MacGillivray, Trista
1.78 MB of textual records (PDF)
Audience: Undergraduate. -- Dissertation: Thesis (B. A.). -- Algoma University, 2000. -- Submitted in partial fulfillment of course requirements for PSYC 4105. -- Includes tables. -- Contents: Literature review / Thesis.
Women report low self-esteem, poor body image, negative attitudes towards eating and negative moods following exposure to attractive models; however, self-esteem has not been evaluated independently of the latter variables. Using a 2x3 factorial design, this study compared the interactive effects of self-esteem and exposure to attractive models on 60 female university students and faculty. Self-esteem levels were manipulated by providing positive, negative or no feedback on a series of computer-implemented tasks. The groups were then divided into two exposure conditions, where groups evaluated photos, female fashion models or homes, on attractiveness. Finally, participants completed measurement scales on self-esteem, body image, body parts satisfaction, depression and mood. Results showed a significant main effect of exposure condition on self-esteem change scores. After viewing attractive models, groups showed no change in self-esteem scores; in contrast, after viewing attractive homes, groups did show an increase in self-esteem scores. The findings suggest that exposure to attractive models may suppress the intensifying effects of exposure to other attractive images, suggesting that self-esteem may be independent of negative attitude, body image and mood.