The Psychology of Eating: From Healthy to Disordered Behavior

The Meaning of Food 81

as an expression of social interaction, and as reflecting a cultural identity.
In particular, food constructs the self as a sexual being, in terms of
conflicts between guilt and pleasure and between eating and denial, and
as a statement of self-control. At the level of social interaction food can
represent love and caring, conflicts regarding health and pleasure, and power
relations within the family. Ultimately, however, all such meanings are
embedded within their social context, and food also provides information
about cultural identities. In particular, food creates a sense of religious
identity, symbolizes power within a society, and delineates the cultural world
from nature. These beliefs can be measured in a quantifiable way and seem
to relate to aspects of eating behavior.

Towards an integrated model of diet

Psychological research exploring the predictors of food choice

highlights individual variables such as learning, beliefs, and cogni-

tions, and points to a role for psychophysiological factors. Such

research aims to understand and promote healthy eating. Food,

however, is much more than the necessary substance which can

promote health or trigger illness. It holds a central position within

each culture and is embedded with a multitude of meanings.

Understanding why people eat what they eat requires an under-

standing of these meanings. It is not only food per se, however, which

holds so much meaning. The choice to consume or reject food has

the power the change the body’s size and shape, which is also sub-

ject to much social interpretation. The meaning of body size is

addressed in the next chapter.