Talia is a 17-year-old student who has recently been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. During a session with a clinical psychologist, she describes her home life:
"My mother and I are completely joined at the hip. She reads my personal journal to 'stay connected' and chooses all my outfits so we can match. My parents selected all of my A-Level subjects and even chose my volunteer work because they want to shield me from any stress or disappointment. We have followed the exact same family routine every single weekend since I was seven; if I ever suggest doing something different with my friends, my mother gets extremely anxious and complains of a migraine. If there is ever any tension or disagreement at home, we immediately change the subject and pretend everything is wonderful to keep the peace."
Describe the family systems theory explanation for anorexia nervosa and explain how Talia’s experiences can be linked to family systems theory.
Practise AQA A Level Psychology Psychological explanations for anorexia nervosa with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 30 questions, matched to the AQA A Level Psychology (7182) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
