Skip to main content

A theoretical framework to analyse sustainability relevant food choices from a cultural perspective: caring for food and sustainability in a pluralistic society

  • Chapter
Climate change and sustainable development

Abstract

Food production and consumption is one of the main pressures on the environment. The fact that diets have to change into a more sustainable direction is generally agreed upon. There is, however, no shared vision of a sustainable and desirable society to support these changes. This paper aims to develop a framework that can account for value pluralism from a multi-layered perspective, drawing distinguishing parallels between the cultural and the individual level and focusing on types of motivations underlying consumer food choices. It is suggested that theories of culture need to be combined with theories that account for the individual level of motivation. On the individual level, the concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are developed further. On the cultural level, the cultural tensions in Western culture between a utilitarian approach towards nature and an emphasis on intuition and creative imagination are discussed. It is argued that a combination of both levels will enrich predictions the predictions and promotion of sustainability-relevant food choices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Baker, S., Thompson, K.E. and Engelken, J. (2004). Mapping the values driving organic food choice: Germany vs the UK. European Journal of Marketing 38: 995–1012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.F. (1987). How the self became a problem: A psychological review of historical research. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 52: 13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, R., and Marshall, D.W. (2003). The construct of food involvement in behavioral research: scale development and validation. Appetite 40: 235–244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Candel, M.J.J.M. (2001). Consumers’ convenience orientation towards meal preparation: conceptualization and measurement. Appetite 36: 15–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costanza, R. (2000). Visions of alternative (unpredictable) futures and their use in policy analysis. Conservation Ecology 4(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Darke, P.R. and Chaiken, S. (2005). The pursuit of self-interest: Self-interest bias in attitude judgment and persuasion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 89: 19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Boer, J. and Aiking, H. (2011). On the merits of plant-based proteins for global food security: Marrying macro and micro perspectives. Ecological Economics 70: 1259–1265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Boer, J., Hoogland, C.T. and Boersema, J.J. (2007). Towards more sustainable food choices: Value priorities and motivational orientations. Food Quality and Preference 18: 985–996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (2000). The ‘What’ and ‘Why’ of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior. Psychological Inquiry 11: 227–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dryzek, J.S. (2005). The politics of the earth: Environmental discourses (Vol. 2nd). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischler, C. (1999). The ‘McDonaldization’ of culture. In: Flandrin, J.-L., Montanari, M. and Sonnenfeld, A. (eds.) Food: a culinary history from antiquity to the present (Histoire de l’alimentation) (pp. 530–547). (C. Botsford et al., Trans). New York: Columbia University Press (Original work published in 1996).

    Google Scholar 

  • Flatt, J.P. (2011). Issues and misconceptions about obesity. Obesity 19: 10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giddens, A. (1991). Modernity and self-identity: Self and society in the late modern age. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilg, A. W. and Battershill, M. (1998). Quality farm food in Europe: a possible alternative to the industrialised food market and to current agri-environmental policies: lessons from France. Food Policy 23: 25–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grunert, K.G. (2006). Future trends and consumer lifestyles with regard to meat consumption. Meat Science 74: 149–160.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, E.T. (1997). Beyond pleasure and pain. American Psychologist 52: 20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, E.T. (2000). Making a good decision: value from fit. American Psychologist 55: 13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, E.T. (2006). Value from hedonic experience and engagement. Psychological Review 113: 21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, T. (2005). Live Better by Consuming Less?: Is There a ‘Double Dividend’ in Sustainable Consumption? Journal of Industrial Ecology 9: 19–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamison, A. (2003). The making of green knowledge: the contribution from activism. Futures 35: 703–716.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasser, T. (2002). Sketches for a self-determination theory of values. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, T. and Heasman, M. (2004). Food Wars. London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, S. (2003). Why organic food in Germany is a merit good. Food Policy 28: 459–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McEachern, M.G. and Willock, J. (2004). Producers and consumers of organic meat: a focus on attitudes and motivations. British Food Journal 106: 18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier, L.G., Dion, S.C., Slovinec-D’Angelo, M. and Reid, R. (2004). Why Do You Regulate What You Eat? Relationships Between Forms of Regulation, Eating Behaviors, Sustained Dietary Behavior Change, and Psychological Adjustment. Motivation and Emotion 28: 245–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pollard, T.M., Steptoe, A. and Wardle, J. (1998). Motives underlying healthy eating: using the Food Choice Questionnaire to explain variation in dietary intake. Journal of Biosocial Science 30: 165–179.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R.M., Huta, V. and Deci, E. (2008). Living well: a self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia. Journal of Happiness Studies 9: 139–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabaté, J. (2003). The contribution of vegetarian diets to health and disease: A paradigm shift? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 78: 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahota, A. (ed.). (2009). The global market for organic food & drink. Bonn: FIBL-IFOAM Report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinfeld, H., Gerber, P., Wassenaar, T., Castel, V., Rosales, M. and De Haan, C. (2006). Livestock’s long shadow; environmental issues and options. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, C. and Wolfing Kast, S. (2003). Promoting sustainable consumption: determinants of green purchases by Swiss consumers. Psychology and Marketing 20: 883–902.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarkiainen, A. and Sundqvist, S. (2009). Product involvement in organic food consumption: Does ideology meet practice? Psychology and Marketing 26: 844–863.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, C. (1989). Sources of the self: The making of the modern identity: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, A. and Garland, R. (2004). Grocery shopping: List and non-list usage. Marketing Intelligence & Planning 22: 623–635.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ullrich, N.V., Touger-Decker, R., O’Sullivan-Maillet, J. and Tepper, B.J. (2004). PROP taster status and self-perceived food adventurousness influence food preferences. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 104: 543–549.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vansteenkiste, M., Soenens, B. and Vandereycken, W. (2005). Motivation to change in eating disorder patients: A conceptual clarification on the basis of self-determination theory. International Journal of Eating Disorders 37: 207–219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verbeke, W. and Vackier, I. (2004). Profile and effects of consumer involvement in fresh meat. Meat Science 67: 159–168.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vialles, N. (1994). Animal to edible (Le sang et la chair: les abattoirs des pays de l’Adour). (J. A. Underwood, Trans). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Original work published in 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wycherley, A., McCarthy, M. and Cowan, C. (2008). Speciality food orientation of food related lifestyle (FRL) segments in Great Britain. Food Quality and Preference 19: 498–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Schösler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Wageningen Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schösler, H., de Boer, J., Boersema, J.J. (2012). A theoretical framework to analyse sustainability relevant food choices from a cultural perspective: caring for food and sustainability in a pluralistic society. In: Potthast, T., Meisch, S. (eds) Climate change and sustainable development. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-753-0_50

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics