Eating behaviour - cognitive and SLT explanations for AN

Question 1

evaluate cognitive explanation of AN

Answer 1

+ research support - Williamson
- problems with research support - small sample
+ research support - Halmi - large sample
+practical applications - CBT
- cause and effect

Question 2

What did Williamson find and what does it suggest ?

Answer 2

37 anorexics overestimate their body size compared to a control group which suggests AN can be caused by faulty thinking patterns and perceptual errors. Such as body dysmorphia.

Question 3

what did Halmi find and what does it suggest about AN ?

Answer 3

728 women - perfectionism proceeds anorexia - suggests faulty thinking

Question 4

what did cornelison find and what does it suggest about AN ??

Answer 4

AN women and control group of healthy women did h=not have differences in perception of their body. This suggests disturbed perceptions aren’t responsible for AN and thus neither is faulty thinking. decreasing the validity of the cognitive explanation.

Question 5

what is the basis for cognitive explanations ?

Answer 5

cognitive psychologist aim to asses the private operations of that mind that cannot be researched through observation. for example, thinking and memory.

Question 6

what do cognitivists think AN is caused by?

Answer 6

faulty thinking and irrational beliefs

Question 7

what irrational beliefs do AN sufferers have?

Answer 7

perfectionism
disturbed perceptions
all or nothing thinking
catastrophizing
cognitive inflexibility

Question 8

what develops after irrational beliefs?

Answer 8

they become second nature and give rise to automatic, absolute negative thinking

Question 9

explain all or nothing thinking

Answer 9

there is no degree of things, you are either thin or fat.

Question 10

explain catastrophizing

Answer 10

thinking the worst of situations such that they eat half a biscuit and believe they’re eating too much

Question 11

explain perfectionism

Answer 11

• that they must meet the most demanding standards 100% of the time
• this applies in every area of life specifically eating
• usually followed by record keeping, to make sure they meet weight goals
• makes them resistant to treatment as they want to keep excessive exercise and starvation

Question 12

explain disturbed perceptions

Answer 12

perceptual errors not having an accurate grasp of reality of their body weight, characterized as body dysmorphia

Question 13

explain cognitive inflexibility

Answer 13

• this means that they have rigid fixed views finding it difficult to go from one task to another.
• this is called set shifting

Question 14

what is set shifting

Answer 14

They are fixed on the behavior of losing weight and struggle to switch their behavior when they lose weight and so persist on losing weight. Even though losing weight is not accurate for their new setting, they are unable to perceive the situation accurately.

Question 15

explain the role of modeling in the SLT for AN

Answer 15

perhaps children’s respect and admire role models perceiving them as successful and glamorous. They then associate these positive traits with their thinness and aim to be thin.

Question 16

who is a model?

Answer 16

• a model provides a template of behaviors that an observer desires to imitate
• the model can be real/symbolic

Question 17

explain the role of VR in the SLT of AN

Answer 17

• model = rewarded for loosing weight
• observer ^ chance of copying the behavior of loosing weight since they desire same praise

Question 18

who is the main source for VR for AN sufferers?

Answer 18

• family members

Question 19

why are family main source of VR for AN sufferers?

Answer 19

spend a lot of time together
observation is persistent
if food restriction is often rewarded they child will have more VR that increases imitation

Question 20

role of media in AN

Answer 20

show images of ideal body size and shape which risk young women identifying with. Which might motivate them to become thin this would be vicariously reinforced through observing the fame success and wealth of models

Question 21

who researched Barbie

Answer 21

Helga dittmar

Question 22

what was Dittmars research?

Answer 22

162 British girls divided into 3 groups
- exposed to images of barbie doll
- flowers balloons
- Emme dolls
Then had to rate statements about their self esteem and body. As well as color in body silhouettes they thought matched their body and what they wanted their body to be

Question 23

what was Dittmars findings?

Answer 23

Barbie group = SIGNIFICANTLY more dissatisfied with their body and self esteem
Barbie doll = ‘aspirational role model’ - internalize thin ideals and get VR

Question 24

Evaluate SLT for AN

Answer 24

+ Dittmars
+Becker
+explains gender differences - there is more media on thin women etc so more anorexic women
+PA - changing the ‘ideal’ female body size and having more inclusive field of models
- diathesis stress explanation - is there an underlying geneticala reason - a lot of women see media and dont develop enorexia

Question 25

what was beckers research?

Answer 25

• natural experiment
• TV only available in the 90s in Fiji
• more young girls discussing thin models and praising them
• increases in ED since you people are vicariously being praised

Question 26

summary a01 for slt of anorexia

Answer 26

1) what is the basis for social learning theories (bandura) - behaviour is learned through direct and indirect rienforces
2) the role of modelling
3) vicarious rienforcement
4) role of the media - rienforcement and identification
5) ditmmars research

Question 27

what is a social learning explanation?

Answer 27

behaviour is learned through direct and indirect rienforces , combining both the cognitive and behaviourist approaches to psychology

Question 28

why are models influetnial?

Answer 28

• they can modify behaviour suggesting what is normal and acceptable to do
• they are most influential if you IDENTIFY with them because you try harder to match their behaviour (not eating)