Effects of exposure to information about appearance stereotyping and discrimination on women's body images.
OBJECTIVE
There is widespread public dissemination of research findings and media messages regarding social advantages of physical attractiveness and liabilities of unattractiveness. The purpose of this experimental study was to determine the effects of such information on women's body-image experiences.


METHODS
College women (n = 66) listened to one of two audiotapes that detailed research-based information either on the subject of appearance stereotyping and discrimination or on the control topic of television violence and aggression.


RESULTS
Although the two conditions did not differentially alter mood, exposure to appearance-related versus control information produced significantly less favorable body-image evaluations. Furthermore, as predicted, women who were schematically invested in their physical appearance were especially susceptible to the deleterious effects of the appearance information.


CONCLUSIONS
The scientific and clinical implications of these findings were discussed, particularly with respect to eating disturbances.
Lavin
M A
MA
Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.
Cash
T F
TF
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012928:Social Desirability; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology