Donielle Lisbon MSSA, LSW
Outpatient and School District Mental Health Therapsit
Interview Questions
- In terms of “body image”, do you think there is a specific definition of ‘perfection’ that most people want to achieve ?
I think the concept of perfection is driven by a lot of different things; environment, culture, anxiety, etc. It is an unattainable feat that only results in a constant and overwhelming gloom of failure. When it comes to body image, there is of course a standard created by “popular” culture, that unfortunately only shows one small part of what we are “supposed” to look like. If you don’t know that, and you aren’t sure of how it works, of course you get this warped ideal of the “perfect” body in comparison to your own.
2. Is this due in part because of media portrayals? How?
Absolutely, for as long as visual advertising has been around the media has been portraying to us what the “ideal” lifestyle is supposed to look like. I use the word advertising because that’s how it started and its just gotten more advanced and high tech these days. We call it social media but it genuinely at it’s core, is just advanced advertising. People get on there and think they are getting an inside look at their favorite artist or celebrities life and style and it is actually just them selling to you their brand. Which is their business. We idolize that, and then want to make our own lives a simulation of that. Not realizing we are going after the part of their life that they want us to see.
3. What is viewed as a negative body image amongst your students ?
Because I work in an entire school district, I get to see a lot of the transformation of body image ideals from as young as 3rd grade all the way through high school. It evolves, and the negative views come from so many places including, skin color, hair type, size, height, muscle, clear skin. I mean I think this generation of kids have a significantly harder time with body image, and just image in general because they are being raised by a very volatile use of social media.
4. Does that perception have emotional or behavioral effects? What are they?
Yes, I mean kids are in the beginning of puberty and having such an increase in anxiety in panic that they can’t come to school because they have an acne break out. Clear skin is the standard right now and too many influencers are not taking the time to explain to their followers (who are majority kids) that acne is extremely normal. And most people don’t experience clearing skin until adulthood. Or the whole “snatched” ideal that just emphasizes for girls that you have to have a pretty much invisible waist line with big hips to be considered beautiful. The push of body advertising pushes the increase in eating disorders, which is rooted in perfection. Which like I said, is unattainable.
5. Are there in positive messages in social media about body image? Please elaborate.
Yes, I mean with every negative ideal in the world there are still people pushing the more positive and realistic message. The message of a healthy relationship with yourself physically and emotionally. There are a lot of influencers who are pushing that agenda as much as they can you just have to know how to find it.
6. How has social media and body image affected mental health?
It drives ideals of perfection. Which increases mental health issues like anxiety and depression, domestic violence, emotional abuse, and so on.
7.What is the age group that is affected the most by body image in your students ? Also state grade level.
It’s hard to say, because I think it varies. But I would say right now middle school aged kids. Specifically by age I would say about 11-14.
8. Are the boys in your group affected by the impact of mass media on body image ? Or is it only seen in girls ?
It is everyone. Person to person. I think people assume that it only impacts girls because that is how it is portrayed or shared most often. but I believe everyone is impacted by the negative rabbit hole of body image ideals.
9. Are there other factors that play a role in your students body image, such as family, environment, culture background , attitudes of peers ?
Yes, all of the above. it is genuinely just the pressure of all parts of the society around you that can impact your perception of yourself.
10.Compared to the other factors you’ve mentioned, would social media be the top influence on that list?
Yes, social media is highly advanced advertising.
11.Considering when you were growing up, would you say body image was more highlighted then or now ? Please elaborate.
It definitely played a big impact in my growing up. As it has for so many of us for years and years. I grew up at the start of social media. So we were all still trying to figure out how it worked and what it could be used for. The kids growing up now have it even harder because it has been understood, perfected, the power it has has been amplified, and I don’t think a lot of people still don’t know just how dangerous it is.