Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2005, Page 28
feels that she can manipulate all aspects of her life if she can control her body and its
desires. Similarly, some ideological groups use dietary instructions and restrictions to
subjugate their ‗social body‘ of followers.
Several eating disorders exist, but I focus on anorexia nervosa, and particularly one social-
psychological explanation of it, because it allows for the clearest comparison to religious
starvation. Two other explanatory models for anorexia are the biomedical model and the
socio-cultural feminist model. The biomedical model assumes that anorexia is rooted in
physical and not mental problems. The biomedical model focuses on biochemical
imbalances in the brain as causation for anorexia (Brumberg, 1988: 24-25 Lelwica, 1999:
23). The biomedical model looks to the signs and symptoms of anorexia such as:
emaciation, amenorrhea, malnourishment, lanugo, depression, and hair loss, etc.
(Buckroyd, 1996: 5). In my view, however, these biomedical problems are effects of
anorexia not causes of it. The biomedical community still debates whether biochemical
imbalances cause or are components of anorexia (Lelwica 1999: 24).
The socio-cultural feminist model proposes that anorexia is a ‗culture-bound‘ syndrome
(Lelwica, 1999:25). Women become anorexic because they are overwhelmed with the
demands of womanhood (Buckroyd, 1996: 63). The expectation on women is to be selfless,
caring, and nurturing, while at the same time to be independent, self-reliant, and powerful
(Lelwica, 1999: 26). In this model, fear of the demands of womanhood and fear of their
own bodies causes anorexia, and anorexia is the result of women attempting to ‗keep‘ their
bodies childlike (Lelwica, 1999: 25). Often the proponents of the socio-cultural model look
to the fashion industry for causation of anorexia, as well as the over-representation of thin
women in the media. Throughout the past several decades, the ‗ideal‘ size of women has
shrunk (Buckroyd, 1996: 53). One can see the ‗shrinking‘ phenomena in the popular
media: ―[a] series of well-known studies point to the declining weight since the 1950s of
fashion models, Miss America contestants, and Playboy centerfolds‖ (Brumberg, 1988: 254).
The social-psychological explanation for anorexia is based on the assumption that its cause
is a desire to have complete control over one‘s body (Bruch, 1978 Brumberg, 1988
Lelwica, 1999 Miles, 1995 Orbach, 1986). As Joan Jacob Brumberg discusses, ―the
anorectic makes her body a stand-in for a life she cannot control‖ (Brumberg, 1988: 28).
Psychologist Hilde Bruch was one of the main pioneers of this theory, and she stresses that
the anorexic‘s desire for control is in opposition with her desire to be complacent and
obedient (Lelwica, 1999: 22).
The idea that regulation over food and diet creates a sense of total management over the
anorexic‘s life is well documented. Bruch discusses a seventeen-year-old anorexic who
talked about her own disease in the context of self-regimentation, stating, ―This was
something I could control. I still don‘t know what I look like or what size I am, but I know
my body can take anything‖ (Bruch, 1997: 218). Anorexics use their diet as the one part of
their lives over which they have complete and utter control, and then by extension are able
to feel a sense of power over other aspects of their lives. As one anorexic describes this
feeling of command, ―‗I felt powerful as an anorexic. Controlling my body yielded an illusion
of control over my life.… I had reduced my world to a plate of steamed carrots, and over
this tiny kingdom I proudly crowned myself queen‘‖ (quoted in Lelwica, 1999: 110).
The feelings of total self-rule that an anorexic feels while dieting are powerful and insidious.
The simple act of denying the body physical needs creates a feeling of domination over the
body and the self (Lelwica, 1999: 89). This domination and self-regulation that the anorexic
holds over herself is akin to the regulation that some ideological leaders impose upon their
members through diet and food restrictions.
feels that she can manipulate all aspects of her life if she can control her body and its
desires. Similarly, some ideological groups use dietary instructions and restrictions to
subjugate their ‗social body‘ of followers.
Several eating disorders exist, but I focus on anorexia nervosa, and particularly one social-
psychological explanation of it, because it allows for the clearest comparison to religious
starvation. Two other explanatory models for anorexia are the biomedical model and the
socio-cultural feminist model. The biomedical model assumes that anorexia is rooted in
physical and not mental problems. The biomedical model focuses on biochemical
imbalances in the brain as causation for anorexia (Brumberg, 1988: 24-25 Lelwica, 1999:
23). The biomedical model looks to the signs and symptoms of anorexia such as:
emaciation, amenorrhea, malnourishment, lanugo, depression, and hair loss, etc.
(Buckroyd, 1996: 5). In my view, however, these biomedical problems are effects of
anorexia not causes of it. The biomedical community still debates whether biochemical
imbalances cause or are components of anorexia (Lelwica 1999: 24).
The socio-cultural feminist model proposes that anorexia is a ‗culture-bound‘ syndrome
(Lelwica, 1999:25). Women become anorexic because they are overwhelmed with the
demands of womanhood (Buckroyd, 1996: 63). The expectation on women is to be selfless,
caring, and nurturing, while at the same time to be independent, self-reliant, and powerful
(Lelwica, 1999: 26). In this model, fear of the demands of womanhood and fear of their
own bodies causes anorexia, and anorexia is the result of women attempting to ‗keep‘ their
bodies childlike (Lelwica, 1999: 25). Often the proponents of the socio-cultural model look
to the fashion industry for causation of anorexia, as well as the over-representation of thin
women in the media. Throughout the past several decades, the ‗ideal‘ size of women has
shrunk (Buckroyd, 1996: 53). One can see the ‗shrinking‘ phenomena in the popular
media: ―[a] series of well-known studies point to the declining weight since the 1950s of
fashion models, Miss America contestants, and Playboy centerfolds‖ (Brumberg, 1988: 254).
The social-psychological explanation for anorexia is based on the assumption that its cause
is a desire to have complete control over one‘s body (Bruch, 1978 Brumberg, 1988
Lelwica, 1999 Miles, 1995 Orbach, 1986). As Joan Jacob Brumberg discusses, ―the
anorectic makes her body a stand-in for a life she cannot control‖ (Brumberg, 1988: 28).
Psychologist Hilde Bruch was one of the main pioneers of this theory, and she stresses that
the anorexic‘s desire for control is in opposition with her desire to be complacent and
obedient (Lelwica, 1999: 22).
The idea that regulation over food and diet creates a sense of total management over the
anorexic‘s life is well documented. Bruch discusses a seventeen-year-old anorexic who
talked about her own disease in the context of self-regimentation, stating, ―This was
something I could control. I still don‘t know what I look like or what size I am, but I know
my body can take anything‖ (Bruch, 1997: 218). Anorexics use their diet as the one part of
their lives over which they have complete and utter control, and then by extension are able
to feel a sense of power over other aspects of their lives. As one anorexic describes this
feeling of command, ―‗I felt powerful as an anorexic. Controlling my body yielded an illusion
of control over my life.… I had reduced my world to a plate of steamed carrots, and over
this tiny kingdom I proudly crowned myself queen‘‖ (quoted in Lelwica, 1999: 110).
The feelings of total self-rule that an anorexic feels while dieting are powerful and insidious.
The simple act of denying the body physical needs creates a feeling of domination over the
body and the self (Lelwica, 1999: 89). This domination and self-regulation that the anorexic
holds over herself is akin to the regulation that some ideological leaders impose upon their
members through diet and food restrictions.
