Effects of exposure to information about appearance stereotyping and discrimination on women's body images

Objective: There is widespread public dissemination of research findings an d media messages regarding social advantages of physical attractiveness and liabilities of unattractiveness. The purpose of this experimental study wa s to determine the effects of such information on women's body-image experi ences. Method: College women (n = 66) listened to one of two audiotapes tha t detailed research-based information either on the subject of appearance s tereotyping and discrimination or on the control topic of television violen ce and aggression. Results: Although the two conditions did not differentia lly alter mood, exposure to appearance-related versus control information p roduced significantly less favorable body-image evaluations. Furthermore, a s predicted, women who were schematically invested in their physical appear ance were especially susceptible to the deleterious effects of the appearan ce information. Discussion: The scientific and clinical implications of the se findings were discussed, particularly with respect to eating disturbance s. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.