The_Causes_Of_Eating_Disorders__A_Socio-cultural_Perspective

The Causes Of Eating Disorders: A Socio-cultural Perspective The Causes of Eating Disorders: A Socio-cultural Perspective Various theories exist concerning what causes the presence of eating disorders in certain individuals. Some psychologists argue the fact that the disorders are based upon a biological predisposition, derived from studies concerning specific activity in the lateral hypothalamus, the presence of the obese gene, or pituitary insufficiencies, to name a few (Ward, Tiller, Treasure, & Russell, 1999). The other major theory regarding the source of these disorders emphasizes cultural factors and the role they play in their development in an individual. There have been extensive studies concerning these two ideas, resulting in evidence supporting both of the theories. However, this paper will focus upon the second theory of the psychosocial reaction to society as the major focal point for the study of eating disorders. There are several social pressures that may, either individually or as a group, contribute to the occurrence of eating disorders in certain persons. We have seen a great decline in the body size of models and actresses in the past few decades, concurrent to the huge increase in reported symptoms of destructive eating behavior (Wegner, Hartmann, & Geist, 2000). It is no secret that the “Western Ideal” eating, women, study, females, body, images, one, disorders, female, western, being, about, reported, between, while, feelings, cultures, weight, scores, person, overweight, media, males, influence, individuals, ideals, factors, dissatisfaction, certain, been, thin, theory, states, same, results, pictures