Eating disorder and Social identity
Self-concept comes from an individual’s membership to certain social groups through their value and concepts about an individual. Therefore, an individual’s social identity depends on social groups, and different factors can influence how groups perceive and individuals. Eating disorders are severe disturbances that influence individuals eating behavior that connect to thoughts and emotions. Eating disorders influence individuals to become obsessed with food and body weight, thus developing negative behaviors judged through social values. Society creates judgments that influence individual self-esteem and identity. When individuals develop an eating disorder, their social identities change because they do not feel like part of their social groups. Individuals having eating disorders lose control over their identities because of shame and stigmatization created by society, but they can regain control through story telling.
The eating disorder develops when individuals feel the need to change their behavior to fit particular social groups. The disorder comes with self-criticisms over their body weight, and in most cases, they feel obligated to change some aspects of their lives and deny that they have a problem. The disorder develops as an individual try to defend their behaviors as an attempt to achieve positive self-representation. In some cases, the victims may create social groups and refer to other groups as ‘normal.’ Eating disorders influence how individuals view themselves, thus influencing the development and the maintenance of the disorder. The treatment of eating disorders depends on individuals’ perceptions, whether in support or rejection of the disorder. Individuals that support eating disorders face challenges seeking help because they possess a positive social identity about the situation. Negative social identity influences individuals to object to the disorder and develop motivations to change.
The relationship between eating disorders and social identity can be assessed through the labeling model. The labeling theory holds that discrimination and stigmatization lead to increased eating disorder symptoms, loss of social status, and lowered sense of self-value. Labeling theory holds that people’s behavior and actions are influenced by the words used on them by society. Society has created measurements of what they consider normal and assign different labels to what they consider different. The way individuals react to individuals with eating disorders influences their emotions and increases their desire to distance themselves from society. Stigma and labeling theory associated eating disorders with three aspects; shifts of identity, out of group perceptions and influences, and in-group perception.
When society labels individuals according to an eating disorder, their perceptions change about themselves. These changes are connected to the negative and positive aspects of eating disorders. Individuals may enjoy the stigma influencing them to view the eating disorder positively. These changes in identity may influence others to view it positively. Out-of-group perceptions include individuals developing perceptions according to the judgments of others. Existential stigma occurs when the victim does not control what the people value as normal or abnormal. These out of group perceptions influence individuals to have lowered self-worth, which influences their social identity and motivation to change. In other cases, labeling within a society can lead to achieved stigma and in-group perceptions, which define how individuals view themselves and those outside their group. Individuals with an eating disorder may create a group and create perceptions about the group outside their groups. In most cases, individuals in the in-group consider other groups as normal individuals. All these aspects of identity affect how individuals perceive treatment and the impacts of treatment. Treatment is effective when the victim perceives an eating disorder negatively as an illness.
Individuals’ behavior and actions when they have a disorder are influenced by their need to fulfill society’s socio-psychological needs developed through social identity theory. Social identity theory is based on the differences between social groups and the similarities that occur within a group. Eating disorder influences the development of in-group and out-group perceptions through which people develop social identity. Individuals receive labels in society because they possess values that are not identified within a group. Some individuals may develop toxic behaviors and actions as they try to get identified within a particular group. Matsumoto and Rodgers (2020) argue that individuals wish to develop identities according to the social group with the highest power. The identities of individuals develop as individuals compare themselves to others. When individuals are identified with eating disorders, the social identity they associate themselves with gets lost, and they become obsessed with behavior and actions that aim at returning to the social groups. Gayle engaged in obsessive excises and baking experiences when diagnosed with an eating disorder (Somaiah, 2010). Individuals need to adopt the best strategies to overcome stigma and fight an eating disorder as an illness.
Storytelling as a Recovery Strategy
The recovery process includes the aspects through which individuals become more active in fighting the symptoms of an eating disorder and the factors influencing identity loss. Kenny et al. (2020) argue that the recovery process involves more than behavior management because individuals have a different experience and are impacted differently by the process. The recovery process should influence individuals to regain what they have lost through labeling. Narrations through oral and written materials are considered one of the strategies through which individuals can regain social identity. Ryan (2006) connects narration with illness recovery by showing how individuals regain their sense of self by expressing the most haunting feelings and experiences. Through narration, individuals balance their efforts to maintain normality and influence their acceptance of the changes that occur.
Acquiring an eating disorder affects individuals’ ability to connect with others. The inability to communicate effectively with others is influenced by the stigma and the differences people see when they compare themselves with the people they regard as normal. Isolation occurs in society due to physical and cognitive differences that occur after developing eating disorders. Isolation can make individuals succumb to their eating disorders. Individuals need emotional and psychological help in such circumstances, which can only be achieved through narration. Pennebaker and Seagal (1999) argue that writing personal experiences emotionally show positive health outcomes. Narration helps individuals consider the positive side of life, thus improving their mental and physical health. The storytelling model can also influence the recovery of individuals facing eating disorders within a society.
Narration helps individuals develop in-group identities, which influence the development of social identity. Individuals experiencing eating disorders feel isolated and experience discrimination because they do not fit in any particular social group. Writing helps individuals connect with others experiencing the same illness by clarifying their experiences. Individuals write to regain their self-worthiness, which influences the development of pride as they become part of society by contributing to something positive. Narration aims to make others understand they are part of the social group and valued through their experiences. According to Walters et al. (2016), narratives are becoming more popular in groups experiencing illness. Narration helps individuals connect to develop group values through which they share similar characteristics.
Narration helps individuals develop in-group values, which are essential in identifying problems and resolving them. The social identity theory argues that individuals develop a sense of them and us through differences within groups. Any recovery process includes acceptance that there are changes within a person and working towards resolving the issues that come through these changes. Narration helps individuals within the same group develop differences with the larger group and create strategies to resolve them. Individuals within a particular group share experiences and develop values according to their point of view. Development of these values helps the group overcome the stigma that is presented by the out-groups. Instead of stigma, the in-group sees these conditions as issues that need to be resolved to fit in the larger group (Walters et al., 2016). Narration helps individuals have a common perspective of their illnesses, thus creating a sense of identity within a social group.
Storytelling shows a sense of control over individual care and situations. The success of the recovery process depends on individual control over the eating disorder. Individuals that lose control of their situation succumb to the disorder, making it decide their lifestyle. When Gayle experienced the eating disorder, he personified it and referred to it as an abusive lover who was destroying her life (Somaiah, 2010). Gayle used narration to identify her interests and regain control of her life. Narration, therefore, enables individuals to identify their wishes by expressing their deepest emotions. Expression of the emotions shows rejection of defeat by the illness and actively motivates them to participate in the treatment and recovery process. Narration helps individuals align their thoughts with their actions and fight the illness.
Storytelling helps individuals develop ideas of the problem and seek creative means to fight the illness. Individuals lose social identity within society because they transfer the problem to the social groups. Narrations, especially the ones offered in the psychiatric operations, include self-definition of the problem and more insights on the strategies they should apply (Malik, 2005). The recovery process is not solid but a creative activity that demands individuals to be cooperative and motivated to work through the illness. Dawn interpreted her eating disorder as a spiritual matter by communicating to God and expressing her desires (Walter et al., 2016). Dawn decides that God wishes her to eat rather than succumb to the eating disorder, and through these connections, she can overcome her Eating disorder. Individuals, therefore, use narration to assign meaning to their issues and lives. The meanings determine their actions and the process of recovery.
Narratives enable individuals to compare experiences by comparing them to their experiences. Pepper and Wildy (2009) argue that narratives enable individuals to compare their experiences and the experiences provided by others and enable them to create value and respect for others. Stigma and shame develop in society because individuals do not understand the value of others’ lives and create assumptions according to social constructs. Narration enables individuals to value the experience of others and create judgments according to these values. Labeling in society will only exist when individuals are ignorant of the challenges faced by other individuals. Narration help individuals with eating disorder express their experiences to society and define their needs to the society. This strategy is used to influence other individuals to accept the changes or help them overcome the illness.
Storytelling aims at seeking social support through which individuals regain social identity and overcome stigma. Social supports in illness occur in different ways, including sharing the same experiences and advocating for a stigma-free society. Walters et al. (2016) argue that health-specific online communities have increased in contemporary society due to support individual access through various platforms. The platforms share strategies employed by various individuals to regain control over their body and health and influence, thus providing support to individuals facing the same issues. McNamara and Parsons (2016) argue that individuals use their shared identity to share experiences and manage their conditions. Identity-based support is considered more effective than outside the group strategies because individuals understand the struggles within the group. Interactions facilitated by narrations lead to the development of new shared identities even after the recovery process. The new identity is effective in allowing individuals to shift from one social group to the other.
Storytelling is part of empowerment for individuals to work through their challenges and change their lives. Individuals have a choice to decide how different aspects of social influence them. When one faces stigma for having an eating disorder, they can reject the label by rejecting to conform to that group’s values through narration. Social identity is developed through categorization, identification, and comparison. Narration can influence how individuals create systems of categorization by showing the community your capabilities and self-worth. Individuals develop their identity by assessing the categories they exist and define their behavior. Behavior is, therefore, influenced by what society values as normal. Narration can show the people’s desire to reject the groups they are identified with by not conforming to the values of that group. Storytelling involves individuals expressing their desires and needs to others through printed or oral platforms. One of the effective strategies to fight stigma and discrimination is talking about it rather than accepting it through concepts that affect individual self-worth. Narration is, therefore, a tool through which individuals break mental chains.
In conclusion, social identity is created through the categorization of individuals according to social concepts. Social identities depend on individuals’ ability to sustain their social behavior and actions to conform to society. Eating disorders are characterized by eating behavior and actions that do not conform to society’s perspectives of normal eating behavior. Individuals labeled to have eating disorders are forced to change their behaviors to conform to the social groups. Individuals’ perceptions and reactions towards the labels they are given by society determine how they are affected by the disorder and their interaction with society. Narration is one of the most effective strategies towards recovering from the stigma and shame that develop when one is labeled as having an eating disorder. Narration enables individuals to develop the idea of the problem, create solutions, receive social support, and regain their self-worth by finding meaning in their situation. Storytelling can provide the victims of eating disorders a voice to condemn social stigmatization and bring change to society.