Adolescence and body image: an analysis in the light of the society of the spectacle

Abstract

Adolescence is marked by biological and psychosocial transformations. The childish body is replaced by the body in transition, and individuals have difficulty in recognizing themselves in the new projected image. Body (dis)satisfaction comes into play as this new image approaches or moves away from the standards defined by peers, family and the midia. Based on The society of the spectacle by Guy Debord, the work seeks to understand the influence of the midia and interpersonal relationships on the body image of adolescents. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach that presents Debord’s work as a theoretical reference. The Focus Group was adopted, carried out with ten adolescents, aged between 11 and 19 years old, assisted by a multiprofessional residency program in adolescent health. For data analysis, was used critical discourse analysis proposed by Fairclough. Adolescents expressed the influence of interpersonal relationships and the midia through the search for a body that can respond to the demands of the market for appearances and social validation. It is concluded that these influences can generate significant pressure in adolescence and can contribute to the maintenance of social relationships based on aesthetic standards.