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Effects of exposure to information about appearance stereotyping and discrimination on women's body images
Author(s) -
Lavin Melissa Ann,
Cash Thomas F.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(200101)29:1<51::aid-eat8>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - psychology , attractiveness , physical attractiveness , aggression , human physical appearance , mood , social psychology , control (management) , developmental psychology , psychoanalysis , management , economics
Objective There is widespread public dissemination of research findings and media messages regarding social advantages of physical attractiveness and liabilities of unattractiveness. The purpose of this experimental study was to determine the effects of such information on women's body‐image experiences. Method College women ( n = 66) listened to one of two audiotapes that detailed research‐based information either on the subject of appearance stereotyping and discrimination or on the control topic of television violence and aggression. Results Although the two conditions did not differentially alter mood, exposure to appearance‐related versus control information produced significantly less favorable body‐image evaluations. Furthermore, as predicted, women who were schematically invested in their physical appearance were especially susceptible to the deleterious effects of the appearance information. Discussion The scientific and clinical implications of these findings were discussed, particularly with respect to eating disturbances.© 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 29: 51–2001.