ABSTRACT
Embodiment is a salient marker of the human experience. Th e physical constraints of our body and the ability of our mind to actively refl ect on our body as we are interacting in the world shape our mental images of the world-our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. In the absence of a physical body, there is no mind, and in the absence of a functioning mind, we are unable to perceive the world. Our abilities to self-refl ect and make self-appraisals, including those based on our physical appearances, play an integral role in identity development and help defi ne who we are as persons. Feelings of satisfaction and self-consciousness about our bodies infl uence the way we experience and perceive the world throughout the course of our lives, but especially during specifi c developmental periods such as adolescence. Moreover, these feelings take on especially important roles during specifi c developmental periods, including adolescence.
