CLINICAL / LEARNING Flashcards
Key question
Are role models in the media to blame for the rise in anorexia?
AO1
Anorexia is defined as a ‘nervous loss of appetite’, although there is actually no loss of appetite in many cases. Anorexia is an eating disorder which is stated in the DSM-5 as occurring in 0.5-1% of females in early adulthood. 90% of cases are seen in females, with onset being aged 13-18. Onset of the disorder appears to coincide with a significant life stressor, such as starting university or leaving home. A symptom of anorexia is a distortion of body image, where body weight is hugely overestimated, and the patient is unable to accept the severity of the low body weight. Criterion B describes an intense fear of gaining weight / participating in persistent behaviour to prevent weight gain, such as excessive exercise. The media is an important aspect of life in our culture, with 95% of people owning a TV, and watching for an average of 3-4 hours a day.
Issue for society
This is an issue for society because only 20% of people with AN recover and most require long term care, and 25% are hospitalised. Therefore, there is a huge cost to the NHS, as it is a chronic illness that needs long term care, which includes weekly counselling. This diverts resources on other health services at a time when the mental health budget is reduced.
Becker’s study
Becker’s (2002) study found that in Fiji, before TV was introduced, girls were unlikely to be concerned with diet and slimming, but after TV was introduced, there was evidence that they were more conscious of their body image and diet. Therefore, this explains that the media has a significant influence on the body image that girls find desirable and exposure to western media causes an emphasis on slimness as a desirable goal.
Bandura
Bandura found that people imitate and are more likely to copy the behaviour of the same sex models. Therefore this explains that if the media is showing role models that are thin and female, girls at a vulnerable age 13-18 will lose weight in an attempt to look like their role models.
However Bandura
However, Bandura’s study used children aged 3-6, observing their aggression towards a bobo doll. Therefore, these findings may not be generalisable to teenagers and anorexia which is a far more complex behaviour.
Mumford
Mumford found that Arab and Asian women who moved to western cultures had a higher incidence of AN. Therefore, this explains that cultural pressures by the media are to blame as the media has an emphasis on dieting and female thinness which is not found in their countries of origin, so when they move to the west and their role models are different it explains why the incidents of AN increase.
Li
In addition, Li found that AN increased among Chinese people in Hong Kong as the region became more westernised. Therefore, this explains that as people in Hong Kong became exposed to western media their opinion on ideal body shape changed and caused an increase in AN
However Li
However, this may not be that the incidence of AN is something that is related to the media and the rise in the number of cases diagnosed is due to more acceptance of the disorder whereas previously the low levels may simply have been a result of underdiagnosis.
Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory suggests that people who are perceived as similar and with prestige, power and attractiveness are more likely to be imitated. Therefore, as the trend for size 0 models has increased, this explains why the number of cases of AN have also increased.
However SLT
However, only around 1% of the population develop AN whereas all teenage girls are exposed to the same media and skinny role models. Therefore, there must be other factors involved and it doesn’t explain why the percentage is so low.
SLT continues
Girls are motivated to diet in order to achieve the slimness of their role models as thy receive compliments for looking good from their peers. However, this doesn’t explain why dieting continues after the point in which they stop receiving compliments and become anorexic. Therefore, whilst SLT can explain why they develop the disorder, it doesn’t explain why it continues.
In conclusion
In conclusion, role models in the media do have an influence and could be responsible for the increase in AN, over the last couple of decades. However, there must be other factors causing the disorder such as genetics.
