Eating behaviour - psychological explanation of anorexia

Question 1

Becker (sociocultural)

Answer 1

• after introducing TV to island of Fiji, young girls were at risk of developing eating disorder
• in 1995 13% of girls were at risk, after introduction to TV this rose to 29%
• suggests Fiji girls wanted to conform to western cultural standards
• small sample of 65 girls
• natural experiment - issues with cause and effect

Question 2

Hoek (sociocultural)

Answer 2

• black inhabitants of Caribbean island had much lower rate of anorexia than white population
• concluded that western lifestyles, especially in relation to idealised female body images, were more appealing to white population, whereas black population still valued larger female body sizes
• doesn’t support theory

Question 3

Keel and Klump (sociocultural)

Answer 3

• degree of frequency of anorexia is proportional to degree of influences

Question 4

Groesz (sociocultural)

Answer 4

• meta review
• concluded that body dissatisfaction significantly increased after exposure to media images of women
• effect was mostly in girls under 19 years
• increased in dissatisfaction was greatest in those with most dissatisfaction before exposure

Question 5

Carter (psychodynamic; refusal of adult sexuality)

Answer 5

• childhood sexual abuse in 48% of anorexics

Question 6

• Feldman and Meyer (psychodynamic; refusal of adult sexuality)

Answer 6

• those who reported childhood sexual abuse were more likely to report anorexia

Question 7

Button and Warren (psychodynamic; asserting control)

Answer 7

• anorexics report feeling lack of control over their lives

Question 8

Steiner (psychodynamic; asserting control)

Answer 8

• parents of anorexics have tendency to define child’s physical needs rather than allowing children to define their own

Question 9

Bruch (psychodynamic; asserting control)

Answer 9

• parents claimed to articulate their children’s needs rather than letting them feel hungry