Abstract
Studies show that body size estimates exhibit a contraction bias wherein participants with a lower-than-average BMI overestimate their bodies while participants with a higher-than-average BMI underestimate. We attempted to replicate this effect and test its relationship to allowed response time and estimates of average body size. Neurotypical female Dutch participants (n = 277) estimated their body size using a forced-choice task, which we modified to modulate allowed response time, and a method-of-adjustment task. They also estimated the average body size (for their age and gender) and their ideal size. We found no direct evidence of a contraction bias in either task. However, estimates of average body size predicted misestimation of own body size (consistent with a contraction bias). Finally, we found that greater allowed response time caused greater body size overestimation amongst participants with higher BMIs (in our forced-choice task). Our results support the context-sensitive nature of the contraction bias and the influence of allowed response time on visual body size misestimation.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 104730 |
Journal | Acta Psychologica |
Volume | 253 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2025 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2025
Keywords
- Body image
- Body size estimation
- Contraction bias
- Eating disorders
- Response time