INCIDENTAL SIMILARITY AND INFLUENCE OF FOOD PREFERENCES AND JUDGMENT: CHANGING TO BE CLOSER TO SIMILAR PEOPLE

Authors

  • Angélique Martin Université Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes, Vannes, France
  • Nicolas Guéguen Université Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes, Vannes, France
  • Céline Jacob Université Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes, Vannes, France
  • Jacques Fischer-Lokou Université Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes, Vannes, France

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v7i2.176

Keywords:

similarity, children, evaluation

Abstract

Research has shown that people like more those who have something in common with them and are more likely to comply with a request addressed by similar individuals. We hypothesized that such similarity could also influence people’s preferences. First, 8-9-year- old children were led to believe that they shared the same birthday with an instructor. Afterwards, the children were asked about their food preferences and solicited to taste vegetables they disliked. Two weeks later, a survey was administered and revealed that the children in the incidental similarity condition expressed a higher liking for the vegetable disliked and more vegetable consumption. These changes in their vegetable consumption were confirmed by their mother. We suggest that similarity led participants to change their own attitudes and values to bring them closer to a similar target.

Author Biographies

  • Angélique Martin, Université Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes, Vannes, France

    Dr. Angélique Martin (PhD) is an associate professor of social psychology at the Université Bretagne-Sud. Her research focuses on the effect of imitation and its link to behavior change, particularly in children.

  • Nicolas Guéguen, Université Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes, Vannes, France

    Dr. Nicolas Guéguen (PhD) is a professor in behavioral sciences at the University of Southern Brittany. His research focuses on the study of influence and manipulation processes in human behavior.

  • Céline Jacob, Université Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes, Vannes, France

    Dr. Céline Jacob (PhD) is an associate professor of marketing at the University of Southern Brittany. Her research focuses on consumer behavior and social influences on eating habits.

  • Jacques Fischer-Lokou, Université Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes, Vannes, France

    Dr. Jacques Fischer-Lokou (PhD) is a professor of social psychology at the University of Southern Brittany. His research focuses on non-verbal influence processes, particularly the effect of touch, as well as the study of mediation and negotiation processes.

References

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Published

2024-06-18

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

INCIDENTAL SIMILARITY AND INFLUENCE OF FOOD PREFERENCES AND JUDGMENT: CHANGING TO BE CLOSER TO SIMILAR PEOPLE. (2024). European Journal of Public Health Studies, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v7i2.176