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