Personality Perceptions Based on Body Type

MERCH Weight discrimination has been identified as one of the most common forms of discrimination in American society today. The purpose of this research was to identify if this discrimination extends to assumptions regarding the personalities/attributes of individuals. This research used a quantitative survey to investigate whether negative assumptions are made about overweight women’s personalities based on their body shape/size. In addition to determining whether these assumptions are made at all, the study distinguishes some of the assumptions most commonly made based on weight. This research serves to inform people on what assumptions they are making about overweight individuals they encounter, consciously or subconsciously. Once these subconscious prejudices have been brought to light and some of their potential sources investigated through background research, steps can be taken to help assuage the problem of weight discrimination and personality assumptions made about overweight women.