Abstract: From the perspective of negative physical self schema theory, highly efficient knowledge structures about body size and shape guide information processing related to the body. Distorted or negative self-schemata contribute to biased information processing about one’s body, resulting in disturbances in body image.
In two experiments, we tested the hypothesis that individuals with specific concerns in self-reported negative physical self concept would display processing biases during a word judgment task. We extended past work by assessing biases for both fat and thin stimuli. Also, the study attempted to reduce possible confounds (i.e., priming effects, nonequivalent control stimuli, mood consistency) identified in past work.
In Experiment 1, groups scoring high (31 females, 4 males) and low (30 females, 5 males) on the Negative Physical Self Scale (NPS) Fatness subscale evaluated a series of fat and non-body words as positive, negative, or neutral. Results indicated that the High Fatness group had faster reaction times (RT) in judging fat words (e.g. positive words and metaphor words) and rated them more negatively than the comparison group did. In contrast, there were no group differences in RT or judgment for non-body words. In Experiment 2, the same methodology was used to assess cognitive biases for thin body words. Groups scoring high (11 females, 20 males) and low (17 males, 14 females) on the NPS Thinness dimension evaluated thinness and non-body words. Although there were no group differences for non-body words, the high Thinness group had a faster mean RT in judging thin words than did the comparison group. Groups did not differ, however, in their evaluations of thin words.
This may be the first study to highlight how information processing biases are found not only among those preoccupied with fatness but also among peers concerned about being too thin. Specifically, emerging adults with preoccupied with either thinness or fatness judge salient body information more quickly than their less preoccupied counterparts do. Howevever, those concerned with fatness have an additional interpretative bias in that they evaluate information about the body more harshly than peers do. Extensions to other sources of body image concern such as physical stature are warranted and future research is needed to clarify the extent to which these biases are risks for and consequences of body image concerns

Key words: negative physical self, cognitive bias, judgment, China, reaction time