Final Exam - Chapter 9 - Body Image and Exercise Flashcards
- Describe healthy body image vs. body disturbance in terms of 4 dimensions - Explain gender similarities and difference in body image disturbance - Cite factors that influence body image and outcomes that body image affects
Body Image
How we see our own body.
What are the four dimensions of body image?
Perceptual
Cognitive
Affective
Behavioral
Perceptual Dimension
The picture of our own body that we form in our mind.
How we see our bodies when we look in the mirror and how we imagine ourselves to look.
Can you accurately define your body image?
Example: They can pick out their correct size in clothes
Cognitive Dimension
How we think about and evaluate our body in terms of both its appearance and function.
How attractive we think we are
How strong we think we are
How fit we think we are
Example: “I think I am so big”
Affective
or
Emotional Dimension
How you feel about our image
Reflects the feelings experienced in relation to the body’s appearance and function.
Feelings can be positive or negative
Behavioral Dimension
How we act differently based on out body image
represents the things we do that reflect our positive or negative perceptions, thought, and feelings, about our bodies
Example: clothing we wear and the activities that we engage in
What is the key concept of the dimensions?
Some people are able to be accurate in some areas.
Healthy Body Image
Positive self evaluation along with the 4 dimensions
They have accurate perceptions about their body shape and size, have thoughts and feelings about their body that are predominately positive and behave in ways that reflect these positive evaluations.
Body Image Disturbance
Negative self evaluation along with the 4 dimensions
Perception of one’s body shape and size differ from one’s actual shape and size.
Cognitive and affective dimensions, negative thoughts and feelings about one’s body are indicative of disturbance.
Behavioral dimension, actions performed to hide or change the body’s appearance without regards for health implications
Body Reality
physical characteristics: height, weight, body fat, lean body mass, bone structure, fitness, strength, disease, etc.
Body Ideal
How we think our body should look and function
Positive Healthy Image
Body reality and body ideal are similar
Gender Differences
Previously believed that women have greater body dissatisfaction than men
Why? Measured by the desire to lose weight
Assumptions:
women only want to lose weight
wanting to lose weight = body dissatisfaction
Explain the Body Image Disturbance bar graph
both genders have increased over time.
Explain Gender Differences Line Graph
Women: as BMI increases dissatisfaction increases
Men: BMI 25 they are happy, if they are under or over they are dissatisfied
What 4 factors influence body image?
Media
Cultural Influences
Activity Participation
Changed to body reality
Media Influence
unrealistic and unattainable for the vast majority of the population
Celebrity bodies are perceived as the norm
Cultural Influence
Reject media ideals
We have a healthier body image
Activity Participation
The activities that we choose to participate in can influence body image by altering perceptions of the body ideal.
Example: women body builders accept bulkier body types.
Changes to Body Reality
Body image dissatisfaction has been shown to emerge in children as young as 6-7 years old and gets worse when they reach puberty and transition in to adolescence.
Example: growing facial hair for men is positive
Increase in weight for a girl during puberty is a negative
Getting wrinkles and gray hair is a negative
Why is body image important?
It can lead to unhealthy behaviors and affect how we act.
Healthy body image can relate to better psychological well-being in at least two ways: better self-esteem and lowered risk for depression and anxiety.
Body image affects what psychological outcomes?
Self-esteem
Body dysmorphic disorder - you are too concerned with your body image to function in your daily life.
Depression and anxiety
Muscle dysmorphia
Self-Esteem
People who feel better about their body tend to feel better about themselves overall. But it depends on how people value their physical appearance.
People who place a good deal of value on their physical appearance, their feelings of self-worth appear to be more influenced by their body image than for people who put less value on their appearance.
Depression and Anxiety
Poor body image is associated with greater anxiety and depressive symptomatology.
Having poor body image may cause other psychological disturbances.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Worried with a physical appearance that is defected. Even though it may be minor they have high anxiety and worry over their appearance. They engage in OCD behavior: look in the mirror or check their weight all of the time. They also avoid social situations. Can affect their social life and their relationships.
Muscle Dysmorphia (MD)
Worried about muscularity. They believe that they have less muscle then they really do. They always work out Take steroids Always worked about being muscular
Poor Image Causes:
Low self-esteem
Depression
Eating disorder (physical outcome)
Smoking
Smokers and non smokers gained the same amount of weight
Body image affects what physical outcomes?
-Health damaging behaviors
Eating disorders and smoking
-Health Promoting Behavior
If you have a bad body image it will increase exercise
