Effects of exposure to information about appearance stereotyping and discrimination on women's body images

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 51 - 58
• Main Authors: Lavin, Melissa Ann, Cash, Thomas F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2001; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; body-image evaluations; college women; Discrimination; Discrimination (Psychology); Eating disorders; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender Identity; Humans; Personal appearance; Personality Inventory; physical attractiveness; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social attribution, perception and cognition; Social Desirability; Social psychology; Stereotypes; Stereotyping; Students - psychology; Weight; Women; Human; Social environment; Attitude; Self evaluation; Body image; Stigma; Stereotype; Emotion emotionality; Exposure; Experimental study; Social cognition; Personal experience; Physical appearance; Young adult; Female; Self esteem; Public information; Mass media; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/1098-108X(200101)29:1<51::AID-EAT8>3.0.CO;2-Q

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.