SOCIAL COGNITION AND EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY - PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND CONTRAST EFFECTS ON WOMENS SELF-PERCEIVED BODY-IMAGE

Self-evaluations of body image were examined in a 2 (attractiveness of stimulus person) x 2 (sex of stimulus person) design to determine if contrast effects consistent with evolutionary psychology occur for wom en's self-perceptions of their body image. Main effects for attractive ness were hypothesized. Higher self-ratings for figure-related aspects of body image were predicted for women exposed to an unattractive mal e or female. These effects were significant. Women exposed to an unatt ractive male or female had more positive feelings about figure-related aspects of their body image than women exposed to an attractive male or female. Contrast effects in accordance with evolutionary theory occ ur for aspects of body image that play a role in inferences regarding reproductive fitness.