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