Is there a relationship between implicit motives and eating action types: An exploratory study in Germany

Abstract

Investigating unconscious human behaviours is a complex issue, given that people have hardly access to their unconscious. Food-related behaviour is one of these behaviours in which the unconscious plays a central role. Therefore, the connection of the unconscious and food-related behaviour is difficult to comprehend. Hence, our exploratory study deals with the relationship between implicit motives as an important part of the unconscious and their relationship with food-related behaviour. For this purpose, we used the Operant Multi-Motive Test (OMT), which offers information about implicit motives of individuals. Based on 37 qualitative problem-centred interviews conducted in Bavaria, Germany, we identified seven eating action types that we combined with the results derived from the OMT. These deliver profound insights into how people eat due to their identity. The approach of this study is explorative and provides a first insight into a possible relationship between implicit motives and food-related behaviour that are presented descriptively. Our initial results show that a relationship between implicit motives and food-related behaviour can be assumed, although it cannot be directly deduced from the sole analysis of food-related behaviour. However, nutrition consultancies, food companies, policy makers and advisors may be interested in these insights related to understanding the impact of the unconscious on food-related behaviour.

Determining the Distinguishing Features of Different Eating Action Types in Germany Using a Mixed-Method Approach

“…However, these everyday actions have to be actively constructed, stabilized, maintained and changed by each individual (69). With regard to The Overstrained, the results of our study suggest that many people fail to implement actively everyday food-related behavior due to internal or external changes that are actively affecting them and that lead to non-well-being due to implicit motives that are not congruent with their external motives (51,72). However, this motive incongruence cannot be revealed by examining foodrelated behavior only with a standardized questionnaire.…”

Ways of integrating eating into everyday lives – a qualitative study in Germany

“…The guideline for the interviews was developed after reviewing relevant literature about eating types. It consisted of six sections: the introduction including the informed consent, the application of the Operant Multi Motive Test (OMT) [ 31 ], a section about food-related behaviour including a 24-Hour-Recall and a problem-centred interview, the application of the Personality Research Form (PRF) and a short questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics and a conclusion. The present manuscript concentrates on the data about food-related behaviour.…”

“…The characteristic differences between the eating action types, analysed using a mixed-methods approach, are described in detail elsewhere [22]. Furthermore, implicit motives of each eating action type are discussed in another study [31].…”

“…This complements the findings of existing commercial and academic nutritional types, on the one hand, for example in terms of what circumstances are required to avoid obesity, and, on the other hand, what has to be considered regarding the personality of the person. In a further study [ 31 ] we then look at the implicit and explicit motives (by Julius Kuhl [ 32 ]) of our participants in order to find answers on why people developed these certain types of personality. With our studies, we operate in the field of social psychology.…”