lding in contemporary American society ranges from the modest levels of individuals seeking to reduce the harmful effects of stress in their lives, to the moderate levels of individuals seeking an improved body image, to the intensive levels of individuals seeking to become elite athletes, to the extreme levels of individuals seeking a perceived type of body structure as an end in itself. Thus, the motivations for the pursuit of body building in contemporary American society may be expected to be as varied as are the levels of body building activity found in this society.
Motivations for Participation in Body Building Activities
The motivations of individuals who participate in body building activities are best described within the parameters and concepts of motivation as these parameters and concepts have been delineated by B. F. Skinner and Abraham Maslow. Motivational theories are directly related to the process of learning.1 Learning is the process by which an individual is able to change h
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