Abstract
This study has analyzed females' motives and psychological experiences related to appearance-enhancement seeking behavior(weight control practice and cosmetic surgery). In this study, in-depth interviews were carried out to 11 females who had experienced weight control practices and cosmetic surgery in June 2001. There is social standard in ideal body image. One perceive a physical idea and own body through society(mass media, reference group), others and clothing, and recognize the ideal body and internalize the social standard as own worth. The discrepancies between ideal body image internalized as standards of own worth and real body image became a setup for body dissatisfaction. Increasing in body dissatisfaction, rejection of own body grow, furthermore body is perceived with distortion. In order to remove a negative body image and to reach ideal body image, appearance-enhancement seeking behavior such as weight control and cosmetic surgery is made. By appearance enhancing, one come to closer to ideal image of which one pursuit oneself. Therefore body satisfaction feeling increase, self·esteem rise, manner of life and character change to with affirmation. Otherwise, strengthening of appearance-concern and of appearance enhancement seeking desire has the possibility of developing into bulimia and cosmetic surgery addiction. Also, the standard of beauty in appearance rise by degrees, and that produces motives of appearance-enhancement seeking behavior.