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The Media, Body Evaluation, and Perceptions of Physical Attractiveness Among College-Aged Women and Men
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by Kinda Tyler, Stella Lopez, Laura Flores, University of Texas at San Antonio -
Category: Social
This study assessed 302 undergraduate men and women to investigate the relationship between the media, one’s body evaluation, and self-perceptions of attractiveness. Initial predictions anticipated that the internalization of the media’s idealized body image should decrease perceptions of attractiveness. Second, participants who have a positive appearance evaluation should report positive perceptions of attractiveness. Third, those with a positive body image should report less internalization of the media. There was support for the second and third hypotheses. Positive body evaluation increases perceptions of attractiveness while media sources of the ideal body image infl uence low body-esteem and self-esteem.