...------------------------------------------------- Specification link: You will be able to outline and evaluate: ------------------------------------------------- Biological, including neural and evolutionary, explanations of anorexia nervosa ------------------------------------------------- Psychology explanations of anorexia nervosa Outline and description of theories | Research evidence and commentary | IntroductionThe DSM-IV Rev identifies three categories of eating disorder: * Anorexia nervosa 1. AN -restricting type – refusal to eat 2. AN- binge eating/purging type – episodes of binge eating followed by removal of food from the body by vomiting, laxatives, or enemas.Both of these are associated with significant weight loss and the other symptoms of AN. * Bulimia nervosa – episodes of binging followed by removal of food from the body by vomiting, laxatives, or enemas (no significant weight loss). * Eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS)The four major symptoms of anorexia nervosa are: * The body weight is 85% or less of normal weight for age and height * Distorted perception of body weight/shape, and/or denial that the weight loss is severe * Intense fear of becoming fat * Loss of three consecutive menstrual cycles in women (amenorrhoea)Anorexia nervosa (AN) and Bulimia nervosa (BN) have much in common, particularly a dissatisfaction with body weight and/or shape. AN affects approx 0.3 % of males and 0.9% of females. BN is more common (0.5% of males and 1.5% of females)...
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...Outline and evaluate psychological explanations for anorexia nervosa [20 marks]. Behavioural explanations of anorexia nervosa (AN) suggest that slimming becomes a ‘habit’, through stimulus response mechanisms. For example, the person does on a diet and receives praise either for their efforts or their new slimmer appearance. Operant conditioning then takes effect as the admiration from others further reinforces their dieting behaviour. Rewards may also come in the form of attention gained from parents by not eating. Behavioural psychologists also propose anorexia as a phobia concerning the possibility of gaining weight. The portrayal of thin models on TV and in magazines is a significant contributory factor in body image concerns and the drive for thinness among Western adolescent girls. Jones and Buckingham found people with low self-esteem are more likely to compare themselves to idealised images portrayed in the media. Garner et al (1980) noted that the winners of Miss America and the centrefolds in Playboy magazine have consistently been below the average female weight and have become significantly more so since 1959. Thus the slender female perceived as being the cultural ideal might be one cause of the fear of being fat. A study by Becker of adolescent Fijian girls found that after the introduction of television to the island, these girls stated a desire to lose weight and to b like the women they saw on Western television; this lead to a significant increase in eating...
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...Psychological explanations for anorexia nervosa There are many factors that contribute to an individual developing anorexia nervosa such as cultural influences and the media. It has been proven that the Western culture especially has a major influence on especially girls developing AN as they see ‘perfect’ body type ideals on the media so through classical conditioning they associate a skinny body type with success and attractiveness. Gregory et al from The National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Young People reported that 16% of 15-18 are currently on a diet supporting the theory of media portraying perfect body types on TV has a negative impact on especially girls in developing eating disorders and creating a distorted view of the body image. Additionally Jones and Buckingham have found that individuals that have low self-esteem will compare themselves more with idealised images form the media resulting in them developing eating disorders such as AN. Hoek et al have found that it is particularly rare for non-Western cultures to develop AN therefore supporting the fact that culture has a big influence on developing eating disorders. As Western cultures are filled with media portraying skinny models and punishing fatter people in programmes such as embarrassing fat bodies or the biggest loser, this results in people feeling the social pressure in order to fit in also if positive reinforcement is used, so if you lose weight and someone compliments you on it you are more likely to...
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...spirals out of control. Eating disorders are very complex, and despite scientific research to understand them, the biological, behavioural and social underpinnings of these illnesses remain elusive. The two main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Eating disorders frequently appear during adolescence or young adulthood, but some reports indicate that they can develop during childhood or later in adulthood. Women and girls are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Over 90% of people diagnosed with eating disorders are adolescent or young women. Eating disorders are real, treatable medical illnesses with complex underlying psychological and biological causes. They frequently co-exist with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. Biological Perspective The biological perspective is a way of looking at psychological topics by studying the physical basis for human behaviour. It involves such things as studying the immune system, nervous system and genetics. Also considered are physical factors that directly affect the nervous system, including heredity, metabolism, hormones, disease, drug ingestion, and diet. The biological approach suggests that Eating disorders are due to a physical cause, suggesting it could be due to something genetic within the body or brain; such as hypothalamus dysfunction or an imbalance of...
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...Team C Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Laura Carranza Armanda Meadows Quoc Nguyen Andrea Sanchez Julann Wygal PSY/300 May 8, 2012 Mary Madrigal PhD Abnormal Psychology and Therapy The purpose of this paper is to discuss abnormal psychology and therapy. First this paper will define what abnormal psychology is. Then this paper will compare and contrast normal and abnormal psychology. Then the paper will examine at least two mental disorders from the perspective of psychology. Next the paper will examine two mental illnesses from the perspective of psychology. Finally the paper will discuss the similarities and difference among two different therapies in the schools of thought in psychology for treating mental disorders. Normal and Abnormal Psychology Normal vs. Abnormal Psychology The study of "normal" psychology is simply the study of someone who is in good health both mentally and physically. Said person adheres to and is responsive to social norms, and engages in activities that are socially acceptable and do not stray from the norm. Normal psychology is the study of the mind and the study of behavior. When unusual patterns of behavior, thought and emotion are studied, it falls under the branch of psychology called Abnormal psychology. The control and understanding of behavior that is considered to be deviant or aberrant either statistically or morally, has been the subject of much research and debate. Psychologists who focus on abnormal psychology identify the...
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...HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Health psychology is defined as the application of psychology to the relevant areas of health, disease and the health care system. Medicine and health psychology have many common themes and interests but they differ in their approaches. The primary focus of medicine is the diagnosis, treatment and cure of illness. The focus of health psychology goes beyond that of medicine to stress the prevention and enhancement of health. It expands the biological framework of medicine to also include psychological and social factors. The scope of health psychology is very broad because many theories and methods of psychology can be applied to health-related issues. Maes & van Elderen (1998) (cited in Gross, 2009) defines health psychology as “…a sub-discipline of psychology which addresses the relationship between psychological processes and behaviour on the one hand and health and illness on the other...”. Health psychology aims to understand, explain, develop and test theories by evaluating the role of psychology and its perspectives as factors affecting illness, predicting unhealthy behaviours and understanding and evaluating the role of psychology in the experience and treatment of illness. It also aims to put theory into practice by promoting healthy behaviour, preventing illness and thereby improving the health care system and health policy. For example, from programmes developed to help people reduce risk factors to their health, such as obesity and...
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...Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is one of the leading eating disorders worldwide alongside anorexia nervosa and continues to pose a major health threat as sufferers experience psychological and medical symptoms that most often lead to complications (Le Grange & Lock, 2007, p. 4). One of these complications is the tendency of bulimic patients to commit suicide because of aggravating sense of despair and loss of hope. According to Pompili, Girardi, Ruberto & Tatarelli (2006), “suicide in anoxeria nervosa and bulimia nervosa is a major cause of death” (p. 1). Aside from suicide, one of the disturbing realities about bulimia nervosa is how it tends to affect women and adolescents. The usual onset or starting point of bulimia is set at adolescence (Le Grange & Lock, 2007, p. 3) when young adults are starting to form their own self-identity, a process tied to the notion of body image. The seriousness of bulimia nervosa compels one to understand the ‘entire story’ of this eating disorder that includes knowing its history and nature, the etiology, symptoms and prognosis as well as the innovative treatments that have emerged in the recent years that can solve the case and problem that is bulimia nervosa. Bulimia Nervosa: At a Glance Characteristics and symptoms often associated to BN are known to have existed and observed in the ancient times. Emperors Claudius and Vitellius of ancient Rome are found to have exhibited the typical features of bulimia nervosa (Willer...
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...applying psychotherapy techniques as opposed to chemical and biological interventions. Psychotherapy is dependent on verbal exchange between the therapist and the person seeking help-commonly referred to as psychoanalysis. Therapeutic relationships are characterized by mutual trust between the two players with the main objective of helping individuals to change unhealthy and/or destructive behaviors, emotions and thoughts. In this pursuit, therapists combine several techniques including psychodynamics, behavioral and cognitive approaches. Anorexia nervosa There are many and varied psychological disorders in this case, I will focus on anorexia nervosa and its treatment. Anorexia nervosa is a condition that is characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight or intense fear of gaining weight. The patient feels inadequate when he senses he is fat. The condition mainly affects young women although other age groups can also be affected (Bateman & Holmes, 2005). When a patent has anorexia, the desire to lose weight becomes one’s most important preoccupation. The patient does not appreciate his/her condition and cannot see himself as he or she truly is. The patient is very disgusted by the way her/her body looks and thought about dieting, food and one’s body take most of their days. The patient has little time for friends, family and other activities that they used to enjoy. The skinnier the patient becomes, the better s/he feels. Mealtimes become very stressful and...
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...Sexual and Gender Identity, Personality, and Eating Disorders Holly Bracy Psy/410 November 18, 2013 Kathryn Westbeld Sexual and Gender Identity, Personality, and Eating Disorders Sexual and Gender Disorder Categories * Sexual Dysfunction * Sexual Desire Disorders * Sexual Arousal Disorders * Orgasmic Disorders * Sexual Pain Disorders * Paraphilias * Gender Identity Disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008) Sexual and Gender Disorder Classifications * The DSM-IV-TR classifies sexual disorders into three types: sexual dysfunctions, paraphilias, and gender identity disorder. (Hansell & Damour, 2008) Summary of Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders * The psychodynamic approach focuses on fixations in sexual development and also focuses on defense mechanisms. * Cognitive/behavioral perspectives emphasize social learning of abnormal sexuality, classically conditioned sexual arousal to deviant stimuli, and reinforcement of aberrant sexual behavior. * Biological factors can include some disinhibiting diseases or injuries or mental retardation that can contribute to abnormal behavior. (Hansell & Damour, 2008) Personality Disorder Categories * Paranoid Personality Disorder * Schizoid Personality Disorder * Schizotypal Personality Disorder * Antisocial Personality Disorder * Borderline Personality Disorder * Histrionic Personality Disorder * Narcissistic Personality Disorder * Avoidant Personality...
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...Abnormal Psychology and Therapy PSY/300 August 30, 2010 Bonnie Johnson Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Abnormal Psychology is psychology that’s main purpose is to use research in an effort to classify, diagnose, and treat psychological disorders and illnesses. Everyone experiences some kind of worry, fear, and even anxiety. When an individual cannot control their emotions and daily life becomes affected they may suffer from a disorder or illness that is very complex. Abnormal vs. Normal When comparing normal and abnormal psychology there are key differences. Normal psychology deals with the feelings that should be felt. Abnormal psychology deals with the feelings we experience that we shouldn’t . We should not live everyday in constant fear for no reason. When our feelings start controlling our life on a daily bases this is abnormal. Compare and Contrast There are two main divisions in psychology: normal and abnormal. Both of these branches can be easy to distinguish, but the lines between them may be blurred as well. To better understand these two sides of psychology it is necessary to understand what each division represents in this field (Critical psychology, 2001). Normal psychology is what an average animal experiences in response to emotional stimuli. For example, a woman’s boyfriend severs relations between the two people. In the average situation, the woman would be depressed for a short period of time. This sadness could stretch to several weeks or...
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...PSYC 101 Final Exam Question 1 Click Link Below To Buy: http://hwcampus.com/shop/psyc-101-final-exam/ 1. Which of these is true of brain development? Dendrite branching accelerates during infancy Myelination takes place during infancy There is an increase in synaptic connections during childhood All of the above are true 2 points Question 2 1. A(n) _____ is any agent that causes a birth defect. androgen teratogen proestrogen estrogen 2 points Question 3 1. According to Piaget, assimilation occurs when individuals _____. adjust their schemas to new information incorporate new information into existing schemas are deprived of parental warmth and sensitivity are insecurely attached to their caregivers 2 points Question 4 1. Which of the following is the correct sequence of the stages of prenatal development? Conception, zygote, embryonic period, fetal period Conception, embryonic period, zygote, fetal period Conception, fetal period, embryonic period, zygote Conception, fetal period, zygote, embryonic period 2 points Question 5 1. Which theory of aging has focused on the role of chronic stress in reducing immune system functioning? Erikson's theory of socioemotional development Free-radical theory Cellular-clock theory Hormonal stress theory 2 points Question 6 1. Which researcher tracked individuals who had experienced bereavement, and looked at their patterns...
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...PSYCH-205, Abnormal Psychology. PART 1: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE WHAT IS ABNORMAL? * It is behavior, specifically persistent behavior associated with cognitive, emotional, or perceptual distortions that are not socially acceptable, and are potentially dangerous. Many behaviors fit the criteria, but are not considered abnormal. Astronauts for example are not considered to be psychologically abnormal despite engaging in dangerous and persistently deviant behaviors. Legal insanity is different from a clinical diagnosis, although a clinical diagnosis will determine whether or not a person can be judged insane by a court. To define behavior as abnormal, it must meet the following standards. 1. Distressful – It is upsetting for self and others. 2. Dysfunctional – It is maladaptive, inhibits personal goals or ability to function on own. 3. Dangerous – Potentially to self or others. 4. Deviant – Is not tolerated by cultural norms and/or is statistically odd, keeping in mind context of behavior. (Religious practice gets a pass.) 5. *Duration – Behaviors, Affects and/or Cognitions are persistent regardless of circumstance over time. 6. *Detachment – Person holds beliefs or acts in ways that do not correspond to reality. (Religious practice gets a pass.) TYPES OF RESEARCH- One and two apply only to the social sciences, whereas three, four and five apply to both natural and social sciences, with exception to history, which relies solely on case studies and...
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...716 Index major depressive disorder, brain imaging studies, 70–71 malignant catatonia, 333 malingering, 530–531 ‘manic depressive insanity’, 45 manic states, 250, 253 abnormal beliefs and perceptions, 254 amphetamines and, 266 course and outcome, 274 delusional, 16 in HIV patients, 345 in ICD-10, 42 in old age aetiology, 369 clinical features, 370 treatment, 370 in old age, 369–370 mixed state with depression, 255 sensations in, 6 stroke and, 344 stupor in, 31 manic states, 15–17 Marchiafava-Bignami syndrome, 206, 338 Marijuana Anonymous, 239 marital status, and suicide, 454 masculinity drunkenness and, 428 sense of, 395 Massachusetts Male Aging Study, 402 Massachusetts Women’s Health Study (MWHS), 442 masturbation, 396 McNaughton Rules, 558 McNaughton, Daniel, 558 m-CPP 435 , MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; ‘ecstasy’), 328 medial temporal lobe volume in Alzheimer’s disease, 359 MRI for detecting, 75 medical conditions anxiety disorders in, 170 depression treatment, 521 detection of psychiatric illness, 483 feigned illness, 530–531 mental disorders due to, 327 anxiety disorders, 333 cannabis and psychosis, 330 catatonia, 332 cognitive disorders, 334 delusions, 329 depression and Parkinson’s disease, 332 general principles, 327 hallucinations, 328 mood disorders, 330 personality disorder, 333 psychotic disorder, 328 stimulant psychosis, 329 mental disorders due to, 326–335 relationship to affective change...
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...Introduction This research paper is on Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Three journal articles were utilized in the research process. The first article is titled Subtypes, Dimensions, Levels, and Mental States in Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It was written by Kenneth N. Levy of Pennsylvania State University and published in 2012. The main points discussed in this article are surrounding the various concepts of NPD existing in dimensions and with overt and covert sublevels. The author used research to point out how the DSM-IV fails to capture that grandiose presentations and covert vulnerable presentations actually represent the two sides of a single spectrum. I chose this article as it gave a deeper perspective than the more ridged clinical picture offered in the DSM-IV. The second article is titled Categorical and Dimensional Models of Pathological Narcissism: The Case of Mr. Jameson. It was written by Christopher R. D. Roberts and Steven K. Huprich of Eastern Michigan University and published in 2012. The main points discussed in this article are how the current categorical construct of NPD ignores the complexities of the underlying vulnerabilities of the disorder. It also discusses how assessing grandiosity and vulnerability as dimensional, interactive components provides a greater working utility. The authors accomplish this through offering examples of various supporting research in addition to a detailed case study of a patient who presented as fragile...
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...* Terminology Unit 1 * Mental Health- A state of well-being in which each individual is able to recognize his or her own potential, cope with normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to the community. * Mental Illness- maladaptive responses to stressors from the internal or external environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are incongruent with the local and cultural norms, and interfere with the individuals social, occupational and or physical functioning. * Anticipatory grief-when a loss is anticipated, individuals often begin the work of grieving before the actual loss occurs. * Bereavement overload- this is particularly true for elderly individuals who may be experiencing numerous losses- such as spouse, friends, other relatives, independent functioning, home, personal possessions, and pets in a relatively short time as grief accumulates a type of bereavement overload occurs which for some individuals presents an impossible task of grief work. * Ego defense mechanisms-defense mechanisms employed by the ego in the face of threat to biological or psychological integrity identified by Anna Freud 1953. Some of these are more adaptive than others, but all are used either consciously or unconsciously as protective devices for the ego in an effort to relieve mild to moderate anxiety. * Projection: Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person. * Undoing:...
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