6. Idealized Media & Appearance Comparisons

Question 1

purpose of idealized images

Answer 1

The present research aimed to examine the effect of exposure to images of idealized beauty in the media on adolescent girls’ and boys’ body image.

Question 2

findings

Answer 2

Idealized commercials led to increased negative mood and appearance comparison for GIRLS AND BOYS, although the effect on appearance comparison was stronger for GIRLS.

Question 3

strongest factor

Answer 3

Mass media

Question 4

why is the effect greater for girls

Answer 4

Girls are more likely to engage in appearance-related social comparison than boys

Question 5

what was the effect of muscular ideal commercials on boys

Answer 5

nada

Question 6

purpose of fardouly et al., The impact of appearance comparisons made through social media, traditional media, and in person in women’s everyday lives

Answer 6

• investigate the overall frequency and the direction of appearance comparisons made in different contexts (traditional media, social media, in person) in women’s everyday lives
• as well as the impact of those comparisons on women’s appearance satisfaction, mood, thoughts of dieting and exercising, and diet and exercise behavior.

Question 7

hypothesis

Answer 7

upward appearance comparisons are hypothesized to be most common through these media types, whereas in-person comparisons are expected to be more varied in direction.

Question 8

what is one of the most consistent and robust risk and maintenance factors for eating disorders

Answer 8

body dissatisfaction

Question 9

Upward comparisons

Answer 9

when people compare themselves to someone better off than themselves, and these comparisons typically produce negative consequences

• Most likely comparison in everyday life
• Found to have the most negative impact on women’s body image

Question 10

Downward comparisons

Answer 10

when people compare themselves to someone worse off than themselves, and downward comparisons typically produce positive consequences

Question 11

Lateral comparisons

Answer 11

compare themselves to others whom they perceive to be the same as them in a particular domain

Question 12

method

Answer 12

Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA): participants complete questionnaires multiple times per day regarding specific experiences they have as those experiences occur in their daily lives

• Reduces bias in memory recall
• Highly generalizable to real life given that questionnaires are completed in response to events that occur in people’s natural environment

Question 13

FINDINGS

Answer 13

• Comparisons were most commonly made on social media
  
  • more readily accessible
  • upward most common

Question 14

what is the effect of comparisons on social media vs. in person

Answer 14

• Upward in social media = less appearance satisfaction than in-person
  
  • other features of social media, such as other users liking or commenting on pictures, may make upward comparisons through social media more influential than in-person comparisons to women’s body image.
  • number of “likes” and positive comments may lead to less appearance satisfaction