Learning Explanations

Question 1

What are the western Cultural Ideals for body shape?

Answer 1

• Idea that people should be thin/slim/petite

Question 2

How do cultural beliefs reduce rates of AN in non-western culture?

Answer 2

• They all have different ideals in each culture
• Swami et al - Hispanic undergrads

Question 3

How do the social norms of different cultures explain the differing rates (or not) of AN round in these groups?

Answer 3

• Fulnham (1983) - Kenya rated larger bodies more
• Each culture has different ideal body type

Question 4

How could the media influence social norms in culture affecting AN?

Answer 4

• Promotes body type - seen as ‘norm’

Question 5

How was AN prevalence changed over time?

Answer 5

• Increase in Western Culture
• Increased exposure to the media

Question 6

How can gender impact on the development of Anorexia?

Answer 6

• increase in females

Question 7

How do role models explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 7

• Celebrities, same gender, age and possess status

Question 8

How does attention/observations explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 8

• Always in media, magazines, tweets, instagram

Question 9

How does retention explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 9

• repeated exposure = visually remember, verbally remember

Question 10

How does vicarious reinforcement explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 10

• celebrities have gained weight are punished in the media, so observer may want to avoid that punishment e.g. Khloe K, Jorja Smith
• The slimness ideal is learned through the media. Celebrities receive fame, fortune, likes, followers etc for promoting slimness e.g. Gigi + Bella Hadid

Question 11

How does self-efficacy explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 11

• easy to follow diets and affordable

Question 12

How does reproduction explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 12

• imitate behaviours of restricting diets, extreme exercise, meal replacements

Question 13

How does operant conditioning explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 13

• takes effect as the admiration from others further reinforces their dieting behaviours
• Rewards may come as a form as attention gained from parents by not eating.

Question 14

How does positive reinforcement explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 14

• continuing admiration is reinforcing: more weight loss, more admiration
• Extreme weight loss gets attention which is also rewarding
• Increases likelihood of them striving to lose weight

Question 15

How does negative reinforcement explain the cause of anorexia?

Answer 15

• avoiding food not the feared stimulus, means avoid fearful feeling, or avoiding food leads to positive feelings that they do not gain weight.