Psychodynamic Theory Of Eating Disorders Essay
This essay aims to demonstrate my understanding of two psychological theories and how these two theories relate to eating disorders.
The psychodynamic theory would say that eating disorders are developed through childhood experiences and are used as a defence mechanism. The psychodynamic theory was developed in the 20th century by Sigmund Freud and he stated that the personality is made of 3 parts, the ID, which is responsible for instincts and pleasure seeking, the SUPEREGO which tries to obey the rules of parents and society and finally the EGO which balances the two depending on the demands of reality. Freud stated that we are driven by basic instincts like animals, for example, sex and aggression and he believes that the ID is the force driving all behaviour in …show more content…
Symptoms of eating disorders are viewed as expressions of the individuals underlying needs and issues so it is believed that these symptoms will disappear once these needs and issues are worked through. A. Natenshon (1999) It is suggested that eating disorders are developed in early childhood due to poor parenting and the struggle of anatomy. Psychodynamic theorists Minuchin, Rosman and Baker suggested that a child develops an eating disorder as a way of diverting attention away from family problems like divorce and death and that an eating disorder is a misguided attempt at keeping the family unit together. They also suggested that in adolescence the conflict between the maternal dependence and the child’s wish for independence can result in developing an eating disorder as a way of exerting self-control. Freud suggested that eating was a substitute for sexual activity and by preventing this adult development the individual can avoid anxiety associated with adulthood and sexuality. K. Griffiths (2014) Starvation in adolescence is a way of avoiding the development of an
The psychodynamic theory would say that eating disorders are developed through childhood experiences and are used as a defence mechanism. The psychodynamic theory was developed in the 20th century by Sigmund Freud and he stated that the personality is made of 3 parts, the ID, which is responsible for instincts and pleasure seeking, the SUPEREGO which tries to obey the rules of parents and society and finally the EGO which balances the two depending on the demands of reality. Freud stated that we are driven by basic instincts like animals, for example, sex and aggression and he believes that the ID is the force driving all behaviour in …show more content…
Symptoms of eating disorders are viewed as expressions of the individuals underlying needs and issues so it is believed that these symptoms will disappear once these needs and issues are worked through. A. Natenshon (1999) It is suggested that eating disorders are developed in early childhood due to poor parenting and the struggle of anatomy. Psychodynamic theorists Minuchin, Rosman and Baker suggested that a child develops an eating disorder as a way of diverting attention away from family problems like divorce and death and that an eating disorder is a misguided attempt at keeping the family unit together. They also suggested that in adolescence the conflict between the maternal dependence and the child’s wish for independence can result in developing an eating disorder as a way of exerting self-control. Freud suggested that eating was a substitute for sexual activity and by preventing this adult development the individual can avoid anxiety associated with adulthood and sexuality. K. Griffiths (2014) Starvation in adolescence is a way of avoiding the development of an