What is body image?
Body image refers to a person's perception, thoughts, and feelings about their own body. It includes how one sees themselves when they look in the mirror or picture themselves in their mind, as well as how they feel about their body's size, shape, weight, and overall appearance. Body image is influenced by various factors, including structural and systemic oppression, societal standards and ideals, cultural norms, media representations, personal experiences, and interactions with others. Below is a diagram outlining the various factors that make up body image.
Body image is influenced by how different bodies are treated given your time and place in history and where you are in the world. Some bodies are vilified and some are praised and that changes based on time and place. If your body conforms to the societal standards and ideals, you are less likely to experience oppression and it will be easier to move through the world in your body and improve your own body image.
Body image is also influenced by how others view your body and bodies like yours. Think how medical providers, elected officials, coaches, parents, and peers think and feel about your body and bodies like yours. That will influence how you feel about your body.
Your perceptual body image is how you see and perceive the size, weight, shape, color, and form of your body. This is what you see when you look in the mirror and look at photos of yourself.
Your attitudinal body image entails the thoughts and feelings you have towards your body. What words do you use to describe your body? What feelings do you have towards your body?
Your felt sense in your body involves the sensations you have existing in your body. That could be dysphoric, euphoric, painful, uncomfortable, weak, joyful, strong, powerful, etc.
Behavioral body image is what you do as a result of all of the above! If you, other people, and/or societal structures and systems deem your body problematic then you might do things to change the way your body looks by dieting, weight loss medications, weight loss surgeries, exercise, hiding certain parts of your body, self-isolation, etc. This is a means of survival and safety if your body has historically been and currently is being systemically oppressed. Although these behaviors cause harm, people get to decide what type of harm they are willing to live with to maximize their own safety and survival at any given time. For example, some people might need to engage in restrictive eating or weight loss medications to access gender-affirming care or fertility treatments. Some people might decide to restrict their eating in order to force themselves into a smaller body to avoid weight stigma, discrimination, or bullying.
If you want additional support healing your body image challenges, schedule a free intro call with me to become a therapy client (California, Oregon, and Arizona residents only).