Individual Perception of Body Image - Lab Report Example

Body-image studies are important to research into psychopathologies such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. A convenient sample of 20 female and male undergraduate psychology students completed an online body-image survey. The survey used the Stunkard Body Shape Scale silhouettes and questions regarding perceived actual and ideal body-images on a 9-point rating scale. Also included was a question of perceptions of the ideal form of the opposite sex. Gender differences were found overall in that women and men had different patterns of responses. All hypothesis were supported, women rated their ideal lower than their actual, men were similar in their ratings of both, women rated their ideal as lower than what men considered the ideal female form, and men rated their ideal as higher than what women considered the ideal male form. Perceptions of body image are of research concern for psychopathologies such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, amongst both women and men (Fallon & Rozin, 2985). Body-image can be defined as a person's self-concept of their physical appearance (Strickland, 2004). Investigation of the sociocultural differences between genders in body image perception is increasing (Fallon & Rozin, 2985). Fallon and Rozin (1985) report that women tend to weigh themselves more often, are more likely to consider themselves as fat, are more likely to be on a diet, and tend to seek medical assistance with weight issues more frequently, as compared to men. These results, state Fallon and Rozin, may be related to women on average being less satisfied with their appearance than men. Further, studies appear to indicate body image perception in general for women and men is focused on issues of weight (Fallon & Rozin, 1985). Fallon and Rozin cite a study by Gray in 1977 that found women were more likely to consider themselves overweight as compared to objective measurements, whereas men were likely to perceive themselves as underweight. Gray concluded that across the genders participants misperceived their weight when compared to their own gender, and make judgments about their weight based on standards that do not incorporate the health model (Fallon & Rozin, 1985). An example of such a standard is the perceptions of the ideal body image as judged by the opposite gender (Fallon & Rozin, 1985). Later research supports conclusions that many people experience a discrepancy between their perceptions of an ideal body image and their actual body image (Byrne & Hills, 1996). Sociocultural influences on perceptions of body image may be attributed to media portrayals of the ideal body within a western industrial nation (Fallon & Rozin, 1985). Traditionally targeted at the female form, media portrayals of a body ideal now extend to both women and men (Yang, Gray & Pope, 2005). Fallon and Rozin (1985) found that on average men tended to rate their current, ideal and attractive body-image as very similar. Whereas, women's ideal image tended to weigh less, than both current and attractive ratings. Fallon and Rozin highlighted in their results that perceptions of what the opposite sex consider an ideal body-image are usually wrong. They found that women considered men to desire a slimmer female form as compared to what men reported they liked, and men perceived women to be attracted to a heavier male form than what women reported. Studies have investigated methods to quantify the difference between an individual's perception of ideal and actual body image as a measure of body-image disturbance (Byrne & Hill, 1996). Importantly, it is necessary that such instruments be standardized for the populations they are used for, for example females and males, or differences in age or ethnicity (Byrne & hill, 1996). The Stunkard Body Shape Figure Scale (Stunkard et al., 1980 as cited in Strickland, 2004) is one such scale. The patterns of ranking perceived ideal and actual body image have provided insight into how females or males as a group differ amongst themselves, as well as in comparison to each other, and in comparison to their perceptions of what the other sex judges to be an ideal body-image. This present study will compare current and ideal perceptions of body image ratings across and between the genders. The overall hypothesis for this research is that females and males will differ in their perceptions of the ideal body image. Firstly, it is expected that females will have lower ratings for their ideal body image as compared to their actual body image. Secondly, it is anticipated that males will rate themselves similarly or higher for both ideal and actual body image. Thirdly, it is hypothesised that on average women will prefer an ideal male form that is lower than what men on average rate as an ideal. And fourthly it is expected that males will on average prefer an ideal female form that is higher than what women on average rate as their ideal. Method Participants This was a convenience sample of 10 female and 10 male undergraduate psychology students from Monash University. Participant ages ranged from 18 to 49 years (M = 29.6). All participants volunteered their participation and no incentives were provided for their taking part. Each participant was informed of their right to voluntary participation, their right to withdraw at any time from the study without penalty, and their right to confidentiality and anonymity as no personal details were required of them. Informed consent was gained over the internet, participants being unable to take part until they had clicked on the "Consent Statement" link, indicting that they had read the explanatory statement, were over 16 years of age and gave their voluntary consent. Contact details for the supervising investigator were also provided. Materials The scale for this study to assess perceptions of ideal and actual body image was a modified version of the Stunkard Body Shape Scale (Stunkard et al., 1980 as cited in Strickland, 2004). The scale had seven questions with 9-point rating scales, each rating corresponding with an illustration of a silhouette for either females or males. Five of the questions were in regards to the participant's own gender, and two were in relation to the opposite sex. There were also two Likert scales to measure perceptions of attractiveness and health, a categorical question regarding dieting habits and two demographic questions (age and gender). Procedure Each participant logged onto the assigned web page, provided consent and answered the survey by clicking on the rating that they considered answered the assigned question. Using the scroll bar participants could see both female and male silhouettes. When completed, the participant clicked the "Submit" button. Participants had access to the raw data immediately following the study by clicking on a "collated data" link on the first page of the website. Results There was a difference across genders for question one, regarding perceived actual body image, as illustrated in Table 1. Women had an average rating of 3.9 as compared to men who had an average rating of 4.8. Also, the range of scores for each gender differed, women scores were between 2 and 5, whilst men's were between 2 and 7. However, although men's ratings ranged more widely, the majority of both genders indicated that they perceived their actual body-image to have a rating of 5. There was also a difference across genders for question two, in regard to perceptions of the ideal body-image, as depicted in Table 1. Women had an average rating of 3 whilst men had an average rating of 4. Hence, across the genders ratings dropped for the ideal body-image as compared to their perceived actual body-image (i.e., 3 vs. 3.9 for women, and 4 vs. 4.8 for men). There was also less diversity in the range of scores for each gender, women's ratings being between 2 and 4, whilst men's ratings were between 2 and 5. In general, women rated the preferred male body-image as lower than the male's average rating of the ideal (3.7 vs. 4). In contrast, men on average rated the preferred female body-image as slightly more than the female's average rating of the ideal (3.2 vs. 3). These means are illustrated in Table 2 for comparison. It should be noted that one male participant indicated that the ideal body-image for a woman was a rating of 1. Discussion The overall hypothesis for this study was supported in that women and men differed in their patterns of perception of their actual and ideal body-image. Women's average rating of their perceived ideal body-image was lower compared to that or their perceived actual body-image, and so the first hypothesis was supported. Also, the average men's rating for their ideal body-image was only slightly higher than their perceived actual image, and so the second hypothesis is considered to be supported. However, the third hypothesis was not supported in that the average male rating of the ideal female form was higher than what women on average rated themselves as their ideal. The third hypothesis was also supported in that women's ratings of the male ideal form was on average lower than the average rating of male's as they perceived their ideal form to be. Additionally, the fourth hypothesis was supported as men on average rated the ideal female form as higher than the average ratings of women's ideal female form. These results reflect the findings of previous research, in that it was expected to find differences in ratings of perceived actual and ideal body image between females and male (Gray, 1977 as cited in Fallon & Rozin, 1985), that women would rate themselves lower in regards to their ideal body-image whereas men's ratings would remain constant or be higher as compared to their ratings of their actual image (Fallon & Rozin, 1985). Also, the hypothesis supported literature that anticipated that women would tend to rate their ideal image lower than what men perceived the ideal female form to be, and that men would tend to rate their ideal image as heavier than what women perceived the male ideal to be (Fallon & Rosin, 1985). A limitation of this study was that ethnicity was not included as a variable that may have influenced results, for although the hypotheses were supported, most differences were only slight. Also using higher level statistical tests would provide insight into weather differences found were significant. It is recommended that future research include these factors. In conclusion, it is evident that many people experience a discrepancy between their perceived actual body-image and that of a perceived ideal. It is also evident that gender differences exist, though it is debatable from this study to what extent. It is anticipated that this study will contribute to understanding sociocultural factors that influence psychopathologies such as anorexia and bulimia. References Byrne, N. M., & Hills, A. P. (1996). Should body-image scales designed for adults be used with adolescents Perception and Motor Skills, 82(3), 747-753. Fallon, A. E., & Rozin, P. (1985). Short reports: Sex differences in perceptions of desirable body shape. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 102-105. Strickland, A. M. (2004). Body image and self-esteem: A study of relationships and comparisons between more and less physically active college women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Florida State University, Florida. Retrieved May 7th, 2006, from http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-06232004-105058/ Yang C-F.J., Gray. P, & Pope, H.G .Jr (2005) Male body image in Taiwan versus the West: yanggang zhiqi meets the Adonis complex. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 263- 269. Table 1 Comparisons across gender of means and percentages for perceptions of actual and ideal body image. Actual Ideal M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Women 3.9 0% 20% 10% 30% 40% 0% 0% 0% 0% 3.0 0% 20% 60% 20% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Men 4.8 0% 10% 10% 20% 30% 10% 20% 0% 0% 4.0 0% 10% 20% 30% 30% 0% 0% 0% 0% Table 2 Comparisons across gender of means of ideals for the opposite gender and perceived ideals for own gender. Ideal for the Opposite Gender Ideal for Own Gender M M Women 3.7 3 Men 3.2 4 Read More