Early Learning Flashcards
What is the Mere Exposure Effect?
the more we are exposed to something, the more familiar we become with it = positive attitude towards it
What happens when we are exposed to new foods?
likely to have a negative attitude towards it (e.g. Chinese delicacy of chicken feet), neophobia
Who conducted research into food exposure?
Birch and Marlin 1982: 2yr olds new foods over 6 weeks, food given 20,10,5,0 times, 8-10 times before attitude change
What does the social learning theory say about children and food?
observation and imitation of role models, memory retained, motivation may be due to vicarious reinforcement, influenced by parents/peers
Who conducted research on the influence of peers on food preferences?
Birch 1980: 4 days, children seated next to a child who liked a different veg to them (carrots/peas), shift in preference, remains weeks later
What evaluation can be made about about Birch’s 1980 study?
high ecological validity, did children just copy behaviour to fit in? May not apply to all foods, need for further follow up
What 2 pieces of research have been conducted into parental influence on child’s food preferences?
Olivera 1992: relationship between mother and infant’s food intake of most nutrients
Ogden 2004: consistent correlations between parens and children on reported snack and eating motivations
What evaluation comments can be made about research into parental influence on eating behaviour?
Olivera doesn’t account for fathers, only correlational, triangulated support, extraneous variables not controllled
What is the practical application of parents of being able to influence their children’s eating behaviour?
Parents could be targeted to encourage healthier eating, children then copy the behaviour
What IDA point can be made about the expose to food theory?
explains why some foods are more popular by culture but most research on WEIRD countries, ignored 3rd world countries
What is associative learning?
classical conditioning, food as a reward
Who conducted research on associative learning and food?
Lepper 1982: 28 children, story about hupe and hule, contingent (have to eat one before other) or not, counterbalancing, children preferred reward food
What evaluative comments can be made about Lepper’s 1982 study?
Not real food, not followed up on
What IDA point can be made about early food experiences?
nature vs nurture, suggest we develop food preferences but evolutionary approach suggest we may have some innate preferences (sweet or fatty foods)
What other approaches are there apart from behavioural?
Behavioural approach ignores biological: preferences due to physiological cravings for certain nutrients (during pregnancy)
