ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

This study explores the psychological, social, and cultural implications of body profile photography as a form of body image-centered self-expression, using a phenomenological approach. In particular, it examines how exposure to idealized body images on social media platforms affects self-perception and identity formation. Through this lens, the study aims to elucidate the psychological significance of body-centered self-representation. To achieve this aim, Giorgi’s phenomenological research method was employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with four women who had experience with body profile photography. The interview data were analyzed through repetitive reading, meaning unit extraction, free transformation, and structural synthesis, thereby identifying the essential meanings shared across participants’ experiences. The analysis yielded five core thematic categories: ① Exploration of ideal body image and self-transformation, ② The dilemma of self-control: from a sense of achievement to compulsive behaviors, ③ Physical limits and emotional burnout, ④ Dissonance of body and mind following the moment of perfection, and ⑤ Realization and reflection upon encountering a new self. While initially motivated by external factors, participants gradually internalized their practices, experiencing enhanced self-efficacy and body positivity. These developments contributed to shifts in self-awareness and the reconstruction of personal identity. However, compulsive efforts to maintain an ideal body and excessive self-regulation also led to emotional exhaustion and confusion in self-evaluation. Body profile photography emerged as an ambivalent experience―serving both as a means of personal achievement and growth, and as a source of psychological strain. These findings illuminate the complex interplay among body image, self-control, and identity, offering theoretical and empirical insights into psychological transformation mediated by the body in contemporary society. Notably, the study highlights the impact of repeated exposure to idealized body standards via social media and the internalization of extrinsic motivations on self-perception.

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