The Learning Approach’s explanation for anorexia Keep in mind that 90% of cases are female between 13-18 years Rarely begins before puberty DSM-IV states it occurs in 0.5- 1% of females in adolescence and early adulthood
Transcript
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The Learning Approachs explanation for anorexia Keep in mind
that 90% of cases are female between 13-18 years Rarely begins
before puberty DSM-IV states it occurs in 0.5-1% of females in
adolescence and early adulthood
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Behavioural Explanations - Learning approach learn People learn
how to be anorexic It 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
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Classical conditioning Classical conditioning: An association
between thinness and admiration is learned. Step 1Slimness starts
out as a neutral stimulus But then you learn to associate slimness
with admiration. Therefore slimness = admiration
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Fear of gaining weight can be explained through classical
conditioning The fear of gaining weight is paired with eating and a
classically conditioned anxiety response develops Next time the
person has food they will feel anxious and in order to reduce the
anxiety they will avoid eating
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Stimulus response Slimming becomes a habit via a stimulus
response mechanism. The individual learns to associate thinness
(stimulus) with admiration and feeling good about themselves
(response)
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Operant conditioning Continuing admiration is reinforcing; more
weight loss, more admiration. Extreme weight loss gets attention
and concern which is also rewarding. Avoiding food also gets
attention Punishing parents (they worry)can also be rewarding. Also
negative reinforcement avoiding food now the feared stimulus.
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Social Learning Theory We 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.
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Social Learning theory Vicarious reinforcement: the slimness
ideal is learned through the media. She is admired, so if I am like
her I will be too. She is a role model
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The Behavioural approach (evaluation) Explains gender
differences as females more influenced by media models Though the
male thinness stereo- type is increasing as is anorexia in
males
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Go over ARRM (attention, retention, reproduction
&motivation) to make sure you remember how SLT works. Think Bo
Bo doll Bandura Sutherlands differential association theory
Anorexia can be learnt through association, consequences of action
and imitation of role models
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The 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 cultures Though 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.
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Exam Question Explain why, according to the learning approach,
people suffer from anorexia nervosa. (5 marks)