title: Explicit weight stereotypes are curvilinear: biased judgments of thin and overweight targets.
abstract: Bias against overweight people is documented; however, little attention has been directed to bias against thin people. Theoretically, light and heavy bodies can invoke an affective mechanism leading to bias and avoidance of those different physically from the average.Participants (N = 62) rated six same or opposite sex targets varying randomly in weight. Ratings of traits and liking were curvilinear as a function of weight and showed bias against light and heavy targets. For heavy targets, negative affect predicted discriminatory behavioural intentions; stereotypes did not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt Pleasant Ave, Providence, RI 02908, USA. tmalloy@ric.edu
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Lorin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D011287:Prejudice; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult