Psychological explanations of anorexia - Behaviourism

The Learning Approachs explanation for anorexia Keep in mind that 90% of cases are female between 13-18 yearsRarely begins before pubertyDSM-IV states it occurs in 0.5-1% of females in adolescence and early adulthood

Behavioural Explanations - Learning approach People learn how to be anorexicIt could have developed due to rewards from the environment.Individuals are rewarded for becoming slim and losing weight as in todays Western society models and pop stars are mostly very slim

Classical conditioningClassical conditioning: An association between thinness and admiration is learned. Step 1Slimness starts out as a neutral stimulusBut then you learn to associate slimness with admiration.Therefore slimness = admiration

Fear of gaining weight can be explained through classical conditioningThe fear of gaining weight is paired with eating and a classically conditioned anxiety response developsNext time the person has food they will feel anxious and in order to reduce the anxiety they will avoid eatingStimulus responseSlimming becomes a habit via a stimulus response mechanism.

The individual learns to associate thinness (stimulus) with admiration and feeling good about themselves (response)Operant conditioningContinuing admiration is reinforcing; more weight loss, more admiration. Extreme weight loss gets attention and concern which is also rewarding. Avoiding food also gets attentionPunishing parents (they worry)can also be rewarding. Also negative reinforcement avoiding food now the feared stimulus.

Social Learning TheoryWe learn what behaviours are successful (being thin), and may imitate this behaviour under appropriate conditions.E.g. in adolescence

Supported by the study by Becker (1999) on Bulimia.Introduction of TV to Fiji increased bulimic behaviours.

Social Learning theory

Social Learning theoryVicarious reinforcement: the slimness ideal is learned through the media. She is admired, so ifI am like her Iwill be too. She is a rolemodel

The Behavioural approach (evaluation)

Explains gender differences as females more influenced by media modelsThough the male thinness stereo-type is increasing as is anorexia in males

Go over ARRM (attention, retention, reproduction &motivation) to make sure you remember how SLT works.

Think Bo Bo dollBanduraSutherlands differential association theoryAnorexia can be learnt through association, consequences of action and imitation of role modelsThe Behavioural approach (evaluation)Explains cultural differences: anorexia is non- existent in China. Chinese have a cultural norm respecting food and, thinness is not valued.

Sui-Wah (1989) anorexia is rare in black populations in the West and non-Western culturesThough Hoek et al.(1998) disagree they examined 44,192 records of patients admitted to hospital over 2 years 1987-89 in Curacao where it is ok to be overweight. Found 6 cases of eating disorders.

Doesnt explain individual differences: exposure to thin models doesnt necessarily lead to anorexia, nor does everyone who diets become anorexic.

Exam QuestionExplain why, according to the learning approach, people suffer from anorexia nervosa. (5 marks)