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