Why, after an emotionally taxing event such as a tough breakup or loss in the family, do people not experience hunger for a while?
Loss of appetite is a common response to stressful situations. I guess it makes sense – if your body senses something dangerous or wrong in the environment, it's probably safer to avoid eating while dealing with the danger. It's not a terribly appropriate response to emotional turmoil, but it's j…
The Short Answer
Loss of appetite is a common response to stressful situations. I guess it makes sense – if your body senses something dangerous or wrong in the environment, it's probably safer to avoid eating while dealing with the danger. It's not a terribly appropriate response to emotional turmoil, but it's just how we're wired. The response makes a lot more sense in the context of physical threats & injuries than psychic ones. Other people will turn to food for comfort & consume large amounts of not-very-healthy stuff (eg – the stereotypical eating ice cream by the carton after a breakup).
Analysis
Key Concepts: Response, it's, makes
This explanation focuses on response, it's, makes and spans 99 words across 5 sentences. At 46% above the average Psychology explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Loss of appetite is a common response to stressful situations.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.
How This Compares in Psychology
Ranked #117 of 500 Psychology questions by answer depth (top 24%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why why, after an emotionally taxing event such as a tough breakup or loss in the family, do people not experience hunger for a while?
Loss of appetite is a common response to stressful situations. I guess it makes sense – if your body senses something dangerous or wrong in the environment, it's probably safer to avoid eating while dealing with the danger. It's not a terribly…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Psychology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 99 words, ranked #117 of 500 Psychology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are response, it's, makes.
What approach does this answer take to explain why, after an emotionally taxing event such as a tough break?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 99 words. It is categorized under Psychology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.