Learning key question Flashcards
What was the key question in learning psychology?
To what extent do role models in the media influence anorexia
What are the AO1 skills being assessed in the learning key question?
AO1- Describe what anorexia is (symptoms), who it affects (statistics) and why anorexia is a key issue.
What are the AO2 skills being assessed in the learning key question?
AO2- Application of Operant, Classical and Social Learning theories to explain anorexia.
What are the AO3 skills being assessed in the learning key question?
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?
AO1: In 2023/2024 how many people in the UK were affected by an eating disorder?
Between 1.25 and 3.4 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder (75% female)
AO1: Which age group are most commonly affected by an eating disorder
Eating disorders are most common in people between the ages of 16 and 40 years old
AO1: True or false - Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders
True
AO1: True or false Anorexia nervosa has the lowest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder in adolescence
False - it has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder in adolescence
AO1: What are some of the long term complications with eating disorders?
Anorexia has long term implications for a sufferers such as disruption to menstrual cycle, tiredness and physical pain
AO1: What is the recovery rate?
70% recover within 10 years
AO1: What BMI does a sufferer of anorexia fall to?
anorexia is diagnosed when BMI falls below 17.5
AO1: What cognitive distortions does a person with anorexia have?
Distorted self perception of body shape & overemphasis of its importance for self-esteem
AO1: Give some symptoms of a person with anorexia has
Hair loss
Dizziness and headaches
Frequent sore throats and/or swollen glands
Low blood pressure
Loss of menstrual cycle and infertility
Constipation or incontinence
AO2: How can classical conditioning explain how the media affects eating disorders?
Advertisers use classical conditioning to associate thinness/fashion with fame and popularity which
encourages weight loss and reduced BMI.
AO2: How can operant conditioning explain how the media affects eating disorders?
Operant conditioning suggests if someone is complimented on initial weight loss they would continue
losing weight and this makes them ill.
AO2: How can social learning theory explain how the media affects eating disorders?
Celebrities and models are used to advertise products such as fashionable clothing so individuals will
observe and imitate these role models.
AO2: How can vicarious reinforcement (from social learning theory) explain how the media affects eating disorders?
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
AO3: How can Bandura 1961 support the argument that role models in the media may cause eating disorders?
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
AO3: How can Bandura 1965 support the argument that role models in the media may cause eating disorders?
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.
AO3: AO3: How can Becker support the argument that role models in the media may cause eating disorders?
Becker (2002)
Increase in eating disorders in Fiji with the introduction of American television programmes, which emphasise a westernised idealised body shape.
AO3: What did Holland 1984 find which may in fact suggest that eating disorders are biological?
Holland et al (1984)
High concordance rates of Anorexia were found for MZ female twins – 55% compared to 7% for DZ female pairs.
AO3: How can operant conditioning fail to explain eating disorders?
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.
