Motivation and Body Image: The Influence of Selfies on Body Image

This report examines an experimental study that explores the relationship between selfie-posting behavior and body image among young women. The study, published in a peer-reviewed journal, investigates how the act of taking and posting selfies on social media platforms affects women's self-perception, mood, and overall body image satisfaction. The report highlights the motivational factors behind selfie-taking, linking them to self-actualization, self-concept, and the influence of manipulated versus unmanipulated photos. The analysis also delves into the impact of social media on dieting behaviors, the promotion of thinness ideals, and the psychological well-being of individuals. The author evaluates the study's strengths, including its comprehensive literature review and primary research, while also acknowledging limitations such as the absence of personality moderators and outcome variables. The report concludes with a discussion on the potential implications of the study for preventing self-harm among young women.

Running head: MOTIVATION AND BODY IMAGE
MOTIVATION AND BODY IMAGE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Citation:
Mills, J. S., Musto, S., Williams, L., & Tiggemann, M. (2018). “Selfie” harm: Effects on
mood and body image in young women. Body image, 27, 86-92.
Selection:
The selected article is an experimental design which highlights the relation between
the current trends of taking and posting selfies and the self- body image that women have
regarding themselves. In our class we had been taught about motivation, and it was taught
that motivation is a need as it works a like drive for the human beings to undertake any work.
Therefore, the current trends of taking selfies is also characterised by an underlying
motivational factor. Therefore, I had chosen this particular article, as the topic is very
fascinating and it is one of the dominant social concerns for the social researchers. Hence, in
an endeavour to find out the motivational factors for the women to take selfie and how it is
impacting upon the lives of the same, this particular article is chosen.
Objective:
The objective of the selected topic is to find out the relation between the uploaded
selfie of the women and their body image, and their self- actualization, and their self-
concept. The article has also tried to find out a pattern between the manipulated and the
manipulated photos.
Summary:
The main aim of the study is to find out the impact of the social media websites on the
social media behaviour of the women. Therefore, to conceptualize this, the article has
analysed and evaluated the trends from various perspectives. Firstly, the authors had shown
that there is a relation between the social media and the self- body image of the women. The

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social media has invoked a sense of dissatisfaction among the women, and it is found that
these sense of dissatisfaction has catalysed the dominance and use of various face
applications and various photo- shop applications. The authors have also shown that the
social media is influencing upon the dieting behaviour, weight loss, and is promoting the
concept of thinness, and these all are pose against the protest against body shaming which is
very much evident and voiced all across the world. The social media is spreading a concept
and ideology of “perfect woman”, and along with these the concepts of thin ideal, athletic
ideal, and the like are also practiced.
The authors have also found that the social media is also influencing the
psychological being of the individuals and the social media behaviour of the women is
highlighting that there is a self- representation on the social media is motivated by the
concepts and ideologies that are upheld by the social media. The social media users very
cautiously and carefully practice and create their impression over the social media. The social
media users mostly manage their self and their impression through uploading selfies. The
authors have viewed that the social media users are driven to upload their attractive self in the
social media and thus, they try to make an impression in the social media. They take their
selfies considering a particular concept and further maintain the same through the face and
body shape applications to manage their impression in the media. The authors have further
undertaken a practical study to exemplify their claims.
Evaluation:
The considered study includes an in- depth understanding of the concepts that are
highlighted and promoted by social media. The study has included a vast literature regarding
social media and has also shown that how these concepts are related with the psychological
concepts and ideas. The literature has reflected upon the psychological understandings and

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further has provided an idea of the impacts of the social media upon the psychological beings
of the women. My main motto was to understand the motivating factors of taking selfies and
further, I wanted to understand the link between the selfies and the social media behaviour of
the women, and this particular study has completely addressed to all my questions.
Furthermore, the study has drawn a relation between the physical attractiveness and the social
status. The primary research that the study has included shows that the social constructs and
concepts, like race, ethnicity and culture is also influenced by the social media and further,
the social media behaviour is influenced by all these factors, and upon the analysing the
collected data, the study has shown that it is harmful for the young women’s mood and self-
image. The study has presented a validated primary research which is informative, however
at the same time, the work lacks a sound psychological understanding in the primary
understanding. The research presents an overall idea, but it does not consider the personality
moderators, which would have reflected a more in- depth understanding of the scenario. Also,
the study has only considered the future possibilities, but not the outcome variables.
However, the study is potent enough to be presented and highlighted at schools to prevent the
young women from self- harm.