key question Flashcards
what is the key question
can the influence of role models and celebrities be something that causes anorexia?
A01.1
anorexia nervosa is an eaten disorder characherised by extreme weight loss and anxiety associated with eating food and gaining weight
some of the core diagnostic symptoms aee
-amenorrhea, loss of periods due to malnutrition
-extemem weight loss 85% of body weight
-excessive exercise
-body dysmorphia- which is when the individual sees themselves to be such bigger than they actually are denying the serious of their body weight
- excessive fear of being overweight
-90% of sufferer are female
-AN effects 1 in 200 teenagers
females on average 1.9 hrs a day on tin Tok and 1 hour on insta
-AN has highest mortality rate all mental illnesses 13-20%
therefore important to undestand damaging role celebrities in media effects they can have on individuals and their family
A02.1social learning theory
learning theories can explain development of AN in western cultured where thinnesses is the ideal body type= beautiful
attention- individuals pay attention to role models- these role models are relevant to the indivdual, normally of the same sex, higher status e.g. celebrity, older than them.
once these role models have been identifies individuals being to see and notice them in the media and RETAIN their body as a mental image perhaps replaying in their head in envy and want to achieve this unrealistic body. this is further reinforced by repeated exposure in the mediae.g. females spend average 1,9 hrs on tip Tok per day, we also retain their behaviour, such as following a strict die, going to the gym, not eating sugary/ carbs foods
we then reproduce this behaviour as they have high self efficacy, believe they can reproduce this hevaiour and loose weight and low self esteem, lack of confidence
this is then followed through if the individual is motivated e.g.
external- vicarious reinforcement, e.g. celebrities, brand deals, lots of money and fame and compliments for their body and appearance, as well as direct reinforcement in the western culture, friends and family praising and complementing weight loss, internal, internal boost of confidence
this can then become extreme leading to AN which is a key issue in society as it has the highest mortality rate
A03
strength: Mumford et al suggest that when Arab and asian women move to the west they are more likely to develop AN/ eating disorders, due to the body standards of thinness and reinforced through the media whereas in other cultures ideal body type is plumpness as it suggest fertility.
weakness: reductionist still 10% of AN patients are males, which in western cultures ideal body type is not thinness but muscular and strong therefore there must be other influences and factors causing AN such as genetics/ genes , woodside et al found first degree relatives such as siblings and parented more likely have AN than 3rd degree relatives, share larger % of genes
A01.2 damaging paradox
the damaging paradox is that one extreme is bared with the contrasting exteme creating high levels of anxiety
the media promises slimness yet ut advertises and promotes foods with high fats and sugars with slim models in the advert and promotes the cheapness and taste although eating these kinds of foods which are promoted will make it hard to reach this ideal body
A02.2 operant conditioning
in the western culture slimness= beautiful although in other cultures plumpness may be desired and this is promoted and enhanced via the media
in western cultures AN tends to be of a higher prevalence potentially due to the impact of reinforcement when weight is lost- operant conditioning
when weight is gained, often receive negative comments, and see others receiving negative comments prehaps on social media - negative punishment which would lead to this behaviour not being repeated e.g. not eating, causes the weight Gain
although if weight is lost likely to receive compliments and praise , this reinforces the behaviour of perhaps eating less or going to the gym, this can lead to excessive weight loss/ exercise to revive these compliments-AN
A03.2
Owen et al found that in he past 30 years celebrities and models/ filmstars have become thinner and thinner which correlates with the increase in AN rates, suggesting that the changing role models becoming thinner is being reflected upon amongst society
weakness: although research suggest that other factors such as personality can also impact development of AN such as perfectionism and other mental disorders such as OCD has been found in many AN patient, media not complete explanation, stress diatheses
application
the knowledge of the impact of the media and role models on society and a key cause of AN- deaths
has allowed society to change its averts and beauty standards including plus size models, range of ethnic backgrounds and ages to help remove this rigid beauty standard in western cultures which poses a great to many individuals well being
