Body Image Essay

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Before understanding the effects of body image on contemporary women, one must first comprehend the term that is body image. According to Psychology Today’s definition, “body image is the mental representation one has for themselves. It is the way one sees their physical body. However, this mental representation may or may not always be accurate. There are two types of body image. The first type is healthy and positive and healthy body image. The other would then be the opposite, unhealthy and negative body image. Healthy and positive body image is when one has a clear understanding of their body. It is when one sees their body for what it truly is. Positive body image is where one can appreciate their body’s physical appearance. This type …show more content…

According to the National Eating Disorders Collaborations (NEDC), these four aspects include perceptual body image, affective body image, cognitive body image, and behavioral body image. Perceptual body image has to do with the way one sees their own body. This aspect commonly results in an inaccurate mental representation of the way one actually physically looks. An example of Perceptual body image would be an underweight person seeing themselves as overweight. The second aspect of body image is related to the way one feels about their body. This is affective body image. “It relates to the amount of satisfaction or dissatisfaction” one has about the weight, shape, and/ or parts of their body. The way one thinks about their body is the cognitive aspect of body image. NEDC says that “This can lead to preoccupation with body shape and weight. For example, some people believe they will feel better about themselves if they are thinner or more muscular”. Lastly, behavioral body image has to do with the behaviors one acquires due to their body image. Excessive exercising and disordered eating to change one’s body are examples of destructive behavior due to negative body image. Self-isolation due to dissatisfaction would be another example of negative behavioral body

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