Appearance Obsession

Book excerpt: Physical attractiveness is only a distant relative to self-esteem, yet our opinion of ourselves and others may be based on the way we look. Trying to measure up to the impossible standards of the media makes us insecure and can lead to depression and other serious health problems. It can even damage our relationships.Here psychologist Joni E. Johnston shows us how we become self-conscious about our looks from an early age and develop an adversarial relationship with our bodies. This well-researched book offers crucial help to men, women, and teenagers, showing how to develop and maintain positive self-esteem, social esteem, and healthy body image.