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Body image: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Body image is how you view your physical self — including whether you feel you are attractive and whether others like your looks. For many people, especially people in their early teens, body image can be closely linked to self-esteem. Self-esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth — and how much you feel other people value you. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect your mental health and how you behave. (http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/wellbeing/body_image.html) The phrase body image was first coined by the Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Paul Schilder in his book The Image and Appearance of the Human Body (1935). Human society has at all times placed great value on beauty of the human body, but a person's perception of their own body may not correspond to society's standards. The concept of body image is used in numerous disciplines, including psychology, medicine, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, philosophy and cultural and feminist studies. The term is also often used in the media. Across these disciplines and media there is no consensus definition. A person's body image is thought to be, in part, a product of his or her personal experiences, personality, and various social and cultural forces. A person's sense of his or her own physical appearance, usually in relation to others or in relation to some cultural "ideal," can shape his or her body image. A person's perception of their appearance can be different from how others actually perceive him or her. On the basis of previous findings which demonstrate the link between cognitive-affective biases and body image distortion, it is thought that body image distortions reflect emotions, attitudes, and beliefs concerning appearance rather than the integrity of sensory processes related to body image integration (Gardner & Bokenkamp, 1996). These cognitive-affective factors may influence body image formation by determining which sensory samples are integrated and their relative influence for current body image, which body components are the focus of the integration process, and the frequency with which the individual engages in this process. For example, an individual with negative body image may be more likely to attend to and integrate self-images that are unflattering (e.g., from particular postures), particularly with regard to areas of the body of cultural aesthetic significance (waist, stomach, thighs) (Mussap & Salton, 2006). (Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Mussap 2011) A 2007 report by the American Psychological Association found that a culture-wide sexualization of girls (and women) was contributing to increased female anxiety associated with body image.[1] Similar findings associated with body image were found by an Australian government Senate Standing Committee report on the sexualization of children in the media.[2] However, other scholars have expressed concern that these claims are not based on solid data.[3] Body image can have a wide range of psychological effects and physical effects. According to Dr. Aric Sigman, a British Biologist, some women who see underweight women will have an immediate change in brain chemistry which diminishes self-esteem and can increase self-loathing.[4] Commentators note that people who have a low body image will try to alter their bodies in some way, such as by dieting or undergoing cosmetic surgery.

What Influences a Person's Self-Esteem?: Puberty and Development Some people struggle with their self-esteem and body image when they begin puberty because it's a time when the body goes through many changes. These changes, combined with wanting to feel accepted by our friends, means it can be tempting to compare ourselves with others. The trouble with that is, not everyone grows or develops at the same time or in the same way. Media Images and Other Outside Influences Our tweens and early teens are a time when we become more aware of celebrities and media images — as well as how other kids look and how we fit in. We might start to compare ourselves with other people or media images ("ideals" that are frequently airbrushed). All of this can affect how we feel about ourselves and our bodies even as we grow into our teens. Families and School Family life can sometimes influence our body image. Some parents or coaches might be too focused on looking a certain way or "making weight" for a sports team. Family members might struggle with their own body image or criticize their kids' looks ("why do you wear your hair so long?" or "how come you can't wear pants that fit you?"). This can all influence a person's self-esteem, especially if they're sensitive to others peoples' comments. People also may experience negative comments and hurtful teasing about the way they look from classmates and peers. Although these often come from ignorance, sometimes they can affect body image and self-esteem. (http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/wellbeing/body_image.html)

Development of Body Image: According to social learning theory, perceptions regarding ideal body shape are greatly influenced by cultural and media messages regarding attractiveness (Striegel-Moore, Silberstein,& Rodin, 1986). Messages regarding the thin ideal are internalized by young women and further perpetuated and modeled by parents and peers, leading some young women to extreme measures to achieve this ideal body image. Gender socialization theory (Bem, 1981) highlights the importance of physical attractiveness in relating with others in the development of self-worth in women. Thus, one feels pressure from peers to adhere to these ideals, facilitating body-image disturbance and maladaptive eating. Family, peers, neighborhood and the school environment are powerful socializing agents of human development (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). Peer acceptance in adolescence provides validation and support for healthy psychological growth in adolescence. There is evidence that young women may seek a friendship group with similar body-image concerns and dieting practices, further increasing their risk for engaging in maladaptive eating behaviors (Paxton etal., 1999). Wang et al. (2006) found that girls with smaller body sizes were more popular while girls with larger body sizes scored lower on measures of social preference and popularity (Creedon, Ray & Harkin, 2009).

Websites to visit to further your knowledge on Body Image: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/wellbeing/body_image.html#

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/health/body-and-image-one-size-definitely-does-not-fit-all.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

http://www.academia.edu/796535/Peer_teasing_body-image_and_eating_problems_among_women