Date of Award

2008

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology

Supervisor

Josee Jarry

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether individual differences is social comparison and body image investment moderate the relationship between media exposure to the mesomorphic ideal and male body image, self-esteem, mood and muscle-building behaviour, as has been shown in women who are exposed to the thin media ideal (Dittmar & Howard, 2004). It was hypothesized that men with high social comparison tendencies as well as high body image investment would experience greater body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, negative mood, and greater muscle-building behaviour following exposure to mesomorphic images. Sixty-nine male undergraduate students participated. The results indicated that men who were less invested in their appearance and had a low social comparison tendency reported greater body dissatisfaction and lower appearance self-esteem after viewing mesomorphic images compared to viewing average images, whereas men high on these individual differences remained relatively unaffected. Furthermore, men who viewed mesomorphic images chose a heavier dumbbell to engage in bicep curls than did men who viewed average images.

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