Social Cognition and Evolutionary Psychology: Physical Attractiveness and Contrast Effects on Women's Self-perceived Body Image

Abstract

Self-evaluations of body image were examined in a 2 (attractiveness of stimulus person) 2 (sex of stimulus person) design to determine if contrast effects consistent with evolutionary psychology occur for women's self-perceptions of their body image. Main effects for attractiveness were hypothesized. Higher self-ratings for figure-related aspects of body image were predicted for women exposed to an unattractive male or female. These effects were significant. Women exposed to an unnattractive 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 occur for aspects of body image that play a role in inferences regarding reproductive fitness. Des auto-evaluations de l'image corporelle sont examinees a l'aide d'un scheme 2 (attirance envers la personne-stimulus) 2 (sexe de la personne-stimulus) pour de terminer si les effets de contraste pre dits par la the orie de la psychologie e volutive s'appliquent aux auto-perceptions que les femmes ont de leur image corporelle. L'hypothese sur les effets principaux etait que les auto-e valuations sur les aspects morphologiques de l'image corporelle seraient plus positives pour les femmes ayant ete confrontees a un homme ou a une femme peu attirant(e). Ces effets se sont ave re s significatifs. Les femmes confrontees a la photo d'un homme ou d'une femme peu attirant(e) ont evalue plus positivement les aspects morphologiques de leur propre image corporelle que les femmes confronte es a la photo d'un homme ou d'une femme attirant(e). Les effets de contrast donnent des re sultats en accord avec la theorie evolutive pour ce qui des aspects de l'image corporelle sur lesquels sont base es les infe rences quant a la capacite reproductrice.