Media Affect on Body Image, Assessment Example

Over View of Article

The media plays a big role in the way people view their bodies and a direct link has been correlated with body dissatisfaction. A study was conducted on 285 female undergraduates that reported on their media exposure, comparison with media figures, self-esteem, and parental attitudes toward body shapes. At the conclusion of the study, it was concluded that media figure comparison had more of an effect on self-esteem than any other factor. The researchers noted that the body image of women portrayed in the media has become smaller and smaller over the years. As a result, body image has been associated with success and desirability.

Major Theories

The Cultivation Theory suggests that media viewing over time alters what one may see or believe as acceptable. In other words, the more television a person views, they more likely they are to believe what they are viewing as real life. For example, when women view other female media figures that are thin, over time they begin to believe that being thin is the only socially acceptable way to be. So, they view thin as being good and overweight as being bad.

The Social Comparison Theory attempts to explain why women develop certain attitudes about what body shape is most socially desirable. Under this theory, it is assumed that people are continuously evaluating themselves in terms of body image. There are two types of comparisons: upward and downward. With upward comparison, a person compares is when a person compares themselves to someone else that they feel are more socially desirable than they are. Downward comparison is when a person compares themselves to someone that they feel are less socially desirable than they are. For example, Halle Berry is considered one of the most women in show business. An example of an upward comparison would be if an overweight woman compared herself to the physique of Halle Berry.

Methods

The participants of this study were affiliated with a southeastern university and were offered course credit for participation in the study. A total of 417 undergraduate students participated in the study.  About 68 percent of the participants were female and ranged in age from 18 to 37 years old. Nearly 66 percent of the participants were Caucasian, about 18 percent were Latino, about 6 percent were African American, about 5 percent were Asian, and about 7 percent were of mixed race origin. Each of the participants had to report how many hours of television they watched per day. First, the researchers had to come up with thin-ideal television shows. Once this list was compiled, the contestants were given a list of these shows and how to watch each and report how much they enjoyed the shows. Next, participants were given a list of shows that according to their body types, made upward or downward comparisons to media figure. The participants then had to rate themselves in reference to the media figures. The researchers concluded at the end of the study that television consumption has a great effective on body image. Body dissatisfaction has been directly linked to media consumption.

Review of Literature

It has been noted that between the years of 1959-1978, the image of women in the media has changed drastically; the women have become thinner and thinner and by today’s standards many would be great candidates for eating disorders (Park, 2005). As a result of this, certain images have been equated success and happiness. Likewise, body images of overweight persons are equated with unhappiness and failure (Harrison, 2000). Women who watch television the most believe that being thin is the norm. Viewers who are heavy begin to try to attain the thinness they are viewing on television (Hendriks and Burgoon, 2003).

George Gerbner introduced Cultivation Theory to explain how television viewing influences the viewers’ concept of reality (Gerberner, 1998). Shrum and Bischak added to this theory by addressing the idea of resonance. According to them, resonance is the belief that the viewers’ life experiences affect their perception of television (2001). In other words, people usually like to view media that closely relates to their lives or what they would like their lives to be like.

Implications

Parents must be selective in what their children are viewing on television because evidence shows that media has more on an influence on them than any other factor. I would like to see a study conducted on television viewers who have had the viewing capacities closely monitored by their parents. I would be interesting to see what type of effect this may have on a person self-esteem and body image. I think the research was conducted well, but I would have liked to know what race is more affected by media influence and what age is most vulnerable to body dissatisfaction issues.

Five Questions

1. What is the number one factor that affects one’s body image?
2. What is the second factor that affects one’s body image?
3. How can parents help children build positive self-esteem concerning body image?
4. What’s your idea of an ideal body type? Male and female?
5. Which sex is more vulnerable to body dissatisfaction? Male or Female?