The way that the media portrays women is often really tall and thin with long hair. Young girls who see these ads and toys are influenced to be just like these models. They have been influenced to copy these models because if they don’t then they won’t be seen as beautiful. 27% of 11-year-old European girls think that they are overweight and that percent rises to 40% when they reach 15 years old.[1] Researchers have come to realize that body image is multidimensional.[2]
My issue is linked to the psychological disorders of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and depression. Anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders that occur because a person feels overweight. To be anorexic means to go for days without eating and only eating a very small portion of food such as a cracker and a glass of water. To be bulimic means to eat a lot at once then regurgitate it once you eat it. The young girls that develop eating disorders also go into depression because they are bullied. Depression is said to be the most common psychological disorder among adolescents.[3] In some cases this leads to them committing suicide.
A solution to these psychological disorders would be to give the person client-centered therapy or family therapy. Client-centered therapy is when the therapist tries to form a relationship with the client by using positive regard and empathy. The therapist wants the client to realize that the client has a problem and to solve it on their own. The therapists does not give the client advice on what to do to help. With family therapy the client and their family are brought together to create harmony and to help better understand the client.
The field of psychology is important to humanity because it gives us an in-depth look at human behavior and how to approach certain people and deal with certain behaviors. Psychology also helps to develop better communication skills, stronger conflict resolution, and better understanding. It also helps us to be not so judgmental and gives us a wider perspective of the world and what’s going on in others mind. Psychology can be used to change the world because it helps for people to get to know themselves and the people that they love better.
[1]WHO/Europe | Home. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://www.euro.who.int/en/home
[2] Grabe, S., Ward, L., & Hyde, J. (n.d.). The role of the media in body image concerns among women: A meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. Psychological Bulletin, 460-476.
[3] Stice, E., & Bearman, S. (n.d.). Body-image and eating disturbances prospectively predict increases in depressive symptoms in adolescent girls: A growth curve analysis. Developmental Psychology, 597-607.