dysmorphia
nounEtymology From Ancient Greek δυσμορφίᾱ (dusmorphíā, “misshapenness, ugliness”), from δυσ- (dus-, “bad, mal-”) + μορφή (morphḗ, “shape, form”) + -ίᾱ (-íā). Note that sense 2 is a semantic extension from "physical deformity" to a disorder of the perception of one’s bodily form. By surface analysis, dys- + -morph + -ia.
1
Medicine, Sciences dysmorphism
2
Human sciences, Medicine, Psychiatry, Psychology, Sciences Any of various psychological disorders of distorted body image in which a person inaccurately believes that their body is misshapen or inadequate, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and muscle dysmorphia ("bigorexia").
- Body dysmorphia “was invented by old psychologists who grew up in the Fifties and had NO problem to find a looksmatch [someone who is your counterpart in terms of appearance] or even better-looking wife”, noted another.2019 August 6, Alice Hines, “Men are having their faces rebuilt – and it’s all to get a date”, in The Times, UK:
- The quest for perfect pecs is so strong that psychiatrists now sometimes refer to it as “bigorexia,” a form of muscle dysmorphia exhibited mostly by men and characterized by excessive weight lifting, a preoccupation with not feeling muscular enough and a strict adherence to eating foods that lower weight and build muscle.2022 March 5, Alex Hawgood, “What Is ‘Bigorexia’?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 29 Mar 2022:
- Derived terms
- body dysmorphia, money dysmorphia, muscle dysmorphia
- Related terms
- dysmorphic, dysphoria