Sociocultural Theory - Non-biological explanation of AN Flashcards
Where is AN more present
-Garner and Garfinkel (1980) – AN more likely in dance or modelluing students because it is seen as normal for their body size to be normal
-AN more present with people where working in occupations where there is a strong emphasis on body weight such as dancers, models, athletes
Rackoff and Honig (2006)
‘Female athlete triad’ of anorexia, athletics and amenorrhea to illustrate association between features in young women participating in intense levels of physical activity
Schwartz, Thompson and Johnson (1982)
Miss America competitors found over 20-year period average weight decreased from 1959 to 1978, but actual averagr weight of females slightly increasing (body size of normal women increasing) -> body type seen as ideal and beautiful was incongruent with reality, making women unfairly ‘fat’ compared to these images
Diagnosis increased
-First diagnosed in western cultures and rare in eastern cultures. Diagnosis has increased worldwide since the mid-1970s, which correlates with western values into eastern cultures through the media (lancu et al, 1994). Cultural values have a significant impact on the development of eating disorders as a method of trying to achieve this ‘ideal’ body type of slimness.
Hoek et al. (2005)
-Island of Curaçao, seen as culturally acceptable to be overweight and found that the overall incidence of anorexia is much lower -no cases were reported at the time in the majority black population.
-Rates in the minority group of white/mixed race population were comparable with that of the United States. Cultural ideals are strong, larger size is seen as acceptable; the cultural norm of a smaller body size may still have an effect on the individual’s mental health.
Willemsen and Hock (2006)
-Black Antillean Woman from Curaçao - anorexia did not occur
-Culture in Curaçao values a larger body size = woman put on weight in order to become more attractive to gain a partner
-When the relationship started to encounter problems, she lost weight in a bid to become less attractive. When she emigrated the Netherlands, the woman continued to lose weight to fit in with the cultural ideals of the slimmer body type and then developed AN -> influence that cultural ideals can have on body image and the development of eating disorders.
What cognitive factors do patients with AN have
cognitive distortions, view of themselves and body size impacting body image
Mc Kenzie et al. 1993 - cognitive disorders
->Patients with eating disorders overestimate own body size in relation to other people, aspire to a body weight that is lower than normal weight control of participants
-Issue of size 4 models is issue for many ED campaigners = image portrayed that fashion is for slim people and people are usually this size. Average female size is 14-16, and plus size models start from size 12, modelling industry offers altered view of reality, for vulnerable people this could be a contributory factor to developing an ED
Weakness of sociocultural explanation - not everyone influences by ideals
-Many people who are no influenced by these ideals to the extent of developing the disorder. This would suggest that sociocultural factors may simply be one of a number of risk factors that combine to cause the anorexia rather than an explanation in itself. For example, sociocultural factors may only influence the body image of certain people who already have a predisposition to develop the disorder such as as the result of biological factors.
Weakness of sociocultural explanation - still rare
-Illness still quite rare in society, must assume there are other factors that also combine with sociocultural factors to cause anorexia. Cognitive and personality factors may be a risk factor. That when combined with media and cultural ideals increases your likelihood that an individual will become anorexic.
Strength of sociocultural explanation - diagnosis increase
+Diagnoses of anorexia have increased hugely since the 1950s which marked the beginning of the change towards slimmer models and the preoccupation with body image and dieting in the media. Recently more males have been diagnosed with anorexia, which coincides with change in ‘men’s magazines to include more diet. Both fitness and body image articles of these factors would suggest that there is a relationship between changes in cultural views and increased diagnoses of anorexia.
