Psychological Explanations

Question 0

Gregory et al: 16% girls dieting

Answer 0

• 16% of 15-18 year old girls in the UK reported dieting.
• adolescents internalised culturally defined standard female beauty
• unhappy with own body types.
• resort to abnormal EB to achieve perfection
• unhealthy obsession with celeb culture= high rates of western AN

Question 1

SLT

Answer 1

• young admire celeb role models.
• attention to thin celebrities.
• retain as normative view of body image
• reproduced as excessive dieting
• reinforced; thin = rich/successful/accepted
• association between abnormal EB and acceptance

Question 2

Becker: Fiji TV

Answer 2

• low rates AN synonymous less influence on slim BT.
• Fiji: cultural ideal of BI more realistic and AN is less common
• studied Fijan adolescent girls EBs prior to the introduction of TV.
• Attitude shift to weight loss/western beauty ideal
• Exposure to media & western BI = ^ body image issues indirectly by ^ attention.

Question 3

Becker: methodology

Answer 3

• Personality factors: social anxiety or OCD/obsessions with perfectionism are more likely to develop eating disorders.
• Lacks internal validity; isn’t certain that change in attitude towards BI directly lead to AN
• many people successfully diet without developing AN.

Question 4

Holland: (Biology refute SLT)

Answer 4

• Argued overemphasis of nurture in AN.
• Holland et al CR AN of 55% MZ twins/ 7% DZ twins.
• nature plays a significant role
• full understanding of complex disorder an eclectic bio-psychosocial approach necessary.

Question 5

Hoek et al: Curaçao fat beauty

Answer 5

• undermines the SLT explanation.
• Caribbean island of Curaçao: beautiful to be overweight.
• Records of over 44000 people between 1987-89
• 6 cases of AN.
• rates reflect Western societies
• not cultural pressure but biology which affects rates of AN

Question 6

Hoek: methodology

Answer 6

• Based on a large sample
• but one small Caribbean islands inhabitants
• cultural bias: results don’t represent all Caribbean.
• issue of extrapolation means conclude with caution on whether culture mitigates or causes AN.

Question 7

Lai et al: refute hoek

Answer 7

• AN rates increases: Hong Kong as culture westernised
• Culture does influence AN
• culture influences schema
• SLT is sound

Question 8

Lai et al: methodology

Answer 8

• correlational findings
• cannot infer western ideals cause AN
• may be other variables ;personality factors
• (low self esteem = susceptibility to western media/CELEB PSR)

Question 9

Bruch: Psychodynamic exp

Answer 9

-AN develops ARO ineffective parenting during EC.
✅=Feed when hungry, comfort when distressed.
-Grows; develops autonomy and so healthy EB.
✖️=Feed when distressed, comfort when hungry.
-Grows; warped sense of internal needs, over reliance on parents
-Adolescence; Lack of control/autonomy
-manifests as abnormal EB to exercise control over own body.

Question 10

Isabelle Caro CS

Answer 10

• recovering anorexic
• depressed mother constantly measure/actively stunt growth.
• combined smothering attitude/feeling like a burden caused AN.
• treated by addressing suppressed childhood trauma.

Question 11

Bruch: define physical needs
Salman: support Bruch

Answer 11

• Bruch observed parents of adolescents with anorexia
• P tended to define children’s physical needs/no autonomy develop
• eg food was offered when the mother was hungry/at correct time.
• In support Salman; 7/24 female students controlling P/insecure att.
• history of anorexia
• no history in other 17 students classified secure or ambivalent.
• insensitive/ineffective parenting associated manifestation of AN.

Question 12

Lack internal validity

Answer 12

• difficult to test using rigorous scientific method
• evidence; mainly case studies- lack Replicability/variable control.
• Incomplete explanation; unconscious mind cannot be observed, thus Bruchs theory undermines the concept of psychology as a science.

Question 13

Family therapy (RWA)

Answer 13

• success of family therapy as AN treatment
• must be some validity in Bruchs claims
• family dynamic/role of parents is very important.
• although unfalsifiable psychodynamic helpful when used in collab.

Question 14

Gender bias

Answer 14

• Female oriented research
• psychological factors affecting women not explain onset in men
• men perceive environmental factors differently
• theory problematic WRT misdiagnosis of Anorexia in men.