Anorexia

Essay # 57401

Medical and Health > Eating Disorders
Psychology > Child and Adolescent
Psychology > Eating Disorders

Anorexia

This paper discusses the sociocultural theoretical explanation of anorexia.

2,155 words () | 4 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that anorexia nervosa can be seen through the perspectives of a number of theoretical explanations, which often work synchronously to give a mixed picture of the condition's impetus and causes. The author points out that the sociocultural explanation focuses on how the intersection of adolescent life-stages mixes with a message put forth by society involving idealized or mythical body images. The paper relates that, in terms of treatment, the sociocultural method of theoretical explanation does not go as far as some of the other theoretical explanations of anorexia; although psychodynamic treatment programs may include sociocultural cues, it is primarily through examining motivations that anorexia nervosa is treated successfully.

From the Paper:

"The ideal body image has tended to wax and wane throughout history in terms of its representations: several hundred years ago in Europe, the idealized female form was curvaceous and ample, and excess weight on men denoted wealth and status. Today, however, society is putting forth a message that is quite different in its psychodynamic implications for young selves looking for perfection: thin is in, as they say, and is equated with emotional states of happiness, success, pride, and satiation. Being thin is seen as more than a physiological state by many young and old people alike: it is seen as being more of a lifestyle that connotes satiation and a general sense of fitting in with the rest of society. This is ironic domestically, as obesity levels in America continue to increase: if anyone is fitting in, it is these people."