Abstract
The first part of the assignment will focus on the comparison of the theories of egocentric speech proposed by Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. The latter will focus on the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa and how a French model was affected by it and eventuallly led to her death.
The disorder I have selected is Anorexia Nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which people, especially girls, starve themselves due to the fear of gaining weight and becoming fat. Refusing to eat, denying hunger even though the person is starving, having difficulties in concentrating, obsessionof one’s own body and size, skipping meals and making excuses to avoid eating are some of the symptoms of the disorder. Such a disorder is very common among the teenagers because they want to be thin and “accepted”. It is often very difficult to treat anorexia nervosa but to some extent, counsellors and psychiatrists can help. However, medication is not usually effective in treating such an eating disorder. Anorexic people should learn to gain weight in a safe manner which is possible with proper guidance from psychologists. The disorder applies to my media as it is very common among models who want to look skinny and perfect in photographs and become the best in front of the camera.
The character I have chosen is a French model named Isabelle Caro who died in the year 2010 due to anorexia nervosa. Isabelle, in order to have a successful career, starved herself to death and blamed her mother in her autobiography for developing such a disorder in the first place. She explains how her mother used to fit her daughter, Isabelle, in clothes of smaller size. Isabelle’s accusations also caused her mother to commit suicide soon after her daughter’s death. Isabelle’s body was found to be similar to a skeleton that is used in laboratories and her breasts were just a few inches of skin hanging from her ribcage. Isabelle wanted to treat herself and even began to participate in anti-anorexia nervosa campaigns but it semmed like she had no time. Becausing of dieting too much, she lost her own life.
Isabelle completely changed the perspective of people in the modelling world. She made people realise how a model struggles to keep herself in the perfect size. She also made all of us realise that we do not have to be skinny or in perfect shape to be accpted in the society. The demand of being skinny is one of the reasons why the modelling industry is criticised today. Thus, people who are anorexic must treat themselves and get help from psychiatrists as soon as possible.
References
Barbie Latza Nadeau (20 July, 2011). “Isabelle Caro: Anorexic Model Dies, Her Mother Commits Suicide. How Should the Fashion Industry Respond?” Retrieved from http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/02/07/isabelle-caro-anorexic-model-dies-her-mother-commits-suicide-how-should-the-fashion-industry-respond.htmlWilliam Grimes (30 December, 2010). “Isabelle Caro, Anorexic Model, Dies at 28” Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/31/world/europe/31caro.html?_r=0National Institute of Mental Health. “Eating Disorders” Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/index.shtml
Wikipedia (18 November, 2014). “Anorexia Nervosa” Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_nervosa
