Psychology Literature Review
Mass Media and Peer Influence Have a Negative Effect on Body Image
Leticia Estrada
University of Houston
For years, the mass media has continued to change the way body image is presented to the public and it has produced a negative effect on the way people see themselves when they compare their body image to the image of those on television and magazines. Past research has studied the relationship between mass media and the dissatisfaction of with body image among males and females. The media continues to use slim bodies to portray what some people see as the ideal or perfect image of what the body should look like and this is affects people starting at a very young age. Advertising in magazines and televised commercials, characters in television shows, and the influence of peers are taught to be factors of body dissatisfaction (Anschutz, Van Strien, & Engels, 2011; Clark & Tiggemann, 2008; Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006; Eyal & Te 'eni-Harari, 2013; Stice, Schupak-Neuberg, Shaw, & Stein, 1994). Even though research has been performed with the help of older participants, prior to the study done by Dohnt and Tiggemann, little was known about the relationship between mass media and peer influence on body image satisfaction amongst children. In this paper, the effect of mass media and peer influence on body image across a wide age range is investigated. It is hypothesized that the mass media and peer influence have a negative effect on the way the general population feel about their body in terms to weight, and the following five literature reviews make an effort to validate the hypothesis.
In a research study by Dohnt & Tiggemann (2006), two questions served as guidance for the study. First, would the exposure to television and magazines produce a negative effect on children’s body image satisfaction? Second, do peers act as an influence on the level of body image satisfaction? It is hypothesized that mass media and peer influences will contribute to body image
Leticia Estrada
University of Houston
For years, the mass media has continued to change the way body image is presented to the public and it has produced a negative effect on the way people see themselves when they compare their body image to the image of those on television and magazines. Past research has studied the relationship between mass media and the dissatisfaction of with body image among males and females. The media continues to use slim bodies to portray what some people see as the ideal or perfect image of what the body should look like and this is affects people starting at a very young age. Advertising in magazines and televised commercials, characters in television shows, and the influence of peers are taught to be factors of body dissatisfaction (Anschutz, Van Strien, & Engels, 2011; Clark & Tiggemann, 2008; Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006; Eyal & Te 'eni-Harari, 2013; Stice, Schupak-Neuberg, Shaw, & Stein, 1994). Even though research has been performed with the help of older participants, prior to the study done by Dohnt and Tiggemann, little was known about the relationship between mass media and peer influence on body image satisfaction amongst children. In this paper, the effect of mass media and peer influence on body image across a wide age range is investigated. It is hypothesized that the mass media and peer influence have a negative effect on the way the general population feel about their body in terms to weight, and the following five literature reviews make an effort to validate the hypothesis.
In a research study by Dohnt & Tiggemann (2006), two questions served as guidance for the study. First, would the exposure to television and magazines produce a negative effect on children’s body image satisfaction? Second, do peers act as an influence on the level of body image satisfaction? It is hypothesized that mass media and peer influences will contribute to body image
References: Anschutz, D. J., Van Strien, T., & Engels, R. C. (2011). Exposure to slim images in mass media: Television commercials as reminders of restriction in restrained eaters. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 1(S), 48-59. Clark, L., & Tiggemann, M. (2008). Sociocultural and individual psychology predictors of body image in young girls: A prospective study. Developmental Psychology, 44(4), 1124-1134. Dohnt, H., & Tiggemann, M. (2006). The contribution of peer and media influences to the development of body satisfaction and self-esteem in young girls: A prospective study. Developmental Psychology, 42(5), 929-936. Eyal, K., & Te 'eni-Harari, T. (2013). Explaining the relationship between media exposure and early adolescents ' body image perceptions: The role of favorite characters. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 25(3), 129-141. Stice, E., Schupak-Neuberg, E., Shaw, H. E., & Stein, R. I. (1994). Relation of media exposure to eating disorder symptomatology: An examination of mediating mechanisms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103(4), 836-840.