Eating Disorders

1. Eating Disorders • Behavioural explanation • Psychological disorders are the result of abnormal learning experiences • Eating disorders are a set of learned emotional and behavioural responses to food, eating and the body www.psychlotron.org.uk

2. Anorexia Nervosa • Classical conditioning • A Learned association between eating and anxiety • Operant conditioning • Reinforcement of dieting/weight loss behaviours • Compliments from others (positive reinforcement) • Avoidance of e.g. bullying (negative reinforcement) www.psychlotron.org.uk

3. Anorexia Nervosa • Social learning • Observation of slim models being admired/successful (vicarious reinforcement) • Observation of overweight people being punished • Tendency to imitate in order to obtain same reinforcers and/or avoid same punishments www.psychlotron.org.uk

4. Bulimia Nervosa • Classical conditioning • A learned association between eating and comfort • A learned association between fullness and anxiety www.psychlotron.org.uk

5. Bulimia Nervosa • Operant conditioning • Binge eating make the person feel better when anxious/depressed • But this leads to anxiety about feeling full • Purging reduces anxiety about feeling full • In both cases, negative reinforcement • Social learning • Not a major role, but might play a part e.g. in dancing schools where BN is prevalent www.psychlotron.org.uk