Muscle dysmorphism

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As muscle dysmorphia (also: muscle addiction or Vigorexia , sometimes Biggerexie ) is a disorder of the self-image refers which is predominantly found in males and an inadequate expression of their own muscles , measured on a personal ideal of claims. The name became known in the 1990s through several studies by the US psychiatrist and Harvard professor Harrison Pope and is also known as the Adonis complex in popular science in German-speaking countries .

According to Popes research, this disruption of the perception of one's own body image can go so far that even a very muscular bodybuilder feels too lean. The exact psychological and physiological causes of muscle addiction, which some psychologists also describe as excessive narcissism , are still largely unexplored. Neurophysiological findings differentiate the disorder from addiction disorders in a differential diagnosis .

The psychologist Roberto Olivardia names the following commonalities among muscle addicts:

  • high degree of perfectionism
  • low self esteem
  • Dissatisfaction with one's own body image
  • bad or no relationship with father

This makes the disease similar to anorexia .

See also

literature

  • Harrison G. Pope, Katharine A. Phillips, and Roberto Olivardia: The Adonis Complex. Beauty mania and body cult in men. dtv, 2001, ISBN 3-423-24249-3
  • Roberto Olivardia, Harrison G. Pope, and James I. Hudson: Muscle Dysmorphia in Male Weightlifters: A Case-Control Study. In: The American Journal of Psychiatry. Volume 157, No. 8, 2000, pp. 1291-1296, DOI: 10.1176 / appi.ajp.157.8.1291

Web links

  • William J. Cromie: Drugs muscle their way into men's fitness. In: Harvard Gazette Archives. Retrieved September 30, 2015 (Muscles do not make men attractive to women. Report of some research by Harrison G. Pope).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Adonis Complex: Addicted to Muscles. On: focus.de from February 22, 2006.
  2. ↑ Muscle dysmorphism: The secret sufferings of strong men In: aerzteblatt.de from March 2010.
  3. ↑ Maier, MJ, Haeussinger, FB, Hautzinger, M., Fallgatter, AJ, & Ehlis, AC (2017). Excessive bodybuilding as pathology? A first neurophysiological classification. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 1-11.
  4. ↑ Dangerous body cult: muscle addiction is similar to anorexia. On: spiegel.de from July 20, 2013.
  5. ↑ Alexandra Fitz: Body image: More muscles, man! Why boys are dissatisfied with their bodies In: Aargauer Zeitung of March 12, 2017.