We attempted to use anchoring effects to make people feel fat.
In a pilot study, we randomly assigned 299 participants to view one of 8 scales. Within each scale, we either showed participants a small subset of photos from which they were asked to sleect their body size. Out of the 17 total figures, participants were assigned to either the : top/bottom 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 images.
Only the top/bottom 7 figures produced a statistically significant difference in body satisfaction (*F*(1, 35) = 4.765, *p* < .036).
Therefore, we replicated the 7-figure condition in our confirmatory study.
In this study, participants were randomly assigned to select the figure that matched their body anchored at either the 7 fattest or 7 skinniest figrues.
While we found evidence that the anchoring manipulation made participants feel worse about their body, in our confirmatory replication we were unable to find evidence for thist manipulation (*F* < 1). The results were equally ineffective for males and for females (interaction *F* < 1).