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Acne: A biopsychosocial and evolutionary perspective with a focus on shame
Author(s) -
Kellett Stephen,
Gilbert Paul
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1348/135910701169025
Subject(s) - biopsychosocial model , shame , perspective (graphical) , psychology , psychotherapist , focus (optics) , clinical psychology , cognitive science , social psychology , artificial intelligence , computer science , physics , optics
Purpose. Hypotheses regarding the psychological factors implicated in the development and maintenance of acne first emerged in the middle of the eighteenth century. However, the psychodermatological literature from this date relating to acne has variously been described as confusing, overly prone to conjecture and, in particular, atheoretical. The current paper has two key objectives; first, to present a biopsychosocial model of acne development and maintenance and, secondly, to understand the psychosocial strain imposed by acne from an evolutionary perspective with a particular emphasis on body shame reactions. Methods. The psychodermatological literature relating to acne is reviewed with the data analysed for potential biopsychosocial interactions and shame eliciting responses. Results. The review indicates that acne can be reconceptualized as a biopsychosocial phenomena which, in turn, provides the field with innovative hypotheses for empirical inquiry and the potential for expanding and evaluating treatment options. The evolutionary analysis illustrates that acne provides the potential for distressing body shame reactions due to the skin disease's potential for damaging self‐other evaluations of attractiveness. Conclusions. Acne has tended to e viewed as a minor dermatological complaint which imposes minimal psychological distress upon sufferers. The paper concludes that acne has the aility to elicit in some sufferers significant mental health concerns due to a heightened sense of shame relating to appearance.