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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
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Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults
Published on: October 19, 2014
Looking good. BMI, attractiveness bias and visual attention
Anne Roefs1, Anita Jansen, Sofie Moresi
1Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. a.roefs@psychology.unimaas.nl
Appetite
|May 23, 2008
Summary
Women with higher BMI and lower self-rated attractiveness showed a negative attentional bias towards their own body. This bias, focusing on unattractive body parts, may worsen body dissatisfaction.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Body Image Research
- Cognitive Bias Studies
Background:
- Attentional bias is a cognitive mechanism influencing how individuals process visual stimuli.
- Body dissatisfaction is a significant concern, particularly among young women, and is linked to various psychological factors.
- Understanding attentional patterns towards one's own body is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate attentional bias when viewing one's own body versus a control body.
- To examine the relationship between attentional bias, body mass index (BMI), and attractiveness ratings.
- To explore how these factors influence visual attention patterns.
Main Methods:
- Eye movements (overt attention) were measured in 51 normal-weight female students with unrestrained eating styles.
- Participants viewed images of their own body and a control body for 30 seconds each.
- Post-viewing, participants identified the most attractive and unattractive body parts of both their own and the control body.
Main Results:
- Higher BMI correlated with increased attention to the most unattractive body part of one's own body.
- Lower self-rated attractiveness of one's own body was associated with greater attention to the control body's most attractive part.
- A negative bias in visual attention towards bodies was observed.
Conclusions:
- Negative attentional bias towards one's own body is linked to higher BMI and lower self-perceived attractiveness.
- This bias may perpetuate or worsen body dissatisfaction.
- Findings highlight the role of cognitive biases in body image perception and mental well-being.
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