Psycjological Explenations For Anorexia Nervosa, Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What is Bandura’s social learning theory based off

Answer 1

-Two main learning processes which are observational learning and vicarious reinforcement
-We learn behaviour through observing and imitating

Question 2

Modelling

Answer 2

-AN can be acquired indirectly through observation of a model
-These models are usually influential or perceived as being successful or glamorous
-They provide examples of behaviour or ‘social norms’ that should be followed
-A child observing their mother restrictive eating may also restrictively eat

Question 3

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 3

-We are more likely to imitate a model’s behaviour if they are being positively reinforced and less likely to imitate if they are being negatively reinforced
-We are being indirectly reinforced by the consequences of our models behaviour
-If a mother is being praised by your family for restricting food and loosing weight then the child is more likely to restrict their food intake
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Question 4

Media

Answer 4

-The media is also a powerful transmitter of ‘ideal’ body shapes and weight
-In western cultures, size 0 is often perceived as being desirable
-If a celebrity that you look up to is positively reinforced with fame for having a thin body and a nice face then you’re more likely to imitate behaviour to reach that ideal

Question 5

A01/A03 studies the link between AN and modelling/identification

Answer 5

Dittmar
-162 British girls aged 5-8 were either shown Barbie dolls or more anatomically accurate Emmie dolls or control images of balloons
-They were then asked questions about body self esteem like I’m happy with the way I look
-The children shown Barbie were significantly more dissatisfied with how their bodies looked

-They identify with Barbie as a role model because she can be anything although her waist is 39% smaller than the average AN patient

Question 6

Research support for the role of media

Answer 6

Becker
-natural experiment on the introduction of TV to Fiji in the 90’s
-Before RV there was a 0% rate of eating disorders but after 3 years, 74% reported feeling too large and 11.3% reported purging to lose weight
- Modelling from celebrities and vicarious reinforcement for loosing weight due to media exposure

Question 7

Incomplete explanation, diathesis-stress model

Answer 7

-If the media was the only major cause of anorexia, there would be many more reported cases
-The missing factor as to why some women are influenced by media thinness more could be genetic
-Low levels of serotonin and dopamine could also contribute to sustaining and developing AN

Question 8

Support, explaining gender differences

Answer 8

• If the western ideal for women is thinness, then mens ideal body type is muscular.
  -Jones and Morgan have labelled mounting evidence for ‘bigorexia’ which is an eating disorder relevent to men who have a drive to develop muscle without gaining fat