Premium
Level of ego development and bulimics' conceptualizations of their disorder
Author(s) -
Teusch Rita
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(198809)7:5<607::aid-eat2260070504>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - psychology , shame , feeling , loevinger's stages of ego development , anger , developmental psychology , id, ego and super ego , anxiety , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychiatry
This study investigated whether level of ego development as explicated by Loevinger is predictive of bulimics' conceptualizations of their disorder. It was hypothesized that Postconformist bulimics exhibit more complex insight into the development, maintenance, and affective experience of their disorder. Forty women with bulimia completed Loevinger's Sentence Completion Test and were interviewed about their perceptions of their illness. Results showed that the sample was well above average in ego level. Perceived causations of bulimia revolved around intense feelings of emotional isolation and shame described as precipitating weight and food problems. Motivations for bulimic behavior included self‐nurturance, relief of self‐restraint, and management of anxiety and shame/anger. The stated hypothesis received moderate support. The significance of psychological isolation in the development of bulimia and the notion of binge‐purge behavior as a coping mechanism for feelings and needs are discussed.