Gendered Analysis of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Body Image Avoidant Behaviors

Abstract

Objectification Theory states the societal objectification of the female body leads women to view their body as an object and internalize a cultural view of body standards. Such self-objectification is believed to lead to psychological difficulties such as disordered eating, body dissatisfaction and possibly, self-harm. Research has found both men and women with body dissatisfaction to have a higher capacity for self-harm. We hypothesized that body objectification, NSSI, and body image avoidant behaviors would be significantly and positively correlated, but that the correlations would be higher for females.