Eating Behaviour IDAs

Question	Answer
Individual differences for food preferences	However, this evolutionary explanation can be criticised on the basis that there are individual differences in food preference. Adaptations are not universally uniform, evidenced by the fact that not everyone has a sweet tooth. This implies that although sweet preferences are predetermined they can be modified through experience and culture to some extent, suggesting that the taste receptor explanation for food preference is overly simplistic.
Scientific for the taste receptor explanation of food preference	This evolutionary explanation for food preference can be criticised on the basis that it lacks scientific objectivity. We can't go back to the EEA to observe our ancestors' eating behaviour and can only draw conclusions from fossil evidence and observations to animals in similar foraging situations. Therefore the theory is difficult to falsify and may not be valid.
Animal research for evolutionary avoidance of dangerous foods	Whilst animal studies do provide grounds for future research, the conclusions drawn from them aren't necessarily generalisable. Simple brain structures and motivations of animals can't be compared to more complex human motivations such as avoiding certain foods because of a diet. Therefore, the study lacks external validity and must be verified by further research into humans in order to fully support the explanation.
Free will vs determinism for evolutionary avoidance of dangerous foods	However, this theory can be criticised because it is deterministic. It assumes that our preferences are a result of adaptation to our environment over time but this ignores our free will to choose what we eat. Vegetarians and vegans exemplify this, implying that most of our likes and dislikes aren't predetermined and can be modified by experience. This weakens the explanation.
Real life application for set point theory of homeostasis	Support for this explanation comes from empirical evidence. This helps us to understand neural mechanisms, which are relevant to not only normal eating behaviour regulation but eating disorders too (e.g: anorexia). This means that we can develop treatments for those with eating disorders by educating them on how the body biologically responds to what we consume. This shows that the explanation has real life application.
Animal research for the set point theory of homeostasis	Whilst animal studies do provide grounds for future research, the conclusions drawn from them aren't necessarily generalisable. Simple brain structures and motivations of animals can't be compared to more complex human motivations such as restricting how much we consume according to a diet. Therefore, the study lacks external validity and must be verified by further research into humans in order to fully support the explanation.
Reductionism for the dopamine explanation of anorexia	The reductionist nature of this biological explanation means that we can isolate the variable (dopamine), establishing cause and effect. This high internal validity makes it easier for us to develop treatments and could result in tailored intervention programmes for those most susceptible to developing the disorder. Therefore, the explanation has useful real life application.
Estrocentric bias for the reproductive suppression hypothesis	However, the reproductive suppression hypothesis doesn't explain why men develop AN. There's a female oriented perspective towards the disorder despite evidence which suggests that boys may be predisposed to it through a vulnerable sexual identity. This estrocentric bias reduces the validity of the explanation.
Nature vs nurture for the reproductive suppression hypothesis	However this evolutionary explanation does cover the importance of genetics (natural selection) in combination with the environment and learned responses to situations that arise within it (delayed sexual maturation in response to poor environmental conditions). This makes the explanation more holistic.
Real life application for the boundary model	Research into this area has led to anti-dieting programmes, which place an emphasis on conventional healthy eating and regulation of body hunger. The development and success of such programmes implies that the boundary model has useful real life application.
Deterministic for social support	However, this behavioural approach is deterministic. It suggests that the success of dieting is determined solely through the presence or absence of reinforcement. It ignores the individual's free will and motivation to resist it, which reduces the validity of the explanation.
Real life application for Weight Watchers	Weight Watchers shows how social support can help overweight individuals improve their body image. It provides a more holistic approach, taking self-esteem and social modelling into account in order to improve the individual's quality of life. This shows that social support has useful real life application for dieting.
Real life application for behaviourist explanation of AN	The French fashion industry has signed a charter of good will to promote a healthy body image and use a diversity of body types. This shows how our understanding of social learning theory has led to a better understanding of how we develop AN. This shows that the explanation has real life application.
Cultural bias for the behaviourist explanation of AN	Although there's an increasing number of cross-cultural studies into eating disorders the majority of studies investigating AN have been conducted in industrialised Western societies. Collectivist cultures may place value on different aspects of body shape therefore, we cannot be certain if these conclusions are universally valid, weakening the explanation.
Deterministic for the adapted to flee hypothesis	However, the hypothesis is also deterministic. It ignores the role of free will as it states that we have evolved to develop AN, therefore we are unable to resist the disorder in the appropriate environmental conditions. However, the fact that we have the free will to resist the disorder weakens the explanation.
Behaviourist approach for the adapted to flee hypothesis	However, the development of AN may be better explained by another approach such as behaviourism. This approach would link the rise in media exposure, thin role models and an increase in modelling programmes to the development of AN. Social learning factors that the evolutionary explanation ignores may contribute significantly to the disorder's development. Therefore, the explanation is less holistic.
Real life application for parental attitudes	The factor does have useful real life application however, as it proposes that social learning theory can be used positively to shape good eating habits. For example, parents might make their children eat 5 pieces of vegetables/fruit a day.
Deterministic for parental attitudes	However the factor is rather deterministic. It suggests that the child has no free will over eating behaviour in later life as a result of early conditioning. Yet the child may only respond to a consistent reward over time (e.g: parental praise), which may not correlate with future rewards when the child is living independently. Therefore, it ignores the individual's free will to alter their rewards and lifestyle, thus weakening the validity of the influencing factor.
Gender bias for the role of serotonin in AN	However, the explanation can be criticised by the gender bias that is present within this area of research. Most AN studies have focused on female samples but 25% of adults with eating disorders are male. This suggests that AN is not exclusively a female problem so more research should be conducted on male samples to counter this bias and verify the importance of serotonin in developing AN within either gender.

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	Created by Hazel Meades almost 9 years ago