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Stevenson RJ. The psychological basis of hunger and its dysfunctions. Nutr Rev 2024; 82:1444-1454. [PMID: 37495211 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This article describes a new and emerging psychological perspective on hunger, together with the implications of that perspective, which is based upon learning and memory. Hunger is a psychological state characterized by a desire to eat. Historically, conceptions of hunger have largely been expressed in terms of physiology (eg, biological process X causes hunger). However, physiology neither offers a psychological account of hunger nor explains why memory impairment can eliminate hunger. Two forms of hunger are identified - specific and general. Specific hunger is for particular palatable foods. It involves recollecting episodic memories of eating that food, when an associated cue is encountered (eg, an advert). General hunger is a desire to eat triggered by temporal (eg, it is lunchtime) or interoceptive (eg, tummy rumble) cues. It involves semantic memory retrieval, which then augments the expected - remembered - pleasure for any food. Both hungers are supported by the medial temporal lobe memory system. Damage to this system can occur from eating a Western-style diet and, longer-term, from obesity and its consequences. Medial temporal lobe memory damage may cause deficits in specific hunger, but most especially in general hunger, resulting in little motivation to eat foods that the individual considers to be of low-to-moderate palatability, such as fruit and vegetables. The implications of this account for teaching people hunger, for how hunger is affected by diet, for public education, and pharmaceutical intervention, are discussed. Psychological concepts of hunger are widely used in nutritional practice. This article provides a new and emerging perspective on the psychological basis of hunger and its implications.
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2
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Liem DG, Woo YC. Encouraging online consumers into making better food choices: The power of nature exposure on healthy food choices. Appetite 2024; 199:107382. [PMID: 38723667 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND online environments can influence food desire and choices. We tested if online calming nature and stressful street environments can affect desire for healthy and unhealthy foods. METHOD we asked 238 participants (40 ± 14 yrs) to rate their desire (100 mm VAS) for 7 low calorie nutrient rich foods (Healthy) and 7 high calorie nutrient poor foods (Unhealthy), and perceived stress (state anxiety in STAI), before and after imagining themselves in a control, nature park, or busy street condition. RESULTS participants who imagined themselves being in a nature park had a significant higher desire for Healthy foods, than participants in the busy street condition (p < 0.05). Participants in the busy street condition decreased their desire for Healthy foods after they imagined themselves in a busy street (p < 0.05)). However, perceived stress did not impact the association between condition and desire for low calorie foods nor high calorie foods. CONCLUSION this study suggests that online environments can have an impact on healthy food desires, which could be of importance for the increased number of food choices which are made in online environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Djin Gie Liem
- Deakin University, CASS Food Research Centre, Australia.
| | - Yu Chu Woo
- Deakin University, CASS Food Research Centre, Australia.
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3
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Kaan J, van Kleef E. Decoupling of desire and salivation over repeated chocolate consumption and the moderating role of food legalizing. Biol Psychol 2024; 192:108846. [PMID: 39004263 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the responses in desire and salivation during repeated chocolate consumption, and examining how these responses are influenced by a relaxed relationship with food, or 'food legalizing'. Salivation is often used as a proxy for desire, though evidence for this correlation is mixed. We hypothesized that both desire and salivation would decrease with repeated chocolate intake. Additionally, research has suggested that eating styles may affect habituation rates. We proposed that individuals with the food legalizing trait would habituate more rapidly to chocolate, providing an alternative mechanism to reward sensitivity associated with restrained eating. Fifty healthy-weight individuals participated in the study, consuming five blocks of chocolate (each 4 g, 22 calories) over trials. After the trials, participants were allowed to eat as much chocolate as they desired. The results showed that salivation was not correlated with self-reported desire over repeated chocolate consumption. While desire decreased with repeated intake and predicted ad libitum consumption, salivation increased and did not predict ad libitum consumption. Furthermore, food legalizing moderated the rate of responding in terms of the desire to eat but did not affect salivary flow. These findings suggest that salivation is not a reliable physiological measure of desire when eating chocolate. Instead, salivation appears to reflect sensitization to the sensory characteristics of chocolate and is less predictive of subsequent ad libitum chocolate consumption than self-reported desire. Lastly, having a carefree relationship with chocolate may help regulate its consumption, highlighting the potential benefits of a relaxed attitude toward food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Kaan
- Health and Society, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ellen van Kleef
- Marketing and Consumer Behavior Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, the Netherlands
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4
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Falcinelli I, Fini C, Mazzuca C, Borghi AM. The geo domain: a review on the conceptualization of geographical and geopolitical entities. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1389581. [PMID: 39055988 PMCID: PMC11270088 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1389581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Investigating how people represent the natural environment and abstract it into geographical (e.g., mountain) and geopolitical (e.g., city) categories is pivotal to comprehending how they move and interact with the places they inhabit. Yet, the conceptualization of geographical and geopolitical domains has received scant attention so far. To deal with that, we reviewed 50 articles tackling this topic. Most studies have focused on assessing the universality of these concepts-especially geographical ones-mainly using free-listing and ethnophysiographic methods. Current perspectives tend to favor a non-universalistic characterization of these kinds of concepts, emphasizing their high cross-linguistic and cross-cultural variability, especially when compared to other semantic domains. Since geographical and geopolitical features are not pre-segmented by nature, the role of categories imposed by humans is crucial for these concepts. Significantly, their variability does not only depend on "cross" differences: evidence suggests that the cognitive demand requested by the task, idiosyncratic characteristics of individuals such as expertise level, and the typology of inhabited environments are further factors impacting the conceptual flexibility of these domains. Exploring the factors influencing our understanding of geographical and geopolitical categories can provide valuable insights for instructing effective communication policies to enhance sustainable development and address ecological emergencies, taking into consideration diverse cultural backgrounds within different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Fini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Mazzuca
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna M. Borghi
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
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5
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Croijmans I, Pellegrino R, Janice Wang Q. Demystifying wine expertise through the lens of imagination: Descriptions and imagery vividness across sensory modalities. Food Res Int 2024; 182:114159. [PMID: 38519163 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
For most untrained novices, talking about wine or imagining the smells and flavours of wine is difficult. Wine experts, on the other hand, have been found to have better imagery for wine, and are also more proficient in describing wine. Some scholars have suggested that imagery and language are based on similar underlying processes, but no conclusive evidence has been found regarding mental imagery and language production. In this study, we examined the relationship between imagery and language use in both novices and experts. In an online experiment, wine experts and novices were asked to imagine the colour, smell, taste and mouthfeel of wines in different situations, and were asked to rate the vividness of the imagined experience as well as describe it with words. The results show that experts differ from novices on a number of linguistic measures when describing wine, including the number of words used, the type of words used, the concreteness of those words, and the adjective to noun ratio. Similarly, imagery for wine was more vivid in wine experts compared to novices in the modalities of smell, taste, and mouthfeel, in alignment with previous work. Surprisingly, we found that no single linguistic variable significantly predicted the reported vividness of wine imagery, neither in experts nor in novices. However, the linguistic model predicted imagery vividness better using data from experts compared to novices. Taken together, these findings underscore that imagery and language are different facets of wine cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilja Croijmans
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Qian Janice Wang
- Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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6
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Papies EK, Davis T, Farrar S, Sinclair M, Wehbe LH. How (not) to talk about plant-based foods: using language to support the transition to sustainable diets. Proc Nutr Soc 2023:1-9. [PMID: 38018402 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665123004858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Reducing meat consumption is essential to curb further climate change and limit the catastrophic environmental degradation resulting from the current global food system. However, consumers in industrialised countries are hesitant to reduce their meat intake, often because they find plant-based foods less appealing. Despite the climate emergency, eating meat is still perceived as the norm, and recommended in most national dietary guidelines. To support the transition to more sustainable diets by providing insights for increasing the appeal of plant-based foods to mainstream consumers, this review presents recent research findings on how people think and communicate about meat-based and plant-based foods. The key findings we review include: (1) while vegans think about plant-based foods in terms of enjoyable eating experiences, omnivores think about plant-based foods in terms of health, vegan identity and other abstract information that does not motivate consumption in the moment. (2) Packages of ready-meals and social media posts on Instagram present plant-based foods with fewer references to enjoyable eating experiences than meat-based foods. (3) Presenting plant-based foods with language that references enjoyable eating experiences increases their appeal, especially for habitual meat eaters. This language includes words about sensory features of the food (e.g., crunchy, creamy), eating context (e.g. pub; with family) and immediate positive consequences of eating (e.g. comforting, delicious). In contrast, the term 'vegan' is strongly associated with negative stereotypes. Hence, rather than referring to being vegan, meat-free or healthy, the language used for plant-based foods should refer to sensory appeal, attractive eating situations and enjoyment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther K Papies
- Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tess Davis
- Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Stephanie Farrar
- Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Maddie Sinclair
- Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lara H Wehbe
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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7
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Eder AB. A perceptual control theory of emotional action. Cogn Emot 2023; 37:1167-1184. [PMID: 37796001 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2023.2265234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
A theory is proposed that views emotional feelings as pivotal for action control. Feelings of emotions are valued interoceptive signals from the body that become multimodally integrated with perceptual contents from registered and mentally simulated events. During the simulation of a perceptual change from one event to the next, a conative feeling signal is created that codes for the wanting of a specific perceptual change. A wanted perceptual change is weighted more strongly than alternatives, increasing its activation level on the cognitive level and that of associated motor structures that produced this perceptual change in the past. As a consequence, a tendency for action is generated that is directed at the production of the wanted perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas B Eder
- Department of Psychology, JMU Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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8
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Davis T, Harkins L, Papies EK. Polarizing Plates: Both Omnivores and Vegans Represent In-Group Foods With Eating Simulations. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2023:1461672231202276. [PMID: 37823529 DOI: 10.1177/01461672231202276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
In two pre-registered experiments, we assessed how people cognitively represent meat and plant-based foods, to examine processes underlying dietary polarization in society. Food descriptions from U.K.-based omnivores (NExp. 1 = 109; NExp. 2 = 436) and vegans (NExp. 1 = 111; NExp. 2 = 407) were coded for features about consumption and reward (e.g., "rich," "indulgent," and "treat") or features independent of the consumption situation (e.g., "healthy," "protein," and "eco-friendly"). Participants used more consumption and reward features for diet-congruent dishes (meat dishes for omnivores and plant-based dishes for vegans) than for diet-incongruent dishes (vice versa). Omnivores focused on abstract, long-term consequences of plant-based foods, whereas vegans focused on the socio-political associations with meat foods. Consumption and reward features also positively predicted attractiveness ratings, the likelihood of ordering a dish, and eating intentions. These findings indicate the cognitive processes of polarized dietary groups that may hinder the mainstream transition to more sustainable food choices.
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9
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Larsen JK, Hollands GJ, Garland EL, Evers AWM, Wiers RW. Be more mindful: Targeting addictive responses by integrating mindfulness with cognitive bias modification or cue exposure interventions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105408. [PMID: 37758008 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the most prominent neurocognitive effects of cognitive bias modification (CBM), cue-exposure therapy and mindfulness interventions for targeting addictive responses. It highlights the key insights that have stemmed from cognitive neuroscience and brain imaging research and combines these with insights from behavioural science in building a conceptual model integrating mindfulness with response-focused CBM or cue-exposure interventions. This furthers our understanding of whether and how mindfulness strategies may i) facilitate or add to the induced response-focused effects decreasing cue-induced craving, and ii) further weaken the link between craving and addictive responses. Specifically, awareness/monitoring may facilitate, and decentering may add to, response-focused effects. Combined awareness acceptance strategies may also diminish the craving-addiction link. The conceptual model presented in this review provides a specific theoretical framework to deepen our understanding of how mindfulness strategies and CBM or cue-exposure interventions can be combined to greatest effect. This is important in both suggesting a roadmap for future research, and for the further development of clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junilla K Larsen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Gareth J Hollands
- EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, UK
| | - Eric L Garland
- Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development, College of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Andrea W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, NL, and Medical Delta, Leiden University, TU Delft and Erasmus University, UK
| | - Reinout W Wiers
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam and Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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10
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Claassen MA, Lomann M, Papies EK. Increased consumption despite fewer occasions: A longitudinal analysis of COVID-19 lockdown effects on soft drink consumption in England. Appetite 2023; 187:106579. [PMID: 37148974 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
We examined the impact of a COVID-19 lockdown in England on the frequency of consumption occasions and amount of soft drinks consumed. Beverage consumption is strongly associated with specific, often social, consumption situations (e.g., going out). We reasoned that lockdown would affect consumption behaviour because it removed typical soft drink consumption situations. Specifically, we hypothesised that soft drink consumption occasions and amount would be reduced during lockdown compared to before and after lockdown, especially in typical soft drink consumption situations. In two surveys (Dec. 2020 and May 2021) among the same participants (N = 211, N = 160; consuming soft drinks at least once/week), we assessed the frequency of soft drink and water consumption occasions before, during, and after the Nov./Dec. 2020 lockdown, across typical soft drink and water drinking situations. This presents a detailed picture of the situations in which participants drink soft drinks and water, and how this was affected by a lockdown. We also assessed the daily amount of soft drinks and water consumed in each period, and perceived habitualness of drinking soft drinks and water. As predicted, participants reported fewer occasions of drinking soft drinks during lockdown compared to before and after, especially in typical soft drink consumption situations. Unexpectedly, however, the daily amount of soft drinks consumed increased during lockdown, compared to before and after, especially among participants with stronger perceived habitualness of soft drink consumption. Exploratory analyses suggest that during lockdown, participants increased their soft drink consumption at home. Water consumption, on the other hand, was not systematically affected by the lockdown. These findings suggest that even if some typical consumption situations disappear, consumption may be hard to disrupt if the behaviour is rewarding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Almudena Claassen
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, UK; Center for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.
| | | | - Esther K Papies
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, UK
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11
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Stevenson RJ, Francis HM, Hughes A, Wylie F, Yeomans MR. Predictors of state-based changes in wanting and liking. Appetite 2023:106640. [PMID: 37343599 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
People report wanting food when they are hungry, and on eating it they typically report liking the experience. After eating, both wanting and liking decline, but wanting declines to a greater extent, which we term the 'affective discrepancy effect'. In this study we examine the predictors - state, sensory and memory-based - of these affective changes. Hungry participants undertook three tasks: (1) written recollections of what certain foods are like to eat; (2) ratings of wanting and expected flavour liking and fillingness when looking at snacks, and ratings of food and flavour liking when eating them; (3) ratings of bodily state. These tasks were then repeated after lunch. State-based changes in food liking were best predicted by changes in flavour liking. For state-based change in wanting, memory-based information about flavour liking and fillingness from tasks (1) and (2) were all significant predictors. For recollections about eating (task 1), mentions of food fillingness significantly increased pre-to post-lunch and this was the best predictor of the affective discrepancy effect. Recollections of food fillingness are state-dependent, and can arise unbidden (i.e., such recollective content was unprompted). This may reflect one way that memory may selectively influence wanting, and hence whether food intake is initiated or not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Stevenson
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Heather M Francis
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia; Department of Neurology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alannah Hughes
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Fiona Wylie
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
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12
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Gardner B, Arden MA, Brown D, Eves FF, Green J, Hamilton K, Hankonen N, Inauen J, Keller J, Kwasnicka D, Labudek S, Marien H, Masaryk R, McCleary N, Mullan BA, Neter E, Orbell S, Potthoff S, Lally P. Developing habit-based health behaviour change interventions: twenty-one questions to guide future research. Psychol Health 2023; 38:518-540. [PMID: 34779335 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.2003362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Habitual behaviours are triggered automatically, with little conscious forethought. Theory suggests that making healthy behaviours habitual, and breaking the habits that underpin many ingrained unhealthy behaviours, promotes long-term behaviour change. This has prompted interest in incorporating habit formation and disruption strategies into behaviour change interventions. Yet, notable research gaps limit understanding of how to harness habit to change real-world behaviours. METHODS Discussions among health psychology researchers and practitioners, at the 2019 European Health Psychology Society 'Synergy Expert Meeting', generated pertinent questions to guide further research into habit and health behaviour. RESULTS In line with the four topics discussed at the meeting, 21 questions were identified, concerning: how habit manifests in health behaviour (3 questions); how to form healthy habits (5 questions); how to break unhealthy habits (4 questions); and how to develop and evaluate habit-based behaviour change interventions (9 questions). CONCLUSIONS While our questions transcend research contexts, accumulating knowledge across studies of specific health behaviours, settings, and populations will build a broader understanding of habit change principles and how they may be embedded into interventions. We encourage researchers and practitioners to prioritise these questions, to further theory and evidence around how to create long-lasting health behaviour change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Gardner
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Madelynne A Arden
- Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology, Department of Psychology, Sociology & Politics, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Daniel Brown
- Department of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Frank F Eves
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - James Green
- School of Allied Health and Physical Activity for Health Research Cluster (Health Research Institute), University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Kyra Hamilton
- Griffith University and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Mt Gravatt, Qld, Australia
| | - Nelli Hankonen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jennifer Inauen
- Department of Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan Keller
- Division Health Psychology, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominika Kwasnicka
- Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Wrocław, Poland.,NHMRC CRE in Digital Technology to Transform Chronic Disease Outcomes, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah Labudek
- Network Aging Research (NAR), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans Marien
- Department of Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Radomír Masaryk
- Institute of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Nicola McCleary
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.,School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Barbara A Mullan
- Behavioural Science and Health Research Group, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Efrat Neter
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emeq Hefer, Israel
| | - Sheina Orbell
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Essex, UK
| | - Sebastian Potthoff
- Department of Social Work, Education, and Community Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Phillippa Lally
- Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
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Stevenson RJ, Bartlett J, Wright M, Hughes A, Hill BJ, Saluja S, Francis HM. The development of interoceptive hunger signals. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22374. [PMID: 36811369 PMCID: PMC10107831 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Hunger is often reported when people experience certain internal sensations (e.g., fatigue) or when they anticipate that a food will be good to eat. The latter results from associative learning, while the former was thought to signal an energy deficit. However, energy-deficit models of hunger are not well supported, so if interoceptive hungers are not "fuel gauges," what are they? We examined an alternate perspective, where internal states signaling hunger, which are quite diverse, are learned during childhood. A basic prediction from this idea is offspring-caregiver similarity, which should be evident if caregivers teach their child the meaning of internal hunger cues. We tested 111 university student offspring-primary caregiver pairs, by having them complete a survey about their internal hunger states, alongside other information that may moderate this relationship (i.e., gender, body mass index, eating attitudes, and beliefs about hunger). We observed substantial similarity between offspring-caregiver pairs (Cohen's ds from 0.33 to 1.55), with the main moderator being beliefs about an energy-needs model of hunger, which tended to increase similarity. We discuss whether these findings may also reflect heritable influences, the form that any learning might take, and the implications for child feeding practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Stevenson
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Johanna Bartlett
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Madeline Wright
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alannah Hughes
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brayson J Hill
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Supreet Saluja
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Heather M Francis
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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14
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Evoked sensory stimulation of the eating environment, impacts feeling of presence and food desires in an online environment. Food Res Int 2023; 167:112645. [PMID: 37087236 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Online food choices are often made outside a regular food environment and suffer from sensory deprivation. The present study investigated if evoked multi-sensory stimulation can drive context specific food desires in an online environment. In a randomised between subject design, participants expressed their food desire on a visual analogue scale and feeling of presence (e.g., did you feel present on a beach) on a Likert scale, whilst looking online at a picture and reading a neutral description of a sensory laboratory (control condition), looking at a photo of a beach and reading a neutral description (beach condition), or looking at a photo of a beach and reading a sensory based description (beach + ). Participants (n = 725 participants, 622 females) who saw the beach photo increased their desire for cold, but not neutral foods (p < 0.05), those who were exposed to the sensory description in addition to the photo showed a higher desire for cold foods compared to those who just saw the beach photo (p < 0.001). These effects were modulated by an increased feeling of presence and how often participants visited the beach. Participants with a higher feeling of presence showed a higher desire for cold foods (p < 0.05). Food desires of those who visited the beach often were more impacted by the evoked sensory stimulation than food desires of those who visited the beach rarely. Food desires created in an online environment can be influenced by visual, and text based evoked sensory stimulation as long as consumers' feeling of presence in is high. The results can inform public health professionals how to impact healthy food choices in an online environment.
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15
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Stevenson RJ, Hill BJ, Hughes A, Wright M, Bartlett J, Saluja S, Francis HM. Interoceptive hunger, eating attitudes and beliefs. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1148413. [PMID: 37151322 PMCID: PMC10160651 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1148413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Interoceptive individual differences have garnered interest because of their relationship with mental health. One type of individual difference that has received little attention is variability in the sensation/s that are understood to mean a particular interoceptive state, something that may be especially relevant for hunger. We examined if interoceptive hunger is multidimensional and idiosyncratic, if it is reliable, and if it is linked to dysfunctional eating and beliefs about the causes of hunger. Participants completed a survey just before a main meal, with most retested around 1 month later. We found that interoceptive hunger has 11 dimensions, and while people differ considerably in their combinations of interoceptive hungers, these represent only 4% of all possible permutations. Hunger reports were reliable. We found relationships between variability in hunger interoception and dysfunctional eating, especially for uncontrolled eating. We also found that hunger beliefs were in some cases strongly related to aspects of hunger interoception. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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16
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Klein Hazebroek B, Croijmans I. Let’s talk over coffee: Exploring the effect of coffee flavour descriptions on consumer imagery and behaviour. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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17
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Davis T, Papies EK. Pleasure vs. identity: More eating simulation language in meat posts than plant-based posts on social media #foodtalk. Appetite 2022; 175:106024. [PMID: 35413378 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Current levels of meat consumption in Western societies are unsustainable and contribute to the climate emergency. However, most people are not reducing their intake. Here, we examine the language used on social media to describe meat and plant-based foods, since the ways people think and communicate about food could hinder the transition towards sustainable eating. In two pre-registered studies, we analysed the degree to which the language in food posts on Instagram reflects eating simulations, which have been found to be associated with desire for appetitive stimuli. Specifically, thinking about or presenting foods or drinks in terms of rewarding simulations (i.e., re-experiences of enjoying their consumption) has been found to increase their appeal. Here, we analysed the words used in Instagram hashtags (NStudy1 = 852; NStudy2 = 3104) and caption text (NStudy1 = 682) to examine how much they refer to eating simulations (e.g., taste, texture, enjoyment, eating context) or to other food-related features (e.g., ingredients, preparation, health, category information). As hypothesized, meat posts contained more eating simulation hashtags than plant-based and vegetarian posts, which instead contained more eating-independent hashtags, for example referring to health or to vegan identity. Findings for the text words were generally in the same direction but much weaker. Thus, meat food posts contained hashtag language that is likely more appealing to mainstream consumers, because it refers to the enjoyable experience of eating the food, rather than the food being healthy or identity affirming. This pattern reflects polarisation surrounding sustainable foods, which may hinder the shift towards plant-based diets needed to curb climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess Davis
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, UK.
| | - Esther K Papies
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, UK
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18
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Wilson SJ. Constructing Craving: Applying the Theory of Constructed Emotion to Urge States. CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2022; 31:347-354. [DOI: 10.1177/09637214221098055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Craving (a strong desire to ingest a substance or engage in an activity) is an important topic of study in the field of psychology. Along with being a key symptom of addiction, craving is a potent source of motivation for a wide range of appetitive behaviors. In this article, I offer a perspective regarding the nature of craving that is rooted in the theory of constructed emotion, a contemporary model of how emotions are created by the brain. According to this perspective, a state of craving emerges when the brain makes predictions that categorize sensory inputs as an instance of craving on the basis of prior experience and the context in which the inputs occur. Using the theory of constructed emotion as a guiding framework, I review various lines of evidence that provide support for this idea. In addition, I offer recommendations for future research that stem from the hypothesis that instances of craving are constructed by the brain in an experience-dependent and situation-specific manner.
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19
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Tapper K. Mindful eating: what we know so far. NUTR BULL 2022; 47:168-185. [DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katy Tapper
- Department of Psychology City, University of London London UK
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20
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Coulthard H, Abdullahi N, Bell K, Noon E. Understanding disgust-based food rejection in picky and non-picky eaters: Willingness to touch and taste familiar foods with changes. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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21
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Burkhart G, Tomczyk S, Koning I, Brotherhood A. Environmental Prevention: Why Do We Need It Now and How to Advance It? JOURNAL OF PREVENTION (2022) 2022; 43:149-156. [PMID: 35258809 PMCID: PMC8902843 DOI: 10.1007/s10935-022-00676-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel Tomczyk
- Institute of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ina Koning
- Interdisciplinary Social Science: Youth Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Angelina Brotherhood
- Addiction Competence Centre, Austrian National Public Health Institute, Vienna, Austria
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22
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Mathiesen S, Moula-Stahli D, Byrne D, Wang Q. Leaving your comfort zone for healthier eating? Situational factors influence the desire to eat comfort food and simulated energy intake. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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Gandhi N, Zou W, Meyer C, Bhatia S, Walasek L. Computational Methods for Predicting and Understanding Food Judgment. Psychol Sci 2022; 33:579-594. [PMID: 35298316 DOI: 10.1177/09567976211043426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
People make subjective judgments about the healthiness of different foods every day, and these judgments in turn influence their food choices and health outcomes. Despite the importance of such judgments, there are few quantitative theories about their psychological underpinnings. This article introduces a novel computational approach that can approximate people's knowledge representations for thousands of common foods. We used these representations to predict how both lay decision-makers (the general population) and experts judge the healthiness of individual foods. We also applied our method to predict the impact of behavioral interventions, such as the provision of front-of-pack nutrient and calorie information. Across multiple studies with data from 846 adults, our models achieved very high accuracy rates (r2 = .65-.77) and significantly outperformed competing models based on factual nutritional content. These results illustrate how new computational methods applied to established psychological theory can be used to better predict, understand, and influence health behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Gandhi
- Behaviour and Wellbeing Science Group, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick
| | - Wanling Zou
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Caroline Meyer
- Behaviour and Wellbeing Science Group, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick
| | - Sudeep Bhatia
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
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24
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Claassen MA, Rusz D, Papies EK. No evidence that consumption and reward words on labels increase the appeal of bottled water. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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25
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Marshall D, Bano F, Banas K. A meaty issue: The effect of meat-related label terminology on the willingness to eat vegetarian foods. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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26
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Peng-Li D, Alves Da Mota P, Correa CMC, Chan RCK, Byrne DV, Wang QJ. “Sound” Decisions: The Combined Role of Ambient Noise and Cognitive Regulation on the Neurophysiology of Food Cravings. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:827021. [PMID: 35250463 PMCID: PMC8888436 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.827021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Our ability to evaluate long-term goals over immediate rewards is manifested in the brain’s decision circuit. Simplistically, it can be divided into a fast, impulsive, reward “system 1” and a slow, deliberate, control “system 2.” In a noisy eating environment, our cognitive resources may get depleted, potentially leading to cognitive overload, emotional arousal, and consequently more rash decisions, such as unhealthy food choices. Here, we investigated the combined impact of cognitive regulation and ambient noise on food cravings through neurophysiological activity. Thirty-seven participants were recruited for an adapted version of the Regulation of Craving (ROC) task. All participants underwent two sessions of the ROC task; once with soft ambient restaurant noise (∼50 dB) and once with loud ambient restaurant noise (∼70 dB), while data from electroencephalography (EEG), electrodermal activity (EDA), and self-reported craving were collected for all palatable food images presented in the task. The results indicated that thinking about future (“later”) consequences vs. immediate (“now”) sensations associated with the food decreased cravings, which were mediated by frontal EEG alpha power. Likewise, “later” trials also increased frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) —an index for emotional motivation. Furthermore, loud (vs. soft) noise increased alpha, beta, and theta activity, but for theta activity, this was solely occurring during “later” trials. Similarly, EDA signal peak probability was also higher during loud noise. Collectively, our findings suggest that the presence of loud ambient noise in conjunction with prospective thinking can lead to the highest emotional arousal and cognitive load as measured by EDA and EEG, respectively, both of which are important in regulating cravings and decisions. Thus, exploring the combined effects of interoceptive regulation and exteroceptive cues on food-related decision-making could be methodologically advantageous in consumer neuroscience and entail theoretical, commercial, and managerial implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Peng-Li
- Food Quality Perception and Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Danni Peng-Li,
| | - Patricia Alves Da Mota
- Food Quality Perception and Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Camile Maria Costa Correa
- Food Quality Perception and Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Raymond C. K. Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Derek Victor Byrne
- Food Quality Perception and Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Janice Wang
- Food Quality Perception and Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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27
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Pecune F, Callebert L, Marsella S. Designing Persuasive Food Conversational Recommender Systems With Nudging and Socially-Aware Conversational Strategies. Front Robot AI 2022; 8:733835. [PMID: 35127834 PMCID: PMC8807554 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2021.733835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Unhealthy eating behavior is a major public health issue with serious repercussions on an individual’s health. One potential solution to overcome this problem, and help people change their eating behavior, is to develop conversational systems able to recommend healthy recipes. One challenge for such systems is to deliver personalized recommendations matching users’ needs and preferences. Beyond the intrinsic quality of the recommendation itself, various factors might also influence users’ perception of a recommendation. In this paper, we present Cora, a conversational system that recommends recipes aligned with its users’ eating habits and current preferences. Users can interact with Cora in two different ways. They can select pre-defined answers by clicking on buttons to talk to Cora or write text in natural language. Additionally, Cora can engage users through a social dialogue, or go straight to the point. Cora is also able to propose different alternatives and to justify its recipes recommendation by explaining the trade-off between them. We conduct two experiments. In the first one, we evaluate the impact of Cora’s conversational skills and users’ interaction mode on users’ perception and intention to cook the recommended recipes. Our results show that a conversational recommendation system that engages its users through a rapport-building dialogue improves users’ perception of the interaction as well as their perception of the system. In the second evaluation, we evaluate the influence of Cora’s explanations and recommendation comparisons on users’ perception. Our results show that explanations positively influence users’ perception of a recommender system. However, comparing healthy recipes with a decoy is a double-edged sword. Although such comparison is perceived as significantly more useful compared to one single healthy recommendation, explaining the difference between the decoy and the healthy recipe would actually make people less likely to use the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Pecune
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Florian Pecune,
| | - Lucile Callebert
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Stacy Marsella
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
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28
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Peng-Li D, Andersen T, Finlayson G, Byrne DV, Wang QJ. The impact of environmental sounds on food reward. Physiol Behav 2021; 245:113689. [PMID: 34954199 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Wanting and liking are both components of food reward, but they manifest in fundamentally different neural substrates. While wanting denotes anticipatory and motivational behaviors, liking is associated with consummatory and hedonic experiences. These distinct constructs have also been quantitatively dissociated in behavioral paradigms. Indeed, internal, physiological, and interoceptive states affect the degree to which the food presented is valued. However, how contextual sensory cues might impact these appetitive and rewarding responses to food remains unexplored. In light of the increasing empirical focus on sound in food research, we investigated the influence of environmental soundscapes on explicit liking, explicit wanting, implicit wanting, choice frequency, and reaction time of healthy/unhealthy food using an online version of the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ). Soft nature sounds and loud restaurant noises were employed to induce emotional relaxation and arousal respectively. One hundred and one healthy university students completed a repeated-measure design of the LFPQ; once with each soundscape playing in the background. Generalized linear mixed model analyses detected a significant interaction effect between soundscape and food type on choice frequency, yet the post hoc analyses did not reach significance. No interaction effects between soundscape and food type on wanting or liking were discovered. However, hypothesis-driven analyses found that nature sounds increased explicit liking of healthy (vs. unhealthy) foods, while no effect of soundscape on any wanting measures (explicit or implicit) were observed. Finally, exploratory analyses indicated that restaurant noise (vs. nature sound) induced faster response times for both healthy and unhealthy foods. The study exemplifies that in an online setting, contextual auditory manipulation of certain food reward measures and decision processes is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Peng-Li
- Food Quality Perception & Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, Aarhus, 8200 Denmark; Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Tjark Andersen
- Food Quality Perception & Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, Aarhus, 8200 Denmark; Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Graham Finlayson
- Appetite & Energy Balance Research Group, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Derek Victor Byrne
- Food Quality Perception & Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, Aarhus, 8200 Denmark; Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Janice Wang
- Food Quality Perception & Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, Aarhus, 8200 Denmark; Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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29
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Coulthard H, Aldridge V, Fox G. Food neophobia and the evaluation of novel foods in adults; the sensory, emotional, association (SEA) model of the decision to taste a novel food. Appetite 2021; 168:105764. [PMID: 34756938 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Reluctance to eat new foods, known as food neophobia, is well researched in children but not adults. Two studies were carried out to understand the emotional, sensory, and cognitive factors associated with food neophobia in an adult sample, and to propose a preliminary explanation of the decision to taste a novel food named the SEA model (Sensory, Emotional, cognitive Association model). Participants were recruited through opportunity sampling of a university population in the Leicester region of the UK. Study one (n = 534) was a cross sectional study examining associations between self-report measures of food neophobia, emotional variables and sensory variables. In study two (n = 160), participants completed an online cognitive evaluation of 7 images of novel fruits and vegetables, rating perceived familiarity, categorisation as fruit or vegetable, cognitive associations based on appearance (what does the food look like), liking of any associated foods, and expected liking of the novel food. In study 1 it was found that tactile sensitivity and disgust sensitivity were the main sensory and emotional variables associated with food neophobia. In study 2, it was found that food neophobia and lower expected liking of novel foods were associated with disgust sensitivity, associating the novel foods with disliked foods, and lower perceived familiarity. The SEA model further proposes that underlying tendencies and automatic reactions to foods, combine with cognitive associations based on negative memories and negative beliefs about tasting new foods, to create expected disliking of a food and a decreased likelihood that it will be tried. Further work is needed to fully test the SEA model of the decision to taste a novel food, in particular to further examine how associations are formed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Coulthard
- Division of Psychology, School of Health & Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK.
| | - Victoria Aldridge
- Division of Psychology, School of Health & Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK
| | - Gemma Fox
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2QL, UK
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30
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Devos E, Pandelaere M, Kerckhove AV. Does a single consumption imagery event increase food desire? Appetite 2021; 168:105773. [PMID: 34706288 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Food desire is an intense motivational state a consumer experiences toward food that accounts for much of consumption. While extant research has shown that experiencing desire elicits consumption imagery, it remains unclear whether consumption imagery alone instigates desire. Even though this directional relationship has been often speculated upon, little empirical study has considered it. This paper empirically identifies imagined consumption as an antecedent of food desire. Six studies show that consumption imagery increases food desire and suggest that this impact is due to induced feelings of deprivation. Our findings also show that increased desire explains previously researched outcomes of imagery, such as a higher willingness to pay for and consumption volumes of the imagined food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelynn Devos
- Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organisation, Tweekerkenstraat 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Mario Pandelaere
- Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organisation, Tweekerkenstraat 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Anneleen Van Kerckhove
- Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organisation, Tweekerkenstraat 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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31
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Tatar B, Pázmányová R, Papies EK. "The thought is gonna come and the thought is gonna go": A qualitative study on how non-meditators learn and apply brief mindfulness-based instructions for food cravings. Appetite 2021; 166:105482. [PMID: 34217760 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
While brief mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as tools to modulate automatic responding in various domains of health and wellbeing, findings are primarily based on quantitative experimental research. However, these group-level findings do not capture the rich subjective experiences of individuals learning mindfulness. In the following qualitative study, we explored how non-meditators learn and apply brief mindfulness instructions in the domain of food cravings. Ten non-meditators listened to 'normal viewing' instructions, which asked them to view foods in the way that they normally would. They then viewed a video of attractive foods, and were interviewed about their experiences of learning and applying the instructions. Next, participants listened to a 5-min recording of mindfulness instructions, viewed another food video while applying the mindfulness instructions, and were interviewed again. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. When participants applied brief mindfulness, their relationship to the food stimuli changed such that they started perceiving their experiences as transient. Certain factors (e.g., use of visual metaphors) and processes (e.g., listening to the 'normal viewing' instructions first) facilitated this change. The ease of applying the instructions fluctuated with food preferences and perceived strength of cravings. Participants reported that they would apply the instructions in daily life if they felt a need for this, including in domains other than food. However, they anticipated challenges such as remembering and finding time to apply. Our findings highlight the specific aspects that influence how brief mindfulness instructions are learned and applied. These insights may change how brief mindfulness is studied empirically, and may inform the development of simple and empowering techniques that can promote wellbeing in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betül Tatar
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK.
| | | | - Esther K Papies
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK
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32
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Requero B, Santos D, Cancela A, Briñol P, Petty RE. Promoting Healthy Eating Practices through Persuasion Processes. BASIC AND APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2021.1929987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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33
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Rodger A, Wehbe LH, Papies EK. "I know it's just pouring it from the tap, but it's not easy": Motivational processes that underlie water drinking. Appetite 2021; 164:105249. [PMID: 33887422 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Water drinking behaviour is under-researched despite the prevalence and adverse health consequences of underhydration. We conducted a qualitative exploration into the motivational processes underlying water drinking, informed by a grounded cognition perspective on desire and motivated behaviour. We interviewed and analysed data from 60 participants stratified by age, gender, and education level using thematic analysis, to generate three key themes. "Water as situated habits," suggests that participants form and maintain situated water drinking habits, so that within certain situations they regularly drink water. However, participants who situated their water intake only in one key situation (e.g., work routine), had low and inconsistent intake when they left this situation. Some situations happened so infrequently during the day (e.g., before bed) that participants' daily water intake was low. Many participants reported drinking water in reaction to thirst cues, but these were easily suppressed or ignored, so that water drinking was inconsistent. Participants who saw drinking water as part of their self-identity had consistent and high water intake across a variety of situations. "Knowledge and attitudes," suggests that few participants had knowledge or attitudes that promoted water intake (e.g., perceived water as positive or understood the importance of hydration). "Strategies underlying attempts to increase intake" suggests that many participants lacked insight into strategies to increase water intake, although they spontaneously discussed attempts to drink more. This lead to ineffective attempts at behaviour change. Participants' mentions of dehydration and their responses to a urine colour chart suggested that many participants were possibly underhydrated. Our findings suggest that interventions and practitioners attempting to increase water intake need to increase knowledge about the importance of hydration, and encourage individuals to develop effective situated water drinking habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Rodger
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK.
| | - Lara H Wehbe
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Esther K Papies
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK
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34
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Peng-Li D, Mathiesen SL, Chan RCK, Byrne DV, Wang QJ. Sounds Healthy: Modelling sound-evoked consumer food choice through visual attention. Appetite 2021; 164:105264. [PMID: 33865905 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Food choice is a multifaceted construct that is not solely guided by our internal incentives. In fact, sensory scientist, consumer psychologists, and marketers have demonstrated that external ambient cues, including background music, can influence myriads of subconscious consumer behaviors, effectively leading to increased sales of food and beverages. However, the vast majority of literature in on this topic has thus far been confined to monocultural field studies in which the underlying mechanisms of food choice are unexplored. We therefore studied the explicit and implicit effects of custom-composed soundtracks on food choices and eye-movements in consumers from both 'East' and 'West'. Firstly, based on the results from a pre-study (N = 396), we composed a 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' soundtrack. Subsequently, we recruited 215 participants from China (n = 114) and Denmark (n = 101) respectively for in an in-laboratory eye-tracking food choice paradigm. For each culture, half of the participants listened to the 'healthy' soundtrack and the other half to the 'unhealthy' soundtrack during the experiment. Chi-square tests of independence revealed that across cultures, the healthy (vs. unhealthy) soundtrack led to more healthy food choices. Similarly, the generalized linear mixed models showed that the healthy soundtrack induced more and longer fixations on healthy (vs. unhealthy) food. Finally, a multiple mediation analysis signified a partial mediation effect of sound on food choice through the mediators of fixation duration, fixation count, and revisit count. Our results indicate that, with strategically chosen soundscapes, it is possible to influence consumers' decision-making processes and guide their attention towards healthier foods, providing valuable knowledge for local as well as global food business.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Peng-Li
- Food Quality Perception & Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Signe L Mathiesen
- Food Quality Perception & Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Derek V Byrne
- Food Quality Perception & Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Janice Wang
- Food Quality Perception & Society Team, iSENSE Lab, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Andersen T, Byrne DV, Wang QJ. How Digital Food Affects Our Analog Lives: The Impact of Food Photography on Healthy Eating Behavior. Front Psychol 2021; 12:634261. [PMID: 33889111 PMCID: PMC8056120 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.634261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity continues to be a global issue. In recent years, researchers have started to question the role of our novel yet ubiquitous use of digital media in the development of obesity. With the recent COVID-19 outbreak affecting almost all aspects of society, many people have moved their social eating activities into the digital space, making the question as relevant as ever. The bombardment of appetizing food images and photography – colloquially referred to as “food porn” – has become a significant aspect of the digital food experience. This review presents an overview of whether and how the (1) viewing, (2) creating, and (3) online sharing of digital food photography can influence consumer eating behavior. Moreover, this review provides an outlook of future research opportunities, both to close the gaps in our scientific understanding of the physiological and psychological interaction between digital food photography and actual eating behavior, and, from a practical viewpoint, to optimize our digital food media habits to support an obesity-preventive lifestyle. We do not want to rest on the idea that food imagery’s current prevalence is a core negative influence per se. Instead, we offer the view that active participation in food photography, in conjunction with a selective use of food-related digital media, might contribute to healthy body weight management and enhanced meal pleasure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjark Andersen
- Food Quality Perception and Society, Department of Food Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Derek Victor Byrne
- Food Quality Perception and Society, Department of Food Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Janice Wang
- Food Quality Perception and Society, Department of Food Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Stults-Kolehmainen MA, Blacutt M, Bartholomew JB, Gilson TA, Ash GI, McKee PC, Sinha R. Motivation States for Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior: Desire, Urge, Wanting, and Craving. Front Psychol 2020; 11:568390. [PMID: 33240154 PMCID: PMC7677192 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.568390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To better explain daily fluctuations in physical activity and sedentary behavior, investigations of motivation are turning from social cognitive frameworks to those centered on affect, emotion and automaticity, such as the Affect and Health Behavior Framework (AHBF), Integrated Framework and Affective-Reflective Theory (ART). This shift has necessitated: (a) re-examination of older theories and their constructs, such as drives, needs and tensions and (b) an inspection of competing theories from other fields that also attempt to explain dynamic changes in health behaviors. The Dynamical Model of Desire, Elaborated Intrusion Theory and others commonly share with AHBF the idea that human behavior is driven strongly by desires and/or the similar concepts of wants, urges, and cravings. These affectively-charged motivation states (ACMS) change quickly and may better explain physical activity behavior from one moment to the next. Desires for movement predominantly derive from negative but also positive reinforcement. Data from clinical populations with movement dysfunction or psychiatric disorders provides further evidence of these drivers of movement. Those with Restless Legs Syndrome, akathisia, tic disorders and exercise dependence all report strong urges to move and relief when it is accomplished. Motor control research has identified centers of the brain responsible for wants and urges for muscular movement. Models elaborated herein differentiate between wants, desires, urges and cravings. The WANT model (Wants and Aversions for Neuromuscular Tasks) conceptualizes desires for movement and rest as varying by magnitude, approach or avoidance-orientation (wants versus aversions) and as occupying independent dimensions instead of opposite ends of the same axis. For instance, one hypothetically might be in a state of both high desire for movement and rest simultaneously. Variations in motivation states to move and rest may also be associated with various stress states, like freezing or fight and flight. The first validated instrument to measure feelings of desire/want for movement and rest, the CRAVE Scale (Cravings for Rest and Volitional Energy Expenditure) is already shedding light on the nature of these states. With these advances in theory, conceptual modeling and instrumentation, future investigations may explore the effects of desires and urges for movement and sedentary behavior in earnest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Stults-Kolehmainen
- Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Miguel Blacutt
- Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - John B. Bartholomew
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Todd A. Gilson
- Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, United States
| | - Garrett I. Ash
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education (PRIME), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, United States
- Center for Medical Informatics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Paul C. McKee
- Department of Psychology, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Rajita Sinha
- Yale Stress Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Consumer perceptions of conventional and alternative protein sources: A mixed-methods approach with meal and product framing. Appetite 2020; 156:104860. [PMID: 32916208 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Understanding consumer perceptions of meat alternatives is key to facilitating a shift toward more sustainable food consumption. Importantly, these perceptions may vary according to the characteristics of the consumer (e.g., preferences, motivations), the product (e.g., sensory attributes) and the encounter (e.g., how the meat alternative is presented/framed). Qualitative and quantitative methods were applied to examine consumer perceptions of five proposed alternatives to meat: legumes, tofu, seitan, lab-grown meat, and insects. In Study 1, 138 participants provided free associations with regards to conventional animal proteins (e.g., red/white meat, fish) and the five alternatives. Three profiles of consumers were identified: (1) hedonically motivated meat eaters uninterested in meat substitutes; (2) health-oriented meat eaters open to some meat substitutes; and (3) ethically conscious meat avoiders positively oriented to most meat alternatives. In Study 2, the presentation of the product was experimentally manipulated: 285 participants evaluated the same five meat alternatives along several dimensions (e.g., edibility, healthiness), either when framed as an individual product or as part of a larger meal. Overall, most meat alternatives benefited from a meal framing, with the notable exception of legumes, which benefited from an individual framing, and insects which were evaluated quite negatively regardless of framing. The present findings suggest that there is not a single way to frame all meat alternatives that will improve their appeal to all consumers.
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Papies EK, Johannes N, Daneva T, Semyte G, Kauhanen LL. Using consumption and reward simulations to increase the appeal of plant-based foods. Appetite 2020; 155:104812. [PMID: 32827576 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The production of meat is a main contributor to current dangerous levels of greenhouse gas emissions. However, the shift to more plant-based diets is hampered by consumers finding meat-based foods more attractive than plant-based foods. How can plant-based foods best be described to increase their appeal to consumers? Based on the grounded cognition theory of desire, we suggest that descriptions that trigger simulations, or re-experiences, of eating and enjoying a food will increase the attractiveness of a food, compared to descriptions emphasizing ingredients. In Study 1, we first examined the descriptions of ready meals available in four large UK supermarkets (N = 240). We found that the labels of meat-based foods contained more references to eating simulations than vegetarian foods, and slightly more than plant-based foods, and that this varied between supermarkets. In Studies 2 and 3 (N = 170, N = 166, pre-registered), we manipulated the labels of plant-based and meat-based foods to either include eating simulation words or not. We assessed the degree to which participants reported that the description made them think about eating the food (i.e., induced eating simulations), and how attractive they found the food. In Study 2, where either sensory or eating context words were added, we found no differences with control labels. In Study 3, however, where simulation-based labels included sensory, context, and hedonic words, we found that simulation-based descriptions increased eating simulations and attractiveness. Moreover, frequent meat eaters found plant-based foods less attractive, but this was attenuated when plant-based foods were described with simulation-inducing words. We suggest that language that describes rewarding eating experiences can be used to facilitate the shift toward healthy and sustainable diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther K Papies
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK, 62 Hillhead Street, Glasgow, G12 8QB, United Kingdom.
| | - Niklas Johannes
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK, 62 Hillhead Street, Glasgow, G12 8QB, United Kingdom; Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Teya Daneva
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK, 62 Hillhead Street, Glasgow, G12 8QB, United Kingdom.
| | - Gintare Semyte
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK, 62 Hillhead Street, Glasgow, G12 8QB, United Kingdom.
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Muñoz-Vilches NC, van Trijp HCM, Piqueras-Fiszman B. Pleasure or Health? The Role of Mental Simulation in Desire and Food Choices. Foods 2020; 9:foods9081099. [PMID: 32806505 PMCID: PMC7465831 DOI: 10.3390/foods9081099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many times, desire possesses us and impedes us from making healthier food choices. From a grounded cognition perspective, we investigated the role of two types of mental simulation (process and outcome) in desire and food choice to understand the processes that modulate them and find strategies that encourage healthier food choices. In addition to these explicit measures, we used two implicit methods to measure approach-avoidance tendencies and visual attention. Our results showed that imagining the consumption of vice and virtue foods increased desire for the product imagined and seemed to favor the choice of a vice food. However, at an implicit level, the motivation to approach and avoid food products was neutral. Imagining the post-consumption of a vice food decreased desire for the imagined food and although it tempted people at an implicit level, it made people more prone to choose a virtue food. When a vice food was imagined, attentional bias increased for all types of food regardless of the simulation. When a virtue food was imagined, there was no effect on choice, motivation nor attentional bias. In conclusion, simply imagining certain foods is a potential solution for promoting healthier and thoughtful choices.
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