Learning key question

Question 1

What was the key question in learning psychology?

Answer 1

To what extent do role models in the media influence anorexia

Question 2

What are the AO1 skills being assessed in the learning key question?

Answer 2

AO1- Describe what anorexia is (symptoms), who it affects (statistics) and why anorexia is a key issue.

Question 3

What are the AO2 skills being assessed in the learning key question?

Answer 3

AO2- Application of Operant, Classical and Social Learning theories to explain anorexia.

Question 4

What are the AO3 skills being assessed in the learning key question?

Answer 4

AO3- Strengths and weaknesses of the learning theories to explain anorexia i.e. can other theories explain it better? Do we have any supporting or conflicting research?

Question 5

AO1: In 2023/2024 how many people in the UK were affected by an eating disorder?

Answer 5

Between 1.25 and 3.4 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder (75% female)

Question 6

AO1: Which age group are most commonly affected by an eating disorder

Answer 6

Eating disorders are most common in people between the ages of 16 and 40 years old

Question 7

AO1: True or false - Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders

Answer 7

True

Question 8

AO1: True or false Anorexia nervosa has the lowest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder in adolescence

Answer 8

False - it has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder in adolescence

Question 9

AO1: What are some of the long term complications with eating disorders?

Answer 9

Anorexia has long term implications for a sufferers such as disruption to menstrual cycle, tiredness and physical pain

Question 10

AO1: What is the recovery rate?

Answer 10

70% recover within 10 years

Question 11

AO1: What BMI does a sufferer of anorexia fall to?

Answer 11

anorexia is diagnosed when BMI falls below 17.5

Question 12

AO1: What cognitive distortions does a person with anorexia have?

Answer 12

Distorted self perception of body shape & overemphasis of its importance for self-esteem

Question 13

AO1: Give some symptoms of a person with anorexia has

Answer 13

Hair loss
Dizziness and headaches
Frequent sore throats and/or swollen glands
Low blood pressure
Loss of menstrual cycle and infertility
Constipation or incontinence

Question 14

AO2: How can classical conditioning explain how the media affects eating disorders?

Answer 14

Advertisers use classical conditioning to associate thinness/fashion with fame and popularity which
encourages weight loss and reduced BMI.

Question 15

AO2: How can operant conditioning explain how the media affects eating disorders?

Answer 15

Operant conditioning suggests if someone is complimented on initial weight loss they would continue
losing weight and this makes them ill.

Question 16

AO2: How can social learning theory explain how the media affects eating disorders?

Answer 16

Celebrities and models are used to advertise products such as fashionable clothing so individuals will
observe and imitate these role models.

Question 17

AO2: How can vicarious reinforcement (from social learning theory) explain how the media affects eating disorders?

Answer 17

Vicarious reinforcement - the models get lots of attention and praise for their looks which motivates the person with an eating disorder to reduce their body mass in order to achieve this figure

Question 18

AO3: How can Bandura 1961 support the argument that role models in the media may cause eating disorders?

Answer 18

Bandura (1961)
Found that children will imitate aggressive role models when given the opportunity. Also found that boys imitate boys and girls imitate girls. Therefore it is credible that young boys and girls may copy

Question 19

AO3: How can Bandura 1965 support the argument that role models in the media may cause eating disorders?

Answer 19

Bandura (1965) -
The children, especially girls, who saw the model being punished showed lower imitated aggression towards the bobo doll. This supports the idea that vicarious reinforcement has an impact on imitative behaviour. Therefore it is credible that this could also lead to eating disorders being reinforced vicariously.

Question 20

AO3: AO3: How can Becker support the argument that role models in the media may cause eating disorders?

Answer 20

Becker (2002)
Increase in eating disorders in Fiji with the introduction of American television programmes, which emphasise a westernised idealised body shape.

Question 21

AO3: What did Holland 1984 find which may in fact suggest that eating disorders are biological?

Answer 21

Holland et al (1984)
High concordance rates of Anorexia were found for MZ female twins – 55% compared to 7% for DZ female pairs.

Question 22

AO3: How can operant conditioning fail to explain eating disorders?

Answer 22

Does not help explain why that so many anorexics continue to starve themselves when they no longer receive praise and compliments about their size – it could be about the attention that they receive that’s reinforcing being anorexic.