Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


thesisFINAL.pdf (2.32 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The Effects of Upward and Downward Comparison on a Subsequent Emotion Recognition Task

Thomas, Kim
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1368142615

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, College of Sciences and Health Professions.
Social Comparison Theory explains how viewing images can affect body satisfaction with two processes: upward and downward comparison. Upward comparison, which is defined as comparing oneself to a more attractive person, can result in depression and body dissatisfaction. Downward comparison, which is defined as comparing oneself to a less attractive person, can increase mood and body satisfaction. Previous research has shown that individuals with eating disorders, such as anorexia, have a deficit in emotion recognition due to their high levels of body dissatisfaction. Building upon this finding, the current study was designed to examine the effect that priming normal individuals (i.e., those without an eating disorder) with pictures depicting thin women will have on these individuals’ performance on an emotion recognition task. The current study included three priming groups: thin ideal prime, overweight prime, and a control prime. Exposure to images of thin women was expected to increase body dissatisfaction, whereas exposure to overweight images was expected to increase body satisfaction. After priming, all participants performed an emotion recognition task. Participants viewed a series of faces on a computer screen and chose one of four emotions (happy, sad, surprise, or anger) to describe the face. Based on previous findings, I hypothesized that the individuals primed with the thin images would take longer to respond and be less accurate, when recognizing the emotions than both the control and overweight prime. Results indicated that exposure to thin media images did not negatively affect emotion recognition performance. Yet, participants in the overweight prime group were significantly faster when recognizing emotions than both the control and thin ideal prime group.
Conor McLennan, PhD (Committee Chair)
Lisa Doane, PhD (Committee Member)
Steve Slane, PhD (Committee Member)
97 p.
Psychology
Eating Disorders; Emotion Recognition; Social Comparison Theory; Body Dissatisfaction

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Thomas, K. (2013). The Effects of Upward and Downward Comparison on a Subsequent Emotion Recognition Task [Master's thesis, Cleveland State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1368142615

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Thomas, Kim. The Effects of Upward and Downward Comparison on a Subsequent Emotion Recognition Task . 2013. Cleveland State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1368142615.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Thomas, Kim. "The Effects of Upward and Downward Comparison on a Subsequent Emotion Recognition Task ." Master's thesis, Cleveland State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1368142615

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

csu1368142615
456
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Cleveland State University and OhioLINK.