary data research demands the highest level of care when it comes to the adherence to
ethical principles. They have the option to accept or reject the questionnaires. Participants'
personal information will be kept confidential and secure. Participants' privacy will be protected
during the study including protecting their personal information, ensuring that they are not
observed or recorded without their consent, and respecting their cultural and social norms.
Results and Findings
The connection between embodiment and physiological experience can be intricate and
multifaceted. Our bodily experience influences our routines by shaping our basic needs and
priorities. Marcel Mauss argues that our bodily encounters might influence how we feel about
ourselves and who we are. For instance, a person who has chronic pain could start to see their
agony as a crucial part of who they are. Moreover, someone who feels hungry or thirsty may start
to put their physical needs first while making decisions. In addition, our sense of self and identity
might influence how we feel physically. Embodiment also affects how we think about
consciousness and the connection between the mind and body. The body's function in
consciousness cannot be fully comprehended in isolation; our understanding of the world is
inherently embodied and that our bodily interactions with the environment influence our
perception and cognition.
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The connection between daily bodily experiences and the routine of human nature is
essential for our survival and well-being. Generally, it is useful to comprehend body experience
and embodiment concepts in industries like therapy and medicine. For instance, practitioners of
mindfulness-based therapies frequently utilize bodily awareness and mindfulness techniques to
support patients in managing disorders like stress, chronic pain, and other conditions (Aartun et
al., 2022). Also, practitioners of somatic therapies like dance therapy and yoga therapy employ
physical activities and experiences to encourage emotional control and recovery.
Data Analysis
The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 24 will be used as the data
analysis tool for this study. In order to reduce errors, outliers, and missing values, all participant
responses will be tabulated, coded, and entered into the SPSS program together with the data that
has been gathered. ANOVA analysis and an independent sample t-test will be used in the
investigation. The SPSS software's data will be used to determine current trends people’s body
experience
and
the routine of human nature.
Conclusion
Anthropology has established significant contribution towards understanding our bodily
experience as well as the perceptions shaped by social and cultural factors. Understanding these
cultural and social factors can help us develop a more nuanced and integrated understanding of
human nature and the mind-body relationship. Our bodily experiences shape our priorities and
basic needs which can influence our emotions and behavior. Bodily experience and notions of
embodiment are essential concepts in our understanding of human nature and the mind-body
relationship. As such, understanding this concept is crucial towards developing a more integrated
understanding of human nature.
Therefore, understanding such connections can help us to
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effectively develop healthier habits and routines that support our physical and emotional well-
being.
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References
Aartun, I., Walseth, K., Standal, Ø. F., & Kirk, D. (2022). Pedagogies of embodiment in physical
education–a literature review. Sport, Education and Society, 27(1), 1-13.
Helmus, C. (2023). 10 Cultural Learning, Embodiment, and Relationality Theological
Anthropology. The Philosophical and Theological Relevance of Evolutionary
Anthropology: Engagements with Michael Tomasello, 33.
Moya, P. (2014). Habit and embodiment in Merleau-Ponty. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8,
542.
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