The Role Of Learning In Food Preferences:

Question 1

Limitations of the parental influence view:

Robinson et al

Answer 1

much research in this area is quite limited as it’s been carried out on a small-scale of white Americans

R: studied children from different backgrounds

found a complex association between the behaviour of parents and the food preferences of children

girls were more influenced by parental modelling and control than were boys

Question 2

Not all parental influences are effective:

Russel et. al (2015)

Answer 2

interviewed parents of children and found that some methods were effective and some ineffective

parental modelling+exposure were effective in promoting healthy eating whilst force consumption wasn’t

effective feeding worked better with children with healthy food preferences

shows that children do learn food preferences from parents but some approaches are more effective than others

Question 3

Research support for media influences on food preferences:

Boyland and Halford (2013)

Answer 3

provided supporting evidence that exposure to food advertising on tv influences food preferences and actual food intake

it also influences children of different weight ; adverts high in fat/sugar have a strong influence on the overweight

also children with the greatest preference for high carbs/fats watched the most tv

Question 4

Food preferences and the food environment:

Chen and Yang (2014)

Answer 4

provides support for the role of cultural influences on food preferences

studied tweets in Ohio and analysed shipping activity in grocery stores and fast food outlets

they found a significant association between healthy food choices and the number of grocery stores around them but no relationship between fast food outlets and healthy and unhealthy food choices

hoes that cultural influences food habits but people can resist the development of unhealthy habits