Question 1

When researchers offered a choice of a thin doll or a chubby doll to preschoolers, the children chose the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of When researchers offered a choice of a...

Question 2

Which professions put one at GREATEST risk for an eating disorder?

Accepted Answer

Actors and certain athletes are at a greater risk for eating disorders due to the high pressure in their industries to maintain a specific body image or weight for roles, performances, or competitive advantage. This pressure can lead to unhealthy eating habits and disorders.

Question 3

Which conclusion about family patterns and eating disorders is MOST supported by systematic research?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that there is significant variability in the family patterns of individuals with eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. This suggests that no single family dynamic or structure consistently leads to the development of these conditions.

Question 4

Current research on eating disorders is MOST consistent with which statement?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that while historically non-Hispanic white American women have had higher rates of eating disorders, the rates in minority women, including African American women, are increasing and beginning to approach those found in non-Hispanic white American women.

Question 5

If one found that the average weight and size of cheerleaders had declined significantly over the years, and that those who aspired to be cheerleaders had a high level of eating disorders, that would be evidence for a _____ cause of eating disorders.

Accepted Answer

The decline in average weight and size of cheerleaders over the years, coupled with a high level of eating disorders among aspirants, suggests societal pressures or norms (such as those related to body image in cheerleading) as a contributing factor to eating disorders. This points to a societal cause rather than family, psychological, or biological causes.

Question 6

Which person is at GREATEST risk for an eating disorder?

Accepted Answer

Female athletes, especially those in sports that emphasize leanness or a specific weight, such as gymnastics, are at a higher risk for developing eating disorders compared to their non-athlete counterparts.

Question 7

The weight set point is the:

Accepted Answer

The weight set point is the weight a person is predisposed to maintain.

Question 8

Which sign would MOST likely suggest that an adolescent is part of an enmeshed family?

Accepted Answer

An enmeshed family is characterized by overly close and intertwined relationships, where boundaries between members are blurred. The adolescent's emotional state mirroring that of his mother suggests a lack of individuation and personal boundaries, which is a hallmark of enmeshment.

Question 9

Studies have reported that adolescent girls who spend increased time on Facebook are more likely to have a negative body image and display signs of eating disorders. Which aspect of Facebook MOST likely accounts for this association?

Accepted Answer

Facebook being an image-driven platform means users are frequently exposed to images that may represent unrealistic or highly curated standards of beauty and lifestyle. This exposure can lead to comparisons and negative self-perception, contributing to negative body image and potentially eating disorders among adolescent girls.

Question 10

In one study, prospective parents rated a picture of a chubby child as less _____ than an average-weight child.

Accepted Answer

Prospective parents rated a picture of a chubby child as less friendly and intelligent compared to an average-weight child, reflecting societal biases and stereotypes about body weight.

Question 11

Why does the textbook's author describe dieters who have fallen to a weight below their set point as being engaged in a "battle against themselves"?

Accepted Answer

The concept of a "set point" refers to the weight range that your body is genetically programmed to function optimally at. When dieters fall below this set point, their bodies naturally resist further weight loss and attempt to return to the set point, making it feel like their own biology is working against their dieting efforts.

Question 12

Changes in body image among African American women and among women in non-Westernized cultures support the idea that _____ has/have a strong influence on body image.

Accepted Answer

Exposure to white U.S. culture has been shown to have a significant influence on body image among African American women and women in non-Westernized cultures, as it often promotes ideals that may differ from those traditionally valued in these communities.

Question 13

Based on past results, one would predict that women who win the Miss America Pageant in the future will:

Accepted Answer

Historical trends in beauty pageants, including the Miss America Pageant, show a tendency towards favoring contestants with slimmer figures over time. This reflects broader societal shifts in beauty standards towards slimmer body types.

Question 14

If current trends concerning the body images of African American women and non-Hispanic white American women continue, one would expect that in the future:

Accepted Answer

African American women have historically shown lower levels of body image dissatisfaction compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. However, if current trends continue, the influence of mainstream beauty standards, which often prioritize thinness, could lead to increasing body image dissatisfaction among African American women as these standards become more pervasive across all cultures.

Question 15

In an enmeshed family, the push for independence at adolescence threatens the apparent family harmony. As a result, the family may subtly force the child to take on a "sick" role. Why is this done?

Accepted Answer

In enmeshed families, where boundaries between members are blurred, maintaining dependence on the family is a way to keep the family unit intact. By forcing a child into a "sick" role, the family can ensure the child remains dependent, thus preserving the status quo and preventing the child from seeking independence.

Question 16

Family members are overinvolved in each other's lives but are affectionate and loyal. This description fits Salvador Minuchin's definition of an:

Accepted Answer

Salvador Minuchin's concept of an enmeshed family pattern describes a situation where family members are overly involved in each other's lives, often to the point of having little privacy or independence, yet they also display high levels of loyalty and affection towards one another.

Question 17

According to weight set point theory, which is a consequence of dieting below one's weight set point?

Accepted Answer

According to weight set point theory, when an individual diets or consumes fewer calories than their body's set point, the body responds by increasing hunger signals. This is a biological mechanism intended to restore the body to its predetermined weight range, making it difficult to maintain weight loss achieved through dieting.

Question 18

Which example would you expect to negatively influence an adolescent girl's body image?

Accepted Answer

Photo manipulation of images making women look thinner than they are in real life can create unrealistic beauty standards, leading to negative body image among adolescent girls.

Question 19

Many people regain weight after losing it. Which biological explanation BEST explains why?

Accepted Answer

The brain is believed to have a set point for body weight, and when weight is lost, it can trigger biological mechanisms to restore the body to its previous weight, making weight maintenance challenging.

Question 20

A study showed a positive correlation between the time spent on Facebook and the likelihood of experiencing an eating disorder among adolescent girls. This result showed that:

Accepted Answer

The study's finding of a positive correlation indicates that as time spent on Facebook increases, so does the likelihood of experiencing an eating disorder, suggesting a relationship between social media exposure and eating disorders.

Quiz 11: Eating Disorders