Media Body Image and Self-Identity Development in Youth
This paper examines how media-influenced body image affects the development of self-identity, particularly in adolescents and young adults. Drawing on Erikson's psychosocial development model, Rogers' theory of self, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs, it argues that unrealistic media body ideals interfere with healthy identity formation by misaligning the ideal and actual self and undermining the esteem needs central to self-actualization. Current research by Veldhuis et al. (2020) and Gattario and Frisen (2019) is reviewed to show how body appreciation movements on social media may counter these harmful effects. The paper concludes that social support and authentic self-presentation are key to cultivating positive body image and, by extension, a stable self-identity.
- Introduction: Overview of media, body image, and identity research
- Relevant Psychological Theories and Concepts: Erikson, Rogers, and Maslow frameworks applied
- Current Research on Body Image and Self-Identity: Empirical studies on selfies, body appreciation, and identity
- Why the Topic Is Important: Cultural stakes, male gaze, and social media counter-trends
- Conclusion: Synthesis of body acceptance and self-actualization
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- It systematically connects three major psychological frameworks — Erikson, Rogers, and Maslow — to a single applied problem, showing how each theory illuminates a different dimension of media-influenced identity development.
- It balances critique of harmful media effects with acknowledgment of positive counter-trends (body appreciation movements), giving the argument nuance rather than one-sided pessimism.
- Transitions between the theory section and the current research section are smooth, with the paper explicitly referencing earlier concepts (ideal vs. actual self, hierarchy of needs) when interpreting empirical findings.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective theoretical triangulation: rather than relying on a single framework, the author layers Erikson's developmental stages, Rogers' person-centered self-concept, and Maslow's motivational hierarchy to build a multi-dimensional explanation. Each theory is introduced briefly, then revisited in later sections as an interpretive lens for empirical evidence — a technique that strengthens analytical depth without requiring original data.
Structure breakdown
The paper follows a clear four-part structure: (1) an introduction that states the thesis and maps the paper's scope; (2) a theory section that introduces and connects the three psychological frameworks; (3) a current research section that applies those frameworks to empirical studies on body image, selfies, and body appreciation; and (4) a significance section that widens the lens to cultural critique before a concise conclusion synthesizes the argument. Each section builds on the previous one, keeping the reader oriented throughout.
Introduction
The formation of self-identity is a major part of psychosocial development according to numerous researchers and scholars (Lumen, 2021). Erikson developed a model of psychosocial development in which every stage is defined by a conflict that must be overcome (McLeod, 2018). For adolescents, that conflict is between identity formation and role confusion. Others, such as Adams and Marshall (1996), noted that identity is brought about as a result of both personal and social phenomena. Bandura (2018) observed that the three main factors influencing how people think about themselves and how they act are peers, groups, and media. The development of self-identity through media-influenced body image is therefore an area deserving of focused attention in identity research. This paper examines the relevant psychological theories and concepts that apply, discusses current research on the matter, and argues that this topic is important because of the major influence media has and how that influence impacts the way people think about their bodies and identities — sometimes in harmful ways.
Relevant Psychological Theories and Concepts
Erikson's psychosocial model of development consists of eight stages, with each stage defined by the developmental task an individual must encounter in order to move on to the next. Infants, for example, deal with the trust vs. mistrust task. Elderly people deal with integrity vs. despair. For adolescents, the main conflict is identity vs. role confusion. Between the ages of 12 and 18, youths are forming a sense of who and what they are. Media plays a significant role in how they see themselves, according to Bandura (2018).
Other theories relevant to this discussion are Carl Rogers' theory of self and Maslow's theory of human motivation. Rogers' theory of self is based on two distinct views of the self — the ideal self and the actual self. It is a person-centered theory rooted in the idea that "the best vantage point for understanding behavior is from the internal frame of reference of the individual" (Rogers, 1951, p. 495). Understanding what the individual is going through, how the individual sees himself or herself, and what the individual wants to be is central to developing a sense of the person. For Maslow (1943), human beings cannot reach their full potential (self-actualization) until lower-level needs are met first, including the need for esteem and love. From the perspective of his hierarchy of needs, it is evident that people trying to develop a self-identity need a strong foundation of esteem and love in order to become self-actualized — that is, firm in their sense of who they are.
From these perspectives, one can see that people struggling with their identity through media-influenced body image are trying to conform to idealized images, often to their own detriment. They may believe that if they conform to an idealized media-influenced body image they will obtain the esteem they seek and arrive at a sense of self. Yet they are frequently conflicted: their ideal self does not align with their actual self, and this misalignment creates problems, as Rogers points out.
References
Adams, G. R., & Marshall, S. K. (1996). A developmental social psychology of identity: Understanding the person-in-context. Journal of Adolescence, 19(5), 429–442.
Bandura, A. (2018). Toward a psychology of human agency: Pathways and reflections. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(2), 130–136.
Gattario, K. H., & Frisén, A. (2019). From negative to positive body image: Men's and women's journeys from early adolescence to emerging adulthood. Body Image, 28, 53–65.
Kearney, M. C. (Ed.). (2012). The gender and media reader. Routledge.
Kilbourne, J. (2010). Killing us softly 4. Cambridge Documentary.
Lumen. (2021). Identity development theory. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/adolescent/chapter/identity-development-theory/
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370.
McLeod, S. (2018). Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html
Rogers, C. (1951). Client-centered therapy. Riverside Press.
Turow, J. (2009). The advertising and consumer culture reader. Routledge.
Veldhuis, J., Alleva, J. M., Bij de Vaate, A. J., Keijer, M., & Konijn, E. A. (2020). Me, my selfie, and I: The relations between selfie behaviors, body image, self-objectification, and self-esteem in young women. Psychology of Popular Media, 9(1), 3.
Create your account
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.