Rutgers-Camden Psychologist Links Reality TV With Teen Cosmetic Surgery
Teenage years have long been linked with a heightened concern with appearance. Some reality TV shows take full advantage and tout happiness as just a nip/tuck away. A Rutgersâ"Camden psychologist has found that teens fond of these kinds of programs are more likely to join the millions who go under the knife each year.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Teenage years have long been linked with a heightened concern with appearance. Some reality TV shows take full advantage and tout happiness as just a nip/tuck away. A RutgersâCamden psychologist has found that teens fond of these kinds of programs are more likely to join the millions who go under the knife each year. For bodies - and minds - still in development, these drastic decisions could have implications way after prom.
Charlotte Markey, an associate professor of psychology at RutgersâCamden, with husband Patrick Markey of Villanova University, recently published research on this topic in the academic journal Body Image.
âWhen we think of cosmetic surgery, we donât think of it as a lifetime issue. There is lots of pressure to look a certain way and I donât blame them for succumbing; weâre all guilty of feeling vulnerable. But what young men and women think of their bodies now will culminate over time and contribute to their overall health,â notes the RutgersâCamden psychologist. âWhat troubles me is that thereâs no conclusive data that cosmetic surgery even makes people happier, what has been documented is that it makes repeat customers.â
The wife-and-husband team surveyed nearly 200 participants with an average age of 20 on their immediate responses to an âextreme makeoverâ program or a show on home improvement â incorporated specifically to mask the intent of the study. Both men and women were included in the study and the procedures examined were ones either gender could pursue.
As the RutgersâCamden researcher suspected, women were more likely to want cosmetic surgery than men and viewers of the cosmetic surgery show were more inclined to consider the procedure for themselves than those who didnât tune in. What still shocks Markey are the handwritten responses to the cosmetic surgery show, including comments like âinspirationalâ and âI saw an unhappy girl get her dreams.â
This saddens Markey because outward appearance seems to be the sole avenue to self satisfaction and this road, she believes, is circular. âIf plastic surgery makes you feel better about yourself, then why do you keep getting it done?â she asks. âThis mindset is very similar to that of an anorexic wanting to lose just five more pounds.â
While ABCâs Extreme Makeover, which led to the Extreme Makeover-Home Edition, was cancelled in 2007, it sparked the development of several other similarly themed shows like Foxâs The Swan, the drama Nip/Tuck, MTVâs I Want a Famous Face, Eâs Dr. 90210 and Oxygenâs recent Addicted to Beauty. The impact of reality television as a new media influence â regardless of topic â also raises many questions about what is being portrayed to viewers as real and indicative of everyday life.
âThere is a cultural context to never be satisfied with our physical selves. Itâs the rare person who is either completely oblivious or has developed such a strong counter message to not be affected, ânotes Markey, the mother of a four-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl. âWe need to teach children to be critical of the messages weâre receiving and tell them positive things now to foster self-esteem.â
Markey brings these cultural dialogues into her own home by explaining to her young children why Barbie is banned. âI tell them âno one you will ever meet in real life will ever look like herââ she says. âThere are so many messages out there telling us that we need to fix ourselves, but at an early age we need to tell our kids: âI love you just the way you are.ââ
She teaches the courses Psychology of Eating; Health Psychology; Psychology of Health and Happiness; Psychology of Adolescence; and Research Methods at RutgersâCamden.
Media Contact: Cathy K. Donovan ( 856 ) 225-6627 E-mail: catkarm@camden.rutgers.edu
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This story was released on 2010-07-23. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.