Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

1. Body weight -85% normal for age/height

2. Intense fear of fat, distorted perception of body weight + shape

3. 90% women

4. Behavioural Explanations - SLT + Operant Conditioning

   • SLT + role of media, parents + peers
   • Obs/ + imitation - Role models valued/admired (magazines, films, TV)
   • Model rewarded = imitation more likely (vicarious reinforcement)
   • Direct reinforcement (operant conditioning) = imp/ - praised by peers or parents for losing weight, thinner
   • Female role models = slim + attractive. Creates tension bet/w real self + ideal self. = Dissatisfaction w/ body weight +shape = dieting + obsession w/ food
   • Striegal-Moore + Bulik (2007) - media images idealised women e.g. Miss world (taller + slimmer over 50 yrs). Ass/ w/ rise in EDs
   • Becker et al (2002) - 1995 63 Fijian girls, questionnaire attitudes to eating and TV viewing habits. 3yrs. 13% risk of ED 1st yr, 29%.
   • SLT - explains men EDs, depiction in mags - supplements/steroids. Explained by inf/ in media.
   • Most women exposed, few AN - other vulnerability factors (personality, social anxiety + low self-esteem) vulnerable. Poss/ genetic factors

5. Psychodynamic Explanations

   • Family Systems Theory - Minuchin et al (1975) - Enmeshment (no identity, not independent) - Unable to Resolve Conflict (deny, ignore conflict transfer anxiety to AN child. AN ettempt to divert attention from fam/ conflicts
   • Bruch (1973) - Exert control. Girls trying to become autonomous + independent. One area to control
   • Crisp (1980) - Preventing sexual maturity + gain control over development. Prevent menstruation - unconscious desire remain pre-pubertal (fear of adulthood)
   • Retrospective - fam/ interactions after ED - cause + effect
   • Difficult to test scientifically - case studies. Biased samples, not representative, lack control + reliability
     • Developing baby - gender bias - explanation limited
   • Wilson et al (2007) - Pos/ app/ - fam/ dynamics. Family therapy effective.

6. IDA - Complex disorder. Psychological (nurture) limited - ED = social, psychological + biological e.g...

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