Readiness for the leap : Hunter mode in anorexia nervosa
(2025) In Philosophy, Psychiatry and Psychology 32(3). p.329-342- Abstract
- The purpose of the present paper is to describe and discuss the concept of hunter mode, as introduced by Meidell (2022) in her autobiographical description of anorexia nervosa. Hunter mode is a sought-after state that is reached through self-starvation and that transforms a person's experiences into a crystal-clear perception and a sense of vitality. Although partly touched upon already by Hilde Bruch in the Golden Cage (1978), she merely described this state as an effect of prolonged starvation and not a mode actively sought. Hunter mode is illuminated by relating it to the writings of phenomenological philosophers and theoretical clinicians such as Merleau-Ponty, Winnicott, Legrand, and Fuchs, among whom the body ecstatic plays an... (More)
- The purpose of the present paper is to describe and discuss the concept of hunter mode, as introduced by Meidell (2022) in her autobiographical description of anorexia nervosa. Hunter mode is a sought-after state that is reached through self-starvation and that transforms a person's experiences into a crystal-clear perception and a sense of vitality. Although partly touched upon already by Hilde Bruch in the Golden Cage (1978), she merely described this state as an effect of prolonged starvation and not a mode actively sought. Hunter mode is illuminated by relating it to the writings of phenomenological philosophers and theoretical clinicians such as Merleau-Ponty, Winnicott, Legrand, and Fuchs, among whom the body ecstatic plays an important part in shaping human psychology. The purpose of these analyses is to make a core symptom of anorexia nervosa, self-starvation, more comprehensible when explored at the person level. We suggest that a failure to address these aspects of starvation, uncomfortable as they may be, could impede the understanding of important dynamics underlying anorexia and which may be important to find less destructive ways to engage the body. Our suggestion is that hunter mode could be a key to unlock one of the enigmas of anorexia nervosa—why starvation becomes so desirable and difficult to stop adhering to—and a phenomenon that could be addressed clinically. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- The purpose of the present paper is to describe and discuss the concept of hunter mode, as introduced by Meidell (2022) in her autobiographical description of anorexia nervosa. Hunter mode is a sought-after state that is reached through self-starvation and that transforms a person’s experiences into a crystal-clear
perception and a sense of vitality. Although partly touched upon already by Hilde Bruch in the Golden Cage (1978), she merely described this state as an effect of prolonged starvation and not a mode actively sought. Hunter mode is illuminated by relating it to the writings of phenomenological philosophers and theoretical clinicians such as Merleau-Ponty, Winnicott, Legrand, and Fuchs, among whom the body ecstatic plays an... (More) - The purpose of the present paper is to describe and discuss the concept of hunter mode, as introduced by Meidell (2022) in her autobiographical description of anorexia nervosa. Hunter mode is a sought-after state that is reached through self-starvation and that transforms a person’s experiences into a crystal-clear
perception and a sense of vitality. Although partly touched upon already by Hilde Bruch in the Golden Cage (1978), she merely described this state as an effect of prolonged starvation and not a mode actively sought. Hunter mode is illuminated by relating it to the writings of phenomenological philosophers and theoretical clinicians such as Merleau-Ponty, Winnicott, Legrand, and Fuchs, among whom the body ecstatic plays an important part in shaping human psychology. The purpose of these analyses is to make a core symptom of anorexia nervosa, self-starvation, more comprehensible when explored at the person level. We suggest that a failure to address these aspects of starvation, uncomfortable as they may be, could impede the understanding of important dynamics underlying anorexia and which may be important to find less destructive ways to engage the body. Our suggestion is that hunter mode could be a key to unlock one of the enigmas of anorexia nervosa— why starvation becomes so desirable and difficult to stop adhering to—and a phenomenon that could be addressed clinically. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/5c16b721-1c10-479f-b3cc-130f17f3d435
- author
- Foster, Lo LU and Lundh, Lars-Gunnar LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Embodiment; Anorexia Nervosa; Phenomenology
- in
- Philosophy, Psychiatry and Psychology
- volume
- 32
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 329 - 342
- publisher
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105018068424
- ISSN
- 1071-6076
- DOI
- 10.1353/ppp.2025.a971236
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 5c16b721-1c10-479f-b3cc-130f17f3d435
- date added to LUP
- 2025-11-18 13:09:55
- date last changed
- 2025-11-19 11:36:02
@article{5c16b721-1c10-479f-b3cc-130f17f3d435,
abstract = {{The purpose of the present paper is to describe and discuss the concept of hunter mode, as introduced by Meidell (2022) in her autobiographical description of anorexia nervosa. Hunter mode is a sought-after state that is reached through self-starvation and that transforms a person's experiences into a crystal-clear perception and a sense of vitality. Although partly touched upon already by Hilde Bruch in the Golden Cage (1978), she merely described this state as an effect of prolonged starvation and not a mode actively sought. Hunter mode is illuminated by relating it to the writings of phenomenological philosophers and theoretical clinicians such as Merleau-Ponty, Winnicott, Legrand, and Fuchs, among whom the body ecstatic plays an important part in shaping human psychology. The purpose of these analyses is to make a core symptom of anorexia nervosa, self-starvation, more comprehensible when explored at the person level. We suggest that a failure to address these aspects of starvation, uncomfortable as they may be, could impede the understanding of important dynamics underlying anorexia and which may be important to find less destructive ways to engage the body. Our suggestion is that hunter mode could be a key to unlock one of the enigmas of anorexia nervosa—why starvation becomes so desirable and difficult to stop adhering to—and a phenomenon that could be addressed clinically.}},
author = {{Foster, Lo and Lundh, Lars-Gunnar}},
issn = {{1071-6076}},
keywords = {{Embodiment; Anorexia Nervosa; Phenomenology}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{329--342}},
publisher = {{Johns Hopkins University Press}},
series = {{Philosophy, Psychiatry and Psychology}},
title = {{Readiness for the leap : Hunter mode in anorexia nervosa}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/ppp.2025.a971236}},
doi = {{10.1353/ppp.2025.a971236}},
volume = {{32}},
year = {{2025}},
}