The psychology of appearance: why health psychologists should “do looks”

Rumsey, Nichola

Abstract

Societal interest in appearance has a long history,
but has never been more prevalent than now. Messages
associating physical attractiveness with success and
happiness are unremitting; researchers and
commentators consider that extensive, and for a
proportion of the population, debilitating levels of
appearance concerns are considered normative. In this
article I will offer a brief history of appearance research
as a context for the current state of play in this area,
explore reasons why the topic of appearance remains
peripheral at best for most health psychologists, and
offer arguments for why it should become more central.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2008
• Journal: European Health Psychologist
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 46-50
• Keywords: health psychology, appearance, body image, visible difference
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1009951
• Publisher URL: http://www.ehps.net/ehp/issues/2008/v10iss3_Sept2008.htm