The Self-representation of People with Disabilities on Instagram
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58262/V32I78.15Keywords:
Self-representation, Disability, Body Image, Instagram, Neuroscience, Eye Tracking.Abstract
The physical appearance of many people with disabilities leads them to feel stigmatised for not conforming to socially imposed ideals of beauty. These aesthetic standards convey lifestyles on Instagram that attract the attention of young audiences. In this regard, previous research has pointed out that people with disabilities also post self-representative images that are leading to new stereotypes of beauty with a potential impact on users without impairments. The aim of this research was to measure the attention and emotional intensity generated by a selection of posts on Instagram made by people with disabilities, in which they display their body image for aesthetic purposes, both in terms of beauty and fashion. Two neurocommunication techniques, eye tracking and galvanic skin response, were used on a sample of 120 Spanish and Portuguese university students who are regular Instagram users. The results indicate that young people without disabilities focus their attention on aspects of the image that clearly show a person’s disability, especially regarding specific features, yet there were no appreciable changes in emotional intensity. The findings also highlight the need to integrate heightened awareness and sensitivity regarding the image of people with disabilities by using a cross-curricular approach in the educational system in order to promote full inclusion.
References
Ahadzadeh, A. S., Sharif, S. P., & Ong, F. S. (2017). Self-schema and Self-discrepancy Mediate the Inf luence of Instagram Usage on Body Image Satisfaction Among Youth. Computers in Human Behavior, 68, 8-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.011
Arendt, F. (2018). Suicide on Instagram–Content analysis of a German suicide-related hashtag. Crisis, 40(1), 36-41. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000529
Arévalo Iglesias, L., & Martínez López de Castro, R. (2021). Instagram como dispositivo de normalización de representaciones identitarias desobedientes. Estudio de caso. Vivat Academia, 154, 47-62. ht t ps://doi.org/10.15178/va.2021.154.e1363
Ariely, D., & Berns, G. S. (2010). Neuromarketing: the Hope and Hype of Neuroimaging in Business. Nature Reviews Neuroscience,11(4), 284-292. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2795
Baker, N., Ferszt, G., & Breines, J. G. (2019). A Qualitative Study Exploring Female College Students’ Instagram Use and Body Image. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 22(4), 277-282. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2018.0420
Barroso Moreno, C., Rayón Rumayor, L., & Bautista García-Vera, A. (2023). Big Data y Business Intelligence en Twitter e Instagram para la inclusión digital. Comunicar: Revista Científica Iberoamericana de Comunicación y Educación, 31(74), 49-60. https://doi.org/10.3916/C74-2023-04
Barry, B., & Nesbitt, P. (2023). Self-fashioning Queer/crip: Stretching and Grappling With Disability, Gender and Dress. Fashion, Style & Popular Culture, 10(1-2), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1386/fspc_00140_1
Berghs, M., Atkin, K., Hatton, C., & Thomas, C. (2019). Do Disabled People Need a Stronger Social Model: a Social Model of Human Rights? Disability & Society, 34(7-8), 1034-1039. ht t ps: //doi.or g /10.10 8 0/09687599. 2019.16192 39
Bissell, K., Billings, A. C., & Park, B. (2022). Sports Media as Empathy Facilitator: the Contrasting Inf luence of Paralympic and Olympic Content. International Journal of Sport Communication, 15(2), 148-157. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2022-0009
Bonilla-del-Río, M., Figuereo Benítez, J. C., & García-Prieto, V. (2022). Inf luencers Con Discapacidad Física en Instagram: Funciones, Visibilidad Y Colaboración Empresarial. Profesional De La Información, 31(6), 310612. https://doi.org/10.3145/epi. 2022.nov.12
Bonilla del Río, M., Castillo Abdul, B., García Ruiz, R., & Rodríguez Martín, A. (2022). Inf luencers With Intellectual Disability in Digital Society: an Opportunity to Advance in Social Inclusion. Media and Communication, 10(1), 222-234. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v10 i1.4763
Bottici, C. (Ed.). (2014). Imaginal Politics: Images Beyond Imagination and the Imaginary. Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/bott15778
Bowker, N., & Tuffin, K. (2002). Disability Discourses for Online Identities. Disability & Society, 17(3), 327-344. https://doi.org /10.1080/09687590220139883
Campbell, F. K. (Ed.). (2009). Contours of Ableism: the Production of Disability and Abledness. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230245181.
Caton, S., & Chapman, M. (2016). The Use of Social Media and People With Intellectual Disability: a Systematic Review and Thematic Analysis. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 41(2), 125-139. https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2016.1153052
Clayton, R. B., Ridgway, J. L., & Hendrickse, J. (2017). Is Plus Size Equal? The Positive Impact of Average and Plus-sized Media Fashion Models on Women’s Cognitive Resource Allocation, Social Comparisons, and Body Satisfaction. Communication Monographs, 84(3), 406-422. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2017.1332770
Cohen, R., Irwin, L., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2019). # Bodypositivity: a Content Analysis of Body Positive Accounts on Instagram. Body Image, 29, 47-57. https://doi.org /10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.02.007
Cowles, E., Guest, E., & Slater, A. (2023). Imagery Versus Captions: the Effect of Body Positive Instagram Content on Young Women’s Mood and Body Image. Body Image, 44, 120-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.12.004
Critchley, H. D. (2002). Electrodermal Responses: What Happens in the Brain. The Neuroscientist, 8(2), 132-142. https://doi.org/10.1177/107385840200800209
Crow, L. (2014). Scroungers and superhumans: Images of disability from the summer of 2012: A visual inquiry. Journal of Visual Culture, 13(2), 168 -181. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470412914529109
Cuesta-Cambra, U., Niño-González, J.-I., & Rodríguez-Terceño, J. (2017). El Procesamiento Cognitivo en Una App Educativa Con Electroencefalograma Y «eye Tracking». Comunicar: Revista Científica de Comunicación y Educación, 25(52), 41-50. https://doi.org/10.3916/C52-2017-04
Cunha, M. J., & Pinto, P. C. (2017). Representações Mediáticas Da Deficiência: Um Estudo Longitudinal Na Imprensa. Sociologia, Problemas e Práticas(85), 131-147. https://doi.org/10.7458/SPP2017856107
De Perthuis, K., & Findlay, R. (2019). How Fashion Travels: the Fashionable Ideal in the Age of Instagram. Fashion Theory, 23(2), 219-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/1362704X.2019.1567062
Del Blanco, R. M. Á. (2023). Belleza, Neurociencia Y Marketing: Valor De La Estética en Las Experiencias Y en Las Emociones. Almuzara. https://go.revistacomunicar.com/AdREyA
Delicath, J. W., & DeLuca, K. M. (2003). Image events, the public sphere, and argumentative practice: The case of radical environmental groups. Argumentation, 17, 315-333. https://doi.org /10.1023/A:1025179019397
Duchowski, T. A. (Ed.). (2017). Eye Tracking: Methodology Theory and Practice. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57883-5.
Etgar, S., & Amichai-Hamburger, Y. (2017). Not All Selfies Took Alike: Distinct Selfie Motivations Are Related to Different Personality Characteristics. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 842. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00842
Garland-Thomson, R. (2009). Staring: How We Look. Oxford University Press. https://go.revistacomunicar.com/qMnpvF
Hahn, H. (1988). The Politics of Physical Differences: Disability and Discrimination. Journal of social issues, 44(1), 39-47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1988.tb02047.x
Halliwell, E., & Diedrichs, P. C. (2014). Testing a Dissonance Body Image Intervention Among Young Girls. Health Psychology,33(2), 201–204. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032585
Harris, E., & Bardey, A. C. (2019). Do Instagram profiles accurately portray personality? An investigation into idealized online self-presentation. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 871. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00871
Hendrickse, J., Arpan, L. M., Clayton, R. B., & Ridgway, J. L. (2017). Instagram and college women’s body image: Investigating the roles of appearance-related comparisons and intrasexual competition. Computers in Human Behavior, 74, 92-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.04.027
Hill, S. (2022). Locating Disability Within Online Body Positivity Discourses: an Analysis of# Disabledandcute. Feminist Media Studies,23(4), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2022.2032254
IAB Spain. (2019). Annual Report of Social Media. IAB. https://n9.cl/6pv0
Kerr?Gaffney, J., Harrison, A., & Tchanturia, K. (2019). Eye?tracking Research in Eating Disorders: a Systematic Review. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52(1), 3-27. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22998
Kleemans, M., Daalmans, S., Carbaat, I., & Anschütz, D. (2018). Picture Perfect: the Direct Effect of Manipulated Instagram Photos on Body Image in Adolescent Girls. Media Psychology, 21(1), 93-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2016.1257392
Kolotouchkina, O., Barroso, C. L., & Sánchez, J. L. M. (2022). Smart Cities, the Digital Divide, and People With Disabilities. Cities, 123, 103613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103613
Lee, H. E., & Cho, J. (2019). Social Media Use and Well-being in People With Physical Disabilities: Inf luence of Sns and Online Community Uses on Social Support, Depression, and Psychological Disposition. Health Communication, 34(9), 1043-1052. https://doi.org /10.1080/10410236.2018.1455138
Lee, N., Broderick, A. J., & Chamberlain, L. (2007). What is ‘neuromarketing’? A Discussion and Agenda for Future Research. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 63(2), 199-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2006.03.007
Llorente-Barroso, C., Luis Anzanello-Carrascoza, J., & Ferreira, I. (2023). Corporate Commitment and the Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Adults: From Corporate and Institutional Awareness to Brand Value and Citizen Engagement. Icono 14, 21(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.7195/ri14.v21i1.1982
Madan, C. R. (2010). Neuromarketing: the Next Step in Market Research? Eureka, 1(1), 34-42. https://doi.org/10.29173/eureka7786
Mañas-Viniegra, L., Llorente-Barroso, C., Ferreira, I., & Viñarás-Abad, M. (2023). Tabla 6. Picos de GSR. Figshare. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23968983
Mañas-Viniegra, L., Núñez-Gómez, P., & Tur-Viñes, V. (2020). Neuromarketing as a Strategic Tool for Predicting How Instagramers Have an Inf luence on the Personal Identity of Adolescents and Young People in Spain. Heliyon, 6(3), 03578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03578
Martinez-Pecino, R., & Garcia-Gavilán, M. (2019). Likes and Problematic Instagram Use: the Moderating Role of Self-esteem. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 22(6 ), 412- 416. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2018.0701
Mirzoeff, N. (2006). Invisible Empire: Visual Culture, Embodied Spectacle, and Abu Ghraib. Radical History Review, 2006(95), 21- 44. ht t ps://doi.or g /10.1215/01636545 -20 06 -95 -21
Mitchell, F. R., van Wyk, P. M., & Santarossa, S. (2021). Curating a Culture: the Portrayal of Disability Stereotypes by Paralympians on Instagram. International Journal of Sport Communication, 14(3), 334-355. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2021-0030
Morin, C. (2011). Neuromarketing: the New Science of Consumer Behavior. Society, 48(2), 131-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12115-010 -9408-1
Nations, U. (2007). Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. European Journal of Health Law, 14(3), 281-298. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110208856.203
Oliver, M. (2004). The social model in action: If I had a hammer. In Implementing the social model of disability: Theory and research(pp. 18-31). The Disability Press. https://go.revistacomunicar.com/f89AIQ
Pacheco, E., Lips, M., & Yoong, P. (2019). Ict-enabled Self-determination, Disability and Young People. Information, Communication & Society, 22(8), 1112 -112 7. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2017.1406972
Plassmann, H., & Karmarkar, U. R. (2015). Consumer Neuroscience: Revealing Meaningful Relationships Between Brain and Consumer Behavior. In The Cambridge Handbook of Consumer Psychology (pp. 152–179). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107706552.006
Plassmann, H., Ramsøy, T. Z., & Milosavljevic, M. (2012). Branding the Brain: a Critical Review and Outlook. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 22(1), 18-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2011.11.010
Riddle, C. A. (2020). Why We Do Not Need a ‘stronger’social Model of Disability. Disability & Society, 35(9), 1509-1513. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1809349
Rodgers, R. F., & DuBois, R. H. (2016). Cognitive biases to appearance-related stimuli in body dissatisfaction: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 46, 1-11. https://doi.org /10.1016/j.cpr.2016.04.006
Rojas-Torrijos, J. L., & Ramon, X. (2021). Exploring Agenda Diversity in European Public Service Media Sports Desks: a Comparative Study of Underrepresented Disciplines, Sportswomen and Disabled Athletes’ Coverage on Twitter. Journalism Studies, 22(2), 225-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2020.1809497
Salomon, I., & Brown, C. S. (2019). The Selfie Generation: Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Early Adolescent Body Image. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 39(4), 539-560. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431618770809
Shioume, H., & Ito, N. (2022). Factors Inf luencing the Strategic Frame-building of Para-athletes in Japan From the Public Relations Perspective. H-ermes. Journal of Communication, 2022(21), 283-308. https://doi.org/10.1285/i22840753n21p283
Shpigelman, C. N., & HaGani, N. (2019). The impact of disability type and visibility on self?concept and body image: Implications for mental health nursing. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 26(3-4), 77-86. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12513
Shumaker, C., Loranger, D., & Dorie, A. (2017). Dressing for the Internet: a Study of Female Self-presentation via Dress on Instagram. Fashion, Style & Popular Culture, 4(3), 365-382. https://doi.org /10.1386/fspc.4.3.365_1
Skarstad, K., & Stein, M. A. (2018). Mainstreaming Disability in the United Nations Treaty Bodies. Journal of Human Rights, 17(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/14754835.2017.1286238
Slater, A., Cole, N., & Fardouly, J. (2019). The Effect of Exposure to Parodies of Thin-ideal Images on Young Women’s Body Image and Mood. Body Image, 29, 82-89. https://doi.org /10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.03.001
Stewart, K., & Spurgeon, C. (2020). Researching media participation by listening to people with disability. Media, Culture & Society,42(6), 969-986. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443719890536
Varan, D., Lang, A., Barwise, P., Weber, R., & Bellman, S. (2015). How Reliable Are Neuromarketers’ Measures of Advertising Effectiveness?: Data From Ongoing Research Holds No Common Truth Among Vendors. Journal of Advertising Research, 55(2), 176-191. https://doi.org/10.2501/JAR-55-2-176-191
Von-Sikorski, C., & Schierl, T. (2014). Attitudes in Context Media Effects of Salient Contextual Information on Recipients’ Attitudes Toward Persons With Disabilities. journal of Media Psychology-Theories, Methods and Applications, 26(2), 70-80. https://doi.org /10.1027/1864-1105/a000113
Weber, D. L., Bygholm, A. K. M., & Kanstrup, A. M. (2023). Digital Coping Strategies of Young People Living With Cognitive Disabilities: Using Emotion-focused and Problem-focused Coping in Digital Relationships. Disability & Society, 1-25. https://doi.or g /10.10 8 0/09687599. 2023.2181767
Zajonc, R. B. (1968). Attitudinal Effects of Mere Exposure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 9(2p2), 1–27. https://doi.org /10.1037/ h0025848
Zamith, F., Mañas-Viniegra, L., & Núñez-Gómez, P. (2021). Cognitive Perception of Native Advertising in the Spanish and Portuguese Digital Press. Digital Journalism, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.108 0/21670811.2021.1919536
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Comunicar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
