Body image has come to mean not only the way
one perceives his body but also how one feels about these perceptions. It is
an important part of one's total self-concept. As such, it can present a
significant problem for many individuals. For individuals with gender
identity problems, such as transsexuals, body image dissatisfaction and
distortion are a fundamental aspect of their condition. It is possible to
more fully understand this condition by appreciating the distinction between
the reality of the transsexual's body and his preferred body image.
The Body Image (BI-I) scale presented here
representa an effort to quantify the transsexual's body attitude. It
consists of 30 body features which the subject is asked to rate on a 5-point
scale of satisfaction. This test, as part of a larger seven-test battery,
was administered to 16 male and 16 female transsexuals. The data have been
analyzed for comparisons between males and females, for the effects of
endocrinological and surgical treatment on body attitude, and for the common
denominators which characterize the transsexual's body attitude.
This instrument is being used as an
additional tool in evaluating the transsexual's request for sex-reassignment
surgery and in following those individuals who have been accepted for
treatment as they progress through the evaluation and treatment program.
Citation:
Arch Sex Behav 1975 Nov;4(6):639-56 an article published on the Internet by
PubMed <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/>