Download This PaperBiting versus Chewing: Eating Style and Social Aggression in Children
Wansink, Brian, Francesca Zampollo, Guido Camps, and Mitsuru Shimizu (2014), "Biting versus Chewing: Eating Style and Social Aggression in Children,” Eating Behaviors, 15:311- 313.
13 Pages Posted: 17 Apr 2014 Last revised: 29 Apr 2017
Date Written: April 15, 2014
Abstract
Does biting food lead to aggressive behavior? An experimental study is reported where children ages 6-10 (n = 12) were served chicken either on-the-bone or pre-cut in bite-size pieces. When children ate on-the-bone chicken, they exhibited more aggressive behavior than pre-cut, boneless chicken. For example, children were more likely to violate the counselor’s instructions by leaving the eating area after eating on-the-bone chicken compared to kids who ate pre-cut chicken. These findings suggest a connection between how children eat and how they behave. This could have implications for developmental psychologists as well as for educators and parents.
Keywords: facial feedback hypothesis, aggression, food choice, eating behavior
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