User:Maysjudeh/sandbox



== Effects on Self-Esteem == Media has played a huge role in society for years in selling us the expectations of what the ideal male and female body should look like. These images of the so called "ideal body" can have a very negative effect on self esteem in both men and women It has been proposed that these images can play significant roll in eating disorders in men and women as well. The idea of body comparison is nothing new it goes back to Festinger's (1954) Social Comparison Theory. Body comparison is what is comparing your body to that of someone else. Individuals usually make body comparisons in areas which they feel more closely relate to themselves Festinger (1954). For example if someone who is over weight and is an a environment that is focused on health, thinness, or body images (eg. gym, beach) they are more likely to feel like thinness is ideal which can increase the chances of dissatisfaction with their own body. The more someone engages in body comparisons the more likely that person will struggle with low self esteem and a negative body image of themselves. For women they sell you that being a size zero and having long legs as the only form of beautiful and for men they sell you the notion that having big biceps and zero body fat covering your six pack as the "the ladies man". Reading magazines with images of toned muscular men has been reported to lower body and self esteem in men and they start worrying more about their own health and physical fitness

Social Media
The amount of time spent on social media can also tell us about our self esteem. Research has shown that individuals with lower self esteem may see social media as a more easy way to express themselves rather than in the real world as apposed to individuals with higher self esteem. In social media people use things such followers and likes to measure acceptance or rejection from our peers. There are many studies that have confirmed that when an individuals who feel accepted or part of the "popular crowd" have a higher sense of self-esteem.