Psychological Explanation of Anorexia : Social Causation

• What environmental influences are used to explain anorexia?

  Learning theories and social norms
• How do cultural ideas influence perceptions of body ideals?

  Different cultures have varying standards of attractiveness
• What is considered attractive in non-Western cultures?

  Plumpness associated with fertility
• What role does media play in the prevalence of anorexia?

  Media promotes slimming products and ideals
• How may anorexia be learned through classical conditioning?

  Negative comments about body cause anxiety around food
• What is the unconditioned stimulus in the classical conditioning explanation of anorexia?

  Negative comments about an individual's body
• What does Dr. Hans Hook's research suggest about anorexia?

  Absence of negative comments reduces anorexia risk
• What is a weakness of the classical conditioning explanation of anorexia?

  It ignores biological and cognitive factors
• What did Grice et al. find in their study of families with anorexia?

  At least 2 relatives had restrictive anorexia
• How does operant conditioning explain anorexia?

  Behaviors are learned through reinforcement and punishment
• What is positive reinforcement in the context of anorexia?

  Weight loss leads to attention or praise
• What is negative reinforcement in the context of anorexia?

  Anxiety around eating is removed by not eating
• How does the learning explanation account for cross-cultural differences in anorexia?

  Different social norms lead to varying reinforcement
• What did Lai et al. find regarding anorexia in Hong Kong?

  Anorexia increased as culture westernized
• What does social learning theory account for in anorexia?

  Cognition and vicarious reinforcement through role models
• What did Barlow and Durand find about Miss America contestants?

  Over half had a BMI 15% below average
• What is a weakness of social learning theory in explaining anorexia?

  Not all exposed develop eating disorders
• What did Polivy and Herman find regarding anorexia?

  Interactions between sociocultural and personality factors
• How does social learning theory explain varying rates of anorexia globally?

  It shows environmental causes influence prevalence
• What correlation is observed regarding media and anorexia prevalence?

  Increasing media correlates with rising anorexia rates
• What is required for an observer to imitate a role model's behavior?

  High self-efficacy and low self-esteem
• What did Fear find regarding eating disorders and TV introduction?

  Increased eating disorders after TV introduction
• What percentage of teen girls felt too big after media introduction?

  74%
• What is a limitation of the research linking media and anorexia?

  Research is correlational, not causal
• How does the learning explanation of anorexia have practical applications?

  Improves treatment and prevention strategies
• What therapy can be developed from the learning explanation of anorexia?

  Token economy for positive reinforcement
• How can the learning explanation help prevent anorexia?

  By reducing idealized images in media