Before-and-after pictures captivate us, holding our gaze with their stark contrasts and promises of transformation. But what is it about these images that so enthralls us? Let's delve into the psychology behind our fascination with these compelling visual narratives.
People love transformation pictures, but do they do more harm than good?
Former porn actress Jenna Jameson is a mainstay on sites like People, US Weekly, and the Daily Mail
- She also shows up almost weekly on outlets like Women’s Health
- The main reason she’s resonating is because she continually posts such impactful before-and-after photos of her weight loss journey
- On Instagram, where her followers number over 400,000, she’s documented it all, complete with Trader Joe’s food recommendations and keto-friendly recipes for “savage cabbage”
- In the beginning of December, she even started a separate Instagram page dedicated to the keto diet, which now has more than 47,000 followers and features primarily recipes, motivational memes, and what-you-should-do-for-your-body-postpartum memes
Before-and-after photos are probably not that great for our psyches in the long term
Alexis Conason thinks these images are fundamentally flawed because they come from a place of self-hatred and encourage toxic dieting culture.
- Erin Parks, a clinical psychologist at the University of California San Diego Eating Disorder Center for Treatment & Research says, “There’s no data to suggest that they help motivate people to lose weight in a healthy way.”
- But proponents feel they are helpful.
So, should we celebrate people’s before-and-after photos?
It depends on the viewer’s wiring, the type of photo it is, and the broader context.
- A good rule of thumb is that images for things you can change (e.g., teeth straightening, hairstyle, painting a room) can be inspirational. Looking at things you cannot change (body build, height, etc.) might be counterproductive.
Why we can’t resist a transformation
Motivational
- Social cognitive theories are based on observing and learning from observing and seeing outcomes
- We are more likely to internalize or adopt a behavior if we believe that the outcome is positive and achievable
- Before-and-afters provide proof that certain outcomes are possible
- They are also great marketing
Before-and-after photos are controversial
The Federal Trade Commission has strict guidelines about verbiage in these types of ads
- Diets frequently fail, which is why so often you’ll see in the fine print of dramatic weight loss pictures: “Results not typical.”
- Facebook has also banned these pictures in advertising on its platform
- WW, a company with a history of dramatically debuting the weight loss of various celebrity endorsers in big ad reveals, banned the use of before and after images in its ads in 2018
