The conception of Body Image, negative, positive and everything in between.
Bianca Kozlowski
Tuesday, November 15, 2001
Katie Quinlan
Tuesday at 1
Running head; THE CONCEPTION OF BODY IMAGE 2
Abstract
The main question addressed in this research essay is exploring and asking if being physically self-conscious starts in childhood or adolescence, when do you become aware of your physical body image and develop a positive or negative body image? This is researched by examining both empirical findings and information from the class text on both children’s positive and negative body image along with the comparison in development to adolescences positive and negative body image. The main evidence found from the review was that body image correlated highly with depression and low self-esteem and self-worth, it was also found that both children and adolescence with higher body weight and a higher percent of body fat index (BMI), reported higher dissatisfaction with one’s body. The conclusion is based on the evidence giving future evidence for prevention and intervention methods in both physical and mental health in both children and adolescence.
Running head; THE CONCEPTION OF BODY IMAGE 3
Introduction
Body image is simply the concepts and attitudes towards ones physical appearance (Berk,L.E.,2010). Negative body image is an ongoing problem that can hinder any dynamic, let alone the impressionable minds of children and adolescence. The differences with gender, age and actual weight impacts the feelings towards body image and the constraints one’s body image holds on the individual. The purpose of this paper is to highlight is to explore when one becomes physically self-conscious starts in childhood or adolescence? Also when does one become aware of your physical body image and develop a positive or negative body image? This will be mentioned in contexts of gender, age and actual weight changes in argument with negative body image. The differences are highlighted within the literature broadly that girls are less satisfied with their bodies (feelings over or underweight, negative outlook on body shape or skin etc.) than boys. The general information given by this is in correlation with puberty rate/hormone development, depressive tendencies and a higher probability of low self-esteem and attention to detail (Rawana,J.S., Morgan,A.S., Mguyen,H.& Craig,S.G.,2010). The age of development, puberty is thought to have a large impact on when one starts to notice rapid changes in the body and difference of emotional response (Abraham,S., Boyd,C., Lal,M., Luscombe,G. &Taylor,A., 2009). The development between the brain and body , studies have suggested that the development of negative body image can even develop as young as a baby, the suggestion that infants with failure to thrive may be associated with odd eating patterns, disorganized thoughts of body or unhealthy body weighs. Being teased about one’s body weight , being underweight, overweight or obese poses a large problem with children and adolescences but is more prevalent in children. Although it is more prevalent that teasing about body shape/weight and physical
Running head; THE CONCEPTION OF BODY IMAGE 4 appearance it is said to highly impact the way adolescence and young adult view there body (Drewett,R.F., Corbett,S.S., &Wright,C.M.,2006). This puts the thoughts of the shift and difference in the way that kids view their own bodies and others, and poses the question , Do kids worry about being overweight sooner?, Will this cause more frequent of younger people suffering body dissatisfaction or eating disorders? (Rawana,J.S., Morgan,A.S., Mguyen,H.&
