The Enigma of Ana: A Psychoanalytic Exploration of Pro-Anorexia Internet Forums

Abstract

AbstractIn the form of chat rooms, newsgroups, and websites, pro-anorexia has emerged in recent years as a cultural movement in cyberspace that takes an at least partially positive attitude toward anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. The empirical literature has documented both the harm and potential benefit that these forums offer participants. To date, however, pro-ana forums have not been theorized in the psychoanalytic literature. In this article, I make use of both a clinical case and qualitative investigation of pro-ana forums in an attempt to understand how participants make psychological use of them. I argue that pro-ana forums are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they may provide participants with a potential space that fosters further psychological development, allowing participants to play with ideas about relationship, identity, and even recovery. On the other, they may provide the opportunity for psychic retreat in which cyberspace becomes an escape from a reality that has become unbearable. ACKNOWLEDGMENTSI am indebted to Mary Brady and Stephen Seligman for lengthy discussions of early drafts and to Dianne Elise for ongoing encouragement.Notes1. Because of the anonymity the Internet provides, it is virtually impossible to obtain accurate information about the demographics of pro-ana participants. However, the majority of studies that have been conducted suggest that most users are adolescents. For example, one study suggests that 12.6% of female and 5.9% of male students (n = 711) in four secondary schools had visited these forums, often several times daily (Csipke & Horne, Citation2007).Additional informationNotes on contributorsTom WooldridgeTom Wooldridge, PsyD, is Department Chair and Miner Research Professor at Golden Gate University. He has published several articles and book chapters on eating disorders, masculinity, and technology. In addition, Tom has a private practice in Berkeley, CA and is a candidate at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California.