First Name:
Kacie
Last Name:
Harkavy
Major Department:
Psychology
Thesis Director:
Mary Ballard
Date of Thesis:
May 2009
This thesis examines the relationship between video game play and body image perceptions. to this point, most research on the effects of media images has focused on thin images presented among celebrities, in magazines, and on television. With the growing popularity of video games among both sexes of all ages. interest in the potential effects of these games has also increased. This thesis examines the relationship between the frequency of video game play and individual body image perceptions for both the self and social ideals. Video game play frequency and length of video game play were correlated to individual body image. Both video game play frequency and length of video game play were correlated with perceptions of ideal romantic partners. Also addressed in this thesis is the potential for a significant relationship between video game play and perceptions of the societal ideal body and the video game character ideal body.