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

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)

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

Bulimia Nervosa Classical conditioning –A learned association between eating and comfort –A learned association between fullness and anxiety

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