PHILADELPHIA, PA – The psychology department will host lecturer, David B. Sarwer, Ph.D., a psychologist from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, on Monday, September 15, from 5 to 7 p.m., in the Redmond Room, St. Joseph Hall. He will present the symposium “Psychological Aspects of Physical Appearance: Cosmetic Enhancement to Treating Disfigurement” that will provide an overview of more than two decades of research conducted on the psychosocial aspects of physical appearance at the Center for Human Appearance at Penn.
“While we all have heard phrases such as 'beauty is only skin deep' and 'you can't judge a book by its cover,' a large body of social psychological research has taught us that whether we like to admit it or not, our appearance matters,” commented Dr. Sarwer. “Individuals who are more attractive are believed to have more positive personality characteristics compared to those who are less attractive. Furthermore, more attractive individuals receive preferential treatment in a range of social situations across the lifespan. At the same time that we have this 'beauty bias' we know that individuals who are disfigured, whether through birth or traumatic injury, often struggle to live comfortably in a culture that puts such a premium on physical appearance,” said Dr. Sarwer.
Dr. Sarwer says this lecture will show evidence suggesting individuals who elect to improve their appearance via cosmetic treatments are satisfied with the results and report improvements regarding body image and will highlight some of the work he and his staff do with disfigured persons, hand and face transplantation patients, and ways they use animals to help disfigured children. He will also talk about the work they do with Philadelphia’s Studio Incamminati’s artists who paint formal portraits of CHOP’s disfigured children in an effort to educate others about facial disfigurement.
Dr. Sarwer, a professor of psychology in psychiatry and surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and director of clinical services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, focuses his research interests on the assessment and treatment of obesity and has numerous published works to his credit. He also is director of the Stunkard Weight Management Program and actively involved in the bariatric surgery program at the Perelman School where he conducts behavioral and psychological evaluations for patients before and after surgery.
The event is free and open to the public. For additional information, email Dr. Kelly Landman, assistant professor of psychology, with any questions at landmank@chc.edu.
