Chapter 6 Flashcards
Objectification
The viewing of a person as an object to be looked at rather than as a human being inhabiting a skin
- Generally framed as the female body being an object gazed by others
Objectification theory
how living in a culture that objectifies women is harmful to women
- women internalize an observer’s perspective as a primary view of their physical selves
Body dissatisfaction
you don’t feel comfortable or satisfied with your physical appearance
self-objectification
when someone turns the objectifying gaze on themselves in order to evaluate the extent to which they conform to societal standards of beauty
- Normative discontent: the normal state for girls and women with respect to their bodies is to feel unhappy or dissatisfied
Beauty norms
shared standards for attractiveness, whether implicitly or explicitly stated, that are held by members of a given social group
- convey information about what is accepted, expected and valued
Tripartite model of social influence
based on the idea that the combination of parents, peers and the media constitutes the key influence
body esteem
the degree to which people view their bodies positively
Internalization
the process of taking on the standards and norms of dominant society as one’s own and then striving to meet those standards
social comparison
women and girls may check their appearance against these standard, as well as against the actual appearance
Social comparison
women and girls may check their appearance against these standard, as well as against the actual appearance of others
Male gaze
how the audience views the people presented
- the object is cast within the assumptions of the heterosexual male
- women are commonly obectified through the eyes or perspectives of men and through media images that emphasize women’s bodies
muscle dysmorphia
the belief that one is too small and not muscular enough
Body appreciation
accepting, respecting and having a favorable opinion of one’s own body as well as rejecting unrealistic body ideals portrayed by the media
Cultivation theory
greater exposure to media makes the images seem more realistic and believable
Face-ism
tendency to have greater facial prominence in images of men and greater body prominence in images of women
Body surveillance
taking an observer’s perspective on one’s own body
Body shame
ongoing experience of negative emotions as a result of judging one’s body as undesirable
process of self-objectification
Experiences of objectification –> internalization of beauty norms –> self-objectification –> body surveillance –> body shame –> negative outcomes
Why does objectification occur? - Economics
- Companies promoting beauty products and plastic surgery make billions of dollars from unrealistic beauty norms
- preoccupying women with achieving beauty norms keeps them from achieving economic and political power
Why does objectification occur? - Mortality
- Terror management
- objects are immortal, so viewing oneself as an object may reduce mortality fears
Terror management theory
idea that anything that reminds us of our mortality needs to be managed to reduce our anxiety about death
Intuitive eating
involves eating based on physiological cues of hunger and satiation rather then situational or emotional cues
Interoceptive awareness
an awareness of internal physiological signals
