title: Self-affirming trait kindness regulates disgust toward one's physical appearance.
abstract: In two studies, self-affirming the behavioral trait of kindness was examined as a method of regulating state disgust toward one's physical appearance. In Study 1, 56 participants (37 women, 19 men, Mage=33.16 years) completed either a questionnaire designed to self-affirm kindness or a control equivalent and rated their disgust, anger, sadness, and happiness toward their appearance and behavior. In Study 2, 116 individuals (83 women, 33 men, Mage=24.90 years) participated in the same experiment over the internet in an ecologically valid context. When controlling for trait self-disgust, the self-affirmed in Study 1 reported significantly less disgust toward their appearance (ηp(2)=.12, p=.011). This effect was replicated in Study 2, but driven by lower state disgust levels in those higher in trait self-disgust (f(2)=.10, p=.001). Affirming valued traits, like kindness, may be a useful tool for regulating disgust toward body image.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. Electronic address: p.a.powell@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Overton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Appearance; Disgust; Emotion; Kindness; Self-affirmation; Self-disgust