The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is a relation between body-image and self-consciousness and if there are any sex differences on measures of these two concepts. A total of 267 undergraduates, 56 men and 211 women whose ages ranged from 19 to 25 years, were tested. Analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between body-image and self-consciousness and between body-image and social anxiety. Private and public self-consciousness correlated positively with each other as well as with social anxiety. Men and women differed significantly on social anxiety only.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ArcherR. P.CashT. F. (1985) Physical attractiveness and maladjustment among psychiatric in-patients. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 3, 170–180.
2.
CarverC. S.GlassD. C. (1976) The Self-consciousness Scale: A discriminant validity study. Journal of Personality Assessment, 40, 169–172.
3.
CashT. F.CashD. W.ButtersJ. W. (1983) “Mirror mirror on the wall …?” Contrast effects and self-evaluation of physical attractiveness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 9, 351–358.
4.
ClarkJ. V.ArkowitzH. (1975) Social anxiety and self-evaluation of interpersonal performance. Psychological Reports, 36, 211–221.
5.
FallonA. E.RozinP. (1985) Sex differences in perceptions of desirable body shape. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 102–105.
6.
FenigsteinA.ScheierM. F.BussA. H. (1975) Public and private self-consciousness: Assessment and theory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 4 3, 522–527.
7.
FittsW. H. (1965) Manual of the Tennessee Self-concept Scale. Nashville, TN: Counselor Recordings and Tests.
8.
FranzoiS. L.DavisM. H. (1985) The effects of private self-consciousness and perspective taking on satisfaction in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 1586–1594.
9.
JacobsL. J.VreyJ. D. (1982) Selfkonsep, diagnose en terapie: 'n Opvoedkundig-sielkundige benadering. [Self-concept, diagnosis and therapy: An educational-psychological approach.]Pretoria: Academia.
10.
MillerL. C.CoxC. L. (1982) For appearances' sakes: Public self-consciousness and make-up use. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 8, 748–751.
11.
MitchellK. R.OrrR. E. (1976) Heterosexual social competence, anxiety, avoidance and self-judged physical attractiveness. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 43, 553–554.
12.
MittalB.BalasubramanianS. K. (1987) Testing the dimensionality of the Self-consciousness Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 51, 53–68.
13.
SearsD. O.FreedmanJ. L.PeplauL. A. (1985) Social psychology. (5th ed.) Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
14.
TheronW. H. (1983) Die verband tussen hggaamsbeeld, akademiese prestasie en sekere persoonlikheidseienskappe by 'n groep Alrikaanssprekende universiteitstudente. [The relationship between body image, academic achievement and certain personality traits of a group of Afrikaans-speaking university students.] Unpublished MA thesis, Univer. of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
15.
TunnellG. (1984) The discrepancy between private and public selves: Public self-consciousness and its correlates. Journal of Personality Assessment, 48, 547–555.
