EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF IDENTITY IN ANOREXIA AND BULIMIA NERVOSA

Abstract

Researchers have neglected the study of the self concept of individuals who develop anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Towards rectifying this situation, Identity Structure Analysis (ISA) is introduced as an appropriate framework allowing the specification and empirical testing of postulates regarding disturbed identity development in anorexic disorders. The data presented distinguish a common constellation of identity characteristics in those suffering from anorexia and bulimia nervosa that differentiate them from normal and psychiatric control groups. Their identity pattern tends to be anti-developmental and in a state of ‘identity crisis’, in which identification conflicts with the maternal metaperspective of self (me as my mother sees me) are especially significant. Further analysis suggest that anorexics are in a phase of ‘plummeting’ identity crisis, whilst the patients in the sample with bulimia nervosa are in a ‘sustained’ phase. Future directions for research are noted.