Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
04:56
Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
Toward an interdisciplinary science of consumption.
1Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. prestos@umich.edu
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|September 3, 2011
Summary
This conference explored the science of consumption, examining resource allocation across disciplines. Researchers presented findings on reward seeking, delay discounting, and material possessions in humans, primates, and rodents.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- The conference "The Interdisciplinary Science of Consumption: Mechanisms of Allocating Resources Across Disciplines" convened experts to discuss the scientific underpinnings of consumption behaviors.
- Held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from May 12-15, 2010, the meeting was sponsored by the Rackham Graduate School and the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan.
Framework:
- The interdisciplinary approach integrated insights from human, primate, and rodent models to understand consumption.
- Key areas of focus included reward seeking, delay discounting, and the evolutionary and developmental aspects of resource allocation.
Implementation:
- Presentations covered diverse consumption domains, such as the neurological and psychological mechanisms of reward-driven behaviors.
- Studies examined how individuals and groups make decisions regarding the acquisition and display of material possessions throughout the lifespan.
Implications:
- Findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of consumption as a fundamental biological and psychological process.
- The interdisciplinary framework facilitates future research into resource allocation, decision-making, and the societal impact of consumption patterns.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Applications of Integration to Find Consumer Surplus
In microeconomics, consumer surplus represents the economic gain that consumers experience when they purchase a good or service for less than the highest price they are willing to pay. This surplus arises from the characteristics of the demand function, which links the quantity of a good to the price consumers are willing to pay. As the quantity of a good increases, the price that consumers are willing to pay for each additional unit typically decreases, resulting in a downward-sloping demand...
00:48Optimal Foraging
How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.
01:13Psychology as a Science
Psychology, as a scientific discipline, aims to understand the mind and behavior through rigorous and systematic methods. The foundation of psychological research is evidence-based, relying heavily on the scientific method to derive and validate knowledge. This structured approach ensures that findings are reliable, valid, and applicable to broader contexts.
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
02:16Self-Schemas
In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
01:30Scientific Nature of Social Psychology
Social psychology is a scientific discipline dedicated to understanding how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. Unlike common sense, which relies on anecdotal experiences and intuition, social psychology employs systematic research and empirical methods to ensure objectivity and reliability. This distinction is fundamental in distinguishing scientifically supported findings from mere speculation.Four fundamental scientific values guide a structured approach to research in...
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...