One Factor That Influences Attitudes to Food Is the Social Learning Theory – Essay – srhwilliams97
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One Factor That Influences Attitudes to Food Is the Social Learning Theory
One factor that influences attitudes to food is the social learning theory. This theory emphasises the impact that observing other people (models) has on personal attitudes and behaviours. Children easily acquire eating behaviours from their parents. Parents inevitably influence their children as they control the foods bought and serves in the home. Research has suggested a general relationship between parent and child and their attitudes to food, for example Brown and Ogden reported consistent correlation between parent and child and snack food intake, eating motivations and boy dissatisfaction.

Another factor that affects attitudes to food is cultural influences, for example ethnicity. Research has suggested that body dissatisfaction and related eating concerns and disorders are more characteristic of white women than black or Asian women. Ball and Kennedy researched the ‘acculturation effect’. They studied over 14,000 women between the ages of 18 and 23 in Australia. Results for all groups showed that the loner the amount of time spent in Australia; the more the women reported eating behaviours similar to women born in Australia.

There is an abundance of research support for the social learning theory. Meyer and Gast surveyed 10-12 year old girls and boys and found a significant positive correlation between peer influences and disordered eating, with ‘likeability’ of peers being the most important factor. The role of the theory is also supported by a study of mothers and daughters by Birch and Fisher (2000). They found that the best predictors of the daughters eating behaviours were the mothers’ dietary restraint and their perception of the risks of the daughters becoming overweight.

It is suggested that attitudes to food have to be a product of much more than social learning theory alone. Evolutionary explanations must also be taken into account, for example suggesting that our preference for sweet and fatty foods is a direct result of an evolved adaptation of our ancestors over two million years ago.

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(2016, 03). One Factor That Influences Attitudes to Food Is the Social Learning Theory. EssaysForStudent.com. Retrieved 03, 2016, from
“One Factor That Influences Attitudes to Food Is the Social Learning Theory” EssaysForStudent.com. 03 2016. 2016. 03 2016 < "One Factor That Influences Attitudes to Food Is the Social Learning Theory." EssaysForStudent.com. EssaysForStudent.com, 03 2016. Web. 03 2016. < "One Factor That Influences Attitudes to Food Is the Social Learning Theory." EssaysForStudent.com. 03, 2016. Accessed 03, 2016. Essay Preview By: srhwilliams97 Submitted: March 9, 2016 Essay Length: 527 Words / 3 Pages Paper type: Essay Views: 620 Report this essay Tweet Related Essays Social Learning Theories and Juveniles Running Head: Social Learning Theories and Juveniles Social Learning Theories Relating to Juvenile delinquency Abstract This paper takes a closer look at the social learning’s 4,501 Words  |  19 Pages Social Learning Theory Social learning theory In criminology, Ronald Akers and Robert Burgess (1966) developed Social Learning Theory to explain deviancy by combining variables which encouraged delinquency (e.g. 735 Words  |  3 Pages Social Learning Theory of Albert Bandura SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY of Albert Bandura If you've taken an introductory course in economics, you're already familiar with the policy planner's dilemma of deciding whether 820 Words  |  4 Pages The Tattoo and Social Learning Theory ‘The tattoo’ is a novel which was written by Chris McKinney about a young adult named Ken ‘Kenji’ Hideyoshi who was sent to the Halawa 1,625 Words  |  7 Pages Similar Topics What economic and social factors should Fresh Fields managers watch Application Marxist Theory Socialism Philippine Get Access to 89,000+ Essays and Term Papers Join 209,000+ Other Students High Quality Essays and Documents Sign up © 2008–2020 EssaysForStudent.comFree Essays, Book Reports, Term Papers and Research Papers Essays Sign up Sign in Contact us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Service Facebook Twitter

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Social Learning Theory And Cultural Influences. (July 21, 2021). Retrieved from https://www.freeessays.education/social-learning-theory-and-cultural-influences-essay/