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The Psychology of Appearance (Health Psychology) PDF

256 Pages·2005·1.22 MB·English
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H E A L T H P S Y C H O L O G Y Series Editors: Sheila Payne and Sandra Horn T h THE PSYCHOLOGY OF APPEARANCE e P Appearance-related concerns and distress are experienced by a s N significant proportion of people with visible disfigurements, and are also y i reaching unprecedented proportions in the general population. In the light c c h of these developments, this book includes: h o o • A comprehensive summary and critical evaluation of research and lo l g a understanding concerning the psychology of appearance y • 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 e a a Exploring the psychosocial factors which are protective and those which r n exacerbate distress, The Psychology of Appearanceoffers a vision of a a d 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 u H differences in levels of adjustment and distress in relation to m a appearance? r • How can interventions meet the needs of those affected? s c e y o 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. a r 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 t g 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 n h a c Cover design: Kate Prentice y a r s P e p e p h A T (cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:4)(cid:15)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:15)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:7)(cid:2)(cid:9)(cid:15)(cid:16) (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

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Appearance-related concerns and distress are experienced by a significant proportion of people with visible disfigurements, and are also reaching epidemic proportions in the general population. In the light of these developments, this book includes: A comprehensive summary and critical evaluation of
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