Attentional and Perceptual Responses to Diverse Body Types: Cognitive Contributors to Body Ideals

Western women typically subscribe to a ‘thin’ and ‘toned’ physique as the ‘ideal’ body, which is very difficult for most women to achieve and can lead to negative body image. . The present thesis investigated how the types of bodies we allocate attention to, and how we perceive other bodies, contribute to our formulation of our own ideal body. Results suggested that the composition of body ideals can be changed depending on our social context. Exposure to body types beyond the ‘thin ideal’ can diversify what is perceived as an ideal body and help to promote positive body image.