Name variation and aspects of body image among male offenders

The author studied 100 incarcerated adult male felons who were referred consecutively for psychiatric evaluation. As part of the investigation, he ascertained whether each man had ever used a name variation, either by self-report or as documented in official records. He also administered two body-image questionnaires, each to half of the sample population. Those who used a name variation, however defined, were found to have increased head awareness and decreased stomach awareness when compared with those who had not used a name variation. Otherwise, these groups had no statistically significant differences among a wide group of descriptive variables. The author suggests that the differences in body image may be associated with cognitive differences in the ways in which these subjects approach themselves and their environments.