Research conducted by Vanessa I. Clendenen, C. Peter Herman, and Janet Polivy (1994) at the University of Toronto supports the postulation that meals eaten in the company of others are larger than those eaten alone. This idea can be defined by the term “social facilitation,” which is how we modify our actions based on who we are with. Their study investigated whether or not different social facilitation theories of various well-renowned social scientists, such as J. M. de Castro and D. S. Krantz, could have another layer to them. Their research sought to determine whether it is the mere presence of people, or the precise number of people that influences how much an individual eats (V. I. Clendenen et al., 1994, p. 4). They were also trying
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4). All subjects were recruited to participate in the study called “Dinner and a Movie”; however, the subjects were led to believe that the meal was irrelevant to the real purpose of the research, and was included only to create a “real-life” scenario. They were unaware that their eating habits were being observed (V. I. Clendenen, 1994, p. …show more content…
I. Clendenen, 1994 p. 7). Those who had a previous friendship with the others in their group or pair ate more than those who were put with strangers (V. I. Clendenen, 1994, p. 8). The subjects that took significantly longer to eat actually ate more than the rest (V. I. Clendenen, 1994, p. 9). This study provides experimental confirmation that social facilitation of eating occurs when individuals dine with others (V. I. Clendenen, 1994, p. 10). In a continuation of this research, I conducted a study on the social eating habits of North Carolina State University students. From Clendenen, Herman, and Polivy’s research, I can hypothesize that when eating in a group of friends, an individual consumes more than when they would eat alone. In addition, I predict that the amount an individual will consume is also influenced by how much they engage themselves in conversation. This adds another layer to the social facilitation of
4). All subjects were recruited to participate in the study called “Dinner and a Movie”; however, the subjects were led to believe that the meal was irrelevant to the real purpose of the research, and was included only to create a “real-life” scenario. They were unaware that their eating habits were being observed (V. I. Clendenen, 1994, p. …show more content…
I. Clendenen, 1994 p. 7). Those who had a previous friendship with the others in their group or pair ate more than those who were put with strangers (V. I. Clendenen, 1994, p. 8). The subjects that took significantly longer to eat actually ate more than the rest (V. I. Clendenen, 1994, p. 9). This study provides experimental confirmation that social facilitation of eating occurs when individuals dine with others (V. I. Clendenen, 1994, p. 10). In a continuation of this research, I conducted a study on the social eating habits of North Carolina State University students. From Clendenen, Herman, and Polivy’s research, I can hypothesize that when eating in a group of friends, an individual consumes more than when they would eat alone. In addition, I predict that the amount an individual will consume is also influenced by how much they engage themselves in conversation. This adds another layer to the social facilitation of