Using symbolic interactionism to improve recreational therapy practice for individuals with eating disorders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2013.0043Keywords:
Eating disorders, symbolic interactionism, recreational therapyAbstract
This article provides a description of eating disorders (ED) as a social psychological phenomenon by focusing on how self-processes are formed through social interaction. This phenomenon, known as symbolic interactionism, allows practitioners to better understand the social underpinnings of the destructive thought patterns prevalent in ED. Individuals with ED are highly reactive in social situations, often misinterpreting responses toward them as highly judgmental. Internalizing others’ perceptions creates interpersonal problems. Identifying the self-processes that surround ED will provide recreational therapists the valuable tools needed to develop successful interventions to treat people with ED. Particular attention will be paid to how symbolic interactionism can help recreational therapists understand how individuals with an eating disorder react to social interactions. Finally, implications for recreation therapy research and practice are discussed.References
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