PSYC 41495 Psychology of Eating and Body Image (Coming Fall 2025)

Course Name: PSYC 41495 Psychology of Eating and Body Image

Description: This course explores the profound impact of food on human health and well-being. It focuses on understanding the psychological processes underlying humans’ development of eating behaviors and the adoption of both healthy and maladaptive cognitions and behaviors concerning food, eating, and our bodies. Topics include the role of taste preferences and food aversions, the regulation of hunger and satiety, and the social and emotional aspects of eating, such as food as comfort, a symbol of friendship, and a part of social rituals. It also delves into the social dynamics of food-related issues, including blame and stigma around food problems. Issues to be addressed include: food choice, the development of food preferences, motivation to eat, cultural influences on eating patterns, weight-regulation, body image, dieting behaviors, obesity, eating disorders, and treatment of unhealthy and clinical eating problems, the social and emotional aspects of eating, such as food as comfort, a symbol of friendship, and a part of social rituals. Additionally, the course addresses pressing concerns such as malnutrition, eating disorders, the global obesity crisis, the impact of food advertising on children, food poverty, and how modern society shapes individual eating habits. The psychology (not physiological processes) of eating will be emphasized, and psychological problems associated with eating will be thoroughly discussed. This class will be taught as an advanced seminar, with a focus on comprehension and application of information about the Psychology of Eating to daily life.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None