Evolutionary

Question 1

Evolutionary theory suggests

Answer 1

We had a preference for fatty foods because fat was a vital energy resource for survival. This may be the reason why we still prefer high calorie foods although it isn’t necessary for our life styles nor our survival

Question 2

The importance of calories

Answer 2

Gibson and Wardle found that when presented with a choice from a selection of fruit and.vegetables, children didn’t select food based on how sweet or familiar it was. They chose the most calorie laden food. This suggests that our need for calorie laden food has evolved because it would ensure survival when our ancestors were unsure of when they would get their next meal

Question 3

Preference for meat

Answer 3

Fossil evidence suggests that our ancestors ate mostly animal organs such as liver and kidneys (rich in nutrients). This helped our brains to evolve according to our need to adapt to the environment. Without meat, we wouldn’t have been able to grow our brains and therefore adapt to our environment and survive until today
This would help to explain why most humans still eat a diet which is high in protein

Question 4

Criticism of preference for meat

Answer 4

Cordain argued that early humans were largely plant eaters and maybe even vegetarian

Question 5

Observation of animals

Answer 5

Craig Stanford - they have shown that when animals are hungry and do manage to kill another animal they consume the fattiest parts first, rather than the gender more nutritious flesh suggesting that they eat the part which would make them more likely to survive

Question 6

Cultural points

Answer 6

Evolutionary approaches can’t fully explain the broad range of cultural differences which develop after childhood eg - some cultures favour spicy foods. So evolved preferences are modified by culture

Question 7

Evolutionary approach is deterministic

Answer 7

Ignores a persons ability to control their own food choices. Difficult to explain the preference of many people today for low calorie, low cholesterol foods or why some people choose to be vegetarians

Question 8

Development of taste aversions

Answer 8

Development of taste aversions would have been essential in ensuring that our ancestors survived. Garcia noted that rate who were made ill from harmful food quickly developed an aversion to its taste and odour

Question 9

Support for taste aversions

Answer 9

Bernstein and Webster gave cancer patients a novel tasting ice cream before chemotherapy and the patients developed an aversion to it. They wouldn’t eat it again as it was unconsciously viewed as harmful

Question 10

Evaluation of evolutionary explanations

Answer 10

Physiological drive can b overridden therefore this approach can be criticised for failing to acknowledge the importance of free will in eating behaviour