TY - JOUR
T1 - Attentional and interpretative biases in appearance concern: An investigation of biases in appearance-related information processing
AU - Rosser, Benjamin A
AU - Moss, T
AU - Rumsey, N
N1 - appearance adjustment, concern, cognitive bias, information processing
PY - 2010/6
Y1 - 2010/6
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953023301&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.02.007
U2 - 10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.02.007
DO - 10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.02.007
M3 - Article
VL - 7
SP - 251
EP - 254
JO - Body Image
JF - Body Image
SN - 1740-1445
IS - 3
ER -