historical adonis

March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian

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ADIOS ADONISThe Adonis Complex

Male Body Image

Self esteem

Media


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What about these topics? Male Body Image

Self esteem

Media

Has it changed

Based on men’s or women’s views

Types and attitudes


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Houston

We Have A Problem


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But, says Dr. M. Kimmela known male feminist sociologist

Men have a codeWe don’t complain

Rule #1 Give ‘em hell

Rule#2 Strong like oak

Rule #3 No sissy stuff

Rule#4 Be a big wheel

If we actually had body image concerns…………..

Don’t tell anyone


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What has happened historically? 1940s- John Wayne 1950s- Burt

Lancaster 1960s- Steve

McQueen 1970s- Burt

Reynolds

No real body sculpting

Just Burly, barrel chested and hairy guys

What occurred in the 80s?

Advertising new icons of male beauty

1) Calvin Klein guy2) Soloflex guy


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What are these differences? Sculpting Hair removal Self conscious


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We now have 2 competing looks ,thanks to G.Q. and Men’s

Health: Slender, sculpted

and feminine

Example:Brad----?

Pumped up, but lean

Example: Nicholas C---?


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Concern with bulk and muscle definition exercise addictions, diet extremism and various behavioral disorders

One theory: We take our style and identity cues from gay culture !

First, slender was in … Post AIDs, Buff is in! Yahoo!! We still got hairless!!!


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Rates of Body Dissatisfaction have Escalated!

1997 45% US men dissatisfied with their muscle tone

1972 ½ as many!!!!

Today, 50 million guys don’t like themselves! (Garner, D.M.) in Psychology Today “Body Image Survey”


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We now have DSM4 diagnosed syndromes Weightlifting and exercise

compulsions BDD Eating disorders Steroid abuse


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Sacrificed are----- Time

Mental health

Money

relationships


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A Double BindMedia hotties(males )Industry

promotion –Hair stuff, diet aids,Fitness stuffTaboo to self

criticizeSecrecy


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Sources of our obsessions?

Genetic component (OCD)

Psychological component (rearing/ environment)

Society and media

Assuming a bunch of guys have a disposition towards

OCD…….

Examine first the psychological component

Threatened Masculinity

From 60s till 90s males have had more of a focus on body image


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Our Masculinity is Threatened Women with more

power More status More identity Sexual choice Poor sources of

male identity Few male models

Only our bodies may be strong

So –strut your stuff


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Lost status as 1) breadwinners

2) fighters

3) protectors

4) unquestioned sexual experts

We also threaten ourselves

As boys As teens As men


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other psychological reason for obsessions on body image:

Locker room embarrassment and male bonding issues

Younger men exhibit lower comfort with nudity than us old guys

(Pope in his book)

Male friends are instrumental in influencing body image concerns

( McCabe in J. Soc. Psychol. Feb.2003)


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Even boys’ toys are impossible to emulate G.I Joe has increased his biceps,

proportional to a man from 12 inch to a 15 inch to a 16 1/2 inch around!


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Preoccupation with our own playboyification Lynne Luciano in “Looking Good:

Male Body Image in Modern America” July 2001

Her idea that our “body trap” is a function of not mortality, nor feminism, but a triumph of consumerism.


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Post WW2 The playboyification of men lead to

elevation of personality over accomplishment.

The body= just another asset.


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The Media: another possible cause of our body focus? MagazinesMen’s Health=

circulation in 7 years from 250,000 ( 1990)

1,5000,000 (1997)

Movies

Videos

Music check out Lenny

Kravitz’s Abs


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These men in film, in video, in life May have had one of (1996) 690,361 cosmetic surgical

procedures!

May be “roided” to the heavens with “T”


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Conclusion


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Male Body Image Self esteem damaged by media,

family structural deficits, rearing,lack of ability to deal with more “in charge” women and feminism.

Some have genetic predisposition to body image preoccupation.


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Conclusion. The incidence of the Adonis Complex

is increasing.

Diagnosis is more common.

More research needed to continue to help men who suffer with these issues.

historical adonis

Health & Medicine