Psychological impacts of appearance dissatisfaction NOl-LEOOS-06154

Overview Why people may be self-conscious – reminder Impact Emotional - feelings Cognitive - thoughts Behaviours NOl-LEOOS-06154

Psychological impact NOl-LEOOS-06154

Psychological impact The three dimensions to consider NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Anxiety – especially social anxiety “a fear of exposure to social situations fear, confusion, pounding heart, sweating, shaking, blushing, muscle tension, upset stomach.” NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Depression “sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration.” More common in weight/size differences than other visible differences NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Shame Internalised and/or externalised shame NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Internalised Shame “acceptance that one has personal attributes (e.g. body shape, size or textures) that are inferior/unattractive, and will result in rejection” NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Externalised Shame “awareness that once is a member of a stigmatised group” NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Isolation – physical and emotional distance Felt sense of isolation, and a real distance – Strangers – Colleagues – Friends – Family NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Sense of belonging is a key human need NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Feeling “Abnormal”/ “Other” Not belonging On the outside, looking in NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Physical Aggression Verbal Aggression Anger Hostility Sometimes observed as reaction to having different appearance NOl-LEOOS-06154

Emotional impacts – what is felt Aggression Often masks underlying fear and anxiety Anxiety may not be conscious NOl-LEOOS-06154

Cognitive impacts – what it thought Fear of negative evaluation I expect you to think badly of who I am or what I look like NOl-LEOOS-06154

Cognitive impacts – what is thought Increased salience – preoccupation with own/others’ appearance (esp. sensitive “features”) The way I look is often in my thoughts Someone high in appearance salience will take time and trouble with their appearance (this can be a positive thing), but also become preoccupied with the way they look. High salience predicts poor outcomes when combined with a negative evaluation of appearance NOl-LEOOS-06154

Cognitive impacts – what is thought Interpretation of ambiguity In social situations, I expect you to be reacting to the way I look (even if you actually might not be) NOl-LEOOS-06154

Cognitive impacts – what is thought Interpretation of ambiguity E.g., when someone is passed in the street by a friend with no acknowledgement:- a)friend might be highly distracted, in a hurry, etc. – or b)may be actively ignoring the person. Self-conscious person most likely to think (b) NOl-LEOOS-06154

Cognitive impacts – what is thought Attention to social threat stimuli I will scan the social world to check out the possibility of people staring at me, talking about me, noticing me NOl-LEOOS-06154

Understanding staring Staring, “double takes”, furtive glances Poor adjustment – assumes malicious reasons (e.g., disliking appearance, disgust, etc.) NOl-LEOOS-06154

Understanding staring Staring, “double takes”, furtive glances Positive adjustment – assumes benign reasons (e.g., curiosity, natural attention to noticing difference etc.) NOl-LEOOS-06154

Awareness of own self Trigger: an audience, mirror, camera Negative feeling (anxiety, depression) Self-focus Awareness of feeling Intensity of feeling NOl-LEOOS-06154

Behavioural impacts – what is/n’t done Social avoidance – Restaurants, bars – Shops – Public transport – Work/interviews NOl-LEOOS-06154

Behavioural impacts – what is/n’t done Social avoidance A short term strategy Linked to poor outcomes NOl-LEOOS-06154

Behavioural impacts – what is/n’t done Reduced social contact Loss of social skills NOl-LEOOS-06154

Behavioural impacts – what is/n’t done Fear and anxiety Expectations of negative outcomes Social avoidance NOl-LEOOS-06154

Social functioning Study example: participants rated (1)all their interactions lasting > 10 mins, over 3 week period, & (2)their own body image Interaction quality is related to body confidence NOl-LEOOS-06154

Social functioning Findings: Positive body image was associated with greater perceived intimacy & social confidence in social interactions Interaction quality is related to body confidence NOl-LEOOS-06154

Who is most self conscious of their appearance? NOl-LEOOS WE CAN’T POSSIBLY KNOW FROM THESE PHOTOGRAPHS

Severity analysis Over 500 participants with body image concerns (e.g., weight, size) and / or visible differences (e.g., scarring, burns) assessed appearance well being. ( Moss, 2005) NOl-LEOOS-06154

Severity analysis Half of this 500 self-assessed how different they looked from the norm Other half of this 500 assessed by plastic surgeon (appearance expert) as to how different they looked from the norm NOl-LEOOS-06154

Severity analysis Self assessed severity ratings of appearance differences – does predict well being NOl-LEOOS-06154

Severity analysis Surgeon assessed severity ratings of appearance differences – did not predict well being NOl-LEOOS-06154

Severity analysis How different someone THINKS they look predicts well being How different someone ACTUALLY looks does NOT predict well being NOl-LEOOS-06154

Social skills improve body image Enhance social functioning by practicing – Conversational opening/maintenance/closing – Skills to develop social intimacy – Appearance specific skills How to handle direct questions about appearance How to handle stares, “second looks”, etc. Enhanced social functioning improves body image Enhanced body image improves social functioning NOl-LEOOS-06154

Please consider now... How might appearance self-consciousness manifest at different points in the lifespan? How might the concerns and behaviours of adolescents compare to older adults? NOl-LEOOS-06154

Please consider now... How might appearance self-consciousness manifest in different contexts? Consider the home, in close relationships, in public settings, in work/training/education? NOl-LEOOS-06154

Summary: Different appearance increased risk for... Anxiety, depression, shame Isolation, avoidance of others Unhelpful thinking Impact will vary across situations, time NOl-LEOOS-06154

This project (project n° NO1-LEO ) has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. LEONARDO DA VINCI TRANSFER OF INNOVATION PROJECT November October NOl-LEOOS-06154