Perception of body shape by underweight average, and overweight men and women.
Using figure drawings, perception of body shape was evaluated by underweight, average, and overweight men and women. Body-shape dissatisfaction was greatest for 60 overweight women, and about the same in 151 average weight women as it was for 102 overweight men. Average weight men (n = 107) and underweight women (n = 31) were fairly satisfied with their current shapes. Both men and women had distorted views of the shape the opposite sex found most attractive. Women guessed that men would prefer a thinner shape than they actually did, and men guessed that women would prefer a larger shape than they actually did. The distortion was larger for men as their own size increased but not for women.
Demarest
J
J
Department of Psychology, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ 07764-1898, USA.
Langer
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012945:Social Values; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology*