Anorexia and Mimetic Desire

Ren Girard shows that all desires are contagious--and the desire to be thin is no exception. In this compelling new book, Girard ties the anorexia epidemic to what he calls mimetic desire: a desire imitated from a model. Girard has long argued that, far from being spontaneous, our most intimate desires are copied from what we see around us. In a culture obsessed with thinness, the rise of eating disorders should be no surprise. When everyone is trying to slim down, Girard asks, how can we convince anorexic patients to have a healthy outlook on eating? Mixing theoretical sophistication with irreverent common sense, Girard denounces a "culture of anorexia" and takes apart the competitive impulse that fuels the game of conspicuous non-consumption. He shows that showing off a slim physique is not enough--the real aim is to be skinnier than one's rivals. In the race to lose the most weight, the winners are bound to be thinner and thinner. Taken to extremes, this tendency to escalation can only lead to tragic results. Featuring a foreword by neuropsychiatrist Jean-Michel Oughourlian and an introductory essay by anthropologist Mark R. Anspach, the volume concludes with an illuminating conversation between Ren Girard, Mark R. Anspach, and Laurence Tacou.

Author: René Girard
Publisher: Michigan State University Press
Published: 10/01/2013
Pages: 112
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.21lbs
Size: 6.14h x 4.60w x 0.33d
ISBN13: 9781611860870
ISBN10: 1611860873
BISAC Categories:
- Psychology | Psychopathology | Eating Disorders
- Philosophy | Ethics & Moral Philosophy

About the Author

René Girard is a member of the French Academy, Emeritus Professor at Stanford University, and the author of several books that have been translated worldwide. He is the recipient of the Modern Language Association's Award for Lifetime Scholarly Achievement (2008).