The Media and Body Image :: Media Argumentative Persuasive Argument

The Media and Body Image    Abstract    This research examined the media and how it affects fitness and body image. This was assessed by collecting data from surveys taken by three groups of ten high school students, five of each sex.   Two of the three groups were exposed to different media packages, one depicted images of unnaturally thin individuals, the other depicted athletic figures, while the third group was exposed to no prior data.   The results indicate the students attitudes towards social fitness views and self-acceptance.   It was my hypothesis that a correlation between media and the fitness concept will be found but the idea of a personal body image will remain fixed as body image is a determined part of one's psyche.   A significant correlation was discovered between those who viewed the thin package and their attitudes on social fitness.   However a low score in the self- acceptance scale in all three groups suggests a low self-concept within all participants.   This supports my statement that there would be a connection between the fitness concept and the media packages as well as a constant self- concept maintained by all participants.    In assessing personal attitudes it is often important to measure not only what an individual feels towards others but also his/herself.   Prior research indicates this is especially important when measuring attitudes towards physical issues. It has been found that opposing views may be held simultaneously by individuals in regards to themselves and others.   Also concern for how a response will reflect upon his/herself may negate an individual expressing his or her true attitudes.   This research sought to assess the attitudes of high school students towards fitness and body image in the presence of different physical media icons.   By monitoring the individuals response to both a third person scale and a personal scale, true attitudes can be assumed.   In this study, the different groups were the independent variable, here in described as Group A, those exposed to the thin images, Group B, those exposed to athletic images, and Group C, those exposed to no images or the control group, whereas the groups score was the dependent variable.   The surveys were distributed to thirty students, ten in each group, five of each sex.   The dependent variable, in the Social Fitness Attitudes Scale, reflects the individuals attitude towards fitness in society and in a dating atmosphere.   The higher the individuals score the more they are influenced by society, with a score of 46 being the accepted indication of society influence.   In the Self Acceptance Scale, the lower the individuals score the lower their self concept with scores between 36-110