Evaluation of behaviourist explanation of anorexia

KSL

Match the evidence to the correct points in your booklet:

The behaviourist’s view that anorexia, no matter how complex, can be broken down into a fundamental, simple process of conditioning or reinforcement based on a behavioural response to a stimulus means that internal mental processes are unnecessary to explain anorexia.

For example, the biological explanation of anorexia suggests that people with the disorder have an innately malfunctioning hypothalamus which allows them to go well below their set weight as their neurochemical signals for hunger do not function properly. Furthermore, the psychodynamic approach believes that anorexia is due to a fixation at the oral stage of development caused by ineffective parenting at a young age.

Alberge (1999) found a high incidence of anorexia in occupations such as ballet dancing and modelling where there is a great pressure on appearance and a desire to remain thin.

For example, not all dieters carry on to become anorexic even though they may be exposed to the same praise and reinforcement and compliments about their size following weight loss. Furthermore, anorexics continue to starve themselves when they no longer receive praise and reinforcement about their size.

Fearn (1999) found that anorexia isn’t so prevalent in non-Western societies such as China where fewer thin role models exist and where pressures on women to be thin are rare. Furthermore, eating disorders increased in Fiji when US TV was introduced which emphasises a thin ideal.

TaskFor each evaluation paragraph, write the

elaboration for yourself.