Society values attractiveness and associates it with being good, acceptable, loving, and worthy. So what happens when a person believes him/herself to be unattractive or worse yet "ugly"?

"Imagined Ugliness", or Body Image Disturbance (BID), involves a preoccupation with a negative body image. BID occurs as a perceived imperfection in appearance, or excessive concern where a slight defect is present. The nature of the negative body image might include a dissatisfaction with the shape and size of the body, but it can also involve perceived flaws of the face, hair, skin, complexion, or a wide variety of other body parts - arm, feet, hands, breasts, hips, shoulder, and so on. People with BID experience significant distress about their supposed negative image and describe their preoccupation as "intensely painful" or "tormenting" and find that they spend hours each day thinking about it to the point that it may dominate their lives.

Self-consciousness and feelings of embarrassment, anxiety and fear that others will notice their supposed flaw and judge them negatively lead to avoidance of usual activities, excessive checking and grooming as well as attempts at hiding, camouflaging or rectifying the imagined flaw through general medical, dental or surgical treatments. In some cases individuals may leave their homes only at night when they cannot be seen or become housebound. They may drop out of school, avoid job interviews, avoid dating and intimacy and have few friends.

Without doubt negative body image is associated with a great deal of emotional distress and life disruption. It clearly impedes human happiness and well being by damaging a person's self-esteem, interfering in the person's capacity to engage meaningfully in life and develop a sense of belonging and acceptance that arise from the formation of close and affectionate relationships. It is not surprising that people with body image disturbances also experience other clinical disorders such as depression and social anxiety.

Researchers in the School of Psychology at the Australian National University are undertaking research into BID. The aim of the research is to examine the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches in promoting healthy body image and reducing the emotional distress and life disruption associated with body image disturbance.

Further information about the program may be obtained below or contact Salih Ozgul (Clinical Psychologist) or Carolyn Deans (Psychologist) at the ANU Psychology Clinic on 6125-0412.