Psychology2016

368 CHAPTER 9

What, Hungry Again? Why People Eat

Satisfying hunger is one of our most primary needs. The eating habits of people today

have become a major concern and a frequent topic of news programs, talk shows, and

scientific research. Countless pills, supplements, and treatments are available to “help”

people eat less and others to eat more. Eating is not only a basic survival behavior that

reduces a primary drive; it is also a form of entertainment for many, and the attrac-

tive presentations and social environment of many eating experiences are a powerful

incentive.

Physiological and Social Components of Hunger

9. 6 Identify the physical and social factors that influence hunger.

Why do we eat? What causes us to feel hungry in the first place?

There are actually several factors involved in the hunger drive. Walter Cannon

( Cannon & Washburn, 1912) believed that stomach contractions, or “hunger pangs,”

caused hunger and that the presence of food in the stomach would stop the con-

tractions and appease the hunger drive. Oddly enough, having an empty stomach

is not the deciding factor in many cases. Although the stomach does have sensory

receptors that respond to the pressure of the stretching stomach muscles as food is

piled in and that send signals to the brain indicating that the stomach is full (Gelieb-

ter, 1988), people who have had their stomachs removed still get hungry (Janowitz,

1967).

HORMONAL INFLUENCES One factor in hunger seems to be the insulin response that

occurs after we begin to eat. Insulin and glucagon are hormones that are secreted by

the pancreas to control the levels of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the whole

body, including glucose (blood sugar). Insulin reduces the level of glucose in the

bloodstream, for example, whereas glucagon increases the level. Insulin, normally

released in greater amounts after eating has begun, causes a feeling of more hunger

because of the drop in blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates, especially those that are

simple or highly refined (such as table sugar, fruit drinks, white flour, and white bread

or pasta), cause the insulin level to spike even more than other foods do because there

insulin
a hormone secreted by the pancreas to
control the levels of fats, proteins, and
carbohydrates in the body by reducing
the level of glucose in the bloodstream.

glucagon
hormone that is secreted by the pan-
creas to control the levels of fats, pro-
teins, and carbohydrates in the body
by increasing the level of glucose in
the bloodstream.

& Rothstein-Fisch, 2011). Other research found that, when compared to Canadian stu-

dents, Japanese students were more critical of their own performances and more respon-

sive to negative feedback (Heine et al., 2001). Contrary to what typical learning theory

would predict, the benefits of positive reinforcement are not always as expected when

dealing with very different cultural expectations.

THINKING CRITICALLY

Would the cultural differences in the effects of praise be likely to affect areas of daily life other

than educational situations?

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