Attitudes to Food

1. Criticism

attitudes towards foods are clearly a product of more than just social learning alone. For instance, early diets evolutionary explanation suggests that our preference for fatty foods is a direct result of an evolved adaption.
Streigel-Moore et al. (1995) found that there was a greater 'drive for thinness' among black girls than among white girls.
Rozin et al. (1999) claim that food functions differently in the minds and lives of people from different cultures. They found that in four different countries females consistently ate more like Americans than the French (food choices based on taste)

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reported consistent correlations between parents and their children in terms of reported snack intake and eating motivations. Parental behaviours are therefore central to the process of social learning.
found that exposure to 'food dudes' significantly changed children's food preferences and specifically increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.
surveyed boys and girls and found a significant positive correlation between peer influence and disordered eating.
used peer modelling to change children's preference for vegetables. Children were seated next to peers that had different vegetable preferences. By the end of the study, the children had shown a definite shift in thier vegetable preference.

found that the incidence of bulimia nervosa was greater among Asian schoolgirls than among thier white counterparts.
found that body dissatifacton and related eating concerns and disorders (e.g. anorexia) are more characteristic of white women than black or Asian.
found that there was a greater 'drive for thinness' among black girls than among white girls.

Most studies have concerntrated on women. Siever (1994) showed that in men, heterosexuality is a risk factor in the development of disordered eating attitudes and behaviour. This may be attributed to male straight subculture.
Most studies have concerntrated on women. Siever (1994) showed that in men, homosexuality is a risk factor in the development of disordered eating attitudes and behaviour. This may be attributed to male gay subculture.
research has focused on males. This suggests that the theory only offers a limited view of attitudes and eating behaviour.

studied mothers and daughters and found that the best predictors of the daughters' eating behaviour were the mothers' dietary restraint and thier perception of the risk of the daughters becoming overweight
found that exposure to 'food dudes' significantly changed children's food preferences and specifically increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.
reported consistent correlations between parents and their children in terms of reported snack intake and eating motivations. Parental behaviours are therefore central to the process of social learning.
surveyed boys and girls and found a significant positive correlation between peer influence and disordered eating.