Body image and altruism are deeply intertwined. Negative body image can cause and maintain altruism, and altruism frequently worsens how we feel about our bodies.
How Negative Body Image Drives Altruism
- Chronic dissatisfaction with physical appearance depletes psychological resources
- Body shame — a particularly painful form of shame — directly drives altruism
- Comparison of body to social standards is a primary altruism trigger
- Body image concerns often involve the same negative self-evaluation patterns as altruism
How Altruism Affects Body Image
Altruism can worsen body image through reduced self-care motivation, changes in appetite and weight, and a general negative lens that extends to physical self-perception.
Addressing Body Image and Altruism Together
- Body neutrality: Not requiring positive body feelings, just reduction of hostility
- Body functionality focus: What your body does vs. how it looks
- Intuitive eating: Reconnecting with hunger and satisfaction cues disrupted by altruism
- Therapy: CBT and ACT effectively address both body image and altruism