The document discusses the negative impact of media on body image and the development of body dysmorphic disorders, especially in young girls and women. It suggests that over 25 years, increased mass media has led to higher rates of body dissatisfaction. Various views on the mental causes are presented, and it is argued that social influences from the media can impact entire cultures. Solutions proposed include educating youth on how images are altered, providing statistics on average bodies, and using brief media literacy videos to counter the effects.

1. Can the Media Fix What it Has Broken?

2. Addressing body image issues in young
girls and women is extremely important.
There is a serious problem when a majority of
young girls and women are dissatisfied with
their bodies. Although there may be different
causes for low body self-esteem, the media
appears to be the main cause of body
dissatisfaction.

3. Twenty-five years and an increase in mass media productions
caused an increase in body dissatisfaction in females.
Comer Abnormal Psychology Sixth Edition Copyright © 2007 by Worth Publishers

4. Figure 7.2 “Mirror, mirror, on the wall . . .”
Comer: Abnormal Psychology, Sixth Edition
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall…” Comer Abnormal Psychology Sixth Edition Copyright ©
2007 by Worth Publishers

5.  Plastic Surgery
 Cosmetic Procedures
 Unbalanced Diet Regimes
 Even Complete Isolation or Covering
up
 Developing serious body image
disorders

6.  See every imperfection
when looking in the
mirror
 Frightened by the image
in the mirror
 1 in 100 people suffer
intense anxiety when
they look in the mirror.
 This intense anxiety is
classified as the serious
disorder, body
dysmorphic disorder.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9693178/

7. http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShgxkM5pdesR5JJHCV1GXeOoitqgdYKckZERf1QIttr04uafzP

8. • Caused by childhood
trauma, abuse, or neglect
Psychodynamic
View
• Reward of a response to the
reaction for the image
disorder
BehavioralView
• Expression of emotions too
difficult to convey, expressed
in image issues and disorders
CognitiveView
Mental Cause
•Within three years of imported U.S. television
broadcasting of thin female images in
Figi, an 11.9% increase in bulimia occurred
among Fijian adolescent girls, who were once
healthier and heavier
•Media’s marketing of thin, Westernized body
images impacted entire cultures
Social Influence
Impacts Entire
Cultures
• Ex. Barbie dolls linked to girls age 5-7
lower body esteem directly after
exposure
• 70% of nine year-olds are dieting
Communicated
Early to young
girls
•“Multibillion-dollar industry that
thrives by distracting women away
from a focus on what bodies do,
overwhelming instead with images of
how they ought to look” (Graydon).
Money Driven
Media Cause

9.  Ninety-nine percent of magazine images of
women are photoshopped: airbrush, trim
body parts, correct hair, make thinner, or, if
too skinny, smooth over ribs or bones that
stick out.
 Diet products and food products are owned
and marketed by same companies.
 Television and reality shows market the
“perfect” body on a regular basis.

11.  Perfect Baby
 Photoshop: add
dimples, change teeth
 Baby wigs for bald
babies
 “Child is being
unwittingly prepared for
the combined
blandishments of the
beauty, style, food, and
diet industries” (Orbach).
http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/baby-
bangs.jpg?w=450
Baby Wigs for Your Perfect Baby?

12.  Reveal theTruth About Media Images
 EducateYoung GirlsThrough Intervention
Programs in School
 Play Short Media LiteracyVideo Clips
Between Programs and Online
 Intervention Programs andVideos Include:
 Presentation of how media alters almost every
image prior to publication
 Provide Statistics of the Average Female Body
Shape

13. http://www.dove.ca/en/Tips-Topics-And-
Tools/Videos/Evolution.aspx#ooid=w1ZG13Mj
poDw6JvDfYaDmcoapqq9RAFx
Unable to play video, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U

15.  “Baby Bangs.” <http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/baby-bangs.jpg?w=450>
 “BDDAge of Onset.”.
<http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShgxkM5pdesR5JJHCV1GXeOoitqgdYKckZERf1QIttr04ua
fzP>
 Comer, Ronald J. Abnormal Psychology. NewYork: Worth Publishers, 2007. Print
 Dittmar, Helga. "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 &Clinical
Psychology 28.1 (2009): 1-8. AcademicSearch Premier.Web. 24 June 2013.
 Dove. <www.dove.co.uk/en/>
 Graydon, Shari. "How the Media Keeps Us Hung Up on Body Image." Herizons 22.1. (2008): 16-19.
AcademicSearch Premier.Web. 24 June 2013.
 Halliwell, Emma, Easun,Alice, and Harcourt, Diana. "Body Dissatisfaction: Can a Short Media Literacy
Message Reduce Negative Media Exposure Effects AmongstAdolescent Girls?" British Research
Journal of Health Psychology 16.2 (2011): 296-403. AcademicSearch Premier.Web. 24 June 2103.
 Hass, Cheryl J. Pawlow, Pettibone, LauraA., and Jonsegrist, Dan J. "An Intervention for the Negative
Influence of Media On Body Esteem." College StudentJournal 46.2 (2012): 405. MasterFILE
Premier.Web 24 June 2013.
 Orbach, Susie. "Losing Bodies." Social Research 78.2 Summer 2011. n. pag. SocINDEX with FullText.
Web. 24 June 2013.
 Williams, Sally. "The UglyTruth about Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Body Dysmorphic Disorder Affects
One in 100 People andCan Drive its Sufferers to Suicide. SoWhy is it so Hard to GetTreatment?"
Telegraphco.uk. 10 Dec 2012: n. pag.Web. 21 June 2013. <http://www.
 telegraph.co.uk/health/9693178/>
 <http://media.twirlit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/models-ribs.jpg>