Social Comparison And Women's Body Satisfaction Summary

In the article, Social Comparison and Women’s Body Satisfaction by Lilly F. Lin and James A. Kulik, the authors focus their research on media and peer influences. Their research question explores the media’s influence on individuals and the social comparison between how peers affect self-esteem amongst a group. Their hypothesis of the research says that women who are paired up with or in a group with a thinner peer are more likely to be affected negatively. They also hypothesize that women who have boyfriends are less likely to care about a thinner peer and have less of a negative affect. The author uses both the sociocultural perspective and the social learning perspective in their research. Like the article above, the media creates a social …show more content…
Although the data seems to be representative, there might be some sort of sampling error that could have occurred. If I were to replicate this experiment, I would have more representations of races. In the sample described by the authors, the majority of the participants are Asian and Whites. Asians and Whites are over represented in this research and can cause a sampling error to occur. The hypothesis and result might change based on this change to make more of an equal representation among the races. The hypothesis might not change but the result might. Through the media, Asians and Whites appreciate the thinness beauty standard. It is favorably looked upon on in their cultures and is the ideal body type presented by the media. If there were to be more Hispanics or African American in this study, their culture might have a different view of an ideal body type. Being thin might not be a good thing. This will affect the result because the participants’ anxiety levels would differ and the affects would differ among …show more content…
This research makes me realize that this is also present in my life. After reading this research, I find it true that there is more of a negative affect when being with a thinner or prettier friend. Through experience, it gives me more anxiety and pressure to hang out with a thinner friend. I care more about the way I dress and look when I am with a thinner and prettier friend. Since I do not have a boyfriend, I understand the participants’ anxiety level when being paired with a thinner friend. It creates a lower self-esteem for one self in the situation. This research made me self reflect and realize that the research is really relevant in our everyday