Effects of the muscular ideal on appearance-related attentional biases in men

Ben R Lane; Kate Mulgrew; Melanie J White; Doug P Mahar

doi:10.1037/men0000170

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Effects of the muscular ideal on appearance-related attentional biases in men

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Effects of the muscular ideal on appearance-related attentional biases in men

Ben R Lane, Kate Mulgrew, Melanie J White and Doug P Mahar

Psychology of Men & Masculinity, Vol.20(3), pp.394-405

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000170

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Abstract

men

attentional biases

body image

dot-probe task

muscular ideal

Limited research has investigated appearance-related attentional biases in men. This study examined the effects of priming on attentional biases in men and whether the biases were associated with body image. The dot-probe task (DPT), a commonly used reaction time-based measure, was adapted to include images between each trial of the task to test the effects of these images on attentional biases for appearance-related word stimuli. Men (N = 60) completed body image questionnaires online and attended a laboratory session, completing either (a) an appearance-cued DPT, containing images representing the muscular ideal; (b) a neutral-cued DPT, containing images of forests; or (c) a DPT with time delay in place of an image. Attentional biases for positive- and negative-appearance words did not differ for men who completed the three DPT versions. However, for men who completed the appearance-cued DPT, attentional biases for positive-appearance words correlated with a range of state experiences, including greater levels of muscularity and appearance dissatisfaction and poorer confidence and mood. The results suggest that men may experience poorer body image outcomes by automatically attending to the positive attributes of media depictions of the muscular ideal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)

Details

Title: Effects of the muscular ideal on appearance-related attentional biases in men
Authors: Ben R Lane (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Kate Mulgrew (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Melanie J White (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Doug P Mahar (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Publication details: Psychology of Men & Masculinity, Vol.20(3), pp.394-405
Publisher: American Psychological Association
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.1037/men0000170
ISSN: 1524-9220; 1939-151X
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Engage Research Lab; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450994102621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Psychology, Social

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