The effect of media and the fashion industry on body image

Abstract

Young girls are not only taught that thinner is more attractive but that thinness is directly related to likeability and therefore success in all aspects of life. By the time young women reach their teenage years, the message of what is culturally acceptable has no doubt been recognized. It is also exceedingly possible that it has already been internalized as the only acceptable way to present oneself. It has been suggested that psychology students would be more likely to reject these ideals based on the information and knowledge obtained through their coursework (Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, & Tantleff-Dunn, 1999). Therefore, undergraduate psychology and non-psychology students were asked to answer three questionnaires. They included Thompson and Cusumano's Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire-Female Version (1997), Stice's Ideal Body Internalization Scale-Revised (1998), and Strowman's Comparison To Models Survey (1996). Although there were no significant differences between the two groups, the psychology students scored consistently higher on all measures.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2003

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Lavooy, Maria J.

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Program

Psychology

Subjects

Arts and Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic;Dissertations, Academic -- Arts and Sciences;Body image in women;Mass media -- Psychological aspects

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0021791

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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