Attitudes towards Obesity in the Opposite Sex using The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure

Duke O'Neill, Ailbhe (2020) Attitudes towards Obesity in the Opposite Sex using The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

It is essential to understand the role of implicit attitudes when examining what drives human behaviour. Previous research highlighting attitudes towards obesity would suggest that self-reported measures can be easily influenced by socially desirable responding. The aim of this study was to assess implicit attitudes towards obesity in the opposite sex and to assess how these implicit attitudes may impact an obese person’s ability to find a romantic partner. Thirty one individuals participated in this study. Male (n=14) and female (n=17) participants were given separate Implicit Relational Assessment Procedures (IRAP) to complete, each targeting attitudes towards obesity in the opposite gender. Participants completed the Behavioural attitudes towards dating the obese scale (BATOS) to measure discriminatory attitudes. Statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in implicit attitudes towards obesity between groups. No correlations were found between explicit discriminatory attitudes and implicit attitudes towards the obese. Analysis did reveal a significant pro-thin bias among both groups. These findings suggest that it may be pro-thin as opposed to anti-fat attitudes that are perpetuating discrimination against the obese. This lack of a relationship between the implicit and explicit measures is consistent with research that would suggest self-reported measures are heavily influenced by external factors.
Keywords: Implicit attitudes, explicit attitudes, IRAP, bias, discrimination

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Body image R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine > Personal Health and Hygiene
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Mr Kevin Loughran
Date Deposited:	26 May 2021 14:04
Last Modified:	26 May 2021 14:04
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/4849

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