Body dysmorphia is linked to an exaggerated cognitive bias for self-related information
A basic bias in how the brain processes self-relevant information might contribute to severe body image preoccupations. New research shows that individuals with body dysmorphic traits learn and process self-related information much faster than information about others.
Research published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology has revealed that individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) exhibit an exaggerated tendency to prioritize self-related information over unrelated information. BDD is characterized by an intense preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance, leading to significant disruption in daily life.
According to Maria Richards-Brown, a researcher at King’s College London, the findings could help identify treatment targets for managing BDD symptoms.
The study aimed to determine if people with higher levels of BDD symptoms display an inflated version of the standard self-prioritization effect—a psychological phenomenon where individuals process information about themselves more efficiently than information about others. To investigate this, researchers designed two experiments involving 87 and then 173 participants to test if people with higher BDD symptom scores show a more pronounced self-bias compared to those with lower scores.
In the first experiment, participants completed a questionnaire to assess BDD symptoms and then engaged in an associative learning task where they had to correctly identify geometric shapes paired with labels such as "You," "Best Friend," or "Stranger." Results showed that participants with higher BDD symptom scores were more accurate and faster at recognizing self-related pairings (e.g., "You") compared to non-self-related pairings (e.g., "Stranger"). This exaggerated self-prioritization effect was consistent with the severity of BDD symptoms.
The second experiment replicated these findings with a larger sample, including 173 participants of varying ages and genders. Participants were asked to complete the self-pairing task for a significantly shorter duration, and additional questionnaires were administered to rule out depression and impulsivity as contributing factors.
The results confirmed that individuals with higher BDD symptoms demonstrated a stronger self-bias, identified self-related pairings more accurately, and responded faster to self-related stimuli compared to non-self-related stimuli.
These findings suggest that a basic bias in how the brain processes self-relevant information may contribute to the development of severe body image preoccupations associated with BDD. By understanding these underlying information-processing mechanisms, researchers hope to identify targeted interventions to help individuals with BDD manage their symptoms more effectively.
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