background Research on body dysmorphic disorder (bdd) shows that many debates in the field of psychology, sociology and philosophy already focus on the ways ‘ideals of the perfect body’ influence this disorder. However, more work needs to be done on the question in what ways bdd is culturally, historically and technologically mediated.
aim To argue that norms and values of the perfect body and the ways a society prescribes how body and mind should be related, are technologically mediated through different time frames, which influence disorders of disturbances of the body image.
method Literature study.
results A cultural and historical comparison between the glass delusion and body dysmorphic disorder.
conclusion It’s impossible to state that the glass delusion and bdd are similar disorders regarding the types of patients or their symptoms. However, by comparing the relationships between the notion of a disturbed body image, and the technological mediation of cultural norms and values of the perfect body, both diseases in fact do have something in common.