Eating DisordersEating Disorders
Psychodynamic explanationPsychodynamic explanation– Psychological disorders are a manifestation of Psychological disorders are a manifestation of
repressed emotional problemsrepressed emotional problems– The symptoms of eating disorders symbolise The symptoms of eating disorders symbolise
repressed conflicts and motives in the repressed conflicts and motives in the unconscious mindunconscious mind
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Anorexia NervosaAnorexia Nervosa
Conscious
Unconscious
Refusal to eat
Desire to be thin
A prepubescent body
Lack of menstruation
Traumatic sexual experience in childhood?
Desire to remain a child
Fear of sex & adult sexuality
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Bulimia NervosaBulimia Nervosa
Conscious
Unconscious
Uncontrollable desire to eat
Weak and fragile ego can only control the id temporarily
Id’s desire for gratification (physical)
Overly controlling parents
Superego punishes the ego for not controlling the id
Guilt and anxiety
Purging behaviours
Reduction of guilt and anxiety
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Wonderlich et al (1996)Wonderlich et al (1996)
Survey of 1099 American womenSurvey of 1099 American women– Sexual experiences during childhoodSexual experiences during childhood– Eating disorder symptomsEating disorder symptoms
Women with a history of sexual abuse had Women with a history of sexual abuse had elevated risk of ED symptomselevated risk of ED symptoms
Some issues surrounding retrospective Some issues surrounding retrospective data, but has been confirmed in other data, but has been confirmed in other studiesstudies
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Eating DisordersEating Disorders
General criticisms:General criticisms:– Some support, mainly from studies of women Some support, mainly from studies of women
abused in childhoodabused in childhood– However, not all abuse survivors develop However, not all abuse survivors develop
EDs, and not all ED sufferers have been EDs, and not all ED sufferers have been abusedabused
– Many aspects difficult to test e.g. unconscious Many aspects difficult to test e.g. unconscious motives, repressed memories etc.motives, repressed memories etc.
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