Sociocultural aetiologies

Basis of sociocultural aetiology

Explains Anorexia due to society's emphasis on thinness
In Western Socities (food is plentiful) = people value slimness
This social phenomenon has changed over time, causing an increase in the prevalence of eating disorders
In cultures where thinness is not seen as ideal, Anorexia is very uncommon and barely heard of
Subcultures where thinness is especially valued (dancers, actors, models) are more concerned with WEIGHT
A study found that 7% of dancers, model and actors are anorexic, compared to 0% of a control group of 81 female Uni students

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We observe and imitate behaviour of those around us
Look for role models to base our behaviour on
See their behvaiour rewarded = VICARIOUS REINFORCEMENT
Where we are more likely to imitate their behaviour
Factors affecting imitation: gender, assets
We are MORE LIKELY to imitate behaviour of someone the same gender as us
Also MORE LIKELY to imitate behaviour of someone who is famous, has money and status (through motivation)

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Anorexia is almost unheard of in Asian cultures, but is becoming more prevalent in Japan. which is becoming more westernised
African-American girls are bigger and taller on average than their white counterparts, but are significantly less likely to develop an eating disorder
This may be due to the fact that media images of the 'ideal' body type are predominantly white
Fijian girls studied 3 years after the introduction of TV onto their Island
Traditionally, the ideal figure of a girl/woman was robust and round
Found that girls who reported watching TV more than 3 nights per week were 50% on average MORE LIKELY to describe themselves as too big & fat

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The SLT also explains the gender gap in eating disorders
Emphasis on thinness is mostly applied to women
Explains why 90% of sufferers are FEMALE
Men are subjected to different sociocultural pressures regarding appearance
Survery of male American College students found that the majority selected strong, muscular. 'broad shoulders' as the IDEAL BODY TYPE

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Not all women subjected to images of thin models develop Anorexia, so sociocultural explanations cannot be the only ones
May have a genetic predisposition to the types of cognitions
With social factors (e.g. media images of thin models) triggering this Anorexic behaviour

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The Social Learning Theory explanation of Anoreixa is strongly supported by research
Can also explain various cultural and gender variations in prevalence rates, which most other theories cannot do
There are inconsistenties in the generalisation of this theory to every person
Therefore, this cannot be the only explanation fo Anorexia (see card 5)

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