Investigating the Underlying Cultural Contexts of Cosmetic Surgery in Maladaptive Schema of Self-Management in Women

Subject Areas : Psychology

Marziyeh Shahryari ¹ , Masoumeh Bagheri ² , Bano Beigy Malek abadi ³

1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
3 - PhD Student in Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Received: 2025-03-14 Accepted : 2025-06-07 Published : 2025-06-22

Keywords: Underlying cultural contexts, Cosmetic surgery, Maladaptive schema of self-management,

Abstract :

The aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying cultural contexts of cosmetic surgery in the maladaptive schemas of self-management in women. The statistical population included all women (18 to 40 years old) in Ahvaz city. The sample embraced 27 women from the mentioned population who were selected through purposive sampling. The qualitative research method was phenomenological. In-depth and semi-structured interviews were implemented to collect data. The findings showed that 11 primary themes were extracted based on common concepts, which included men's appearance-friendly tendencies, women's appearance-friendly tendencies, inequality created by appearance, social de-ugliness of cosmetic procedures, easy access to cosmetic procedures, women's self-ugliness, escape from everyday life, becoming liked and getting married, competitiveness in beauty, perfectionism in beauty, and gender stereotypes about beauty. The consequences of cosmetic surgery for women included increased self-esteem, social facilitation, social capital instability, and body objectification. The results also showed that the maladaptive schema of self-management had the greatest impact on the tendency to undergo cosmetic surgery. Women who sought surgery had maladaptive schemas such as instability, distrust, emotional deprivation, deficiency and shame, social isolation and alienation, rejection, impaired self-management, non-territorial limitations, dependence, and inhibition. Some women who sought surgery surrendered to the schema and accepted that it is justified and never tried to fight or avoid the schema, but rather accept that the schemas are truthful. Therefore, to prevent further increasing in such social and cultural issue, it oud be necessary to provide specialized psychological counseling to women seeking cosmetic surgery to reduce maladaptive schemas.