re appearance and artistic taste. Thus, if a girl is fearful or uncertain, it is natural to reach for substances that she has learned give her a feeling of security and safety. Other branches of psychology assume that the causes of bulimia nervosa reflect the interaction of biological predisposition, intrapsychic conflict, family, social factors, disturbed interpersonal relationships, interpersonal sensitivity, and social isolation. Although how biological factors affect the development of bulimia is unclear, some scientists believe that bulimia may be a symptom of a biologically mediated affective disorder. However, this theory is quite controversial. Recently, familial contributions to the etiology and course of bulimia nervosa have been accounted for. Often, women who overeat or undereat have been cited to have had a childhood background of profound deprivation and emotional deficit. Such individuals learned in their families that they were not wanted, worthwhile, or valued. They did not learn to ask for help or to expect their needs to be met. They did not learn healthy ways to handle conflict, difficult emotions, or disappointments. Neither did they learn that the solution to loneliness is to seek friendship. Such individuals may have been severely abused in their homes and have no knowledge of awareness of the abuse (Katherine, 1991, p. 52). "In these families there is a tension between unmet individual needs and equally or more powerful family system needs that require individual self-sacrifice' (Chassler, 1998, p.400). This type of woman may have been screamed at as a child when she expressed a need. She has become accustomed to fear. With such a background, the food addict is a person who expects to only have minimum needs met. She has learned that her needs will probably go unmet, even if she asks, and she adapts. The needs for affection, trust, safety, and honesty do not go away, but they move underground and surface in...
