So...
Eating Chicken Off The Bone Or Corn On The Cob Linked To Aggression In
Children
It appears that the muscle, M. Risorius, implicated in this activity is
somewhat unique to humans. Even in Chimpanzees it is much less
distinct. It is apparently involved in both invoking a salivation
response and in expressions of anger and fear.
By handicapping our children to make sure they never use this muscle,
perhaps we help to make them more docile and less hungry. Perhaps young
children (especially males) should be kept on a pureed diet through life
to keep them docile and with only very modest appetite?
All wound up and no place to go!
- Steve
By Justin Caba | May 1, 2014 05:41 PM EDT
Children who practice poor eating etiquette tend to have trouble
controlling their appetite, which can lead to compulsive eating, binge
eating, and weight gain. Research also shows that children with a
voracious appetite may have trouble controlling their attitude and
temper. A study conducted at Cornell University has revealed that kids
who eat their meals by hand are more likely to display aggressive
behavior compared to those who eat with a fork and knife.
A research team from the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell observed 12
elementary school children between the ages of 6 and 10 over the
course of two days. After the group was split in half, six of the kids
were given a meal of chicken on the bone while seated at a picnic
table, and the remaining six were given chicken that was cut into bite
size pieces while seated at a separate picnic table. Upon finishing
the meal, each child was instructed to stay inside of a circle with a
9-foot radius by two camp counselors while they were videotaped.
Conditions of study were revered on the second day.
Trained coders were brought in to review the taped sessions and
provide their opinion regarding the behavior of the group who ate
chicken off the bone compared to the group who was served bite size
pieces of chicken. Both the coders and the camp counselors observed
that children who ate with their hands acted twice as aggressively and
were twice as likely to disobey adults. They were also more likely
leave the 9-foot circle radius, jump around, and stand on the picnic
tables without permission.
"They were twice as likely to disobey adults and twice as aggressive
toward other kids," Brian Wansink, professor and director of the
Cornell Food and Brand Lab, said in a statement. "If you want a nice
quiet, relaxing meal with your kids, cut up their food. If drumsticks,
apples, or corn on the cob are on the menu, duck!"
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, many children can
become anxious, excited, or may have trouble settling down around
mealtimes, especially later in the day. To prevent a child from
becoming overly active before or after a meal, parents may want to
consider "food rules" for their kids to follow while eating. For
example, washing hands before and after meals, staying seated while
eating, and helping with clean up after they are done eating can help
remind children that breakfast, lunch, and dinner are not playtimes.
We need some hard-hitting sociologists to see if compliant
behavior from childhood correlates with reduced questioning of
governmental authority in adults..
/Biting versus Chewing: Eating Style and Social Aggression in
Children/
Highlights
.
Using teeth to bite food may be connected to aggressive behavior,
as with animals.
.
Children ages 6--10 were served chicken either on-the-bone (bite)
or pre-cut (chew).
.
When eating on-the-bone chicken, kids appeared more aggressive and
less compliant.
.
Behaviors included violation of counselors' instructions by
leaving the eating area.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471015314000397
"Because biting requires the/ m. risorius/, the same muscle used in a
grimace of aggression, children may be more likely to perceive
themselves as being aggressed, which leads them to behave
aggressively," writes Professor Brian Wansink, PhD in the April
edition of/ Eating Behaviours/.
[..]
"Since biting food appears to increase activity level, aggression and
noncompliance, it may not be wise to serve young children chicken
wings shortly before bedtime, or to serve steak and corn-on-the-cob in
the company of dinner guests."
http://dyson.cornell.edu/people/profiles/wansink.php
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Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
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