Psychology on Vanity in the United States - Research Paper Example

 Psychology on Vanity in the United States Abstract: The “Psychology on Vanity in the United States of America” is a paper which provides an in-depth analysis on factors precipitating a change in traditional definition of being “beautiful” and throws light on the stigmatization of being obese. Furthermore, the paper provides extensive information on teenage health concerns including the alarming rise in the number of individuals suffering from eating disorders and psychological issues. Lastly, the paper focuses on describing the concept of beauty across different cultures. Introduction: The development of psychological problems relating to their personally perceived outward appearance is a result of numerous underlying contributing factors. The risk factors which predispose adolescents and young adults regardless of their gender to developing psychological issues are so ingrained in our society that it has become almost impossible for parents to protect their children from eating disorders and depression. Moreover, the precipitating factors which are responsible for exacerbation of eating disorders and depression are sometimes so difficult to recognize and eliminate that parents along with psychologists are having a hard time in implementing protective factors which prevent further deterioration. Over recent years, an alarming rise has been observed in the number of teenagers suffering from depression precipitated as a result of self perceived defects and comparison to super models. More and more teenagers are complaining to their parents about “being fat” when actually they are underweight or having “plain features” when actually they are beautiful. The incidence of teenagers having a perceptual bias towards negative events and mood congruent hallucinations has been increasing with the advent of TV programs boosting paper thin models. The advent of trends pertaining to size zero models has not only increased the precipitating of eating disorders but have also instilled in the minds of susceptible teenagers “a negative view of self” coupled with an increased inclination towards suicidal ideation. Therefore, vanity induced psychological problems are not only giving rise to issues relating to cognitive distortions in teenagers but are also precipitating a feeling of self worthlessness coupled with a negative view of future. The vanity induced loss of appetite is leading to an increase in the number of teenagers having anorexia. On the other hand, vanity induced over eating has increased the number of young adults suffering from obesity and cardiovascular diseases such as arthrosclerosis. (Carr 2006). Keeping above mentioned consequences in view, it is not difficult to conclude that vanity induced psychological problems are crippling our society by directly targeting adolescents who are the backbone of our nation. Vanity Induced Anorexia: As a young teen, I was an anorexic with a height of 5’3 and weighed only 95 pounds. I am aware that throughout my teenage years, my obsession with being thin took complete control of my mind and body to the point that there was no possible way for me to think about anything else except my image. My powers of reasoning were gone and common sense was completely non existant, all I could do all day long was count the number of calories I consumed. I was very well aware that my condition was not normal but I did not have the courage to change my situation. Now, as I reflect back on all those wasted years, I feel that if I had not been left to succumb to Anorexia Nervosa then things would indeed have been quite different and it would have been easier to cope with my eating disorder. In simple terms, Anorexia nervosa is self starvation. Anorexics often starve themselves to the point that they become “walking skeletons”. Such appearance obsessed individuals lose all qualities of logical reasoning and common sense. The appearance obsession is so stubborn that the suffering individuals never stop dieting and if medical personnel do not intervene then these individuals will starve themselves to death. Anorexia nervosa is a complex problem and the easiest way to handle this illness is early diagnosis. Criteria of being an Anorexic: The Greek word “anorexia” means “loss of appetite”. However, this is a misnomer because anorexics are hungry they just do not respond rationally to hunger and the loss of appetite is observed only in later stages of starvation. The characteristic routinely and vehemently denial of hunger in anorexics is precipitated as a result of intense fear of weight gain. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV, 1994) provides criteria for clinicians to diagnose anorexia. In order to be classified as an anorexic, the individual must fulfill the following listed requirements: i. The maintenance of a body weight which is 15% below normal for age, height and body type. ii. The presence of an intense fear of being obese or gaining weight, and the fear intensifies with progressive loss in weight. iii. The presence of a denial that extremely low body weight is a cause of concern and they perceive that their self image is a product of body shape and size. iv. The absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles in women is also am important indication of anorexia. (Hall et al 1999). Types of Anorexia: In accordance with DSM-IV, there are two distinct types of anorexia, “Restricting Type” and “Binge-Eating/Purging Type”. Individuals classified under the category of “Restricting Type” anorexia are those who reduce their overall food intake, exercise excessively, and undergo fasting coupled with dieting in an effort to lose weight. On the other hand, individuals with “Binge-Eating/Purging Type” anorexia consume large amounts of food in relatively short period of times and then purge through inducing vomiting or by employing other methods such as excessive exercising, dieting, fasting, or a combination of all these measures. (Hall et al 1999). Statistics: In accordance with the National Eating Disorder Association, in the United States of America alone there are an estimated 10 million women that are suffering from eating disorders. One in 200 American women has anorexia and approximately 10-15% of the total anorexia cases are males. Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness has the highest mortality rate than any other psychiatric illness. Moreover, the mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa for females between the age groups 15-24 years is 12 times higher than all other causes of death for the same age group. Anorexia nervosa is not an untreatable mental illness however prognosis greatly depends on how early the illness is diagnosed. In accordance with a study conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), the mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is so high that approximately 10-15% of the suffering individuals have a life expectancy of only ten years. Moreover, 18-20% of the anorexics will be dead in the next 20 years and this rate is quite high as compared to the mortality rate of other mental illnesses. Anorexia is crippling our society and this statement is justified by the fact that it is the third most common chronic illness among teenagers. The alarming rise in concerns pertaining to self image is so high that approximately 50% of girls having normal weights between the ages of 11 and 13 perceive themselves as being obese. (Eating Disorder Statistics, anonymous, 2012). Vanity Induced Depression: In modern society, depression among adolescents is a common occurrence. In accordance with DSM-IV, an individual having five or more of the following listed symptoms in a two week period or every day is considered as suffering from depression: i. Adolescents having an irritable or a depressed mood ii. Low interest in daily activities iii. Unexplained loss of weight or a reduction in appetite iv. Insomnia or hypersomnia v. Retardation or psychomotor agitation vi. Constant fatigue coupled with a marked decrease in energy levels vii. Excessive guilt or feelings of self worthlessness viii. Inability to concentrate on studies and daily activities ix. Suicidal ideation or repeated thoughts of death. (Electronic DSM-IV-TR 2000). In modern society, adolescents are surrounded by tremendous pressures from all sides, for instance, the media exerts a negative influence on teenagers by promoting paper thin models in advertisements and entertainment shows. Teenagers are forced into a floundering sea of fear and depression when they are unable to attain size zero figure. On the other hand, the cosmetic industry has been using beautiful girls with perfect features to advertise their products since the very beginning which has been promoting depression among teenage girls because they perceive themselves as obese and plain in comparison to poster girls. Consequences of Depression on the Lives of the Victims: Depressed adolescents develop a perpetual bias attitude towards negative events and in severe cases, experience mood congruent hallucinations. The anxiety and apprehension associated with depression forces the individual to seek isolation because they believe that their outward appearance is not presentable. On the other hand, depression induced lack of concentration affects the individual’s academic performance which further promotes exacerbation of self worthlessness. In addition to psychological issues, physical issues relating to depression also deteriorate the condition. Physical concerns such as fatigue, aches and pains, insomnia, change in weight and diurnal mood swings force the affected individuals to isolate themselves from the world. The isolation tends to further worsen the situation and if the individual is not treated then chances of suicidal ideation might increase. (Franklin et al 2008). Statistics: The statistics of depression reveal that depression is a common issue among adolescents. In accordance with a study, approximately 20% of the teenagers in the United States of America will experience depression before becoming adults. At any one time, 10-15% of the teenagers are suffering from depression. Approximately, 5% of the teenagers have major depression and 2% are suffering from Dysthymia. Moreover, a small number of teenagers also suffer from seasonal depression which is characteristically high during the winters. The statistics of depression reveal that teenagers are prone to depression as compared to the general population. In accordance with recent statistics, 8.3% of the teenagers suffer from depression as compared to 5.3% of the general population. The increased incidence of depression among teenagers is tone of the leading cause of deterioration of family relationships, withdrawal from peer relationships, and low academic performance. Obesity: In simple terms, the condition of having an excess body fat is known as obesity. An individual is said to be obese if his levels of adiposity exceed certain per specified cut offs. The excess adiposity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as arthrosclerosis and coronary heart disease. In accordance with the WHO, obesity is expressed as weight-for-age or weight-for-height in excess of + 2 Z- scores on the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)/WHO reference. The statistics of obesity reveal that in the United States of America, 21% of the adolescents are obese which has inevitably increased the risk of cardiovascular and other obesity related health concerns among teenagers. (Burniat 2002). The risk of obesity induced sleep apnea has also increased among teenagers which has subsequently increased its mortality rate. The individuals more susceptible to obesity are adolescents and numerous precipitating factors are responsible for an increased susceptibility. The risk factors include heritability, having an early adiposity rebound, and increased inclination towards fatty foods. Societal Stigmatization of Obesity: In accordance with recent studies, the most prevalent form of morbidity associated with teenage obesity is the psychosocial concerns. The societal stigmatization of obesity not only forces the individual into a floundering sea of fear and isolation but also inflicts lifelong repercussions. In accordance with a survey conducted by the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth in the United States of America, the comparison between 16 year old obese girls with their lean peers revealed that obese girls had lesser chances of getting married, were more prone to depression, and were found to have completed fewer years of education. (Burniat 2002). Body Dysmorphic Disorder: The Body Dysmorphic Disorder is an emotionally painful, yet, under recognized psychiatric disorder which is more common among females than males and cripples the victim emotionally. Individuals with BDD perceive themselves as being extremely ugly and their concerns over outward appearance is so high that it starts to have a negative effect on their personal as well as social life. Attractive individuals complain that they have a “big nose”, “disproportionate body frames” or “flabby thighs”. Seriousness of BDD: The victims might dislike their certain body parts or in severe cases they might dislike their whole existence. BDD forces attractive young individuals to perceive themselves as being the ugliest individuals in the world. The serious psychiatric disorder is a common problem among teenagers. However, until recently physicians and psychologists were not aware of the repercussions this disorder can inflict upon its victims. The severity of the disorder can be analyzed form the fact that individuals with BDD avoid social gatherings, face behavioral problems at school and work, indulge in violence, and are more prone to suicidal ideation. (Phillips 2009). Definition of Beauty across Various Cultures: A consistent preference for faces and body shapes is shown by people from different cultures. For females smooth skin, big wide eyes, long silky hair, and an hourglass figure is perceived as beautiful in almost every culture across the world. In case of males, a lean muscled tall body frame with a strong bone structure is considered as attractive in diverse cultures. The choice of a mate is greatly influenced by outward appearance in most parts of the world. (Sanderson 2010). Regardless of the culture, the concept of beauty and sexiness has almost always been associated with outward appearance. Therefore, being sexy and beautiful on the inside has been neglected in most cultures. The facial characteristics pertaining to beauty were described for the first time by Egyptians during the fourth and the fifth centuries. The ideal proportions in figure were laid down for the first time by the artist Polykleitos in the fifth century B.C. On the other hand, the Greeks were inspired by the Great Canon, and modified it to formulate the Golden Proportion. Throughout the Middle Ages, the theme of seeking the correct defination of beauty continued and later progressed during the Renaissance. In accordance with Pere Andre, the most satisfying defination of being beautiful is having “a balance of Unity, order, proportion, and symmetry”. Numerous examples of mutual appreciation of beauty across various ethnic divides can be found throught out history. Beautiful men and women have always been the foci of attention in every part of the world and have been the subject of countless artists throughout the history of the world. (Grimes 2008). Keeping the above mentioned facts in view, it is quite easy to reflect that throughout history, the importance of outward appearance has been more as compared to inward beauty. However, being beautiful on the inside is far important than being beautiful on the outside and this is a fact that our society needs to realize if appearance related disorders have to be eliminated. Conclusion: The alarming rise in the number of teenagers suffering from mental illnesses such as depression, anorexia, and body dysmorphic disorder reflects the failure of the government in controlling health concerns of adolescents. A comparision between recent and old statistics reveal that the number of individuals suffering from psychiatric and eating disorders has accelerated over the past few decades. The promotion of size zero models by cosmetic and the entertainment industry has precipitated the onset of depression and anorexia among hundreds of adolescents around the world. Moreover, the classical defination of being beautiful has also fueled the fire of eating disorders and have plunged hundreds of teenagers into a floundering sea of fasting, excessive exercise, and dieting. References: Carr, A. (2006). The handbook of child and adolescent clinical psychology: A contextual approach. London: Routledge. Eating Disorder Statistics: How Many People Have Eating Disorders? Anonynous, 2012. (http://www.mirasol.net/eating-disorders/information/eating-disorder-statistics.php). Hall, L., & Ostroff, M. (1999). Anorexia nervosa: A guide to recovery. Carlsbad, Calif: Gürze Books. American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Electronic DSM-IV-TR plus. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association. Franklin, C., Harris, M. B., & Allen-Meares, P. (2008). The school practitioner's concise companion to mental health. New York: Oxford University Press. Teenage Depression Statistics. Anonymous. (http://www.teendepression.org/stats/teenage-depression-statistics/). Burniat, W. (2002). Child and adolescent obesity: Causes and consequences, prevention and management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Phillips, K. A. (2009). Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA. Sanderson, C. A. (2010). Social psychology. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Grimes, P. E. (2008). Aesthetics and cosmetic surgery for darker skin types. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More