Abstract
There is initial evidence that beliefs about the eating behaviour of others (perceived eating norms) can influence children's vegetable consumption, but little research has examined the mechanisms explaining this effect. In two studies we aimed to replicate the effect that perceived eating norms have on children's vegetable consumption, and to explore mechanisms which may underlie the influence of perceived eating norms on children's vegetable consumption. Study 1 investigated whether children follow perceived eating norms due to a desire to maintain personal feelings of social acceptance. Study 2 investigated whether perceived eating norms influence eating behaviour because eating norms provide information which can remove uncertainty about how to behave. Across both studies children were exposed to vegetable consumption information of other children and their vegetable consumption was examined. In both studies children were influenced by perceived eating norms, eating more when led to believe others had eaten a large amount compared to when led to believe others had eaten no vegetables. In Study 1, children were influenced by a perceived eating norm regardless of whether they felt sure or unsure that other children accepted them. In Study 2, children were most influenced by a perceived eating norm if they were eating in a novel context in which it may have been uncertain how to behave, as opposed to an eating context that children had already encountered. Perceived eating norms may influence children's eating behaviour by removing uncertainty about how to behave, otherwise known as informational social influence.
Highlights
A substantial body of literature suggests that eating behaviour can be socially influenced
Consistent with a previous study (Sharps & Robinson, 2015), the results of Study 1 showed that children were influenced by perceived eating norms regarding other children's vegetable consumption, eating more vegetables when they were led to believe that previous children had eaten a large amount of vegetables compared to when they were led to believe that previous children had eaten no vegetables
Regardless of whether children were primed with feelings of peer acceptance or feelings of ambiguity of peer acceptance, children were influenced by the perceived eating norm
Summary
A substantial body of literature suggests that eating behaviour can be socially influenced. In two studies (Guendelman et al, 2011) Asian American participants were more likely to report prototypical American food as their favourite, and ordered and ate more American dishes after their American identity was challenged compared to when their identity was not challenged. These studies indicate that social factors may influence eating as a result of a desire to ‘fit in’. Research has shown that perceived eating norms influence eating behaviour (Pliner & Mann, 2004; Robinson, 2015; Robinson et al, 2013; Robinson et al, 2014b; Roth, Herman, Polivy, & Pliner, 2001), at present we do not know whether people are influenced by perceived eating norms due to people wanting to ‘fit in’ and feel accepted, but it is a plausible explanation which warrants testing
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