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In defense of psychosomatic theory: A critical analysis of Allison and Heshka's critical analysis
Author(s) -
van Strien Tatjana
Publication year - 1995
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(199504)17:3<299::aid-eat2260170311>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - psychology , rebuttal , eating disorders , interpersonal communication , emotional eating , social psychology , psychoanalysis , clinical psychology , eating behavior , obesity , medicine , political science , law
This article analyses Allison and Heshka's (International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 289–295, 1993.) critical analysis of studies supporting psychosomatic theory. Questionned first is, Allison and Heshka's contention that the obese overreport emotional eating as a result of effects of demand characteristics, social desirability, and interpersonal expectancies. These effects, however, indicate that a more plausible response would be an underreport of emotional eating. Also addressed is Allison and Heshka's (Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 1, 31–38, 1993.) contention that a high correlation between a measurement instrument and a measure of social desirability invalidates that measurement instrument. Finally, in a rebuttal of Allison and Heshka's critical analysis of studies supporting psychosomatic theory, it is elaborated why emotional eating explains so little variance in weight gain and obesity. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.