Weight-based Emotional Abuse: Self Psychological Implications for Treatment

Date of Award

Summer 8-21-2010

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Lupe Rebeka Samaniego

Second Advisor

William Menaker

Third Advisor

Michele J. Forstot Nadel

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Self psychology, Overweight individuals, Emotional abuse

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide evidence that overweight individuals are at increased risk for emotional abuse compared to their normal weight counterparts. Studies examining weight-based discrimination and bullying demonstrate examples of emotional abuse aimed at overweight individuals. The psychological difficulties associated with emotional abuse, such as symptoms of anxiety, depression and social difficulties, are reviewed. It is hypothesized that similar psychological difficulties are experienced when obese persons experience weight based emotional abuse. A self psychological conceptualization is applied to understand the effect emotional abuse has on one's sense of self. A treatment proposal, which aims to utilize self-object transferences to strengthen the self, is offered. Future research for the application of self psychology in a group therapy format is discussed.

Copyright Date

7-19-2010

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Dianna Harris

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

unnumbered

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