Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
12:09
Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
Published on: March 19, 2014
Self-presentational conflict in social eating situations: a normative perspective
D A Roth1, C P Herman, J Polivy
1Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. daroth@lsu.edu
Appetite
|March 10, 2001
Summary
People follow social eating norms when alone, but minimal eating prevails when observed, overriding peer influence. This highlights the power of social observation in regulating behavior.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Social norms significantly influence individual behavior in group settings.
- Understanding norm adherence is crucial for predicting social conduct.
- Conflicting norms present challenges in determining appropriate actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate adherence to social eating norms.
- To examine how individuals navigate conflicting social norms.
- To determine the impact of observation on norm compliance.
Main Methods:
- Participants tasted cookies under varying conditions: alone or observed.
- Three norm conditions were implemented: no norm, inhibition norm, and augmentation norm.
- Behavioral data on cookie consumption was collected.
Main Results:
- Individuals adhered to social norms when eating alone.
- When observed, participants exhibited minimal eating, irrespective of the presented norms.
- A strong norm for minimal eating superseded other social influence cues.
Conclusions:
- Social observation exerts a powerful influence on eating behavior.
- Minimal eating norms can override peer-guided behavior.
- Findings have implications for understanding social conformity and self-regulation.
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