Western cultures are blamed for placing extreme value on physical appearance, particularly on body shape and weight. Research has long documented the powerful role that sociocultural influences have on the development and persistence of a negative body image. This negative evaluation of and discontent about one’s body has been consistently linked with a range of body change–related behaviors, such as dieting, purging, overexercising, and ingesting muscle-building substances and anabolic-androgenic steroids, which are behind the development of several mental health disorders, including anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia (or reverse anorexia). The term sociocultural indicates environmental factors that include the contextual experiences people encounter on a daily basis. These have a meaningful impact on how individuals evaluate themselves physically (body image) and modify their thoughts regarding acceptance of the prevailing social norms of physical beauty and appearance (internalization of social standards). These factors can also motivate changes in behaviors designed to produce a physical body more acceptable and closer to the idealized physique. The contemporary body change–related consequences of a negative body image are perhaps best understood by considering the underlying role played by the body shape ideal to which one aspires. Focusing on the idealized physique also contributes to a better understanding of the different methods that women and men adopt to reach their appearance-related goals. This entry discusses body image, sociocultural ideals for men and women, and the role of self-surveillance in realizing the discrepancy between one’s current body and ideal body.

Dakanalis, A. (2017). Social Standards of Beauty, Body Image and Eating Disorders. In A. Wenzel (a cura di), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology (pp. 3246-3248). Sage [10.4135/9781483365817.n1289].

Social Standards of Beauty, Body Image and Eating Disorders

DAKANALIS, ANTONIOS
2017

Abstract

Western cultures are blamed for placing extreme value on physical appearance, particularly on body shape and weight. Research has long documented the powerful role that sociocultural influences have on the development and persistence of a negative body image. This negative evaluation of and discontent about one’s body has been consistently linked with a range of body change–related behaviors, such as dieting, purging, overexercising, and ingesting muscle-building substances and anabolic-androgenic steroids, which are behind the development of several mental health disorders, including anorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia (or reverse anorexia). The term sociocultural indicates environmental factors that include the contextual experiences people encounter on a daily basis. These have a meaningful impact on how individuals evaluate themselves physically (body image) and modify their thoughts regarding acceptance of the prevailing social norms of physical beauty and appearance (internalization of social standards). These factors can also motivate changes in behaviors designed to produce a physical body more acceptable and closer to the idealized physique. The contemporary body change–related consequences of a negative body image are perhaps best understood by considering the underlying role played by the body shape ideal to which one aspires. Focusing on the idealized physique also contributes to a better understanding of the different methods that women and men adopt to reach their appearance-related goals. This entry discusses body image, sociocultural ideals for men and women, and the role of self-surveillance in realizing the discrepancy between one’s current body and ideal body.
Capitolo o saggio
Social Standards of Beauty; Body Image; Eating Disorders
English
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology
Wenzel, A
2017
9781483365831
Sage
3246
3248
Dakanalis, A. (2017). Social Standards of Beauty, Body Image and Eating Disorders. In A. Wenzel (a cura di), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology (pp. 3246-3248). Sage [10.4135/9781483365817.n1289].
reserved
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
beauty.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Dimensione 92.2 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
92.2 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/151126
Citazioni
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
Social impact