Evolving ideals of male body image as seen through action toys

Pope, Harrison G.; Olivardia, Roberto; Gruber, Amanda J.; Borowiecki, John J.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199907)26:1<65::aid-eat8>3.3.co;2-4

Cited by 129 publications

(174 citation statements)

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“…These findings appear congruent with other observations of trends in the ideal male body image in our society, as reflected in magazines (Andersen & DiDomenico, 1992;Nemeroff et al, 1994), action toys (Pope et al,1999), and in other media. Although the cause of this trend is not certain, the discovery and dissemination of anabolic steroids may be a factor (Kouri et al, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Although these possibilities cannot be excluded, there are no compelling reasons to assume that Playgirl deviates consistently from general male and female preferences for how the ideal male body should look. Furthermore, the parallel data from other studies, such as the increasing muscularity of action toys (Pope et al, 1999), would argue that our findings are indicative of a more general societal trend.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…A third study noted a trend for the greater use of young male bodies in fashion magazines and in marketing a variety of products (Davis, Shapiro, Elliot, & Dionne, 1993). In another study examining the evolution of boys' action toys, Pope, Olivardia, Gruber, and Borowiecki (1999) found that figures such as GI Joe have become increasingly muscular over time, with many contemporary figures having physiques more muscular than is humanly attainable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds

Leit

Pope

Gray

2000

Int. J. Eat. Disord.

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379

170

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Objective: We sought to assess whether cultural ideals of the male body, as illustrated by magazine models, have changed over the past 25 years. Method: We examined 115 male centerfold models in Playgirl magazine from 1973 to 1997. Using the models' heights and weights quoted by the magazine, together with visual estimates of body fat, we calculated the body mass index (BMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) of each model. Results: The Playgirl centerfold models became increasingly "dense" and more muscular over time, as indicated by the significant correlations between BMI, FFMI, and year of publication. Discussion: These observations, in combination with previous studies, suggest that cultural norms of the ideal male body are growing increasingly muscular.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds

Leit

Pope

Gray

2000

Int. J. Eat. Disord.

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379

170

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“…It is possible that media images of muscular men contribute to the male problems (Andersen, 1990;Pope, Olivardia, Gruber, & Borowiecki, 1999). In order to investigate the contribution of sociocultural factors to male body image problems, measures emphasizing muscularity along with avoidance of fatness as societal ideals need to be developed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of the sociocultural attitudes towards appearance questionnaire with middle school boys and girls

Smolak

Levine

Thompson

2001

Int. J. Eat. Disord.

185

106

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Objective To assess the psychometric validity of versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ) designed for use with middle school girls and boys. Method As part of a larger study, the SATAQ was administered to 505 middle school children. To assess concurrent validity, scales concerning the use of Weight Control and Muscle Building Techniques as well as the Body Esteem Scale (BES) were also administered. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. Results Both the girls and boys versions of the SATAQ showed adequate validity. Two SATAQ subscales, Internalization and Awareness of societal ideals of thinness, were identified for girls. For boys, three SATAQ subscales were identified: Internalization and Awareness of a muscular, non‐fat ideal and a scale tapping the the importance of a Muscular Look. The subscales and total score showed acceptable concurrent validity. Even after controlling for BMI, they contributed significant explained variance for the use of Weight Control Techniques in both boys and girls and use of Muscle Building Techniques in boys. Patterns of relationships among variables differed by gender. Discussion The results suggest that sociocultural influences play a role in the use of Weight Control and Muscle Building Techniques for middle school boys although their influence is not as strong as it is for the use of Weight Control Techniques by middle school girls. The SATAQ seems to be an adequate measure of the nature of some of these influences. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 29: 216–223, 2001.

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“…The changes in male ideal body type have been illustrated in such media influences as the increased muscularity of male action toys (Pope, Olivardia, Gruber, & Borowiecki, 1999), male models from Playgirl centerfolds (Leit, Pope, & Gray, 2001), male models in magazine advertisements (Andersen & DiDomenic, 1992), and various other media exemplars (Heinberg & Thompson, 1995;Thompson & Heinberg, 1999). Again, one may debate which came first, the change in attitudes by men or the media influence toward more muscular body types, but the fact remains that the shift toward muscularity has occurred.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Brief Report: Exposure to Muscular Male Models Decreases Men?s Body Satisfaction

2004

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The current study was designed to examine the effect of exposure to muscular ideal bodies on body satisfaction in men. College men (N = 104) at a medium-sized mid-south university completed the Body Assessment (BA) scale, which measures body satisfaction, before and after exposure to either muscular or nonmuscular advertisements. BA scores were examined using a repeated measures (pre and post) ANOVA with muscularity of image (view images of muscular men vs. view images of average men) as the between-participants factor. Results indicated that men's self-rated body satisfaction decreased after viewing images of muscular men but did not change after viewing images of average men. Thus, it appears that men's body satisfaction may be influenced by exposure to brief images of muscular models. These results are congruent with results of previous investigations of the effects of viewing images of thin models on women's body satisfaction.KEY WORDS: body image; muscularity; body satisfaction.One sociocultural factor that appears to influence body satisfaction in both men and women is the media. People are bombarded daily with their culture's stereotypical images of attractiveness from magazines, television, films, billboards, and other electronic and print media. This constant exposure to ideal body types (which are often quite unrealistic for most individuals to obtain) can make individuals more sensitive and conscious about their own bodies, and can evoke comparisons between themselves and unrealistic media images of thinness and/or muscularity (Turner et al., 1997).Although one might argue that media only reflects what is prevalent in society, there is strong evidence that exposure to idealized thin bodies via magazines, television, and movies has deleterious effects, especially in women. Women report that they use models in magazines as a point of comparison for

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Evolving ideals of male body image as seen through action toys

Cited by 129 publications

References 0 publications

Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds

Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds

The use of the sociocultural attitudes towards appearance questionnaire with middle school boys and girls

Brief Report: Exposure to Muscular Male Models Decreases Men?s Body Satisfaction

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