5.3.3 Psychological Explanations

• Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of weight gain
• Cognitive distortions and perfectionism are central to cognitive theories of Anorexia Nervosa.
• Match the cognitive distortion with its description:

  Body Image Disturbance ↔️ Perceiving oneself as overweight when underweight

  Dichotomous Thinking ↔️ Seeing food as "good" or "bad" with no middle ground

  Catastrophizing ↔️ Exaggerating the negative consequences of weight gain
• Perfectionism in Anorexia Nervosa involves setting impossibly high standards.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) addresses cognitive distortions, perfectionism, and dysfunctional beliefs
• Match the cognitive theory with its description:

  Cognitive Distortion Theory ↔️ Suggests distorted thinking patterns

  Information Processing Bias Theory ↔️ Proposes biases in processing body-related information
• Cognitive theories explain both the fear of weight gain and distorted body image in Anorexia Nervosa.
• Behavioral Theories use operant conditioning and social learning
• Order the processes in operant conditioning according to behavioral theories:

  1️⃣ Praise from others for weight loss

  2️⃣ Positive reinforcement of anorexic behaviors

  3️⃣ Reduction of anxiety by restricting food

  4️⃣ Negative reinforcement of restrictive eating
• Social learning in Anorexia Nervosa involves observing and imitating others' behaviors.
• Family Systems Theories focus on dysfunctional family dynamics
• Match the Family Systems Theory concept with its role in Anorexia Nervosa:

  Enmeshment ↔️ Lack of personal boundaries

  Rigid Boundaries ↔️ Inflexibility in family rules

  Poor Communication ↔️ Ineffective dialogue and emotional expression
• Family Systems Theories focus on how dysfunctional family dynamics contribute to the development and maintenance of Anorexia Nervosa
• What is enmeshment in family systems theories?

  Overinvolvement, lack of boundaries
• Rigid boundaries in a family can lead to extreme eating behaviors as a form of defiance.
• Poor Communication within a family can contribute to underlying tensions and misinterpretations, intensifying food-related anxieties
• What are the three key characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa?

  Fear of weight gain, distorted body image, severe restriction
• Cognitive Theories propose that cognitive distortions and perfectionism play a significant role in the development and maintenance of Anorexia Nervosa
• What is body image disturbance in cognitive theories?

  Perceiving oneself as overweight
• Steps in Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) for Anorexia Nervosa

  1️⃣ Identify cognitive distortions

  2️⃣ Challenge dysfunctional beliefs

  3️⃣ Develop coping strategies

  4️⃣ Practice new behaviors
• An individual with anorexia nervosa might believe they are overweight even when severely underweight.
• The Cognitive Distortion Theory suggests individuals have distorted thinking patterns
• What does the Information Processing Bias Theory propose?

  Biases in body-related information
• Cognitive distortions help explain the intense fear of weight gain and distorted body image
• What are the two key processes in behavioral theories of Anorexia Nervosa?

  Operant conditioning, social learning
• Positive reinforcement for weight loss can encourage anorexic behaviors.
• Match the behavioral theory with its key process:

  Operant Conditioning ↔️ Positive/Negative Reinforcement

  Social Learning ↔️ Observational Learning, Imitation
• In operant conditioning, praise for weight loss reinforces dieting, while restricting food reduces anxiety about weight
• What role do sociocultural factors play in Anorexia Nervosa according to sociocultural theories?

  Media influence, cultural norms
• Societal pressures to achieve a "perfect" appearance can drive restrictive eating behaviors.
• The psychological explanations for Anorexia Nervosa can be integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding
• Match the psychological theory with its key concept:

  Cognitive Theories ↔️ Cognitive distortions

  Behavioral Theories ↔️ Operant Conditioning

  Family Systems Theories ↔️ Enmeshment

  Sociocultural Theories ↔️ Media influence
• What is the role of cognitive distortions in Anorexia Nervosa according to Cognitive Theories?

  Perpetuates fear of weight gain
• Cognitive Theories suggest that cognitive distortions and perfectionism perpetuate the fear of weight gain and body dissatisfaction
• Behavioral Theories explain how positive reinforcement can lead to distorted eating behaviors.
• Which theories are central to understanding Anorexia Nervosa according to the psychological explanations?

  Cognitive, Behavioral, Family, Sociocultural
• Cognitive Theories explain that cognitive distortions and perfectionism perpetuate the fear of weight gain and body dissatisfaction in Anorexia Nervosa.
• What are the key concepts of Behavioral Theories in the context of Anorexia Nervosa?

  Operant Conditioning, Social Learning
• Family Systems Theories emphasize concepts like enmeshment, rigid boundaries, and poor communication
• Match the theory with its key role in Anorexia Nervosa:

  Sociocultural Theories ↔️ Promotes unrealistic beauty standards

  Family Systems Theories ↔️ Intensifies food-related anxieties

  Cognitive Theories ↔️ Perpetuates fear of weight gain