Psychological explanation for AN

• Media influences:

  • Eating disorders are more common in westernised societies, so it is believed that it is the Western ideas of attractiveness that causes women to become dissatisfied with their own image & therefore resort to extreme dieting.
  • Those who are most influenced by the media & the thin role models presented are adolescent girls & individuals with existing low self esteem.
• Media influences:

  • Button et al found that 11-12 year olds with low self esteem were at significantly more of a risk of developing an ED at 15-17 years old.
  • Often the thinness of models in the media is not only unrealistic, but actually not healthy & certainly not representative of the general population.
  • Filters & photoshop on social media is particularly damaging- it's so easy to present yourself in a different light & show people a different image of yourself.
• Evaluation of media influences- strength:

  • Research support- Becker et al (2002) did a study in Fiji on adolescent girls following the introduction of TV in 1995.
  • Found that after TV exposure, the girls cited desire to lose weight in order to become more like the western characters on TV (their role models).
  • Shows media influence on the development of eating disorders.
• Evaluation of media influences- weakness:

  • Other research has suggested that education prior to exposure to western influences can prevent the adverse effects.
  • So although media is a powerful influence, we do have some control by educating our children.
• Peer influences:

  • The opinions of our peers are important to us.
  • In our teenage years we admire our peers; they can act as role models, which may explain why teens are more susceptible to peer-influenced disordered eating, such as the use of diet pills or purging.
  • It is not uncommon for someone to be teased over weight/ shape/ size.
• Peer influences:

  • Jones & Crawford found it is overweight girls & underweight boys who are most likely to be teased about weight, reinforcing gender stereotypes & the idea that thin is better for females can lead to an ED.
  • This may also explain the difference in prevalence between genders.
• Evaluation of peer influences- strength:

  • Research support- Costa-font & Jofre-bonnet investigated the influence of peer BMI on eating behaviour and found that having peers with a higher than average BMI reduced the chance of developing an ED and vice versa.
  • This shows the influence peers can have on others' food choices even without direct observation & imitation.
• Maternal Role Models:

  • Particularly the mother-daughter relationship (as females are more affected than males).
  • Numerous research studies have demonstrated this link, showing that there is a relationship between mothers' & daughters' level of restraint, even in children as young as 10.
  • There's also a link between mothers who complain about their weight & daughters who have their own weight concerns.
  • Due to the importance of 'identification' in social learning, the influence of mothers is much stronger on daughters than sons.
• Evaluation of maternal role models- weakness:

  • Research into this area has produced inconsistent results, making it unreliable as a theory.
  • Research varies from finding positive relationships between eating behaviours of mothers & daughters, to part links like Ogden et al finding a relationship between mothers & daughter BMI, but not restraint or body dissatisfaction to no relationship at all.
  • This suggests that there is much more to the influence of mother than just as a role model.