Critical Processing of Idealized Beauty Images

Abstract

A common element of many forms of media is the portrayal of idealized images of human beauty, also known as appearance-ideal media images, which typically involve a thin, toned ideal appearance for females and a lean, muscular ideal appearance for males. These idealized media images are often perceived as placing pressure on individuals to conform to those ideals and thereby as contributing to body dissatisfaction in children, young people, and adult men and women. Recognizing these concerns, the-orists have begun to promote critical processing of appearance-ideal media images (and related media content) that reinforce cultural beauty standards, as a way to prevent the negative impact of the media on body image. Body dissatisfaction refers to the negative evaluation of one's appearance, a fundamental component of which is concern about weight, shape, and size. In western cultures, the focus of dissatisfaction differs for males and females, females being typically concerned about being overweight or too large, whereas for males these concerns typically relate to being insufficiently lean and muscular. Body dissatisfaction is considered to be a serious public health problem due to its high prevalence, associated distress and low quality of life, and frequently negative psychological and physical health consequences. People of all ages, genders, and cultural or ethnic backgrounds are affected by body dissatisfaction. Children as young as primary school age have been shown to be dissatisfied with their weight, shape, or size; and, although body dissatisfaction does diminish somewhat with age, it is nevertheless still present through midlife and into older adulthood. Furthermore, body dissatisfaction is highly prevalent, especially among girls and women: substantial proportions of females (up to 60% of girls and 80% of women) express a desire to be thinner or to lose weight. The negative health consequences of body dissatisfaction have been well documented. Body dissatisfaction is associated with increased risk for the development of depressive symptoms and low self-esteem, increased engagement in health-risk behaviors such as smoking and unsafe sex practices, development of disordered eating, including unhealthy dietary restraint and binge eating, and risk of developing clinical eating disorders (Bucchianeri & Neumark-Sztainer, 2014). As a consequence of the high prevalence of body dissatisfaction and its potential for negative health outcomes, prevention and intervention are required.