Published January 5, 2026 | Version v1
Preprint Open

Observing Others Eat Influences Attitudes Toward Insect-Based Foods

  • 1. Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca
  • 1. Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca
  • 2. ROR icon University of Milano-Bicocca
  • 3. ROR icon University of Tübingen
  • 4. ROR icon University of Urbino
  • 5. ROR icon Ghent University

Description

This preprint describes a two-experiment research that investigates how observing others eat insect-based foods influences attitudes and behavioral intentions. Using social learning strategies—Observational Evaluative Conditioning and Vicarious Consumption—we show that watching others consume these foods can reduce aversion, highlighting scalable approaches to promote acceptance of sustainable novel foods.

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BUGIFY5.2026Jan05_final_with title page.pdf

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Additional details

Funding

Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito
A BUG In the Food is Yummy (BUGIFY): Strategic Approaches for Changing Eating Behaviours H53D23009810001

Dates

Submitted
2026-01-05
preprint of a manuscript submitted for publication