The power of an ideal.
We do form ideas through our society of an ideal body type (Aronson et al., 2010). We also try to squeeze ourselves into that type, almost like comparing ourselves to a pre-cut cut-out. And we have always been doing it. But why?
We do form ideas through our society of an ideal body type (Aronson et al., 2010). We also try to squeeze ourselves into that type, almost like comparing ourselves to a pre-cut cut-out. And we have always been doing it. But why?
Social Comparison
We need information to survive in this world. Put me in the wilderness with two sticks and in five minutes I would still be cold and wailing like a baby. I am missing a vital piece of information.
Because there is so much information out there and there is no way that we know it all, we generally look to others as sources.
See you-tube for information on how to do ANYTHING.
We also need information about ourselves. Since there is no you-tube on each of us, one of the ways we learn about ourselves is through social comparison. Are you a good person or a bad person? You look around you to find out. Are you smart? Are you a gifted artist? Are you a future NBA star? Are you even normal? You compare yourself to the talents and abilities of others to gauge where your own talents lie.
This is how I found out I couldn’t sing. A bit of a burst bubble there.
Why do we do this and when?
We compare ourselves to others because there are no universal meter sticks for our talents, characteristics or abilities. There is no objective measure. And we do it when we are faced with some uncertainty about ourselves in some area (Aronson et al., 2010).
It happens when there are others around us and generally we compare ourselves to others who are similar to us. If everyone around me was only a slightly better singer than me, I probably wouldn’t feel too bad. If only one person was a good singer and everyone else was only slightly better than me, I might have moments where I felt bad but probably most of the time I would still be okay with myself. However, if it seemed like EVERYONE around me was a better singer than me, and sadly this might be the truth, I might start to feel a little inadequate. If I had never heard another person sing in my entire life, I might have always thought I was carrying the tune. So we compare but how we feel is dependent on who is around us and our level of self-esteem. We have a stronger need to use social comparison if we feel insecure in a situation or with an aspect of ourselves (Steg et al., 2008).
Because there is so much information out there and there is no way that we know it all, we generally look to others as sources.
See you-tube for information on how to do ANYTHING.
We also need information about ourselves. Since there is no you-tube on each of us, one of the ways we learn about ourselves is through social comparison. Are you a good person or a bad person? You look around you to find out. Are you smart? Are you a gifted artist? Are you a future NBA star? Are you even normal? You compare yourself to the talents and abilities of others to gauge where your own talents lie.
This is how I found out I couldn’t sing. A bit of a burst bubble there.
Why do we do this and when?
We compare ourselves to others because there are no universal meter sticks for our talents, characteristics or abilities. There is no objective measure. And we do it when we are faced with some uncertainty about ourselves in some area (Aronson et al., 2010).
It happens when there are others around us and generally we compare ourselves to others who are similar to us. If everyone around me was only a slightly better singer than me, I probably wouldn’t feel too bad. If only one person was a good singer and everyone else was only slightly better than me, I might have moments where I felt bad but probably most of the time I would still be okay with myself. However, if it seemed like EVERYONE around me was a better singer than me, and sadly this might be the truth, I might start to feel a little inadequate. If I had never heard another person sing in my entire life, I might have always thought I was carrying the tune. So we compare but how we feel is dependent on who is around us and our level of self-esteem. We have a stronger need to use social comparison if we feel insecure in a situation or with an aspect of ourselves (Steg et al., 2008).
We also compare...
....when we need to boost our own egos (Aronson et al., 2010). We compare ourselves with people who are less skilled than ourselves. This is called downward social comparison. When other singers compare themselves to me...I imagine they would feel quite good about themselves. This mental action is a little jab on the arm. It assures us that we are still good and right people and have value. We do it all the time and quite spontaneously (Aronson et al., 2010). It is just a way for us to feel good.
Unfortunately for me, there has got to be someone worse at singing than me to compare to. I would have to engage in upward social comparison - comparing myself with people who are better than me in some trait or ability. By doing this, I gain clues of how to improve if I can. How I feel about myself depends on my own understanding of my ability to improve. In other words, with upward social comparison, I can feel inspired to do/be better or I can be discouraged by a non-attainable goal (Aronson et al., 2010).
How do I know if I am good enough? I compare myself to others. How do I know if I am beautiful? I compare myself to others. But who do I compare myself to?
It has been found that women engage in upward social comparison to social beauty ideals to gauge their own attractiveness (Steg et al., 2008). Before the mass media, women had only others in their community to compare to. Now, there are endless images of the ideal that we are exposed to. With the mass exposure to thin and airbrushed models it is likely that most women would end up feeling dissatisfied with their own looks. Repeated exposure may ultimately lead women to an internalization of a thin ideal through comparison to media images (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002).
Unfortunately for me, there has got to be someone worse at singing than me to compare to. I would have to engage in upward social comparison - comparing myself with people who are better than me in some trait or ability. By doing this, I gain clues of how to improve if I can. How I feel about myself depends on my own understanding of my ability to improve. In other words, with upward social comparison, I can feel inspired to do/be better or I can be discouraged by a non-attainable goal (Aronson et al., 2010).
How do I know if I am good enough? I compare myself to others. How do I know if I am beautiful? I compare myself to others. But who do I compare myself to?
It has been found that women engage in upward social comparison to social beauty ideals to gauge their own attractiveness (Steg et al., 2008). Before the mass media, women had only others in their community to compare to. Now, there are endless images of the ideal that we are exposed to. With the mass exposure to thin and airbrushed models it is likely that most women would end up feeling dissatisfied with their own looks. Repeated exposure may ultimately lead women to an internalization of a thin ideal through comparison to media images (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002).
We are not all...
....equally influenced by social comparison and beauty ideals. Some of us may be more sensitive or vulnerable to social comparison than others(Steg et al., 2008).
Each of us has a self-schema - an abstract mental construction that helps us to organize our knowledge about ourselves. This schema also influences us in what we notice, think about and remember about ourselves (Aronson et al., 2010).
These are the beliefs and ideas we have about who we are.
We use these ideas and beliefs, our schema, to help us manoeuvre through the world. I have the idea that I am shy - this is part of my self-schema - and affects how I act in social situations.
Part of our self-schema is an image of our body. It also includes a sum of our beliefs and assumptions of how important our body is to our level of happiness and success in life (Steg et al., 2008).
Through social comparison, and repeated exposure to media images, we can judge our bodies as being ugly or beautiful. Some of us can also attach an inflated importance to that judgement --"I am ugly therefore I must be a really bad person" (Steg et al., 2008). Appearance then becomes the basis for self-evaluation and self-worth (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002). It is then that social comparison to idealized images may be most harmful. Those that feel their worth is dependent on their body begin a downward spiral that is continually exacerbated by idealized media images (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002). This can have devastating consequences on self-esteem as every flaw becomes perceived as a sign of "worthlessness". This leaves a population of people who are unable to feel good about their bodies and about themselves.
This points to how individual our experiences are. But there are many other social influences that impact how we view our bodies and ourselves.
Each of us has a self-schema - an abstract mental construction that helps us to organize our knowledge about ourselves. This schema also influences us in what we notice, think about and remember about ourselves (Aronson et al., 2010).
These are the beliefs and ideas we have about who we are.
We use these ideas and beliefs, our schema, to help us manoeuvre through the world. I have the idea that I am shy - this is part of my self-schema - and affects how I act in social situations.
Part of our self-schema is an image of our body. It also includes a sum of our beliefs and assumptions of how important our body is to our level of happiness and success in life (Steg et al., 2008).
Through social comparison, and repeated exposure to media images, we can judge our bodies as being ugly or beautiful. Some of us can also attach an inflated importance to that judgement --"I am ugly therefore I must be a really bad person" (Steg et al., 2008). Appearance then becomes the basis for self-evaluation and self-worth (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002). It is then that social comparison to idealized images may be most harmful. Those that feel their worth is dependent on their body begin a downward spiral that is continually exacerbated by idealized media images (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002). This can have devastating consequences on self-esteem as every flaw becomes perceived as a sign of "worthlessness". This leaves a population of people who are unable to feel good about their bodies and about themselves.
This points to how individual our experiences are. But there are many other social influences that impact how we view our bodies and ourselves.
Conformity:
"Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs and behaviours to what individuals perceive is normal of their society or social group"
-from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity
We all do it. Even if you think you don't...you still do. We conform to immediate small social groups like our family or our friends and we try to conform to our larger society. Sometimes we are pressured to conform, but sometimes we also adopt ideas or behaviour unconsciously. What side of the road do you drive on? You are conforming. Follow the posted speed limits (mostly)? Conforming. Throw your trash in the garbage bin or just throw it on the floor? Hopefully you are conforming! Wear clothes? Conformity. As a man do you wear dresses? Conforming! This is just the tip of the iceberg really. There are so many ways we conform, we just don't think about it. Not only do we conform to rules of outward behaviour but we also conform to ways of thinking. As a Canadian, do you believe in equal rights? Do you believe in free speech? What are your views on gun laws? Do your ideas tend to match to those around you and to your community?
You conformist!
Why do we conform? There are actually many reasons why we adopt ideas and behaviours from others.
We don’t always know how to behave. So we look outside ourselves to the larger social groups we belong to for information on how to behave (Aronson, et al., 2010). This is called informational social influence. We turn to others for guidelines of how to be and act. We conform to their ideals. Imagine travelling to a foreign country where you do not know what is proper dress or behaviour. You would turn to the people around you for clues of what is appropriate. Then you would try to copy what other people were doing so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb or offend anyone. When it is something foreign, our methods of conforming may seem obvious. Yet, we do this all the time within our own society to. Ever been in a line at the grocery store? Are people standing all over the place or is there order? Have you ever noticed that most people follow some unspoken rule of turn-taking? And when someone doesn’t follow that rule, and doesn't conform, there might be a flash of annoyance or irritation? Ever looked to see what fork to use? Ever looked to a fashion magazine for the new trends?
We also conform to gain acceptance, and gain the benefits associated with acceptance and to avoid rejection. As social beings we have a need to belong; we also want to be liked. Social groups, like a family unit, provide security and access to resources. These resources could be for our very survival, like food and shelter, or could be material, emotional or even ideological. This is known as normative social influence (Aronson et al., 2010).
Rejection, on the other hand, can threaten our very survival. It threatens our place within the groups we belong to. Social groups need to function and run smoothly. There needs to be order and predictability. So to do this, there is pressure to conform to the ideals or rules of that particular group. Our standing, or sense of belonging, is important to us as human beings. Ever heard the phrase “Don't rock the boat"? Can you think of any times in your life where you have chosen to not rock the boat but stay secure in your place in a group by following along? If you have, then welcome to being human.
However, we don’t generally discern or pick apart what behaviours and ideas we conform to….we just do it. As a consequence of just living, we pick them up or mould ourselves to others.
So apply the idea of conformity to a social idea of beauty. How have you shaped your ideas of beauty from those around you? How have you conformed or are trying to conform to the standards of others? Ever dieted to reach some more acceptable number? Ever lamented the size and shape of your body? Ever thought…"well if only my (insert body part here) was different, people would like me more”?
Read on……
-from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity
We all do it. Even if you think you don't...you still do. We conform to immediate small social groups like our family or our friends and we try to conform to our larger society. Sometimes we are pressured to conform, but sometimes we also adopt ideas or behaviour unconsciously. What side of the road do you drive on? You are conforming. Follow the posted speed limits (mostly)? Conforming. Throw your trash in the garbage bin or just throw it on the floor? Hopefully you are conforming! Wear clothes? Conformity. As a man do you wear dresses? Conforming! This is just the tip of the iceberg really. There are so many ways we conform, we just don't think about it. Not only do we conform to rules of outward behaviour but we also conform to ways of thinking. As a Canadian, do you believe in equal rights? Do you believe in free speech? What are your views on gun laws? Do your ideas tend to match to those around you and to your community?
You conformist!
Why do we conform? There are actually many reasons why we adopt ideas and behaviours from others.
We don’t always know how to behave. So we look outside ourselves to the larger social groups we belong to for information on how to behave (Aronson, et al., 2010). This is called informational social influence. We turn to others for guidelines of how to be and act. We conform to their ideals. Imagine travelling to a foreign country where you do not know what is proper dress or behaviour. You would turn to the people around you for clues of what is appropriate. Then you would try to copy what other people were doing so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb or offend anyone. When it is something foreign, our methods of conforming may seem obvious. Yet, we do this all the time within our own society to. Ever been in a line at the grocery store? Are people standing all over the place or is there order? Have you ever noticed that most people follow some unspoken rule of turn-taking? And when someone doesn’t follow that rule, and doesn't conform, there might be a flash of annoyance or irritation? Ever looked to see what fork to use? Ever looked to a fashion magazine for the new trends?
We also conform to gain acceptance, and gain the benefits associated with acceptance and to avoid rejection. As social beings we have a need to belong; we also want to be liked. Social groups, like a family unit, provide security and access to resources. These resources could be for our very survival, like food and shelter, or could be material, emotional or even ideological. This is known as normative social influence (Aronson et al., 2010).
Rejection, on the other hand, can threaten our very survival. It threatens our place within the groups we belong to. Social groups need to function and run smoothly. There needs to be order and predictability. So to do this, there is pressure to conform to the ideals or rules of that particular group. Our standing, or sense of belonging, is important to us as human beings. Ever heard the phrase “Don't rock the boat"? Can you think of any times in your life where you have chosen to not rock the boat but stay secure in your place in a group by following along? If you have, then welcome to being human.
However, we don’t generally discern or pick apart what behaviours and ideas we conform to….we just do it. As a consequence of just living, we pick them up or mould ourselves to others.
So apply the idea of conformity to a social idea of beauty. How have you shaped your ideas of beauty from those around you? How have you conformed or are trying to conform to the standards of others? Ever dieted to reach some more acceptable number? Ever lamented the size and shape of your body? Ever thought…"well if only my (insert body part here) was different, people would like me more”?
Read on……