Batman to the rescue! The protective effects of parasocial relationships with muscular superheroes on men's body image

Young, Ariana F.; Gabriel, Shira; Hollar, Jordan L.

doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2012.08.003

Cited by 36 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Social surrogates fall under three basic categories: parasocial relationships are specific media figures with whom people have one-sided psychological bonds, such as favorite celebrities or fictional characters (e.g., Derrick, Gabriel, & Tippin, 2008; Young, Gabriel, & Hollar, 2013; Young, Gabriel, & Sechrist, 2012); social worlds are narratives in which people immerse themselves, like favorite books, movies, and TV shows (e.g., Derrick et al, 2009; Gabriel & Young, 2011); and reminders of others are nonhuman entities which serve to remind one of real social relationships, such as pictures of friends, comfort foods from one's childhood, and Facebook status updates (e.g., Troisi & Gabriel, 2011). Although the three different kinds of social surrogates differ in some ways, they also share common, important features.…”

Section: Social Surrogatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Surrogate Use in Those Exposed to Trauma: I Get By with a Little Help from My (Fictional) Friends

Gabriel¹,

Read²,

Young³

et al. 2017

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

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Traumatic events bring an increased need for social connection but paradoxically can make relationships more difficult. The current research examines the unique role social surrogates such as favorite TV shows, books, and celebrities may play in fulfilling the social needs of people who have experienced trauma. Across two studies we predicted and found that experiencing traumatic events is associated with higher interest in using social surrogates. Furthermore, individuals who have experienced trauma without developing PTSD are able to effectively use social surrogates to combat social isolation. However, perhaps because PTSD symptoms often are associated with impaired social functioning, those with PTSD actually feel worse after social surrogate use. Implications for trauma, PTSD, social surrogates, and social self research are discussed.

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Section: Social Surrogatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Surrogate Use in Those Exposed to Trauma: I Get By with a Little Help from My (Fictional) Friends

Gabriel¹,

Read²,

Young³

et al. 2017

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

Self Cite

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“…However, in the short term, assimilative comparison experiences may help to explain why dieting women might continue to consume idealized images even when they represent unattainable standards. Related research by Young, Gabriel, and Hollar (2013) suggests that liking and being familiar with an idealized media figure (in this case, a young man's favorite vs. nonfavorite superhero) can lead individuals to incorporate that body ideal into the self-concept, as might happen with a friend or a role model whose abilities are perceived to be attainable. More work is needed to continue understanding when and for whom such comparisons are inspirational and/or problematic.…”

Section: Case 1: Media-perpetuated Body Image Idealsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Comparison Theory

Greenwood

2017

The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects

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Social comparison theory encompasses a rich and complex array of interpersonal motivations, processes, and outcomes. Both before and after Festinger's original set of propositions about our drive to evaluate the self in comparison to similar others, many other theorists have provided nuances and updates. This entry reviews some of the central propositions and additions to the social comparison literature and also provides three media‐specific applications of the theory (body image ideals, social media use, and comparison to fictional others).

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“…As a matter of fact, an abundance of correlational and experimental research shows that exposure to muscular media figures, but not ultra thin models as in the case of women, contributes to men's body dissatisfaction (for a review see: Blond, 2008). In other words, muscular figures, but not thin bodies as in the case of women, make men feel bad, because by comparison, their own bodies seem small (Young, Gabriel, & Hollar, 2013). According to these results, it would be expected that if women who endorse the female ideology about slimness have more eating concerns and body dissatisfaction, men who internalize the male social norm about appearance, less focused on weight loss, should be less worried about gaining weight.…”

Section: Internalization-externalization Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Eating concerns, body dissatisfaction, thinness internalization and antifat attitudes and their relationship with gender ideology in a sample of men

Magallares

2015

AN PSICOL-SPAIN

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Título: Preocupación por la comida, insatisfacción corporal, interiorización de la delgadez y actitudes antiobesos en su relación con las ideologías de género en una muestra de hombres. Resumen: Los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria son mucho menos frecuentes en hombres que en mujeres. En este artículo se argumenta que esas diferencias pueden ser explicadas por las ideologías de género que tienen hombres y mujeres. La literatura sugiere que las mujeres interiorizan la normal social de delgadez y por esa razón acaban desarrollando preocupación por la comida e insatisfacción corporal con el paso del tiempo, mientras que los hombres externalizan el valor de la delgadez y es por ello que muestran más actitudes antiobesos que las mujeres. Los datos obtenidos de 450 estudiantes varones muestran que los participantes que puntuaban alto en ideología de género informaban de mayores actitudes antiobesos y menos interiorización de la delgadez, preocupación por la comida e insatisfacción corporal. Finalmente se discute porque los hombres y las mujeres adoptan diferentes estrategias para lidiar con la normal social de delgadez. Palabras clave: ideología de género; preocupación por la comida, insatisfacción corporal, interiorización de la delgadez, actitudes antiobesos.Abstract: Eating disorders are much less common in men than in women. In this paper it is argued that these differences may be explained by the gender ideology that men and women have. Literature suggests that women's ideology internalizes the social norm of slimness and for that reason may develop eating concerns and body dissatisfaction with the pass of the time, while men externalize the value of thinness and that is why they show greater antifat attitudes than women. Data obtained from 450 male students revealed that participants high in a gender ideology scale reported greater antifat attitudes and less thinness internalization, eating concerns and body dissatisfaction. Finally, it is discussed why men and women adopt different strategies to deal with the social norm of thinness.

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Batman to the rescue! The protective effects of parasocial relationships with muscular superheroes on men's body image

Cited by 36 publications

References 25 publications

Social Surrogate Use in Those Exposed to Trauma: I Get By with a Little Help from My (Fictional) Friends

Social Surrogate Use in Those Exposed to Trauma: I Get By with a Little Help from My (Fictional) Friends

Social Comparison Theory

Eating concerns, body dissatisfaction, thinness internalization and antifat attitudes and their relationship with gender ideology in a sample of men

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