The Male Body Image

There has been extensive research of mass media and how it impacts a woman’s image of her body. The same can’t be said for men though. Perfectly chiseled specimens abound on magazine covers, television shows and billboards. Do we get self-concious after being bombarded by these image? It turns out that yes, we can, but not in the way you might expect.

The first study on male body image came out a few months ago, and Seed magazine has an article discussing the results.

According to Schooler, she and Ward predicted that average guys would feel scrawny and inadequate in the face of pictures of sculpted, muscle-bound men. But this was, surprisingly, not the case.

Men can, however, develop issues with their “real body” — a term coined by the researchers. This negative body image can translate into men feeling uncomfortable during sex, depression, and making reckless decisions. Read the full article for more details.