Anorexia - Social learning Flashcards
Bandura
People learn by observing the behaviours of others + their outcomes ; children in particular observe attitudes and behaviour of role models and if likely to receive positive outcome will imitate them
Modelling
Someone first must carry out/model a particular attitude of behaviour ; may be parents, peers or symbolic models
These are the people that provide attitudes to food or dieting behaviour that can be observed then imitated
Reinforcement
If the response is positive e.g praising for losing weight this is positive reinforcement as it makes the individual feel better about themselves
Maternal role models
Research suggested problematic eating behaviour is common in families with those that have an eating disorder- this research has focused on the mother- daughter relationship which suggests that mothers ‘model’ weight concerns for their daughter
Hill et al
Found similarities between mothers and daughters restraint and dieting behaviours among children as young as 10 years old
Peer influences
Adolescents may be particularly susceptible to peer influence on patterns of disordered eating - a US study found dieting among friends was related to unhealthy weight control behaviours such as using diet pills or purging (Elsenberg et al)
Jones + Crawford
A specific mechanism of peer influence Is teasing - a study found overweight girls and underweight boys were most likely to be teased by peers suggesting through teasing peers serve to enforce gender based ideals
Media influences
The media are a major source of influence on body image attitudes held by western adolescents e.g portrayal of thin models on TV and magazines is a large factor that contributes to body image concerns and the drive for thinness
Self esteem (Jones + Buckingham)
The media does not influence everyone in the same way as those with low self esteem are more likely to compare themselves to idealised images in the media which plays a part in the development of eating disorders through being exposed to abnormally thin women
British medical association
In a report expressed concerns about the use of thin models to advertise products and model clothes for the fashion industry; found that images of models in the media were in contrast to body size and shape of most children ,concluded this degree of thinness is unachievable and biologically inappropriate
*Evaluation
Maternal influence
Results have not been consistent in the role of mothers towards eating disorders
Ogden+Steward found although mothers and daughters were similar in weight and BMI there was no association for restrained eating therefore do not support the hypothesis ; instead suggest the degree of enmeshment plays a role
Peer influence support
Costa-Font + Jofre-Bonet investigated the effect of peer weight and found those with peers who had a larger BMI were less likely to develop an eating disorder ; this associated was even present in younger women suggesting peers with a average /larger BMI protects against eating disorders whereas a lower BMI does the opposite
Forms of media
Not all forms of media have the same impact
Harrison and Cantor found no association between TV exposure and eating disorders yet found a significant association between reading fitness magazines and attitudes to food and dieting ; consistent results with social learning theory due to influence of different exposure
