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