Fat talk – mechanizmy i konsekwencje dewaluacji własnego wyglądu

• Authors: Agata Dutkiewicz

Title variants

EN

Fat talk – the mechanisms and consequences of devaluating one’s own physical appearance

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

PL

Praca syntetycznie prezentuje zjawisko psychospołeczne, jakim są konwersacje typu fat talk, czyli komunikaty, w których podmiot dewaluuje własny wygląd. Powszechność tego zjawiska w cywilizacji zachodniej jest ściśle związana z charakterystyczną dla współczesnej kultury masowej nadmierną koncentracją na fizyczności. W artykule przedstawiono główne nurty teoretyczne definiujące to zjawisko oraz analizujące mechanizmy jego powstawania i podtrzymywania. Aby wytłumaczyć skłonność pewnych osób do angażowania się w konwersacje oparte na fat talk, badacze odwołują się do założeń teorii autopercepcji, teorii uprzedmiotowienia czy zjawiska pluralistycznej ignorancji. Bazując na wynikach aktualnych doniesień naukowych, wskazano ponadto czynniki predysponujące do częstszej autodewaluacji wyglądu. Wnioski z badań sugerują, iż populacją najbardziej narażoną na uczestnictwo w fat talk są dziewczęta w okresie adolescencji, niezadowolone ze swojego wyglądu mimo normatywnej masy ciała lub nawet niedowagi. Istotną rolę odgrywają również system rodzinny i używane w jego obrębie komunikaty skoncentrowane na wyglądzie czy wadze. Analiza danych literaturowych sugeruje istnienie krótkoterminowych pozytywnych konsekwencji fat talk w postaci niwelowania nieprzyjemnych stanów emocjonalnych jednostki. Niemniej obserwowane są też poważne i długoterminowe negatywne efekty, obejmujące większe ryzyko rozwoju zaburzeń odżywiania, zaburzeń depresyjnych albo dymorficznych zaburzeń ciała – nie tylko wśród osób bezpośrednio zaangażowanych w fat talk, ale także w grupie biernych odbiorców. Zjawisko fat talk stanowi zatem ważny element praktyki klinicznej i działań psychoprofilaktycznych.

EN

This paper attempts a systematic presentation of the problem of a the psychosocial phenomenon of conversations known as fat talk, i.e. statements, in which a person devalues their own appearance. The popularity of this phenomenon among the population of Western civilization is closely connected with the preoccupation with physicality and physical appearance, characteristic for the contemporary mass culture. The article presents main theories defining fat talk and analysing the mechanisms of its occurrence and persistence. They are rooted mainly in the assumptions of the self-perception theory, the objectification theory, and pluralistic ignorance phenomenon, in order to explain the tendency for engaging in fat talk. Also, based on the findings of current studies regarding the subject, factors predisposing to more frequent self-abasement of one’s physical appearance have been listed. According to the studies, these include being female, adolescent and dissatisfied with one’s appearance despite normal weight or even being underweight. Also the family system and its use of conversations focused on appearance, body weight, etc. plays an important role. The analysis of the literature indicates the existence of short-term positive results of fat talk in terms of relieving unpleasant emotional states in people involved in this type of conversation. However, long-term, severe adverse effects are also observed, including the greater risk for the development of eating, depressive or body dysmorphic disorders, not only among those actively involved in fat talk, but also others participating in such conversations, even passively. Therefore, the problem of fat talk is an important element of clinical practice and psychoprophylaxis.

Keywords

EN

fat talk; obraz ciała; zaburzenia dysmorficzne ciała; zaburzenia odżywiania; zachowania zdrowotne

Discipline

• MEDICINE: MEDICINE

• Publisher: Medical Communications
• Journal: Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna
• Year: 2018
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 208-211

Contributors

author

Agata Dutkiewicz

• Klinika Psychiatrii Dzieci i Młodzieży, Katedra Psychiatrii, Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu, Poznań, Polska

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• Document Type: article