In defense of psychosomatic theory: a critical analysis of Allison and Heshka's critical analysis.
This article analyses Allison and Heshka's (Internal Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 289-295, 1993.) critical analysis of studies supporting psychosomatic theory. Questionned first is, Allison and Heshka's contention that the obese overreport emotional eating as a result of effects of demand characteristics, social desirability, and interpersonal expectancies. These effects, however, indicate that a more plausible response would be an underreport of emotional eating. Also addressed is Allison and Heshka's (Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 1, 31-38, 1993.) contention that a high correlation between a measurement instrument and a measure of social desirability invalidates that measurement instrument. Finally, in a rebuttal of Allison and Heshka's critical analysis of studies supporting psychosomatic theory, it is elaborated why emotional eating explains so little variance in weight gain and obesity.
Van Strien
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Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Nijmegen.
D000339:Affect; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D012928:Social Desirability