Physical Appearance Research Team (PART)

Research Overview

Visit the Physical Appearance Research Team website

The Melbourne Physical Appearance Research Team (PART), led by Associate Professor Scott Griffiths, is based in the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Australia. PART is dedicated to understanding the psychological, social and technological factors influencing physical appearance and body image.

Our research examines how concerns about appearance intersect with mental health, identity, and digital environments. We conduct rigorous and applied studies that inform policy, clinical practice, and educational interventions. Current projects include creating digital interventions for eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia, creating and evaluating school-based workshops, investigating the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms on body image, and exploring appearance-related stereotypes and stigma, particularly among sexual minority groups. Additional areas of focus include weight stigma and discrimination,  the impact of gender ideologies on sexual wellbeing, mental health, self-compassion and body image in competitive performance settings,  and the development and validation of measures for appearance-related constructs.

PART collaborates with legislators in Australia and Singapore to guide public policy and work alongside industry leaders, including ByteDance (the developers of TikTok), to reduce appearance-related harms on digital platforms. Through these partnerships and initiatives, PART aims to provide policymakers, educators, clinicians, and the broader community with a deeper understanding of body image and related trends, as well as evidence-based tools to foster positive body image and mental health in an increasingly digital world.