Ob ‘ i lf l i f h i O diD Ob ‘ N ti S lf E l ti f Th i O B diDo Observers‘ Negative Self Evaluations of Their Own BodiesDo Observers Negative Self-Evaluations of Their Own BodiesDo Observers Negative Self-Evaluations of Their Own BodiesDo Observers Negative Self Evaluations of Their Own Bodies gM di t Th i Vi l Att ti T d Oth B di ?Mediate Their Visual Attention Towards Other Bodies?Mediate Their Visual Attention Towards Other Bodies?Mediate Their Visual Attention Towards Other Bodies?Mediate Their Visual Attention Towards Other Bodies?Mediate Their Visual Attention Towards Other Bodies?

Ch i ti J h d M i ShiffChristina Joseph and Maggie ShiffrarChristina Joseph and Maggie ShiffrarChristina Joseph and Maggie Shiffrarp ggR t U i it N kRutgers University NewarkRutgers University, Newarku ge s U e s y, e a

Ab t t ResultsSti liAbstract ResultsStimuliAbstract ResultsStimuliAbstract ResultsStimuliF l l li h h i l di ib i f Female Male BottlePrevious research suggests that spatial distributions of Female Male BottlePrevious research suggests that spatial distributions of

attentional resources reflect the potentially rewarding and Mean Reaction Times (ms)S idth dThiattentional resources reflect the potentially rewarding and Mean Reaction Times (ms)Same width andThinthreatening characteristics of stimuli Here we investigate

Mean Reaction Times (ms)Same width and h i h hi d

Thin threatening characteristics of stimuli. Here we investigate 500height as Thin BodyConditiong gwhether psychological characteristics of the observer

500height as Thin BodyConditionwhether psychological characteristics of the observer,p y g ,l di ti f ti ith ’ b d t ti ll � 490

namely, dissatisfaction with one’s own body, systematically �namely, dissatisfaction with one s own body, systematicallyi di ib i f i i hi i l 480BMI= 18impacts distributions of attention within social scenes. 480BMI= 18impacts distributions of attention within social scenes.

470Glauert et al (2010) demonstrated that female observers 470F l ObGlauert et al. (2010) demonstrated that female observers Female Observers

exhibit attentional biases toward the bodies of thin 460 Male Oberversexhibit attentional biases toward the bodies of thin 460 Male Obervers

women We investigated whether this effect is limited to 450women. We investigated whether this effect is limited to 450gb di t d t l b d l t ith hbodies, extends to male observers, and correlates with each 440bodies, extends to male observers, and correlates with each

b ’ b d di i f i (BD) d/ b d i d440

Same width andobserver’s body dissatisfaction (BD) and/or body mass index Heavy Body Heavy Thin Body Thin BottleSame width and Heavyobserver s body dissatisfaction (BD) and/or body mass index y y yBottle

y

height as HeavyHeavy

(BMI) Bottleheight as Heavy Condition(BMI). g yB d

ConditionBodyBody

BMI= 44B k d

BMI= 44BackgroundBackgroundBackground

Attentional Bias Scoresg

Attentional Bias ScoresAttentional Bias Scores0 016Viewed by female subjects only Viewed by male subjects only Viewed by male and female subjects 0.016

• Body dissatisfaction is defined as negative thoughts and feelings aboutViewed by female subjects only Viewed by male subjects only Viewed by male and female subjects

0.014 * 006• Body dissatisfaction is defined as negative thoughts and feelings about

0.014 *p=.006one’s body.0.012

one s body.0.012

Arrow Probe Paradigm 0.01• Body dissatisfaction is one of the most significant precursors to Arrow-Probe Paradigm 0 0Body dissatisfaction is one of the most significant precursors to Arrow-Probe Paradigm 0.008 Body Biasdepression, obesity, steroid use, and eating disorders (Dittmar, 2009). Arrow Probe Paradigm0 006

Body Biasbj i

depression, obesity, steroid use, and eating disorders (Dittmar, 2009). g0.006 Object Bias0 004

j•Worldwide, 70 million people are affected by eating disorders (Renfrew d C di i 0.004Worldwide, 70 million people are affected by eating disorders (Renfrew C F d i f E i Di d ) Body Condition Object Condition

0 002Center Foundation for Eating Disorders). Body Condition Object Condition0.002Center Foundation for Eating Disorders). y j

08 f i h di i fi d i h h i b di ( i 0• 80% of women in the US are dissatisfied with their bodies (Levine &Female Observers Male Observers

80% of women in the US are dissatisfied with their bodies (Levine & S l k 1996) Female Observers Male ObserversSmolak, 1996).Smolak, 1996).

Average BarbieThe desire to be thinner emerges in girls at about 6 years of Average BarbieWomen• The desire to be thinner emerges in girls at about 6 years of Women g g y

age (Lowes & Tiggemann 2003) For example 99% of 3 10Arrow probe Hi h BSQ G L BSQ G

age (Lowes & Tiggemann, 2003). For example, 99% of 3 - 10 Arrow probeArrow probe

(S bj d ) High BSQ Group Low BSQ Groupyear old girls in U S own a Barbie Barbie’s bodily proportions p(Subject responds)(Subject responds) High BSQ Group Low BSQ Groupyear old girls in U.S. own a Barbie. Barbie s bodily proportions (Subject responds)

ar basically impossible (e g waist ~ 39% smaller thanBodies Presented Bottles Presented

ar basically impossible (e.g., waist ~ 39% smaller than Bodies Presented Bottles Presented *r(84)=.198, p=.056anorexic patients) Exposure to Barbie dolls increases body (500 ms) (500 ms)

r(84) .198, p .056anorexic patients). Exposure to Barbie dolls increases body ( ) ( ) sdissatisfaction in girls 5 to 7.5 years old (Dittmar, Halliwell, & asdissatisfaction in girls 5 to 7.5 years old (Dittmar, Halliwell, & I 2006) Fi ti iaIve, 2006).

Fixation Fixation BIve, 2006).Fixation

(1000 ms) (1000 ms) y B

• Glauert et al (2010) demonstrated that most women have an attentional (1000 ms) (1000 ms) yGlauert et al. (2010) demonstrated that most women have an attentionalbi d i f hi b di k f hi dybias towards images of thin women bodies. Our work grew out of this odbias towards images of thin women bodies. Our work grew out of this

i h d d i d t i ti t h th d h thi Bo

previous research and was designed to investigate whether and how this Bprevious research and was designed to investigate whether and how thistt ti l bi i ht b l t d t b d di ti f ti i d *BMI i t ll d fattentional bias might be related to body dissatisfaction in men and 3 Bl k 24 T i l h 3 Bl k 24 T i l h

*BMI is controlled forg ywomen 3 Blocks, 24 Trials each 3 Blocks, 24 Trials eachwomen. 3 Blocks, 24 Trials each 3 Blocks, 24 Trials each

BSQ 34 sBSQ-34 sBSQ-34 aBSQ 34

Bia

M th dQ

BMethods t BMethods 34 it lf t th t i di id l’ l l f b d di ti f ti ctMethods • 34-item self-report measure that assesses an individual’s level of body dissatisfaction. ec34 item self report measure that assesses an individual s level of body dissatisfaction.

S f 3 20

e

• Scores range from 34-204. bjScores range from 34 204.

Ob

•145 subjects (87 female) mean age 21 3 • Higher scores indicate higher levels of body dissatisfaction O•145 subjects (87 female), mean age 21.3. • Higher scores indicate higher levels of body dissatisfaction. O

• Women completed the standard BSQ-34 Sample questions include:• Women completed the standard BSQ-34. Sample questions include:BMI was calculated from height and weight measurements

p Q p q•BMI was calculated from height and weight measurements, g g ,

BMI f 25 7mean BMI of 25.7.mean BMI of 25.7.

Di iDiscussionDiscussion•Body Dissatisfaction was assessed with the Body Shape Discussion•Body Dissatisfaction was assessed with the Body Shape Questionnaire BSQ 34 (Cooper et at 1987) The strong relationship between attentionalQuestionnaire- BSQ-34 (Cooper et at., 1987). The strong relationship between attentionalQ Q ( p , ) The strong relationship between attentional

bi d hi b di d b dbias towards thin bodies and bodyM l d f l b l t d difi d d t b t k

bias towards thin bodies and body •Male and female observers completed a modified dot probe task dissatisfaction in male and female observersMale and female observers completed a modified dot probe task (Gl l 2009) i l di ib i Table 1 Mean BSQ 34 scores dissatisfaction in male and female observers (Glauert et al., 2009) to assess attentional distribution across Table 1. Mean BSQ-34 scores

t th h th i th t h l i l(Glauert et al., 2009) to assess attentional distribution across Qsupports the hypothesis that psychological

space After a fixation two bodies of the same gender (one thinsupports the hypothesis that psychological

space. After a fixation, two bodies of the same gender (one thin, characteristics of observers impact theirone overweight) appeared simultaneously one above the other characteristics of observers impact their one overweight) appeared simultaneously one above the other. M l t d th l i (V d S lli H t & S 2006) ith

pti l di t ib ti f tt ti l

g ) pp yAfter 500ms the bodies disappeared and an arrow appeared in • Men completed the male version (Varnado-Sullivan, Horton, & Savoy, 2006) with spatial distribution of attentionalAfter 500ms, the bodies disappeared and an arrow appeared in Men completed the male version (Varnado Sullivan, Horton, & Savoy, 2006) with

difi d ti hspatial distribution of attentional , pp pp

th i l ti f f th b di P ti i t t d modified questions such as: resources across social scenes This biasthe previous location of one of the bodies. Participants reported modified questions such as: resources across social scenes. This bias the previous location of one of the bodies. Participants reported di i i h k R i i i i l may reflect a perceptual mechanism thatarrow direction with a key press. Reaction times in correct trials may reflect a perceptual mechanism thatarrow direction with a key press. Reaction times in correct trials may reflect a perceptual mechanism that

i i b d di i f iwere analyzed to determine whether observers showed an maintains body dissatisfactionwere analyzed to determine whether observers showed an maintains body dissatisfaction.attentional bias toward thin bodies In a control condition thinattentional bias toward thin bodies. In a control condition, thin ,and heavy bodies were replaced with narrow and wide bottlesand heavy bodies were replaced with narrow and wide bottles.y p

R f Cooper P J Taylor M J Cooper Z & Fairburn C G (1987) The Development and validation of the Body Shape Questionnaire International Journal of Eating Disorders 6 485-494 Glauert, R., Rhodes, G., Byrne, S., Fink, B., & Grammer, K. (2010). Body dissatisfaction and attentional bias to thin bodies. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 43, 42-49. References: Cooper, P.J., Taylor, M. J., Cooper, Z., & Fairburn, C. G. (1987). The Development and validation of the Body Shape Questionnaire. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 6, 485-494. G aue t, , odes, G , y e, S , , , & G a e , ( 0 0) ody d ssat s act o a d atte t o a b as to t bod es te at o a Jou a o at g so de s, 43, 4 49References:Dittmar, H. (2009). Do ‘Body Perfect’ Ideals in the Media have a Negative Impact on Body Image and Behaviors? Factors and Processes Related to Self and Identity. Editorial note for Special Issue on Media, Body Image and Eating Behaviors, Journal Levine, M.P., & Smolak, L. (1996). Media as a context for the development of disordered eating. In Linda Smolak, The developmental psychopathology of eating disorders: Implications for research, prevention, and treatment. (pp. 235-257). Hillsdale, England: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.Dittmar, H. (2009). Do Body Perfect Ideals in the Media have a Negative Impact on Body Image and Behaviors? Factors and Processes Related to Self and Identity. Editorial note for Special Issue on Media, Body Image and Eating Behaviors, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.

, , , ( ) p g , p p y p gy g p , p , (pp ) , g ,of Social and Clinical Psychology.

Lowes, J, Tiggemann, M. (2003). Body dissatisfaction, dieting awareness and the impact of parental influence in young children. British Journal of Health Psychology, 8 (2), 135-147.Dittmar, H., Halliwell, E., & Ive, S. (2006). Does Barbie make girls want to be thin? The effect of experimental exposure to images of dolls on the body image of 5-8-year-old girls. Developmental Psychology, 42, 283-292., , , , , ( ) g p p g y g y g p y gy, ,

Vanado-Sullivan, P.J., Horton, R., & Savoy, S. (2006). Differences for gender, weight, and exercise in body image disturbances and eating disorder symptoms. Eating and Weight Disorders, 11, 118-125.