ev exp for eating beh Flashcards
(19 cards)
what is this
suggests that our preferences are formed from adaptations that increased survival chances of our ancestors. (Based on the EEA)
fats
innate preference for fats, as they provide long term energy, were scarce for our ancestors and a taste preference for fat is the most efficient route to energy consumption.
sugar
offers quick energy
salt
vital for cell function
protein
allows us to develop a larger brain and muscle growth
sour foods
evolved to dislike bitter and sour foods as they would have been a sign of poison or expired food.
neophobia
happens especially in children it is the innate reluctance to try new food as this would have prevented the chance of eating poisoned uneaten food.
taste aversion
individuals quickly learn to avoid foods that have previously made them sick, once again prevented chance of being poisoned. Food becomes UCS as associated with taste of being sick
what is a strength
High quality empirical evidence for each food preference
what 2 people researched this
harris
torres
what did the first person find
experiments with infants aged 16-25 weeks found that breastfed babies exhibited a preference for salted cereal over unsalted cereal, even though they had not previously been exposed to specific food preferences. This suggests that the preference for salt must be innate rather than learned.
what did the second person find
meta-analysis showed that humans tend to prefer high-fat foods, especially during times of stress, which could be linked to evolutionary survival mechanisms. Fat provides a concentrated energy source, which would have been vital during periods of threat when energy demands increase for the fight or flight response.
what can we conclude from this
inclusion of various populations and experimental settings strengthens the generalizability of these findings, demonstrating that the evolutionary explanation is applicable across diverse contexts. The controlled nature of these studies also increases their reliability, as they isolate specific preferences and minimize confounding variables, providing credible and consistent support for the theory.
what are 2 weaknesses
doesn’t account for individual differences
biologically deterministic
who provided evidence for the frist point
drewnoski
what did he find
people’s ability to taste a bitter tasting chemical differed greatly, with some people not being able to taste it and others were sensitive to it.
what can be concluded from this
The evolutionary theory fails to explain why some people are unable to taste as this would have decreased our ancestor’s chance of survival, and the trait would have died with them. As there are people who have this trait this means there must be another explanation for the food preferences.
C limits the theories explanatory power and validity. More holistic view is needed
why is this biologically deterministic
says EB solely controlled by innate mechanisms
fails to consider the role of free will, cognitive processes, and social factors in shaping food choices. For instance, individuals may actively avoid sugary foods due to health concerns, despite an evolutionary predisposition to seek out high-calorie foods for survival. This suggests that decision-making is influenced by factors beyond biology, such as personal beliefs, cultural norms, and social pressures.
what can be concluded from this
cannot adequately explain these complex behaviors, it lacks explanatory power and provides an incomplete understanding of eating behavior.
C Therefore, caution should be taken when applying this theory to the wider population, as it oversimplifies the diverse range of influences on eating behavior and neglects the importance of individual differences and environmental contexts
