Media Influence On Body Image

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Body image is how one views their own body, for example, how it looks, how it feels and how it moves. One’s perception of their body is molded by insight, emotion, and physical perceptions, but can change depending on the mood and environment. Because adolescents undergo significant physical transformations to their bodies during puberty, they are likely to experience highly distorted images of their bodies. Body image is strongly affected by self-esteem and more so than by opinions of others. It can, however, be strongly influenced by the cultural messages and standards of society regarding appearance and what is deemed attractive. Given the prevalence of thin and toned female images and the strong and likenesses of the lean and muscled …show more content…
80). This constant exposure to what the ideal body form should be only serves to further lower the self-esteem of the ones viewing the media in which the images are portrayed. Today’s adolescents and teens are growing up in a world in which the mass media has flooded our consciousness. Statistics reveal that, on average, a child or adolescent watches up to five hours of television per day and spends an average of six to seven hours viewing the various media combined (Clark & Tiggemann, 2007, pp. 85-86). For an adolescent or teen that already has a low self-esteem problem, looking at the images of the models may only further serve to lower their self-esteem, especially those who are struggling with weight …show more content…
These adolescent boys and girls had a significantly more negative view of their bodies after viewing media images of extremely thin models than after viewing images of either average size models, plus size models or inanimate objects. This effect was found to be stronger in women younger than 19 years of age (Morry & Staska, 2001, pp. 270-271). In a study of body concerns in adolescent girls, 16 years of age, attempted to understand the underlying motivations for their wish to be thin. The biggest factor exerting the most pressure to be thin was the media. Even though these adolescent girls clearly stated a desire to be thinner, they also described how this did not necessarily mean they were dissatisfied with their bodies (van den Berg et al., 2007, p. 257). The authors of the study found that the girls had a remarkably well-developed understanding of the media and its possible role in influencing self-image (van den Berg et al., 2007, pp. 265-267). The authors suggested that this understanding may serve to moderate against overwhelming media forces and help them keep a healthy self-image. Although some of the girls did exhibit this understanding of the media and the role they play in body image perception, many will have a distorted view of themselves and pursue their ideal body by any means
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