Key Terms

Question 1

Food Preference

Answer 1

The desire for certain foods that stem from the preferences of our ancestral animals. The preference for high-energy foods increases survival and reproductive chances.

Question 2

Neophobia

Answer 2

The innate predisposition to avoid trying out new things and disappears once we learn that they are safe. It is an adaptive behaviour.

Question 3

Taste Aversion

Answer 3

The innate predisposition to avoid potentially toxic foods, usually signalled by a bitter taste.

Question 4

Social Influences

Answer 4

Behaviours developed, through modelling and imitation, from social factors I.e. Family, social media, Advertisement

Question 5

Cultural Influences

Answer 5

‘Culture’ refers to the ideals, customs and social behaviours of a particular group of people or society

Question 6

Hypothalamus

Answer 6

A small subcortical brain structure composed of 2 centres; the Lateral Hypothalamus (LH) and the Ventro-Medial Hypothalamus (VMH)

Question 7

Ghrelin

Answer 7

A hormone secreted from the cells in the stomach wall, acting as a powerful appetite stimulant

Question 8

Leptin

Answer 8

A hormone produced by Adipose (fat) cells that act as a powerful appetite suppressant

Question 9

Biological Prepardness

Answer 9

The idea that we learn certain things more quickly than others, if they decrease chances of survival or reproduction

Question 10

Adaptive Behaviour

Answer 10

Behaviour that increases the chences of survival and reproduction

Question 11

Gentic Vulnerability

Answer 11

The innate predisposition that increases the risk for a disorder or condition

Question 12

The Arcuate Nucleus

Answer 12

Detects Ghrelin levels and stimulates the LH to produce Neuropeptide Y

Question 13

Neuropeptide Y

Answer 13

A powerful stimulant of hunger (neurotransmitter), associated with hunger and reduction in physical activity. It is secreted from the LH when Ghrelin levels are high.

Question 14

CGAS

Answer 14

Candidate Gene Association Study

Question 15

Family Systems Theory

Answer 15

A psychodynamic explanation that views dysfunctional family interactions as a major factor in the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN)

Question 16

Enmeshment

Answer 16

Members of an anorexic family are over-involved and over-protective. Their self-identities are bound up with each other. Roles are poorly defined and there is little privacy.

Question 17

Autonomy

Answer 17

The freedom in deciding how we should behave, and degree of independence from others.

Question 18

Control (in anorexia)

Answer 18

The experience of being in charge of one’s own self and behaviour. People with AN are thought to struggle against family dependence for control, as they also do autonomy.

Question 19

Social Learning Theory

Answer 19

Explanation of behaviour including both direct and indirect reinforcement, it combines learning theory with the cognitive factors

Question 20

Modelling

Answer 20

Imitation of certain behaviours exhibited by role models

Question 21

Reinforcement

Answer 21

A consequence of behaviour that increases/ decreases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.

Question 22

Media

Answer 22

Communication channels (TV, films and books) through which news, entertainment, education and data are made available.

Question 23

Cognitive Distortion

Answer 23

Faulty, biased and irrational ways of thinking that means we perceive ourselves, other people and the world inaccurately and usually negatively

Question 24

Irrational Beliefs

Answer 24

Dysfunctional thoughts described interfering with a person’s happiness. They can lead to mental disorders such as depression and anorexia

Question 25

Obesity

Answer 25

Abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health, often defined as a BMI; a person’s weight (kg) divided by the height squared (m2)

Question 26

BMI

Answer 26

Body Mass Index- A person’s weight (kg) divided by the square of his or her height (m2)

Question 27

Restrain Theory

Answer 27

A cognitive explanation argues that obesity is the paradoxical outcome of attempts to restrain eating (i.e. dieting)

Question 28

Disinhibition

Answer 28

Normal Social constraints against certain behaviours can be weakened by environmental triggers. These behaviours appear socially acceptable therefore more likely.

Question 29

Boundary Models

Answer 29

Explains how restrained eaters are less sensitive to satiety so need more food in order to feel full. When they break their self-imposed diet boundary they continue to eat to the satiety boundary, making weight gain more likely.

Question 30

Dieting

Answer 30

The conscious attempt to lose weight, usually by restricting how much is eaten. Several biological and psychological factors influence the success or failure of dieting attempts