Organization of Needs in Anorectic, Bulimic, and Obese College Women

Abstract

Centeral-peripheral organization of needs in women with eating disorders was investigated. Subjects included three clinical groups, totalling 50 female university students, identified as anorectic, bulimic and obese, and two nonclinical control groups, totalling 70 female students. The revised Picture Identification Test (PIT), which measures motivational aspects of Murray-based needs, was administered to all subjects. A new PIT measure, Cenper Index, showed significant differences in central-peripheral organization of needs between clinical and control groups, and among clinical eating disorder groups. The anorectic group differed most from groups on aggression and succorance needs; the bulimic group differed on abasement and defendance needs; and the obese group differed on dominance, exhibition, and gratitude needs.