The Psychology of Appearance (Health Psychology)

256 Pages·2005·1.22 MB·English

by  Nicola Rumsey

H E A L T H P S Y C H O L O G Y
Series Editors: Sheila Payne and Sandra Horn
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THE PSYCHOLOGY OF APPEARANCE
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Appearance-related concerns and distress are experienced by a
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significant proportion of people with visible disfigurements, and are also y i
reaching unprecedented proportions in the general population. In the light c c
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of these developments, this book includes: h
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• A comprehensive summary and critical evaluation of research and lo l
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understanding concerning the psychology of appearance
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• A historical review of research to date R
• A review of the methodological challenges for researchers in this area o u
• An overview of current understanding of appearance-related concerns f m
and distress in the general population and among those with acquired A s
or congenital disfigurements such as burns, clefts of the lip and palate, p e
scarring and acne p y
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Exploring the psychosocial factors which are protective and those which
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exacerbate distress, The Psychology of Appearanceoffers a vision of a a
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comprehensive approach to support and intervention and addresses the n
following questions: ce Di

• Are attractive people at an advantage in life? a
• What are the challenges presented by having a visibly different n
appearance? a

• What are the psycho-social factors playing a part in individual R
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differences in levels of adjustment and distress in relation to
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appearance? r
• How can interventions meet the needs of those affected? s c
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The Psychology of Appearanceprovides essential reading for psychology • u
students, health and clinical psychologists, health professionals, employers H rt
and policy makers interested in the ramifications of appearance concerns.
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Nichola Rumseyis Professor of Appearance and Health Psychology, and c
Research Director of the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) at the o o f
University of the West of England, Bristol. ur y
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Diana Harcourtis Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology, and Deputy o e
Research Director of CAR at the University of the West of England, Bristol. ol c
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Cover design: Kate Prentice y a r
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(cid:1) (cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:6) (cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:7)(cid:2)(cid:9)(cid:2)
The psychology of
appearance
Health psychology
Series editors:
Sheila Payne and Sandra Horn
Published titles
Stress: Perspectives and Processes
Dean Bartlett
Psychology and Health Promotion
Paul Bennett and Simon Murphy
Rethinking Health Psychology
Michele L. Crossley
The Social Context of Health
Michael Hardey
Pain: Theory, Research and Intervention
Sandra Horn and Marcus Munafò
The Psychology of Men’s Health
Christina Lee and R. Glynn Owens
Loss and Bereavement
Sheila Payne, Sandra Horn and Marilyn Relf
Control and the Psychology of Health:
Theory, Measurement and Applications
Jan Walker
Risk Communication and Health Psychology
Dianne Berry
Embodiment: Clinical, Critical and Cultural
Perspectives onHealth and Illness
Malcolm MacLachlan
The Psychology of Appearance
Nichola Rumsey and Diana Harcourt
The psychology of
appearance
Nichola Rumsey and
Diana Harcourt
Open University Press
Open University Press
McGraw-Hill Education
McGraw-Hill House
Shoppenhangers Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire
England
SL6 2QL
email: [email protected]
world wide web: www.openup.co.uk
and Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121-2289, USA
First Published 2005
Copyright © The Authors and Contributors 2005
All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposes of
criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
the publisher or a licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Details
of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the
Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd of 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, WIT 4LP.
A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-10: 0 335 21276 X (pb) 0 335 21277 8 (hb)
ISBN-13: 978 0335 21276 7 (pb) 978 0335 21277 4 (hb)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
CIP data has been applied for
Typeset by RefineCatch Ltd, Bungay, Suffolk
Printed in Poland EU by OZGraf. S.A.
www.polskabook.pl
To Alex and James, who have never made me feel guilty for being a working mum.
Big thanks guys. You’re the best. NR
To my friends and family who offered the best support just when it was
needed. DH

Contents
Series editors’ foreword xi
Preface xiii
1 Appearance matters: the history of appearance research 1
Judgements of beauty and the desirability of being attractive to
others – then and now 4
Making judgements of morality and personality from physical
features 6
Reactions to visible differences 8
The emergence of literature concerning the psychology of
appearance 13
Judgements made on the basis of physical appearance 14
The relative impact of different aspects of appearance 17
Chapter summary 26
Discussion points 26
Further reading 27
2 The challenges facing researchers in the area 28
Underlying assumptions 29
Sensitivities around appearance research 29
viii The psychology of appearance
Research funding 30
Sampling and recruitment 31
Conceptualizing participants as a homogenous group 34
Comparison and control groups 36
Timing of data collection 37
Context of data collection 38
Research methods 38
The multiplicity of variables implicated in adjustment 44
Theories and models 46
Broadening the range of research methods 56
Dissemination of research findings 60
Conclusion 61
Chapter summary 61
Discussion points 62
Further reading 62
3 Appearance and image issues for those without visible
differences 63
Concerns about appearance 63
Appearance and lifespan issues 66
Conclusion 86
Chapter summary 86
Discussion points 87
Further reading 87
4 Psychological difficulties associated with visible difference 88
Defining what is and is not a disfigurement 88
The causes of visible difference 89
What difficulties are associated with visible difference? 90
Conclusion 116
Chapter summary 117
Contents ix
Discussion points 117
Further reading 118
5 Psychological predictors of vulnerability and resilience 119
An alternative to the pathologizing approach 119
Resilience 120
Factors exacerbating or ameliorating distress 122
Conclusion 135
Chapter summary 136
Discussion points 136
Further reading 137
6 Current provision of support and intervention for
appearance-related concerns 138
Support and intervention for the population as a whole 138
Support and intervention for people with a visible difference 144
The limitations of a biomedical approach 153
Provision of psychosocial care 156
Legal intervention 160
Conclusion 160
Chapter summary 161
Discussion points 161
Further reading 162
7 The potential for more effective support and intervention 163
Interventions directed at the population as a whole 163
Improving support for people with a visible difference 169
School-based interventions for those with a visible difference 184
Towards a comprehensive system of care 184
Conclusion 186
Chapter summary 186