The Psychological Power of Body Positivity in Social Media

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When you think about how you feel about your body, what do you notice? In all likelihood, the answer will spring up fairly quickly, because it arguably would for most of us. After all, we have a front-row seat to our bodies. We’re also exposed to powerful societal messages across different forms of media about what bodies qualify as attractive, which can impact how we see ourselves. In two studies published this month, a team of researchers investigated the impact of images reflecting the body positivity movement, which is actively challenging the limited and unhealthy notion that only slim and lean bodies are attractive.

The research team randomly had some people look at social media posts that were body-positive (other folks solely looked at posts of slender bodies or at irrelevant, decorative pictures). Then the researchers examined how the participants in the study viewed other people’s bodies. The team extended previous work by not only asking people to select which body type in an array of figures represented the optimal bodily form but also by having them choose a range of body types they’d see as most attractive. The results showed that the experience of looking at body-positive images led people to see a less slim body type as the best-looking body and to include a wider array of body types as being the most appealing. In addition, the people who saw body-positive pictures also wound up feeling better about their own bodies.

The investigators correctly pointed to additional research that could build upon their work. For example, almost everyone in their research was a woman, so studies that involve men and more people who identify as non-binary will be valuable. In addition, it will be useful to consider how body-positive images might beneficially impact people when they’re displayed repeatedly over time.

All the same, the researchers noted that this work demonstrates that body-positive images are capable of modifying people’s perspectives toward themselves and others in a favorable way. And as the researchers also rightly stated, if people have the opportunity to come across more images that affirm the beauty of a variety of body types, perhaps this can help cultural messages about bodily attractiveness evolve.

How could you draw from this research in your daily life? Here are a couple of ideas:

1. When you come across a set of images that seem to exclusively portray thin and lean bodies, rather than accept this as the default option, try to be curious and actively question the practice of depicting a very narrow slice of what the human body looks like and how attractive it can be.
2. Intentionally seek out posts and other forms of media that display various types of bodies and celebrate their attractiveness. When you see them, don’t move past them quickly (which is easy to do amid all of the images that are available to see). Instead, let yourself really take them in and notice how you feel.

Thank you for reading.