Abstract
The use of airbrushed “thin ideal” models in advertising creates major ethical challenges: This practice deceives consumers and can be harmful to their emotional state. To inform consumers they are being deceived and reduce these negative adverse effects, disclaimers can state that the images have been digitally altered and are unrealistic. However, recent research shows that such disclaimers have very limited impact on viewers. This surprising result needs further investigation to understand how women who detect that images have been airbrushed are still harmed by them. Three studies reported in this article address this question. The authors identify a typology, based on a combination of three emotional reactions experienced by women who are exposed to the airbrushed thin ideal. In further analyses, they investigate how detection of airbrushing—whether spontaneous or with the help of a disclaimer—relates to these emotional reactions and women’s attitudes to altered images. Results show that detection of airbrushing does not systematically protect women from either wanting to look like airbrushed thin models or the negative emotions triggered by exposure to thin ideal images, nor does it always generate defensive reactions toward ads using such images. Women who detect that images have been airbrushed may still process these images as realistic. In addition to discussing this irrational process of self-deception, this article suggests policy interventions to prevent it.
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Notes
For continuous variables, it is recommended to perform a hierarchical cluster analysis first, using Ward’s method, and then use the results generated from this as input for the k-means method (Janssens et al. 2008).
Results of Study 2 indicate that Age and BMI are potential moderators. Because the pattern of results does not change when these two variables are controlled in Study 3, the analyses reported do not include age and BMI as control variables.
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Research Involving Human Participants and/or Animals
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.
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The self-deceived consumer: women’s emotional and attitudinal reactions to the airbrushed thin ideal in the absence versus presence of disclaimers.
Appendices
Appendix 1: Respondent Profiles (Study 1)
Name | Age | Description |
|---|---|---|
Léa | 25 | Housewife, 1 child |
Clara | 25 | Sales administrator |
Corinne | 29 | Recruitment manager |
Aurélie | 29 | Research analyst |
Emma | 31 | Recruitment manager, 1 child |
Stéphanie | 32 | Social worker, 1 child |
Camille | 32 | Manager of an association, 1 child |
Chloë | 32 | Unemployed, 1 child |
Audrey | 32 | Senior manager |
Coralie | 32 | Merchandiser |
Tamara | 33 | Housewife, 2 children |
Laetitia | 34 | Freelancer, 2 children |
Emilie | 34 | Housewife, 2 children |
Karine | 35 | Sound engineer, 1 child |
Vanessa | 35 | Professor |
Laurence | 36 | Artist |
Isabelle | 36 | Unemployed |
Florence | 37 | Nanny |
Patricia | 40 | Secretary, 3 children |
Brigitte | 40 | Analyst |
Gislaine | 43 | Personal assistant, 2 children |
Soraya | 45 | Switchboard operator |
Appendix 2: Items Used for the Exploratory Factor Analysis in the Pre-test Phase—Emotions Toward the Airbrushed Thin Ideal Model
Pleasure | Aversion | Displeasure |
|---|---|---|
Pleasant surprise | Unpleasant surprise | Sadnessa |
Joy | Annoyancea | Concerna |
Curiositya | Disgust | Stressa |
Delight | Angera | Jealousy |
Enthusiasm | Guilt | |
Funa | Discomforta | |
Well-being | Depression | |
Admirationa | Regret | |
Sympathya | Resignationa | |
Reliefa | Frustration | |
Interesta | Shame | |
Feara | ||
Boredoma |
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Borau, S., Nepomuceno, M.V. The Self-Deceived Consumer: Women’s Emotional and Attitudinal Reactions to the Airbrushed Thin Ideal in the Absence Versus Presence of Disclaimers. J Bus Ethics 154, 325–340 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3413-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3413-2