Psychological Explanations for Anorexia Nervosa - Cultural Ideals and the Media

Question 1

Cultural Ideals AO1

Answer 1

It is a widely held belief that Western standards of attractiveness are an important contributory factor to the development of anorexia nervosa

Numerous studies have reported that many teenagers, especially girls, are dissatisfied with their weight and have a distorted view of their body image

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Young People (Gregory et al, 2000) found that 16% of 15-18 year old girls in the UK were ‘currently on a diet’

Question 2

Cultural Ideals AO1

Key Studies

Answer 2

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Young People (Gregory et al, 2000)

Question 3

Cultural Ideals AO2

Key Studies

Answer 3

Hoek et al. (1998)

Question 4

Cultural Ideals AO2

Answer 4

Hoek et al. (1998) set out to test the view that anorexia is rare in non-Westerm cultures. The researchers examined the records of 44,192 people admitted to hospital between 1987 and 1989 in Curacao, a non-Westernised Caribbean island where it is acceptable to be overweight. They found six cases, a rate that they claim is within the range of rates of Anorexia Nervosa reported in Western countries

Question 5

Media Influences AO1

Key Studies

Answer 5

Jones and Buckingham, 2005

Question 6

Media Influences AO1

Answer 6

The media are a major source of influence for the body image attitudes maintained by Western adolescents.

For example, the portrayal of thin models on television and in magazines is a significant contributory factor in body image concerns and the drive for thinness among Western adolsecent girls

The media does not influence everyone in the same way, for example individuals with low self-esteem are more likely to compare themselves to idealised images portrayed in the media (Jones and Buckingham, 2005)

Question 7

Media Influences AO2

Key Studies

Answer 7

Becker et al, 2002

Yamamiya et al, 2005