Body image and deception are deeply intertwined. Negative body image can cause and maintain deception, and deception frequently worsens how we feel about our bodies.
How Negative Body Image Drives Deception
- Chronic dissatisfaction with physical appearance depletes psychological resources
- Body shame — a particularly painful form of shame — directly drives deception
- Comparison of body to social standards is a primary deception trigger
- Body image concerns often involve the same negative self-evaluation patterns as deception
How Deception Affects Body Image
Deception 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 Deception 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 deception
- Therapy: CBT and ACT effectively address both body image and deception