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Norms, Identities, and Values

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The Social Psychology of Eating

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Abstract

When we buy, prepare, or consume food, we are often with other people. The presence of others influences us and often leads to social facilitation, that is, the tendency to eat more when we are in the presence of others than when we are alone. We may also adapt our food choices and eating behavior to create a certain impression or to fit in with a particular social group. What we eat depends largely on our desire to conform to social norms and our own or others’ stereotypical expectations, which are often an expression of our social identity, that is, the perception of belonging to a group or community. We learn norms and stereotypes by modelling and unconsciously imitating the eating behavior of those around us. Our food choices may also be in line with our personal values, such as health, environmental sustainability, or animal welfare, which are also shaped by our social identity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy

    Patrizia Catellani

  2. Faculty of Economics, International University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Valentina Carfora

Authors
  1. Patrizia Catellani
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  2. Valentina Carfora
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Catellani, P., Carfora, V. (2023). Norms, Identities, and Values. In: The Social Psychology of Eating. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35070-2_5

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