Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Social influences on eating behavior
Social factor of eating behavior
Social influences on eating behavior
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Social influences on eating behavior
When eating takes place in a social context, people tend to eat more than they usually eat when the individual is alone. The quantity of food eaten by an individual is positively associated with the amount of people present (de Castro, J.M, 1994). Using the example of Esma- a girl of normal body weight who has recently been invited to a birthday dinner with her boyfriend and people whom she is not familiar with- the purpose of this essay is to determine how eating in a social situation with other people encourages an individual to eat more than when eating alone. This occurs due to a number of influential factors, such as; social facilitation and social approval. Furthermore, this essay will not only show how being in a social setting encourages an individual to eat more but also how lack of trait empathy can influence a person to eat less in a social setting.
Social facilitation research indicates that when an individual is accompanied by others, it effects the amount of food they eat (Roel C. Hermans, 2012). Peter C. Herman and Deborah A. Roth (2003) conducted studies and found that in social facilitation, individuals were more prone to eating more in groups rather than when they are alone. When people are in the presence of food and are not quite hungry, they will look for signals from the environment and their surroundings to help them establish when they should stop eating. In Esmas case, she is a girl of average weight who has gone out to a birthday dinner for her boyfriends’ friend. She does not know anyone else other than her boyfriend and his friend. Being in that social situation, Esma would mirror everyone else because she wants to fit in. Mimicry is a rather vital form of social interaction (Walten, 2012). We, as h...
... middle of paper ...
...terplay
between Eating Companions. doi: http://10.1371/journal.pone.0031027
Patel KA, Schlundt DG (2001) Impact of moods and social context on eating behavior.
Appetite 36: 111–118. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/appe.2000.0385
Hermans RCJ, Larsen JK, Herman CP, Engels RCME (2009) Modeling of palatable food
intake. The influence of quality of social interaction. Appetite 52: 801–804.
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2009.03.008
Herman, P. C. (2003). Effects of the Presence of Others on Food Intake: A Normative Interpretation. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 873-886.
doi: http://psycnet.apa.org/?&fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/0033-2909.129.6.873
Dube, A. R., & Stanton, C. A. (2010). The Social Context of Dietary Behaviors: The Role of Social Relationships and Support on Dietary Fat and Fiber Intake. doi:10.1007/978-1-60327-571-2_2
Portion control is psychologically proven to lessen or limit an individual’s intake of any food. According to Dr. Katherine Appleton (2014), any given amount of food over the recommended serving size will be finished by an individual because it is considered normal to finish a plate for a meal. If the amount of food were to be changed, the amount of intake would change as well. This psychology study is based off of an individual’s perception on what is considered “a normal serving size” (Appleton, 2014). Portion control requires self discipline, but if Pam were to regulate her serving sizes, she could greatly decrease her caloric
"Emotions and Eating Behavior: Implications for the Current Obesity Epidemic." University of Toronto Quarterly Spring 79.2 (2010): 783-99. Web. Apr. 2014.
The Hungry Soul: Eating and the Perfecting of Human Nature, by Leon Kass takes a unique view of examining the body and soul by focusing on the eating habits of human beings. He uses this in order to distinguish humans from animals and the divine element (God). In this book, Kass touches on the point of sanctified eating. In Kass' final chapter, he looks at the "created order", the dietary laws in the chapter of Leviticus in the Holy Bible and the problem of eating. Not only do these sub-chapters actually give a good sense of what humans are in the design of divinity, but it also shows how far human beings have to go in order to be close to the divine power of God.
Veazy-Morris, K. D., Parra, G. R. P., & Stender, S. R. S. (2011). Eating attitudes and behaviors
Interest in the social aspects of obesity is nothing new. Jeffrey Sobal has written extensively about the social and psychological consequences of obesity , including the stigmatisation and discrimination of obese and even overweight individuals (Sobal 2004).
In order to take a sociological viewpoint into account when one examines obesity, first it is important to understand how obesity is recognized in current society. According to today’s news articles and magazines and advertisements and other mass media about health and healthy life, one can easily realize that a great number of people have an eagerness to be healthy. Also, one can assume through these mass media about health that everyone wants to be attractive, and they are even prone to transform their own behaviors to gain attractiveness. This is because most people live a life where social interaction is frequently required and must engage themselves into social interaction every day of their life. Therefore, based on these ideas and proofs throughout this mass media, obesity is regarded as one of the characteristics that is disgraceful and undesirable in society.
Social media does not help in this situation either. America’s trending apps and media such as Instagram and Snapchat encourages others to try the food that they have. These social networks make it easier for others to share pictures that glamorize very unhealthy food that might seem appealing but have a harmful effect on the body. Studies show that social norms highly impact the individual’s decision whether they are with friends or not. The study conducted by Dr.Robinson, PhD, of the University of Liverpool, concluded the environment plays a huge role in the trend. He saw that that people are more willing to eat the types of foods that others choose and the portions that they choose because social identity is guided by its community. If the community were to eat unhealthy foods then the person would eat unhealthy foods but if the community eats healthier then the person would eat healthier to maintain a consistent sense of social identity (Robinson). Community influences play a huge role all over the world and has the same effect on its i...
Anorexic behavior is complex because it is all about the need for control. Someone suffering from anorexia has a distorted body image of himself or herself. He/she believes to be overweight, even though twenty percent of the time he/she is not (Yancey 59). The image of being overweight causes a low self-esteem. Symptoms of low self-esteem are loneliness, inadequacy in talents, a lack of trust in people and themselves, insecurity, identification with a specific peer group, and sadness. The media displays the ideal human body as thin and beautiful. Anorexic’s lives are full of confusion and lack of control. To the anorexic, to be thin is to be in control. The state of control to the anorexic is the ideal life without confusion and difficulties. In most cases, the anorexic is intelligent; popular among his/her peers, athletic, talented, and viewed as a role model to most people he/she comes in contact with. In reality, the issues in daily living are too difficult for the anorexic resulting in a lack of control in his/her life. The anorexic’s answer to a confusing life is to starve the body. The behavioral symptoms of the anorexia are counting calories, eating little food, baking treats for everyone and giving them away in hope of controlling not only the anorexic’s intake of his/her food, but also others. “Playing” with food at meal times is common behavior of the anorexic. When the meal is complete, the anorexic has disguised food intake by pushing the food around on the plate and hiding food in napkins. To dress in layers to hide the distinct weight loss and to avoid social activities where eating is involved are common behavioral symptoms. Behavioral symptoms of the anorexic can go unnoticed by most people. These symptoms are very secretive and oblivious to outsiders because the behavior is not out of the ordinary. Although the behavioral symptoms of the anore...
In college not only do students have the heavy burden of sustaining their academic endeavors they also face social standards. During college, students assemble into many social circles such as: sports, organizations, and sororities and fraternities. For some students this is the norm but for others it could create an eating disorder by increasing the importance of physical looks. Because they are not used to the rigorous amount of judging and acts of superficialness. A study examining the effects of peer pressure on identification with weight researchers noted that “concerns about their own weight, about how they appear to others and their perceptions that their peers want them to be thin are significantly related to weight-control behavior”. (Squires)
Sloppy eating remains at the top of deviant behaviors in the American society. This is now a clear fact to me as my experiment supports what other reading sources have said in the past. It is also interesting that tough nobody can explain why sloppy eating is received with such contempt; everybody agrees that this is a behavior that simply should not be carried out by any decent member of the society.
Children that are obese tend to have lower social skills, according to an article based on children with obesity and their mental health called, “Psychological Aspects of Childhood Obesity: A Controlled Study in a Clinical and Nonclinical Sample”. The author’s of this article, Caroline Braet, Ivan Mervielde, and Walter Vandereycken, conducted a study that uncovered the amount of children that are obese and lacking social skills. Most of the obese children involved, ranging in ages from nine to twelve, proved to have a problem conducting themselves socially and were more dependent on their parents to do things for them. In an article called “Childhood Obesity: Public-Health Crisis, Common Sense Cure”, the authors showed a model that directed twelve different countries and roughly the number of kids that are struggling with being over weight or obese. The final article, “Risks and Consequences of childhood and Adolescent Obesity”, showed the different risk factors that are involved with childhood obesity. Thought this article did not have any real research or experiments involved with it, it had good information and facts on the
Eating behaviour is a complex behaviour that involves a vast array of factors which has a great impact on the way we choose our meals. Food choice, like an other behaviour, is influenced by several interrelated factors. While hunger seems to drive our ways of food consumption, there are things outside of our own bodies that influence our food choices and the way in which we eat. The way we eat is controlled by and is a reflection of our society and cultures. I explore this idea through a food diary I created over a few weeks and the observations made by several anthropologists that I have studied.
Ethical eating is currently an international trending topic. Many people from around the globe are considering their options regarding food sources, humane foods and ethical preparation of food and its origins. After learning how to prepare meatless meals in their kitchens, new vegetarians find cooking to be easier and more enjoyable than when they prepared meat in their respective kitchens. For example, new vegetarians can appreciate the cleanliness of their kitchens due to the lack of blood, grease and animal fat that may be left behind from preparing flesh. There are many studies that reveal the positive attributes of vegetarianism. What about ethical eating options? What does ethical eating really mean? Several nutritionists and scientists
People do not think about this often but deciding where and what one will eat is an everyday decision. Often, this decision is one of the most difficult to make specifically for students on campus.Unfortunately, Dixie State University does not have much to offer on campus for students who face this problem making other dilemmas difficult to manage. With that being said, Dixie State University should allow private food vendors to rent a space on campus to help facilitate time, variety, and convenience for students.
Previously to taking this class, I had never given much thought to my eating habits. I always thought of the way I chose to eat as one of those things I didn’t need to concern myself with too heavily now because I’m a young broke college student. The way I eat is pretty similar to the way most of my friends eat and when you live away from home, that seems like the norm for people in college. However, after applying what I’ve learned in this class to my life, I’ve realized that the dietary choices I make now affect not only my current health, but my future health as well. So overall, I would say that my eating habits are pretty bad, but I’m working on making them better.