Attentional and interpretative biases in appearance concern: An investigation of biases in appearance-related information processing

Rosser, Benjamin A.; Moss, Timothy; Rumsey, Nichola

Abstract

The present study examined associations between high levels of appearance concern and information processing biases in interpretation and attention. An opportunity sample (N = 79) categorised ambiguous stimuli as related or unrelated to appearance. Participants then responded to the same stimuli in a modified visual dot-probe task assessing attentional bias. Participant responses were assessed in relation to level of appearance concern. The results indicated a valence specific bias towards interpretation of ambiguous stimuli as negative and appearance-related in individuals with higher levels of concern. There was also evidence of attentional bias towards information perceived as appearance-related in participants with higher levels of appearance concern. The study findings suggest that association between appearance-orientated information processing biases and level of appearance concern; this association may lead to mutually reinforcing bias and concern. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2019
• Journal: Body Image
• Print ISSN: 1740-1445
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 251-254
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.02.007
• Keywords: attention, appearance adjustment, concern, cognitive bias, information processing, visible difference, body image
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/978822
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.02.007