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Abstract
The judgment of female body appearance has been reported to be affected by a range of internal (e.g., viewers' sexual cognition) and external factors (e.g., viewed clothing type and colour). This eye-tracking study aimed to complement previous research by examining the effect of facial expression on female body perception and associated body-viewing gaze behaviour. We presented female body images of Caucasian avatars in a continuum of common dress sizes posing seven basic facial expressions (neutral, happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust), and asked both male and female participants to rate the perceived body attractiveness and body size. The analysis revealed an evident modulatory role of avatar facial expressions on body attractiveness and body size ratings, but not on the amount of viewing time directed at individual body features. Specifically, happy and angry avatars attracted the highest and lowest body attractiveness ratings, respectively, and fearful and surprised avatars tended to be rated slimmer. Interestingly, the impact of facial expression on female body assessment was not further influenced by viewers' gender, suggesting a 'universal' role of common facial expressions in modifying the perception of female body appearance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kun Guo
- Kun Guo, School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
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2
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Turnbull G, Lego S, Kennedy BL, Alexi J, Li YR, Engel MM, Mann G, Bayliss DM, Farrell S, Bell J. Sizing up the crowd: Assessing spatial integration difficulties in body size judgements across eating disorder symptomatology. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1003250. [PMID: 36687820 PMCID: PMC9853910 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1003250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Body size judgements are frequently biased, or inaccurate, and these errors are further exaggerated for individuals with eating disorders. Within the eating disorder literature, it has been suggested that exaggerated errors in body size judgements are due to difficulties with integration. Across two experiments, we developed a novel integration task, named the Ebbinghaus Illusion for Bodies in Virtual Reality (VR), to assess whether nearby bodies influence the perceived size of a single body. VR was used to simulate the appearance of a small crowd around a central target body. Method and Results In Experiment 1 (N = 412), participants were required to judge the size of a central female target within a crowd. Experiment 1 revealed an Ebbinghaus Illusion, in which a central female appeared larger when surrounded by small distractors, but comparatively smaller when surrounded by large distractors. In other words, the findings of Experiment 1 demonstrate that surrounding crowd information is integrated when judging an individual's body size; a novel measure of spatial integration (i.e., an Ebbinghaus Illusion for Bodies in VR). In Experiment 2 (N = 96), female participants were selected based on high (n = 43) and low (n = 53) eating disorder symptomatology. We examined whether the magnitude of this illusion would differ amongst those with elevated versus low eating disorder symptomatology, in accordance with weak central coherence theory, with the high symptomatology group displaying less spatial integration relative to the low group. The results of Experiment 2 similarly found an Ebbinghaus Illusion for Bodies in VR. However, illusion magnitude did not vary across high and low symptomatology groups. Discussion Overall, these findings demonstrate that surrounding crowd information is integrated when judging individual body size; however, those with elevated eating disorder symptomatology did not show any integration deficit on this broader measure of spatial integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Turnbull
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia,*Correspondence: Georgia Turnbull,
| | - Sophia Lego
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Briana L. Kennedy
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Joanna Alexi
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Yanqi R. Li
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Manja M. Engel
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Georgina Mann
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Donna M. Bayliss
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Simon Farrell
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Jason Bell
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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3
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Lei X, Perrett D. Thinner bodies are preferred in China compared to Britain but are not seen as healthier. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03803-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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4
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Sandoval CM, Martz DM, Bazzini DG, Webb RM, Hinkle MM, Francis L. Does fat talk affect relationship and sexual satisfaction?: Adults' perceptions of fat talk in a fictional romantic relationship. Eat Behav 2022; 45:101603. [PMID: 35231799 DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2022.101603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about how fat talk - a verbal expression of body image concerns - functions within romantic relationships. This study used vignettes about a fictional couple to examine how varied levels of a woman's fat talk were perceived by participants as affecting a fictional couple's relationship and sexual satisfaction. Participants were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and included 239 heterosexual people (127 men, 112 women) with long-term relationship experience. Using a 3 (Level of Body Talk: Excessive vs. Minimal Fat Talk vs. Self-Accepting Talk) × 2 (Participant Gender: Male vs. Female) × 2 (Perspective: Husband vs. Wife) between-subjects design, participants read a vignette where the target woman used varying levels of body talk when speaking with her partner. Afterwards, participants completed a series of questionnaires to report on their perceptions of the couple's relationship and sexual satisfaction. Supporting hypotheses, results indicated that participants in the Excessive Fat Talk condition perceived lower relationship and sexual satisfaction levels than the Minimal Fat Talk and Self-Accepting Body Talk conditions. No differences emerged between those exposed to the Self-Accepting and Minimal Fat Talk vignette dialog. Male participants reported lower perceived relationship quality and sexual satisfaction than women participants. Research in this area is in its infancy, and more is needed (especially with actual couples) to better understand how fat talk, as a behavioral function of poor body image, impacts relationship functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denise M Martz
- Department of Psychology, Appalachian State University, USA
| | | | - Rose Mary Webb
- Department of Psychology, Appalachian State University, USA
| | | | - Lauren Francis
- Department of Psychology, Appalachian State University, USA
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5
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A multilevel Bayesian meta-analysis of the body inversion effect: Evaluating controversies over headless and sexualized bodies. Psychon Bull Rev 2022; 29:1558-1593. [PMID: 35230674 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-022-02067-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Face and body perception rely on specialized processing mechanisms to interpret social information efficiently. The body inversion effect (BIE), refers to an inversion effect for bodies, such that recognition of bodies is impaired by inversion. The BIE, like the face inversion effect (FIE), is particularly important because a disproportionate BIE relative to inversion effects for objects could be interpreted in much the same way as the disproportionate FIE has often been characterized; that is, as evidence of specialized, configural processing. However, research supporting the BIE is marked by methodological heterogeneity and mixed findings. Our multilevel Bayesian meta-analysis addresses inconsistencies in the literature by pooling data from numerous studies to estimate the magnitude of the BIE across various methodological and stimulus properties. We included 180 effect sizes from 41 empirical articles representing data from 2,274 participants. Overall, we found that the BIE was moderate-large in magnitude (Hedges' g = 0.75). Importantly, the inversion effect was larger for bodies than objects (b = 0.42); however, the inversion effect for faces was larger than for bodies (b = 0.34). We tested the role of discrimination dimension, stimulus type, face/head inclusion, stimulus sexualization, and sexualized stimulus sex as moderators of the BIE. We found that the BIE was moderated by discrimination dimension, stimulus type, stimulus sexualization, and sexualized stimulus sex. By synthesizing the existing literature, we provide a better theoretical understanding of how underlying visual processing mechanisms may differ for different types of social information (i.e., bodies vs. faces).
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6
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Turnbull G, Alexi J, Mann G, Li Y, Engel M, Bayliss DM, Farrell S, Bell J. EXPRESS: The Influence of Three-Dimensional Cues on Body Size Judgements. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2022; 75:2318-2331. [PMID: 35034530 DOI: 10.1177/17470218221076850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Research has shown that body size judgements are frequently biased, or inaccurate. Critically, judgement biases are further exaggerated for individuals with eating disorders, a finding that has been attributed to difficulties integrating body features into a perceptual whole. However, current understanding of which body features are integrated when judging body size is lacking. In this study, we examine whether individuals integrate three-dimensional (3D) cues to body volume when making body size judgements. Computer-generated body stimuli were presented in a 3D Virtual Reality (VR) environment. Participants (N = 412) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: in one condition the to-be-judged body was displayed binocularly (containing 3D cues to body volume), in the other, bodies were presented monocularly (2D cues only). Across 150 trials, participants were required to make a body size judgement of a target female body from a third-person point of view using an unmarked visual analogue scale (VAS). It was found that 3D cues significantly influenced body size judgements. Namely, thin 3D bodies were judged smaller, and overweight 3D bodies were judged larger, than their 2D counterpart. Furthermore, to reconcile these effects, we present evidence that the two perceptual biases, regression to the mean and serial dependence, were reduced by the additional 3D feature information. Our findings increase our understanding of how body size is perceptually encoded and creates testable predictions for clinical populations exhibiting integration difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Turnbull
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia (M304), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia 2720
| | - Joanna Alexi
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia (M304), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia 2720
| | - Georgina Mann
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia (M304), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia 2720
| | - Yanqi Li
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia (M304), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia 2720
| | - Manja Engel
- Utrecht University, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Experimental Psychology/Helmholtz Institute. Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, Netherlands 8125
| | - Donna M Bayliss
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia (M304), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia 2720
| | - Simon Farrell
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia (M304), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia 2720
| | - Jason Bell
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia (M304), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia 2720
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7
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8
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Cornelissen PL, Tovée MJ. Targeting body image in eating disorders. Curr Opin Psychol 2021; 41:71-77. [PMID: 33940328 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, are challenging to treat successfully and have a very high relapse rate. Body image disturbance (BID) is a core component of these eating disorders. It is a predictor of onset, treatment outcome and future relapse. However, recent studies suggest that BID can be improved by an adaptation of cognitive bias training. This does not target the accuracy of body size judgements, but instead focuses on how a body of a particular size is categorized by a patient. This recalibration of the categorical boundary at which bodies are judged as overweight, which challenges a patient's existing preconceptions about which constitutes an acceptable body size, seems to lead to a more general reassessment of eating disordered attitudes and a significant improvement in their psychological profile. These promising findings need further trials to determine the long-term effectiveness of such a targeted intervention, but it potentially provides an important additional treatment option. In addition, this cognitive bias training may also be an effective augmentation to treatment in other conditions that feature BID, such as bulimia nervosa and body dysmorphia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piers L Cornelissen
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J Tovée
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
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9
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Irvine KR, Irvine AR, Maalin N, McCarty K, Cornelissen KK, Tovée MJ, Cornelissen PL. Using immersive virtual reality to modify body image. Body Image 2020; 33:232-243. [PMID: 32408166 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We tested the efficacy of a training programme, delivered in virtual reality (VR), to modify the perceptual boundary between what participants classify as a fat versus a thin body. Three cohorts of 20 female volunteers with high body image concerns were recruited to two intervention groups and one control group. All participants completed a 4-day training programme in VR where they categorised a series of 3D models as either thin or fat; one intervention group was presented with the stimuli briefly, while the other group had no time limits imposed. Both intervention groups were given inflationary feedback to shift their categorisations of the stimulus models towards higher BMIs. Our results show that, compared to controls, both intervention groups shifted their categorical boundaries between Day 1 and follow-up on Day 14. Unlimited stimulus presentation times were associated with a larger training effect. Furthermore, both intervention groups experienced statistically significant reductions in their concerns about their own body shape, weight and eating habits. However, only in the group with longer stimulus presentation times were these reductions consistent with a clinically meaningful effect. These findings suggest that manipulating categorical perception in VR might provide a complementary addition to existing treatments for eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila R Irvine
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
| | - Andrew R Irvine
- Virtual Research Innovations Ltd., UK; School of Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK
| | - Nadia Maalin
- School of Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK
| | - Kristofor McCarty
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Katri K Cornelissen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Martin J Tovée
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Piers L Cornelissen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
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10
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Jones AR, Tovée MJ, Cutler LR, Parkinson KN, Ells LJ, Araujo-Soares V, Pearce MS, Mann KD, Scott D, Harris JM, Adamson AJ. Development of the MapMe intervention body image scales of known weight status for 4-5 and 10-11 year old children. J Public Health (Oxf) 2019; 40:582-590. [PMID: 29190364 PMCID: PMC6266708 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdx129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parents tend to visually assess children to determine their weight status and typically underestimate child body size. A visual tool may aid parents to more accurately assess child weight status and so support strategies to reduce childhood overweight. Body image scales (BIS) are visual images of people ranging from underweight to overweight but none exist for children based on UK criteria. Our aim was to develop sex- and age-specific BIS for children, based on British growth reference (UK90) criteria. Methods BIS were developed using 3D surface body scans of children, their associated weight status using UK90 criteria from height and weight measurements, and qualitative work with parents and health professionals. Results Height, weight and 3D body scans were collected (211: 4–5 years; 177: 10–11 years). Overall, 12 qualitative sessions were held with 37 participants. Four BIS (4–5-year-old girls and boys, 10–11-year-old girls and boys) were developed. Conclusions This study has created the first sex- and age-specific BIS, based on UK90 criteria. The BIS have potential for use in child overweight prevention and management strategies, and in future research. This study also provides a protocol for the development of further BIS appropriate to other age groups and ethnicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Jones
- Institute of Health & Society, Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - M J Tovée
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.,Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - L R Cutler
- Institute of Health & Society, Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - K N Parkinson
- Institute of Health & Society, Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - L J Ells
- School of Health and Social Care, Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - V Araujo-Soares
- Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - M S Pearce
- Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - K D Mann
- Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - D Scott
- Department of Public Health and Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - J M Harris
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience. University of St Andrews, Fife, UK
| | - A J Adamson
- Institute of Health & Society, Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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11
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Alexi J, Dommisse K, Cleary D, Palermo R, Kloth N, Bell J. An Assessment of Computer-Generated Stimuli for Use in Studies of Body Size Estimation and Bias. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2390. [PMID: 31695661 PMCID: PMC6817789 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inaccurate body size judgments are associated with body image disturbances, a clinical feature of many eating disorders. Accordingly, body-related stimuli have become increasingly important in the study of estimation inaccuracies and body image disturbances. Technological advancements in the last decade have led to an increased use of computer-generated (CG) body stimuli in body image research. However, recent face perception research has suggested that CG face stimuli are not recognized as readily and may not fully tap facial processing mechanisms. The current study assessed the effectiveness of using CG stimuli in an established body size estimation task (the “bodyline” task). Specifically, we examined whether employing CG body stimuli alters body size judgments and associated estimation biases. One hundred and six 17- to 25-year-old females completed the CG bodyline task, which involved estimating the size of full-length CG body stimuli along a visual analogue scale. Our results show that perception of body size for CG stimuli was non-linear. Participants struggled to discriminate between extreme bodies sizes and overestimated the size change between near to average bodies. Furthermore, one of our measured size estimation biases was larger for CG stimuli. Our collective findings suggest using caution when employing CG stimuli in experimental research on body perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Alexi
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kendra Dommisse
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Dominique Cleary
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Romina Palermo
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Nadine Kloth
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jason Bell
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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12
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Haynes A, Hardman CA, Makin AD, Halford JC, Jebb SA, Robinson E. Visual perceptions of portion size normality and intended food consumption: A norm range model. Food Qual Prefer 2019; 72:77-85. [PMID: 30828136 PMCID: PMC6333281 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
•Smaller portion sizes are associated with lower energy intake.•We test a norm range model of the portion size effect on intended intake.•A wide range of portion sizes were perceived as normal.•Portions perceived as normal did not prompt intended compensatory eating.•Portions perceived as smaller than normal prompted intended compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Haynes
- Institute of Psychology, Health & Society, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
| | | | - Alexis D.J. Makin
- Institute of Psychology, Health & Society, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
| | - Jason C.G. Halford
- Institute of Psychology, Health & Society, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
| | - Susan A. Jebb
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Eric Robinson
- Institute of Psychology, Health & Society, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
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13
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Rodway V, Tatham B, Guo K. Effect of model race and viewing perspective on body attractiveness and body size assessment in young Caucasian women: an eye-tracking study. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2018; 83:347-356. [PMID: 30554329 PMCID: PMC6434025 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-018-1138-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Research has indicated that Caucasian women gaze more often at waist–hip and chest regions than other local body areas when assessing female body attractiveness and body size, and this stereotypical gaze distribution is further modulated by their own body satisfaction and body composition. However, little is known whether the model race and viewing perspective could affect women’s body-viewing gaze behaviour and body perception. Here, we presented female body images of Caucasian, Asian and African avatars in a continuum of common dress sizes in full frontal, mid-profile and rear view, and asked young Caucasian women to rate the perceived body attractiveness and body size. Their body-viewing gaze distributions were then correlated with their behavioural responses, their own body composition and body satisfaction. Our analysis revealed a clear in-group favouritism, in which Caucasian women tended to rate Caucasian avatars more attractive and slimmer than Asian and African avatars. Their body-viewing gaze patterns, on the other hand, were not affected by avatar race but were modulated by viewing perspectives. The frontal-view body (especially upper-body and waist–hip regions) attracted the highest proportion of viewing time, followed by the mid-profile view and then the rear-view body. Furthermore, our participants’ own body composition and satisfaction level did not affect their judgement of other women’s body attractiveness and body size, but could influence their gaze allocation at local body features. It seems that both body perception and body-viewing gaze behaviour are subject to group and individual biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Rodway
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK
| | - Bethany Tatham
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK
| | - Kun Guo
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
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14
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Thornborrow T, Jucker JL, Boothroyd LG, Tovée MJ. Investigating the link between television viewing and men's preferences for female body size and shape in rural Nicaragua. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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15
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Merritt S, Gardner C, Huber K, Wexler B, Banister C, Staley A. Imagine Me and You, I Do: Effects of imagined intergroup contact on anti-fat bias in the context of job interviews. JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Merritt
- Department of Psychological Sciences; University of Missouri - St. Louis
| | | | - Kelli Huber
- Department of Psychological Sciences; University of Missouri - St. Louis
| | - Breanna Wexler
- Department of Psychological Sciences; University of Missouri - St. Louis
| | | | - Amy Staley
- Department of Psychological Sciences; University of Missouri - St. Louis
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16
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Oldham M, Robinson E. Visual body size norms and the under-detection of overweight and obesity. Obes Sci Pract 2018; 4:29-40. [PMID: 29479462 PMCID: PMC5818735 DOI: 10.1002/osp4.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The weight status of men with overweight and obesity tends to be visually underestimated, but visual recognition of female overweight and obesity has not been formally examined. The aims of the present studies were to test whether people can accurately recognize both male and female overweight and obesity and to examine a visual norm-based explanation for why weight status is underestimated. Methods The present studies examine whether both male and female overweight and obesity are visually underestimated (Study 1), whether body size norms predict when underestimation of weight status occurs (Study 2) and whether visual exposure to heavier body weights adjusts visual body size norms and results in underestimation of weight status (Study 3). Results The weight status of men and women with overweight and obesity was consistently visually underestimated (Study 1). Body size norms predicted underestimation of weight status (Study 2) and in part explained why visual exposure to heavier body weights caused underestimation of overweight (Study 3). Conclusions The under-detection of overweight and obesity may have been in part caused by exposure to larger body sizes resulting in an upwards shift in the range of body sizes that are perceived as being visually 'normal'.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Oldham
- Psychological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - E. Robinson
- Psychological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
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17
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Robinson E. Overweight but unseen: a review of the underestimation of weight status and a visual normalization theory. Obes Rev 2017; 18:1200-1209. [PMID: 28730613 PMCID: PMC5601193 DOI: 10.1111/obr.12570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Although overweight and obesity are widespread across most of the developed world, a considerable body of research has now accumulated, which suggests that adiposity often goes undetected. A substantial proportion of individuals with overweight or obesity do not identify they are overweight, and large numbers of parents of children with overweight or obesity fail to identify their child as being overweight. Lay people and medical practitioners are also now poor at identifying overweight and obesity in others. A visual normalization theory of the under-detection of overweight and obesity is proposed. This theory is based on the notion that weight status is judged relative to visual body size norms. Because larger body sizes are now common, this has caused a recalibration to the range of body sizes that are perceived as being 'normal' and increased the visual threshold for what constitutes 'overweight'. Evidence is reviewed that indicates this process has played a significant role in the under-detection of overweight and obesity. The public health relevance of the under-detection of overweight and obesity is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Robinson
- Department of Psychological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
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Johnstone LT, Downing PE. Dissecting the visual perception of body shape with the Garner selective attention paradigm. VISUAL COGNITION 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/13506285.2017.1334733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leah T. Johnstone
- School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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19
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Stämpfli AE, Stöckli S, Brunner TA. A nudge in a healthier direction: How environmental cues help restrained eaters pursue their weight-control goal. Appetite 2017; 110:94-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Gledhill LJ, Cornelissen KK, Cornelissen PL, Penton-Voak IS, Munafò MR, Tovée MJ. An interactive training programme to treat body image disturbance. Br J Health Psychol 2016; 22:60-76. [PMID: 27813208 PMCID: PMC5248599 DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a life‐threatening mental health condition. A core feature is a disturbance of body image, such that sufferers see themselves as fatter than they actually are. Design We tested the effectiveness of a novel training programme to recalibrate our participants’ perception of body size. Methods In a novel adaptation of a cognitive bias training programme, participants judged the body size of a series of female bodies and were given feedback to improve their accuracy over four daily training sessions. In Study 1, we recruited young women with high concerns about their body size for a randomized controlled study. In Study 2, we then applied the training programme to a case series of women with atypical AN. Results In Study 1, the training programme significantly improved the body size judgements of women with high body concerns compared to controls. We also found evidence of improved body image and reduced eating concerns in this group. In Study 2, the programme again recalibrated the body size judgements of women with atypical AN. We also saw evidence of a clinically meaningful reduction in their body size and eating‐disordered concerns. Conclusions This training has the potential to be a valuable treatment used together with more traditional talking therapies. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? A core feature of anorexia nervosa (AN) is an overestimation of body size; sufferers believe themselves to be larger than they are in reality. This study shows that an individual's perceptual boundary between what they classify as a fat versus a thin body is not immutable; it can be changed through a cognitive bias training programme. What does this study add? This means that body size overestimation may now be treatable. Critically, as well as improving the accuracy of body size judgements, we also found a clinically significant improvement in participants’ eating‐disordered concerns. This demonstrates that a targeted behavioural training regime can change body perception, and the central role that body overestimation has in eating‐disordered beliefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucinda J Gledhill
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Marcus R Munafò
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, UK.,MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK
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Cornelissen KK, Gledhill LJ, Cornelissen PL, Tovée MJ. Visual biases in judging body weight. Br J Health Psychol 2016; 21:555-69. [PMID: 26857215 DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There has been a steady rise in obesity levels in Western countries, and a contributory factor is people's failure to recognize weight gain. Two important visual perceptual biases, contraction bias and Weber's law, that have hitherto been ignored in the obesity literature could contribute to this problem. Contraction bias predicts that the weight of obese bodies will be underestimated and the degree of underestimation will increase as body mass index (BMI) increases. Weber's law predicts that change in the body size will become progressively harder to detect as their BMI increases. METHODS In Experiment 1, 29 women participants estimated the weight of 120 women varying in their body mass. In Experiment 2, 28 women participants judged which body was the heavier in a 2-alternative forced choice paradigm. RESULTS In Experiment 1, as predicted the participants showed a progressive underestimation of overweight and obese bodies, β1 = 0.71, t = 26.96, p < .0001. For Experiment 2, there was a significant effect of the BMI of the bodies being judged on the just noticeable difference needed to discriminate between them: F(1, 196) = 89.39, p < .0001 for 3D bodies and F(1, 86.5) = 44.57, p < .0001 for digital photographs. CONCLUSIONS Normal visual perceptual biases influence our ability to determine body size: contraction bias and Weber's law mean that as bodies become overweight and obese, it is harder to judge their weight and detect any increase in size. These effects may therefore compromise people's ability to recognize weight gain and undertake compensatory weight control behaviours. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? It is common knowledge that obesity levels in the West are rapidly rising and that people fail to recognize weight gain. What has not been widely recognized before is that there are sound perceptual reasons for this failure. Here, we identify two such perceptual biases. What does this study add? Weber's law and contraction bias compromise people's ability to recognize weight gain. It becomes progressively harder to discriminate the size of bodies as their body mass index increases. This compromises the ability to recognize weight gain and undertake compensatory behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucinda J Gledhill
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Martin J Tovée
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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22
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Visual exposure to obesity: Experimental effects on attraction toward overweight men and mate choice in females. Int J Obes (Lond) 2015; 39:1390-4. [PMID: 25999045 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2015.87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cultural differences in ideal body weight are well established, but less research has examined attraction toward potential mates of heavier body weights. We examined whether exposure to obesity increases physical attraction toward overweight men. METHODS In Studies 1 and 2, we examined the effect that exposure to obese vs healthy weight men had on female attraction toward an overweight man. Study 3 examined whether females who are regularly exposed to males of heavier body weights reported a greater attraction toward overweight men. Study 4 tested whether females in an online dating study were more likely to choose to date an overweight man, after having been exposed to obesity. RESULTS Exposure to obesity altered visual perceptions of what normal and therefore healthy body weights were and this resulted in greater attraction toward an overweight man (Studies 1 and 2). Females regularly exposed to men of heavier body weight reported a greater attraction toward overweight men (Study 3). After exposure to obesity, females in an online dating study were more likely to choose to date an overweight man ahead of a healthy weight man (Study 4). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to male obesity increases female attraction toward overweight men and may affect mate choice.
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Dural S, Cetinkaya H, Gülbetekin E. Hemispheric specialization in the assessment of female physical attractiveness. Laterality 2015; 20:232-48. [DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2014.955503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Cornelissen KK, Bester A, Cairns P, Tovée MJ, Cornelissen PL. The influence of personal BMI on body size estimations and sensitivity to body size change in anorexia spectrum disorders. Body Image 2015; 13:75-85. [PMID: 25697956 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the influence of personal BMI on body size estimation in 42 women who have symptoms of anorexia (referred to henceforth as anorexia spectrum disorders, ANSD), and 100 healthy controls. Low BMI control participants over-estimate their size and high BMI controls under-estimate, a pattern which is predicted by a perceptual phenomenon called contraction bias. In addition, control participants' sensitivity to size change declines as their BMI increases as predicted by Weber's law. The responses of women with ANSD are very different. Low BMI participants who have ANSD are extremely accurate at estimating body size and are very sensitive to changes in body size in this BMI range. However, as BMI rises in the ANSD participant group, there is a rapid increase in over-estimation concurrent with a rapid decline in sensitivity to size change. We discuss the results in the context of signal detection theory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paul Cairns
- Department of Computer Science, University of York, York, UK
| | - Martin J Tovée
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Nedelec JL, Beaver KM. Physical attractiveness as a phenotypic marker of health: an assessment using a nationally representative sample of American adults. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Humans are not fooled by size illusions in attractiveness judgements. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2014; 35:133-139. [PMID: 24719551 PMCID: PMC3975338 DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2013.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Could signallers use size contrast illusions to dishonestly exaggerate their attractiveness to potential mates? Using composite photographs of women from three body mass index (BMI) categories designed to simulate small groups, we show that target women of medium size are judged as thinner when surrounded by larger women than when surrounded by thinner women. However, attractiveness judgements of the same target women were unaffected by this illusory change in BMI, despite small true differences in the BMIs of the target women themselves producing strong effects on attractiveness. Thus, in the context of mate choice decisions, the honesty of female body size as a signal of mate quality appears to have been maintained by the evolution of assessment strategies that are immune to size contrast illusions. Our results suggest that receiver psychology is more flexible than previously assumed, and that illusions are unlikely to drive the evolution of exploitative neighbour choice in human sexual displays.
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Kościński K. Attractiveness of women’s body: body mass index, waist–hip ratio, and their relative importance. Behav Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/art016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Cornelissen PL, Johns A, Tovée MJ. Body size over-estimation in women with anorexia nervosa is not qualitatively different from female controls. Body Image 2013; 10:103-11. [PMID: 23102545 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2012] [Revised: 09/03/2012] [Accepted: 09/14/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Over-estimation of body size is a cardinal feature of anorexia nervosa (AN), usually revealed by comparing individuals who have AN with non-AN individuals, the inference being that over-estimation is pathological. We show that the same result can be reproduced by sampling selectively from a single distribution of performance in body size judgement by comparing low BMI individuals with normal BMI individuals. Over-estimation of body size in AN is not necessarily pathological and can be predicted by normal psychophysical biases in magnitude estimation. We confirm this prediction in a dataset from a morphing study in which 30 women with AN and 137 control women altered a photograph of themselves to estimate their actual body size. We further investigated the relative contributions of sensory and attitudinal factors to body-size overestimation in a sample of 166 women. Our results suggest that both factors play a role, but their relative importance is task dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piers L Cornelissen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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Crossley KL, Cornelissen PL, Tovée MJ. What is an attractive body? Using an interactive 3D program to create the ideal body for you and your partner. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50601. [PMID: 23209791 PMCID: PMC3510069 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
What is the ideal body size and shape that we want for ourselves and our partners? What are the important physical features in this ideal? And do both genders agree on what is an attractive body? To answer these questions we used a 3D interactive software system which allows our participants to produce a photorealistic, virtual male or female body. Forty female and forty male heterosexual Caucasian observers (females mean age 19.10 years, s.d. 1.01; 40 males mean age 19.84, s.d. 1.66) set their own ideal size and shape, and the size and shape of their ideal partner using the DAZ studio image manipulation programme. In this programme the shape and size of a 3D body can be altered along 94 independent dimensions, allowing each participant to create the exact size and shape of the body they want. The volume (and thus the weight assuming a standard density) and the circumference of the bust, waist and hips of these 3D models can then be measured. The ideal female body set by women (BMI = 18.9, WHR = 0.70, WCR = 0.67) was very similar to the ideal partner set by men, particularly in their BMI (BMI = 18.8, WHR = 0.73, WCR = 0.69). This was a lower BMI than the actual BMI of 39 of the 40 women. The ideal male body set by the men (BMI = 25.9, WHR = 0.87, WCR = 0.74) was very similar to the ideal partner set by the women (BMI = 24.5, WHR = 0.86, WCR = 0.77). This was a lower BMI than the actual BMI of roughly half of the men and a higher BMI than the other half. The results suggest a consistent preference for an ideal male and female body size and shape across both genders. The results also suggest that both BMI and torso shape are important components for the creation of the ideal body.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Piers L. Cornelissen
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Northumbria, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J. Tovée
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
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