Healing Body Image and Self-Perception After Betrayal
In this episode of the Human Intimacy Podcast, Dr. Kevin Skinner and MaryAnn Michaelis explore how early life experiences, cultural messaging, and exposure to media and pornography shape self-perception and body image—especially after betrayal. They discuss why betrayed partners often feel "not enough," and they share research shows that pornography harms both users’ and partners’ body image.
The episode offers practical strategies for healing, including gratitude for the body’s functionality, redefining beauty beyond appearance, and reconnecting with the joyful, authentic self. This conversation invites listeners to free themselves from harmful comparisons and embrace their inherent worth.
Resources Discussed:
- Study: The Association of Pornography Use and Body Image Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Men (Archives of Sexual Behavior). - Key concepts: Self-perception, media influence, social comparison theory, and gratitude-based body acceptance.
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Did you miss the First Annual Human Intimacy Conference? Session replays are now available. Click here and use this coupon code to get a 20% discount (Conf20). Watch Dr. Kevin Skinner, MaryAnn Michaelis, Karen Strange, Michelle Mays, Geoff Steurer, and many others as they discuss the healing and recovery process.
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