Muscular = Fake? Testing a Picture‐Word Pairing Procedure to Increase Muscle Appearance Satisfaction in Young Men

OBJECTIVE: When men compare their bodies to those of muscular fitness models, this may result in dissatisfaction with their own muscularity. We tested whether pairing pictures of male muscular-ideal models with synonyms of 'fake' results in an increase in muscle satisfaction and a decrease in self-objectification among young men. METHOD: Male participants (N = 66, M age = 22.86, SD = 2.14) were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 32) or control (n = 34) condition of a picture-word pairing procedure. Both conditions showed the same pictures of muscular-ideal models. In the experimental condition these pictures were systemically paired with synonyms of 'fake'; in the control condition these pictures were randomly paired with words related to sports and colours. RESULTS: Participants in the experimental condition showed a modest increase in muscle appearance satisfaction from pre- to posttest whereas control participants did not change. Change in muscle appearance satisfaction was not moderated by internalisation of the appearance ideal. The predicted decrease in self-objectification was not found. CONCLUSIONS: The present research provides initial evidence that pairing pictures of male muscular-ideal models with 'fake' can enhance muscle appearance satisfaction in young men. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was pre-registered at https://aspredicted.org/uy9zp5.pdf.