The role of body image in psychosomatic symptom choice.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the question of whether an individual's unconscious concept of his own body may be one factor in determining which areas of his body will become involved when body malfunctioning develops as a defense against disturbing psychological problems. In order to test the hypothesis that individuals with outer vs. interior psychosomatic symptoms differ in the emphasis they place upon the defensive value of the body exterior in their body image, it was necessary to compare body image data from various symptom groups. The results obtained indicate that the "body image" concept is a promising frame of reference from which to view psychosomatic phenomena. It would appear that the kind of differentiation which the individual makes in his body image between his body exterior and his body interior plays a significant role in his mode of expression of psychosomatic symptomatology. The individual who conceives of his body exterior as an exaggerated defensive barrier which must be protected against penetration tends to make use of a pattern of symptoms quite different from the individual who conceives of his body exterior as weak, easily permeable, and easily penetrated.

Body image and susceptibility to contact dermatitis

“…By and large the results support our predictions. In so doing they offer an explanation of evidence conflicting with Fisher C Cleveland's (1955) finding that people with 'externally reactive ' diseases, such as neurodermatitis and arthritis, give higher barrier scores than those with 'internally reactive' diseases, such as gastro-intestinal disorders. Firstly, the fact that this was not confirmed by Eigenbrode & Shipman (1960) could be due to the two populations studied containing different proportions of introverts and extraverts.…”

Body Perception and Symptom Localization

“…These were excluded from the population. For the 85 remaining subjects, the median exterior minus interior symptom index was 0 (range, [3][4][5]. Of this group, 16 fell at the median, having the same number of defined exterior as interior symptoms.…”

A Comparison of Psychological Characteristics and Physiological Reactivity in Ulcer and Rheumatoid Arthritis Groups

“…Pride in physique and strong unconscious exhibitionistic desires contributed to the picture. A second report 5 replicated in the present work concerned the comparison of body image fantasies in a number of groups with varying psychosomatic illness. One of these groups was composed of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and another contained patients with ulcers and other stomach complaints.…”