Body-Build Stereotypes: A Cross Cultural Comparison

Abstract

The body-build stereotypes of 185 Mexican children (150 males, 35 females, Mage = 12.6 yr., SDage = 2.1 yr.) were assessed through the use of a 56-item Verbal Check List containing words or phrases pertaining to physical, social, and personal dimensions of psychosocial experience. Similar to American samples, significant proportions of the Mexican children made negative Endomorph and Ectomorph attributions, and positive Mesomorph attributions. Despite these general similarities, some evidence was found which indicated that these evaluative distinctions were less marked in the Mexican sample. The need for future research on body-build stereotypes is noted and suggestions for such research are made.

Teachers’ reports of students’ nonverbal communication in the classroom: A developmental study in grades K‐12

“…Similarly, Lerner (1969) reported that subjects age 10 to 20 had positive images of mesomorphs and negative images of ectomorphs and endomorphs, but he found little change in these stereotypes among age levels. In a study of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Mexican children, Lerner and Pool (1972) found negative stereotypes of endomorphs and ectomorphs and positive stereotypes of mesomorphs though no developmental differences were observed. A study by Lerner and Gellert (1969) found no consistent body build preference in kindergarteners but a distinct aversion to chubbiness.…”

Physical Attractiveness Research

“…One could speculate that this pattern is the consequences of self-consciousness due to a discrepant body image with the average peer, how ever, one might question how stable this pattern would be over time. The impor tance of body image has been noted by social psychologists and child develop ment researchers in numerous previous investigations (Staffieri, 1967;Walker, 1962Walker, , 1963Linegard, 1953;Lerner, 1969Lerner and Korn, 1973;Han ley, 1951;Gleuck and Gleuck, 1965;Biller and Liebman, 1971;Lerner and Pool, 1972); however, few have recognized the need for assessing the posed continu ity-discontinuity issue.…”

Is obesity a risk factor for psychopathology among adolescents?

“…Although several studies have documented the existence of psychopathology in obese adolescents, there is disagreement as to the extent and nature of this psychopathology. Clinic‐based studies have found an association between obesity and psychopathology, particularly depression 5,6 . Even though the association between obesity and psychopathology has been found to be weak or inconsistent in epidemiological studies, the population‐based sample of obese children had more psychiatric problems than the population‐based sample of normal weight children 7 .…”

“…Clinicbased studies have found an association between obesity and psychopathology, particularly depression. 5,6 Even though the association between obesity and psychopathology has been found to be weak or inconsistent in epidemiological studies, the population-based sample of obese children had more psychiatric problems than the population-based sample of normal weight children. 7 The consensus in the literature is that clinicians may observe different psychological consequences of childhood obesity which are not mental disorders.…”