Körperbezogene Aufmerksamkeitsverzerrungen bei Frauen und Männern

Abstract

Körperunzufriedenheit kann primär als kognitiv-affektive Manifestation eines gestörten Körperbilds konzeptualisiert werden. Eine defizitorientierte Aufmerksamkeitslenkung auf körper-und figurbezogeneStimuli, die ebenfalls der kognitiven Ebene eines gestörten Körperbilds zugeordnet werden kann, wird im Rahmen klinisch-psychologischer Forschung sowohl bei Frauen als auch bei Männern seit Längerem als mög-licher Faktor für (pathologische) Figur-und Gewichtssorgen diskutiert. Praktisch alle entsprechenden Modelle berücksichtigen zumindest die evaluative Dimension des Körperbilds. Allerdings erscheint es angesichts der wachsenden Zahl empirischer Befunde, die eine dysfunktionale Aufmerksamkeitslenkung auf problemrelevante Reize als kognitives Korrelat, aufrechterhaltenden Pathomechanismus verschiedener klinisch relevanter Problematiken und als Ziel von Modifikationsversuchen ausgewiesen haben, verwunderlich, dass Aufmerksamkeitsverzerrungen in Modellen zum Körperbild bislang nur selten explizit postuliert werden. 477 Psychotherapeut 6 · 2015 | Schwerpunkt: Körperbild und Körperbildstörung -Übersichten Redaktion A. Martin, Wuppertal J. Svaldi, Tübingen Schlüsselwörter Essstörungen · Körperunzufriedenheit · Selektive Aufmerksamkeit · Kognitiv-behaviorales Modell · Modifikation attentionaler Verzerrungen Body-related attentional bias in women and men. Potential risk factor for the development and maintenance of a distorted body image AbstractBackground. Attentional bias during the processing of body and shape-related stimuli are assumed to perpetuate body dissatisfaction and a disturbed body image. Objectives. This article presents a review of currently available studies concerning body and shape-related attentional bias in both genders. Material and methods. In the light of a heuristic cognitive-behavioral meta-model for the development and perpetuation of disturbed body images, recent findings on body and shape-related attentional bias are presented separately for women and men. Furthermore, findings on the experimental modification of this bias in women are presented and the implications for the therapeutic practice are deduced. Results and conclusion.For both genders the presented results indicate that (sub)clinical body image concerns are associated with a more dysfunctional processing of body and shape-related stimuli, especially with respect to one's own body. Moreover, findings on the modification of attentional bias in women suggest a causal relationship between attention allocation towards negatively rated body stimuli and body dissatisfaction.

Familial transmission of attention allocation towards one’s own and a peer’s body: An eye-tracking study with male adolescents and their fathers

“…To explore selective body-related attention allocation and its association with various body-related concerns, previous studies primarily assessed participants’ gaze behavior towards body stimuli by using an eye-tracking paradigm [ 34 ]. These studies generally support the assumptions of the cognitive-behavioral models, for instance by finding evidence of biased attention allocation towards disliked areas of one’s own body in participants with body dissatisfaction or eating disorders (for a review, see [ 33 , 34 ]).…”

“…So far, these studies have focused primarily on self-report questionnaire data, while neglecting to examine associated cognitive processes, such as selective attention allocation towards eating- or body-related stimuli (for a review of current findings, see [ 32 – 34 ]). According to cognitive-behavioral models, these attentional biases are assumed to play a key role in the development and maintenance of eating disorder pathology or body image disturbance, e.g., by provoking negative body-related feelings, which in turn foster compensatory behavior, e.g., restrictive eating, to reduce the evoked negative affective states or the feared consequences [ 32 , 33 , 35 ]. Furthermore, as a form of social comparison, selective attention allocation towards one’s own and a peer’s body might also be relevant as a mediator of the association between perceived sociocultural influences and body dissatisfaction, or engagement in specific body-modification behaviors, respectively (e.g., [ 20 , 21 ]).…”

Gender Differences in Affective and Evaluative Responses to Experimentally Induced Body Checking of Positively and Negatively Valenced Body Parts

“…However, no study to date has experimentally investigated gender differences in emotional and evaluative consequences of BC. Moreover, results of studies on BC of differently valenced body parts are conflicting (Shafran et al, 2007; Smeets et al, 2011; Walker et al, 2012; Cordes et al, 2015). A better understanding of post-BC negative affect and body satisfaction depending on valence could yield new approaches for interventions to improve body image.…”

Editorial: Sex and Gender Differences in Body Image

“…These three components are incorporated in the model of BID by Cordes et al (2015). The model, furthermore, stresses the relevance of biopsychosocial factors in the development and maintenance of BID.…”