The Effects of Exposure to the Modeling of Normative Discontent Versus Rational Coping on Women's Body-Image Affect

The purpose of the present study was to examine the nature and effects of appearance-focused conversations among women. One hundred-twenty female college students listened to one of three types of scripted audiotapes. The three conditions were a negative modeling condition, a rational coping condition, and a neutral condition in which appearance was not discussed. The three components under investigation were: (a) perceptions about the conversation, (b) the impact of the conversation on body image, and (c) the impact of the conversation on emotional affect. The influence of appearance orientation on reactions to the conversations in each of the three areas was also examined. This research confirmed that physical appearance is typically and frequently discussed. Listening to conversations about appearance was not shown to Influence the women's body images. However, a majority of the subjects reported that the modeling tapes did make them feel better. Subjects' appearance orientation was found to play a role only in the frequency that appearance is discussed, personally and in general, and the extent to which they could identify with the conversations about appearance. Valuable descriptive data resulted from this study and indicated that a sizable percentage of the women found the discussions about appearance discontent to be normalizing of their own body-image discontent. Social comparisons played a role in the affective reactions (negative and positive) of most women exposed to the appearance-related conversations.