OCR Psychology Assignment Essay

The article “Fashion company’s shock methods in the deal with against size zero” made an appearance on the Daily Mail’s Web page on Tues, September twenty fifth 2007.  1. Assumptions The initial psychological supposition is that the use of shock strategies by way of an image portraying a naked anorexic woman will “jolt the fashion industry into action over the trouble of anorexia”. The article shows that the use of good fear appeal will be enough to induce behavioural alter and a comprehending of the health issues. A fear appeal is a technique used to persuade a group into behaving in a particular way simply by arousing a fear of the effects of not really following the communication given.

The effect of fear appeals was studied by simply Janis and Feshback (1953). The second emotional assumption is the fact “the vogue industry and the obsession with stick-thin size zero models” is to to take responsiblity for the increase in the case opf anorexia. This article therefore shows that people away from the fashion industry probably idolise models who look like rewarded with fame and fortune to be stick-thin.

It assumes persons imitate these types of models’ behavior in the desire of being just like them. Research into vicarious learning was conducted by simply Bandura (1965) who consequently formed the social learning theory.  The third emotional assumption relates to the billboard designers’ decision to use a picture of a woman anorexic and presumes that the majority, if only some, of anorexic sufferers are female.

A study that looked into the frequency of beoing underweight among both males and females was performed by Kjels et ‘s (2003). 2 . Evidence Evidence other the initial assumption was conducted by simply Janis and Feshback (1953), who researched the mindset effect of fear arousal in health campaign communication. The entire freshman class of a Connecticut high school was divided into 4 groups, 3 of which were given 15-minute classes on dental decay and oral cleanliness, while the next acted while the control group. Every lecture a new different durability of fear appeal, and results confirmed that although strong fear resulted in better immediate stress, the little fear group showed the biggest changes in actions.

The minimal fear group showed 36% behaviour modify, whereas solid fear simply showed 8%. This therefore opposes the lovely view of the document that the picture of the naked anorexic female will cause the fashion industry to take action up against the illness and, although it will have some result, a minimal fear approach will be most successful. Evidence that supports the 2nd assumption was provided by Albert Bandura (1965).

Bandura demonstrated three sets of children coup of a gentleman being intense towards a doll. The first group saw the person being rewarded for his actions, the second saw him being penalized and the third were not demonstrated any outcomes. The children were then put in a room which has a similar girl doll and discovered. Results of the study demonstrated that children were significantly more likely to imitate aggressive behavior when they had observed the model staying rewarded.

Bandura labelled this imitation “vicarious leaning. ” This varieties part of the sociable learning theory suggesting that behaviour can be learnt through observation and imitation. This supports the 2nd assumption while people seeing models within the fashion market witness all of them being rewarded for being slim with fame and lot of money, and eventually imitate their particular behaviour in order to gain the same returns. They make an effort to be because thin while the models by starving themselves and consequently become anorexic, as the content would suggest. Evidence that issues the third assumption is given simply by Kjels�s et al.

They will studied 1026 female and 934 guy adolescents employing DSM-IV and DSM-III-R conditions to establish the prevalence of eating disorders in both sexes. Each participator was asked to complete a questionnaire, and results revealed that while seventeen. 9% of female members had endured anorexia at some time in their life span, 6. five per cent of males had also.

The study proves that even though prevalence of anorexia therapy is higher in females, males are usually susceptible to the illness. The image with the female anorexic on the billboard therefore really does little to raise awareness of the illness among men and perpetuates the stereotype that anoresia or bulimia are a female disease. a few. Applications In regards to the initially assumption, Janis and Feshback would believe instead of applying shock tactics a more successful way of bringing about a change inside the industry is always to provide people with information on the condition, and protective measures. Booklets and posters containing these details could be distributed to people within the industry alone, and perhaps towards the public to supply awareness to the majority.

This might however have got little result, as there is not any guarantee that the info would be listened to by a market out to gain profit. Bandura’s theory and study suggests that people find out anorexic behavior from finding underweight versions in the press. Therefore , regarding the second assumption, the number of anorexic cases could be decreased making sure the project that zero model inside the fashion sector is below certain measurements; for example , by simply preventing the utilization of size absolutely no models.

In the event people are confronted with healthier-looking versions, people might develop more healthy eating habits. This however assumes that size zero models are ill, and can be perceived as discrimination against healthy individuals. There may be level of resistance against this action from the vogue industry and models themselves. In relation to the 3rd assumption, Kjels�s et al’s study shows that males are also susceptible to beoing underweight. Therefore we all need to be produced aware of this to increase the perceived susceptibility, especially in men.

Health promo could include information on guy anorexia, and contain photographs of guy sufferers whom are willing to reveal their reports. If awareness of anorexia in males is raised and the stereotype from it being a typically female disease scrapped, then a number of men who look for help will maximize. However if perhaps males will not perceive themselves susceptible they are really unlikely to decide on to read the promotion to start with as they believe that it to become a female disease.