is Body
Image
What Body Image?
The level of satisfaction one has
towards their physical self.
A persons perceptions, thoughts, and
feelings about his or her body.
Subjective and Open to change
What is Body Image cont..
We are bound to our bodies like an
oyster is to its shell (Plato)
Our body influences
our life experiences.
Influences of BI
Parents
Gender roles
Peers
Role models
Teachers
Coaches
Media
All significantly affect self-esteem, diet and
Social norms
Men are socially referred to as:
Strong
Powerful
Aggressive
Courageous
Smart
Tall dark and handsome
How are these stereotypes
Females are socially referred to as
Beautiful / Pretty
Cute/precious
Sweet
Loving
reflected in the media?
BI across the lifespan
Perception of ourselves is lifelong and can
fluctuate depending on time of lifespan
Most vulnerable times:
Females: Adolescence, pregnancy, postpartum
Males: puberty, middle age
Aging (through the eyes of social norms)
= men get more attractive
= women get less attractive (beauty =
BI across the lifespan
Kids begin to become body conscious
as young as 3 years old
People tend to associate positive body
image with their most happy times in life
Eating Disturbances
Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders
(DSM)
Eating disturbances
all share
characteristics of
over-evaluation of
weight and shape
Attitudes about
food, weight, and
body size lead to:
Very rigid eating
Excessive exercise
Jeopardizing health,
happiness, and
safety
Internalization ideals
Body of standard applied to the body
through constant visual reinforcements.
Women tend to be more critical of other
women then men are of other men
Ideal internalization
Dove evolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei6JvK0W60I&feature=related
Her actual
measurements:
Bust 39
Waist 18
Hips 33
Average for
American women
2004
Bust 40
Waist 34
Hips 43
Elastic Body Image
Body image fluctuates
constantly depending on
internal and
external factors.
Media content and the
presentation of ideals
30 minutes of media
Muscle Dysmorphia
cognitive & behavioral phenomena
Belief of not being sufficiently muscular
and lean
100,000-500,000 men
Many more may suffer from 1+ MD
symptoms
Females can also suffer from MD
Symptoms of MD
Perception of weakness
Self-esteem dependent on size
Check apperance frequently
Avoid situations involving body exposure
Abandon social commitments to adhere to
their training
The action figure growth
phenomenon
1970s
2000s
Remember when
And Now
Positively Influencing
Body Image
Develop a healthy life style instead of
dieting
Shape does not determine your worth
Be less critical of how others look
Be less critical of yourself
Positively Influencing
Your Body Image
Avoid fishing for compliments
Avoid comparing your body to friends or
celebrities
View social and media messages critically
Be kind to yourself
Decrease judgment
Conduct positive dialogue with others