A study of social stereotype of body image in children.

The role of an individual's body configuration in social interactions and the effects of these interactions on self-concept is an important part of the total process of personality development. It is not uncommon to be the initiator or recipient of such statements as He certainty is a crafty, wiry little thing, or He is all skin and bones—must worry a lot. It is reasonable to assume that the individual who is the recipient of statements which are based on another per- son's perception of his body is likely to incorpo- rate these perceptions into his own body concept. As a direct result of an individual's body con- figuration, he typically receives rather consistent reactions from others. These reactions thus provide a framework for his body concept, which becomes a significant part of the total self-concept.