This study sought to comprehend the role context has on social representations (SR) of the body, using a semi-experimental design, with 79 participants, with context as the independent variable, SR as the dependent variable and sex and generation as control variables. Participants watched videos (manipulating context), followed by a focal group and a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate tests. Results indicate that health structures SR, however, together with other elements different SR emerge due to the context. In the health context, the body is a vehicle of existence and care. In the beauty context, the body appears as a social object, subject to aesthetic standards. These findings point to a dynamics of social thought, with theoretical and methodological implications for the studies on SR.
social representations; body; context
