The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of using fixed time schedules with different magnitudes of stimulus delivery as treatment for pica. A functional assessment was conducted, which indicated that pica occurred across experimental conditions and was most frequent in the absence of social stimulation or contingencies. A competing stimulus assessment was then conducted to identify stimuli that could potentially compete with pica during NCR. Subsequently, an evaluation of the effects of reinforcer magnitude on NCR as a treatment of pica was conducted. Treatment results indicated that quantity of reinforcer increased the effectiveness of leaner schedules of reinforcer delivery; however, it was not possible to fade the temporal schedule to one that would have been useful in practice. In addition, limitations and future research are outlined.

The immediate and subsequent effects of response-independent food delivery on problem behavior maintained by food were investigated. A functional analysis indicated that the participant's problem behavior was maintained by tangible (food) reinforcement. In a subsequent analysis, each occurrence of problem behavior produced a bite of wafer in the first and third components of mixed and multiple schedules, while either response-independent food or extinction was presented in the second component. Dense and lean schedules of food delivery were assessed. Results indicated that a very dense schedule of food nearly eliminated problem behavior, a very lean schedule of food and extinction produced substantial decreases in problem behavior, and intermediate schedules did not decrease problem behavior. Response patterns were differentiated across mixed and multiple schedule arrangements, with signaled changes in the schedules (multiple schedule) generally showing more immediate and sustained effects throughout the intervention component. Implications for interpretations of the effects of the intervention are discussed.

The present study investigated food acceptance/ingestional neophobia as a function of distal and proximal sources of stimulus novelty in human infants of two ages and evaluated the utility of the two-stage model of ingestion (e.g., Garcia, Hankins, & Rusiniak, 1974) in understanding the role of novel cues in food acceptance. Thirty-two infants (6- to 12-months-of-age) and 32 toddlers (13- to 24-months-of-age) received a familiar or a novel food from a familiar or a novel presenter during lunchtime at a day care center. The measures of performance were latency to the first and second bites, percentage frequencies of gustofacial expressions, behavioral indices of food rejection, such as spitting out the food, pushing the food away and upper body flexion, and percentage intake. Reliably longer latencies occurred to the novel than to the familiar presenter on first and second bites for both age groups. No reliable effects were found to the appearance of the novel food on latencies to the first bite or to the taste cues of the novel food on latencies to the second bite for either age group. Combinations of novel presenter and novel food cues did not produce reliably longer latencies to the second bite than did mixed combinations of novel/familiar cues. However, infants, but not toddlers, showed reliably longer latencies to the novel than to the familiar presenter in the novel food condition prior to the second bite. No reliable age differences were observed in negative gustofacial responses to novel foods. Latencies to the first and second bites were reliably correlated with percentage intake and behavioral indices of aversiveness such as upper body flexion and pushing the food away. These data suggested that demonstration of neophobia may be an indication of aversiveness of novelty. Finding that ingestional neophobia occurred to novel presenter cues supported the view of the two-stage model that distal cues influence approach behavior and the start of ingestion. However, the model was net supported by data for the second bite. Failure to find reliable effects to food cues in latencies to the second bite did net support the view that proximal food cues influence the continuation of ingestion. The prediction for greater neophobia to combinations of novel cues was not supported. Reliable differences in latencies to the second bite for infants, but not for toddlers, who received a novel food from a novel presenter suggest developmental differences in ingestional neophobia. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference between athletes and non-athletes by addressing prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders, the risk factors associated with the disease(s), and health concerns for those suffering with disordered eating.

Each year over 300 million people visit theme parks, making them the major vacation destination worldwide. Theme parks are known for their elaborate spectacle, the creation of artificial realities through intricate immersive experiences including costumed characters, stage shows, and extravagant decor. Though many aspects of the theme park experience have been reviewed, little focus has been given to the role of food in the overall immersion, particularly how food extends the spectacle into a fantastical created reality. This study examined the function of food within a highly immersive theme park setting, and how it contributed to the overall illusion and immersion of the fantasy environment. Research was conducted from December 2014 to March 2015 at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort themed food served three overarching functions: (1) it operated as an experience, (2) it functioned as a conduit to authenticity, and, (3) it extended sensory perceptions. Food immersed tourists in the themed experience, though visual cues remained the primary sensory stimulus. However, guests considered the location to be more authentic when coupled with a themed food item, as opposed to the generic food choices found in other parks. Themed food functions as an extension of the spectacle by maintaining the illusion and contributes to the overall exhibition of the themed space. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The effect of portion size on food intake is a well-documented phenomenon: when served larger portions, individuals significantly increase their food intake. Insofar authors have limited their research on presenting the potential outcomes, while identifying several conditions favorable to this phenomenon. Indeed, the mechanisms of this effect are poorly understood and no research has insofar provided conclusive evidence regarding the underlying mechanism that could help explain the portion size effect. The first part of this dissertation aimed to fill this gap. We argue that the anchoring and adjustment heuristic accounts for most of the favoring conditions evidenced in earlier research and present it as a possible mechanism underlying the portion size effect. In this view, the portion size served is used as an anchor whereas other influences (i.e. economical, metabolic, regulatory, physiological, sensory, social and environmental) may further contribute to adjust total amount of food consumed. Moreover, we argue that prevention strategies based on this decision making literature may be similarly effective to limit excess food intake from enlarged portions. <p><p>The second and third chapter of this dissertation focus on two other factors related to the portion size of foods, namely the container size and the structure of the portion (i.e. food item size). The discussion of this dissertation reviews the facilitating conditions put forward previously to understand the portion size effect, as well as those reinforcing this effect, and how they may be integrated in an anchoring and adjustment perspective of eating. Finally, it aims to provide a food intake model that may accommodate for most environmental influences, with a special focus on the three influences mentioned above. / Doctorat en Sciences Psychologiques et de l'éducation / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished