Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats
Published on: June 27, 2014
Modeling of food intake is moderated by salient psychological group membership
Tegan Cruwys1, Michael J Platow, Sarah A Angullia
1Department of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Tegan.Cruwys@anu.edu.au
Abstract:
The present study demonstrates the utility of a social identity analysis of social influence in predicting eating behavior. In a laboratory experiment, female undergraduate students observed a confederate who appeared to have eaten a large or small amount of popcorn. The confederate was presented as either a fellow in-group member of a salient identity (same university) or an out-group member (another tertiary institution). Results supported the hypothesis that modeling of eating behavior only occurs for psychologically salient in-group members; there was no modeling of out-group members' eating. These data also provide clear evidence of a psychological mechanism by which the modeling of eating behavior can occur.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Food Intake
Self-Schemas
Social Identity
Impact of Groups on Individuals
Self-Regulation
Stereotype Content Model

