The Impact of Personal Metaphors and Memorable Interpersonal Communication on Body Satisfaction

Abstract

Memorable messages about body size can have profound negative psychological and emotional effects on body image and personal health. We found that both men and women recalled more negative than positive memorable messages about their body appearance and size. Participants who reported receiving negative memorable messages also revealed stronger current body dissatisfaction and poorer self-image than participants who reported positive memorable messages. Participants who received negative body comments also described their own body using negative metaphors. Negative memorable messages often occurred in front of third parties who expressed approval for the message, sometimes in the form of laughter. We discuss the mental health consequences of negative messages about body size and the implications for public health campaigns.

Maternal Communication Strategies That Promote Body Image in Daughters

“…These results may be a related to the indirect nature of this model: Although a close mother-daughter relationship and social competence provide women with the skills and support necessary to manage demanding social norms and difficult interpersonal interactions, they may not be the tools necessary to cope with difficult weight-related situations that have long-standing effects on individuals' body image (e.g. teasing; Anderson, Bresnahan, & DeAngelis, 2014) nor are they the necessary tools needed to combat broader, more systemic forces of oppression/ sexism (e.g., media; Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). Nevertheless, the Non-Specific Vulnerability-Stressor Model did significantly explain variance in daughters' body image, further supporting the intertwined nature of interpersonal relationships, social skills and communication competence, and psychosocial well-being (Segrin, 2001).…”

Metaphors that communicate weight-based stigma in political news: A case study of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

“…Metaphors can also have a significant impact on how people think about body size and obesity (Anderson, Bresnahan, & DeAngelis, 2014;). explored the effects of obesity metaphors on the public's perception of various obesity-related policies.…”

“…For example, Barry and colleagues found that support for food labeling was more likely among those who believed the "addiction" or "toxic food environment" metaphors best explained obesity, whereas it was lower among those who believed the "sin" metaphor for obesity. Anderson et al (2014) studied the association between body satisfaction and the metaphors people use to describe their bodies. Some metaphors were positive, e.g., "My body is like a bamboo tree; it grows quick and very strong," whereas others were negative, e.g., "In a world of swans, I am the chubby ugly duckling" (p. 733).…”

“…Additionally, Christie was labeled as an animal or food product through metaphors. Anderson et al (2014) also observed that people used animals and food as metaphors to label their own bodies, but did not use a stigma communication framework to determine whether such labels were stigmatizing. Metaphors, again through their link to the concrete objects (Landau & Keefer, 2014), serve the labeling function by dehumanizing Christie according to the essential characteristics of the non-human source objects.…”

“I’m Not Waving, I’m Drowning”

“…In addition I employ metaphor as a vehicle for the interpretation of the inner world of feeling. Metaphor is a form of comparative imagery (Anderson, Bresnahan, & DeAngelis, 2014) that can convey meanings that plain language fails to do, thus capturing the essence of an experience in a concise and memorable package (Lawley & Tompkins, 2001). …”