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The Effects on Body Image from the Mass Media

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The Effects on Body Image from the Mass Media
The Effects on Body Image from the Mass Media
Kerianne Boss
Argosy University

Abstract
The mass media governs the information on what women see and so they can affect the female’s self-image ideals. The mass media is a significant society of socialization; whereas the individual thinks they discover their own individuality, thoughts and emotions that help them contribute in society. However, the mass media is just another public resource to females that will not only confuse their identity, but can cause emotional harm when referencing self-image.
Consequent to reading most of the contextual studies completed, I have hypothesized that the mass media does have a negative effect on the “ideal body image” of young females. What is even more assumed is the total amount of females that develop eating disorders (from several methods of mass media) are growing higher in reaction to what they do observe visually.
When I first started this research project, I became fascinated with finding information as to whether the mass media affects females when it comes to body dissatisfaction. However, I have recently stumbled upon more and more research that is also including parental factors as well as the mass media that can have detrimental side effects to young as well as older females. I would like to change my previous hypothesis that stated, “The mass media has a very profound effect on the body image of young females” and include parental factors. Therefore, I hypothesize that both parental factors and the mass media has led young females to further their body dissatisfaction and sometimes even leading to eating disorders.

Literature Review

In the two-part study, the Body Parts Satisfaction Scale, and a body image attitudes measure, broke down the participants into race; 66.7% White American, 17.6% African American, 6.3% Mexican American, 5% Asian American, 0.6% Native American, and 3.8% unreported (Petrie, Tripp &


References: Ahern A. L., Hetherington M. M. (2006). The thin ideal and body image: an experimental study of implicit attitudes. Psychol. Addict. Behavior. 20, 338–342. [PubMed] Chabrol, H., Amélie Rousseau, & Callahan, S. (2006). Preliminary results of a scale assessing instability of self-esteem. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 38(2), 136-141. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220493512?accountid=34899 Dittmar, H. (2009). How do "body perfect" ideals in the media have a negative impact on body image and behaviors? Factors and processes related to self and identity. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28(1), 1-8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/224859660?accountid=34899 Lavine, H., Sweeney, D., & Wagner, S. H. (1999). Depicting women as sex objects in television advertising: Effects on body dissatisfaction. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25(8), 1049-1058. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/ 213995988? Accountid=34899 Plunkett, Jack (2008) Plunkett’s Apparel & Textiles Industry Almanac. Published by Plunkett Research, Ltd. Accessed on May 1, 2013. IBSN 10# 1-59392-453-4 Rowe, D. A., McDonald, S. M., Mahar, M. T., & Raedeke, T. D. (2005). Multitrait-multimethod investigation of a novel body image measurement technique. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 76(4), and 407-15. http://search.proquest.com/docview/218550055? Accountid=34899 Sands, R., Maschette, W., & Armatas, C. (2004). Measurement of body image satisfaction using computer manipulation of a digital image. The Journal of Psychology, 138(4), 325-37. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/213832822?accountid=34899 Shapiro, I. (2010). The ethical journalist: Making responsible decisions in the pursuit of News/Living ethics: Across media Platforms/Real-world media ethics: Inside the broadcast and entertainment industries. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 87(2), 416-420. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/750431642? Accountid=34899 Shaughnessy, J. (2008). Research Methods in Psychology (8th edition). Published by McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions. Retrieved from http://digitalbookshelf.argosy.edu/books/007- 7376463/id/B5-3f
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