5683763
Discuss two or more evolutionary
explanations of food preferences
- AO1
- Environment of
evolutionary
adaptation (EEA)
- Humans first emerged
2 million yrs ago in
the African Savannah
- Natural
selection
favoured those
best adapted
to the
environment
- Natural
selection
favoured those
best adapted
to the
environment
- Preferences for fatty, energy rich
foods (e.g. meat) were favoured
- Because it was a
feast-famine cycle
so important to
have lots of energy
- Because it was a
feast-famine cycle
so important to
have lots of energy
- Milton 2008
- There was a need to eat meat to help
brain development, as plants alone
wouldn't have given enough protein
- There was a need to eat meat to help
brain development, as plants alone
wouldn't have given enough protein
- Humans first emerged
2 million yrs ago in
the African Savannah
- Taste Aversion
- Originally known as bait shyness, as rats quickly
learnt that poison was toxic, so knew to avoid it
- Garcia 1955
- Rats exposed to radiation
(which made them ill)
after eating saccharin
quickly learnt to avoid it
- Thiamine deficient rats that were injected with thiamine
after eating a certain food developed a preference for it
- Rats exposed to radiation
(which made them ill)
after eating saccharin
quickly learnt to avoid it
- This had huge advantage in EEA as toxins
could quickly be avoided to aid survival
- Originally known as bait shyness, as rats quickly
learnt that poison was toxic, so knew to avoid it
- Environment of
evolutionary
adaptation (EEA)
- AO2
- EEA
- Gibson and Wardle
- Calories were v important in
EEA. 4-5 yr old kids preferred
fruits + veg that were the most
calorific, not the sweetest
- Calories were v important in
EEA. 4-5 yr old kids preferred
fruits + veg that were the most
calorific, not the sweetest
- Cordain
- Humans in EEA could've survived off
of vegetation alone, however this is
disputed by anthropological evidence
- Humans in EEA could've survived off
of vegetation alone, however this is
disputed by anthropological evidence
- Our innate food
preferences that
evolved to aid
survival may be
harmful now (e.g.
preference for high
fat, high cholesterol
foods)
- Gibson and Wardle
- Taste Aversion
- Sandell & Breslin 2006
- 35 ppts tested for the bitter taste receptor gene. Ppts then had to rate bitterness of
various vegetables. Those with sensitive version of gene rated veg containing
glucosinolates (which can be toxic) as 60% more bitter. Traits such as this would've
have a very good evolutionary advantage
- 35 ppts tested for the bitter taste receptor gene. Ppts then had to rate bitterness of
various vegetables. Those with sensitive version of gene rated veg containing
glucosinolates (which can be toxic) as 60% more bitter. Traits such as this would've
have a very good evolutionary advantage
- Sandell & Breslin 2006
- EEA
- IDA
- Post Hoc
- Theory is
post hoc as
the
conditions of
the EEA can't
be replicated
so it's
impossible to
truly prove
any of the
theory
- Theory is
post hoc as
the
conditions of
the EEA can't
be replicated
so it's
impossible to
truly prove
any of the
theory
- Animal Studies
- Conditions in EEA
can't be
replicated, but
some similar
species (e.g.
chimpanzees) are
facing the same
evolutionary
pressures we
may've faced, so
their food
behaviours gives
insight into our
evolved
preferences
- Conditions in EEA
can't be
replicated, but
some similar
species (e.g.
chimpanzees) are
facing the same
evolutionary
pressures we
may've faced, so
their food
behaviours gives
insight into our
evolved
preferences
- Cultural
Differences
- Bell et al
- Sugary foods
given to native
people of Alaska,
despite not
having any sweet
foods in diet
previously, ppts
quickly
developed a
preference for it,
which shows that
food preference
is innate and not
culturally bound
- Sugary foods
given to native
people of Alaska,
despite not
having any sweet
foods in diet
previously, ppts
quickly
developed a
preference for it,
which shows that
food preference
is innate and not
culturally bound
- Bell et al
- Real Life
Application
- Berstein and Webster
- Patients about to undergo chemo were given
novel flavoured ice cream to avoid a taste
aversion occurring with a food they previously liked
- Patients about to undergo chemo were given
novel flavoured ice cream to avoid a taste
aversion occurring with a food they previously liked
- Berstein and Webster
- Post Hoc
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