Abstract
The authors reviewed previous studies on the relationship between food choice and various psychological factors, considering theoretical and methodological issues on the previous literature. First, examining basic aspects about food preferences, the authors reconsidered related factors, such as geographical variables, sensation seeking and environmental factors, and discussed methodological problems. It is likely that geographical variables, such as age and sex, modified food preference, and that sensation seeking correlated with food preference. Additionally, it is possible that similarities in food preference and attitude between family members were not high enough to account for environmental factors, and that the stability of food preference was not unequivocal. Next, the authors reviewed the studies regarding links between attitude, belief, and perceived motive concerning eating behavior and real food choice, suggesting possibility that these cognitive variables influenced food choice. Third, considering relationships between dietary restraint and food choice, the authors suggested possibility that this variable may influence low caloric food choice. Finally, the future direction of the psychological studies on food choice was proposed.
