Some Characteristics of Body Size Estimation

Abstract

Groups of male and female Ss estimated the sizes of 10 body parts and of 3 non-body-object stimuli. They also provided ratings of their degree of satisfaction with 40 body parts and somatic characteristics. Women were found to overestimate body part sizes; men's judgments of body part sizes tended to be more veridical. No sex differences in size estimation tendencies were evident for non-body-object stimuli. Women tended to show less stability, i.e., higher average errors, of body part size estimations than men; this difference was not apparent on non-body-object size estimation responses. Body-part size estimation tendencies and non-body-object size estimation tendencies generally correlated about .40, a value high enough to suggest important common psychological processes, but not sufficiently great to alter the statistical conclusions. Scores on the body acceptance scale did not correlate significantly with size estimation tendencies. No difference in over-all level of body acceptance existed between sexes, but females had higher response-variabilities than males. Important sex differences seem to exist in body cognition. Men show greater veridicality of responses at the level of sensorily-mediated perception of the body. Women demonstrate a greater degree of differentiation among body parts and functions. Body-part size estimation responses appear to be sensitive to variations in the measurement conditions under which they are obtained; differences among the findings of independent researches may be a function of procedural dissimilarities. The presence or absence of visual stimulation appears to be an important factor which influences results.