Behavior and Psychological Disorders
PSY 103 Intro to Psychology
January 2015
Michael Phillips - instructor
FINAL WEEK PP PRESENTATION

Behavior and Psychological Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that typically starts during the teenage aged years, mainly affecting females more than males. It is a dangerous and potentially life threatening illness that affects the body and the mind. People affected by this disorder have an extreme terror of gaining weight and severely reduce the volume of food they eat becoming under-weight, and have a distorted view of their body image. Eating disorders are very complex and experts cannot explain the exact cause but they have learned it may be created by an assortment of genetics, family behaviors, social influences, and personality traits. Research has shown that there are some specific psychological factors and personality traits that may have influencing factors for some people to develop an eating disorder. Many of these individuals have low self-esteem, feeling helpless, tend to be perfectionists, and have an intense dissatisfaction in their appearance. If the disorder is left untreated, it can lead to starvation, serious health problems, and even death. Early intervention and treatment has shown to be effective in its recovery.

General Behaviors

People suffering from anorexia nervosa are typically very competitive and are determined to succeed. They compulsively measure their appearance and compare their successes against impractical ideals. In turn, they feel like as if they are lacking and not good enough. A majority of the views are developed from culture or standards set forth by their peers, rather than personal expectations (MayoClinic.org). These individuals are pre-occupied with what others think of them, rather than what they think of themselves (MayoClinic.org). The obsession with