Body Images: Development, Deviance, and Change.Body images: Development, Deviance, and Change Edited by Cash TF, Pruzinsky T. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , NY 10012, The Guilford Press, 1990, hardback, 361 pp, 39.95 The editors of this book compiled a comprehensive text that addresses many facets of human physical appearance. They explored the works of psychologists, psychiatrists, surgeons, and development specialists to present in a concise format discussions of body image. The text flows naturally, covering theory, developmental influences, deviations from normal, and methods of facilitating body image. Part I explores the theoretical concepts and historical foundations of our current understanding of body experience and body images. A brief review of the major psychometric psy·cho·met·rics n. (used with a sing. verb) The branch of psychology that deals with the design, administration, and interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, aptitude, and and methodological considerations in the measurement of body-image concepts is provided. Part 2 covers the development of body images from a transactional/ecological perspective, discussing the psychology of physical appearance, the sociocultural so·ci·o·cul·tur·al adj. Of or involving both social and cultural factors. so  ci·o·cul influences, and the role of body image on psychosocial development psychosocial development Psychiatry Progressive interaction between a person and her environment through stages beginning in infancy, ending in adulthood, which loosely parallels psychosexual development. See Cognitive development. across the life span. The topics addressed in part 3 will be of interest to physical therapy practitioners. The effect "objective influences" such as disfigurement dis·fig·ure tr.v. dis·fig·ured, dis·fig·ur·ing, dis·fig·ures To mar or spoil the appearance or shape of; deform. [Middle English disfiguren, from Old French desfigurer , deformities, and physical disabilities have on body image are considered, as are the "subjective" perceptions of individuals who believe they are aesthetically abnormal but who in fact have a "normal" appearance. Also described in this section are various psychopathologies (eg, hypochondria hypochondria (hī'pəkŏn`drēə), in psychology, a disorder characterized by an exaggeration of imagined or negligible physical ailment. , somatic delusions, gender identity disorders, depression, sexual dysfunction sexual dysfunction Inability to experience arousal or achieve sexual satisfaction under ordinary circumstances, as a result of psychological or physiological problems. , and schizophrenia). Part 3 ends with a discussion of the body-image disturbances in eating disorders. Part 4 is about body-image change through physical intervention, such as cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries. Part 5 discusses the major psychotherapeutic interventions used to effect body-image change, psychodynamic Psychodynamic A therapy technique that assumes improper or unwanted behavior is caused by unconscious, internal conflicts and focuses on gaining insight into these motivations. Mentioned in: Group Therapy, Suicide theories, and the cognitive-behavioral approach to body-image therapy. The section on somatopsychic interventions includes brief descriptions of dance movement therapy, the Alexander and Feldenkrais methods, structural integration techniques ("Rolfing"), and Reichian therapy. Part 6 summarizes the preceding chapters and integrates them into seven themes. The scope of this book is in some ways far beyond what most physical therapy practitioners need in their day-to-day practice. Unfortunately, there is a lack of depth in those parts of the book physical therapy practitioners will find most interesting. In spite of this, the text will be of great value due to its comprehensive scope. In addition, each chapter is replete with valuable references that will allow further reading in any of the topic areas. This text would be a good resource for those physical therapy practitioners who are pursuing advanced degrees in areas of specialization related to the body image. Paulette Cebulski, PhD, PT University of Michigan (body, education) University of Michigan - A large cosmopolitan university in the Midwest USA. Over 50000 students are enrolled at the University of Michigan's three campuses. The students come from 50 states and over 100 foreign countries. Hospitals Ann Arbor, Mich |
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