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Anorexia nervosa: social learning theory (non-biological)

Edexcel IAL Psychology · WPS04 Clinical Psychology and Psychological Skills

Spec 8.1.5 needs one non-biological explanation. For anorexia the component guide suggests learning theories, especially social learning theory (SLT), which links to Unit 2 (spec 4.1.4) and to Becker et al. (2002).

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Social learning of eating behaviour

SLT says behaviour is learned by observing and imitating models, through attention, retention, reproduction and motivation.

Models: thin celebrities, actors, influencers, peers and family members who diet.
Identification: people imitate models they see as similar or admired, such as same-sex, high-status figures.
Vicarious reinforcement: seeing thin models rewarded with fame, praise or success.
Direct reinforcement: compliments after weight loss strengthen restricting.

Evidence

Becker et al. (2002) studied ethnic Fijian adolescent girls in Nadroga before and after television arrived. Girls scoring above 20 on the EAT-26 rose from 12.7% (1995) to 29.2% (1998), and self-induced vomiting for weight control rose from 0% to 11.3%. In interviews, 83% said television had influenced them or their friends to change body shape or weight, and some wanted to imitate TV characters.

Evaluation

Explains cultural and historical variation in eating disorders, and the higher rates in groups exposed to thin ideals.
Application: supports media literacy programmes and responsible advertising.
But most people are exposed to thin media models and only a small minority develop anorexia, so individual vulnerability (genes, perfectionism) must matter: diathesis-stress.
Becker's design compared different girls each wave, and other social changes happened at the same time, so TV cannot be proven to be the cause.
Holistic or reductionist? More focused on environment; ignores biological evidence such as twin studies (9.3.7).

Worked example

Use SLT to explain how a 14-year-old might begin restricting food after following a thin fitness influencer.

Attention: she notices the influencer's body and diet posts.
Identification: the influencer is young, female and admired, so she identifies with her.
Vicarious reinforcement: the influencer receives many likes and sponsorship, so thinness looks rewarding.
Motivation and reproduction: she copies the diet; compliments on weight loss give direct reinforcement, maintaining restriction.

Answer: Each SLT process links to the scenario.

Key idea: SLT: anorexia learned by observing and imitating thin models, especially those identified with, through vicarious and direct reinforcement. Becker et al. (2002): after TV arrived in Fiji, EAT-26 over 20 rose from 12.7% to 29.2%. But most people exposed do not develop anorexia.

Check yourself

Seeing a thin actor praised and rewarded, and then wanting to be thin, is an example of
- vicarious reinforcement
- classical conditioning
- negative punishment
- thought insertion
Show answer
vicarious reinforcement. Learning from consequences to a model.
In Becker et al. (2002), girls scoring above 20 on the EAT-26 rose from 12.7% to 29.2%. What was the increase in percentage points? Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
Show answer
16.5 percentage points. 29.2 - 12.7 = 16.5 percentage points.
By how many times did the percentage scoring above 20 increase? Give your answer to 2 decimal places.
Show answer
2.30. 29.2 / 12.7 = 2.30.
According to SLT, which model is a teenage girl most likely to imitate?
- An elderly male politician
- A cartoon animal
- A stranger she has never seen rewarded
- A popular female celebrity of a similar age
Show answer
A popular female celebrity of a similar age. Identification with similar, admired models increases imitation.
Which is the strongest criticism of SLT as an explanation of anorexia?
- It has no link to the media
- Most people see thin media models but only a few develop anorexia
- It only explains schizophrenia
- It is based on brain scans
Show answer
Most people see thin media models but only a few develop anorexia. Exposure is common, anorexia is rare, so individual vulnerability matters.
Explain why Becker et al. (2002) cannot prove that television caused disordered eating.
Show answer
Different girls were surveyed in 1995 and 1998, and other social and economic changes happened at the same time, so the rise could be due to other factors rather than television.. Cross-sectional design and other social changes are confounds.

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Last updated 8 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.