The evaluation of body image through emotionally coloured words in muslim girls with and without hijab

• Main Authors: Tiosavljević Marija, Đurović Dušanka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Psychology 2015-01-01
• Series: Psihološka Istraživanja
• Subjects: body image perception; emotionally coloured words; affective primingtask; hijab
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0352-7379/2015/0352-73791502181T.pdf

The main goal of this research was to examine the effect of body exposure on the evaluation of body image through emotionally coloured words in Muslims girls with and without hijab. The sample consisted of 60 female students divided into two groups. The sorting criterion was the way of dressing. The first group consisted of respondents who wear traditional Muslim clothing, hijab, while the second group of participants (also Muslim) were uncovered. In order to determine the effects of the experimental procedure, affective priming paradigm was applied. Two factors with two levels were included: PRIME (the photographs of slender and obese female figures) and TARGET (positive and negative words). Besides the experimental procedure, a General Questionnaire and the Body Satisfaction Questionnaire (BSQ) were administered. The results have shown a statistically significant interaction PRIME x TARGET (F=14.189; p<.001), but no significant effects of emotional valence of the prime or targets. The uncovered respondents significantly faster assessed the type of word after photographs of slim figures than after those of the obese. The results can be considered as an indicator of positive implicit attitudes of uncovered students towards this kind of visual material (slim figures), i.e. they indicate the acceptance and positive attitude towards media messages that promote the thin body shape as the ideal of beauty and attractiveness.