Anorexia Nervosa: SLT

Question 1

Dittmar et al

Answer 1

• scaled barbed to full size, waist would be smaller than 39% of women with AN
• 42% of UK women owned Barbie’s as children
• 162 British girls, 5-8 -> into x3 groups
  1. Barbies
  2. Emme
  3. Pictures of flowers and balloons
• girls were asked to rate statements about body-self esteem
• extent of body shape dissatisfaction was measured; coloured in represnetitiavte and what they wanted to be
• Barbie group had significantly lower self-esteem
  -> identify with Barbie because of glamor associated with her body shape

Question 2

Role of modelling:

Answer 2

• SLT, AN can be developed indirectly
• template for behaviour that observer can imitate, IRL or symbolic
• models are influential because they modify social norms by estabilishing what is acceptable in a situation
• especially influential if child identifies with the mode

Question 3

Role of vicarious reinforcement

Answer 3

• imitation is dependent on the observing of positive and negative consequences
• child may sees family members restricting and imply that food restriction is rewarding

Question 4

Role of the media

Answer 4

• provides symbolic models: MV, TV, magazines ect.
• communicate the ideal body shape for women, which becomes thinner and thinner
• may identify with glamour of female celebrities, overwhelmingly conform to thin ideal
• source of motivations; fame, success and wealth as rewards

Question 5

Family influences

Answer 5

• domestic violence and divorced
  -> heightened tension within families of anorexics, could be the result
• girls who’s mothers diet are more concerned with their weight, so are more likely to develop unhealthy behaviours
• parental teasing comments around weight and image is also linked to childrens disordered eating

Question 6

Dittmar details

Answer 6

• lab
• independent groups
• protections from harm and informed consent

Question 7

Strength of Dittmar

Answer 7

• highly controlled, removes any possible extraneous variables -> higher internal validity

Question 8

Limitation of Dittmar

Answer 8

• low ecological validity -> artificial task -> lack of generalisability

Question 9

Research support: Becker et al

Answer 9

• investigated introduction of TV broadcasts on eating behaviour
• 63 females completed a questionnaire -> 3 years later 65 girls completed the same questionnaire
• risk of an ed rose from 13% to 29%
  (Issue: two entirely separate groups of girls)

Question 10

Limitation of SLT

Answer 10

• hasn’t led to effective therapies, SSRIS
• limits the practical value,s does it have a huge impact or is it working with something else