Cognitive discrepancy models: Actual, ideal, potential, and future self-perspectives of body image

Cognitive discrepancy models posit self-concepts to be a function of differ ences between self-perceptions of actual accomplishments and ideal standard s; unrealistic ideals lead to poor self-concepts even when accomplishments are otherwise good. Participants (793 high school students) indicated their Actual, Ideal, Future, and Potential body image by selecting from 12 silho uettes varying along an obese-skinny continuum and completed seven self-con cept factors on two occasions. Structural equation models demonstrated: (a) Actual effects on self-concept factors were positive and Ideal effects wer e negative (more demanding, increasingly slender ideals detracted from self concept), making this one of the few studies to support discrepancy models ' predictions using this paradigm; (b) Actual and ideal effect sizes varied systematically for self-concepts selected to be more or less related to bo dy image; and (c) inconsistent support for Future and Potential factors as standards against which to evaluate actual self. Multiwave-multivariable ca usal models indicated that prior (T1) Actual and ideal factors influenced s ubsequent (T2) self concepts beyond the effects of prior self-concepts, arg uing for the causal effects of Actual and Ideal body image on self-concept.