Academic Journal
Attempts to correct pluralistic ignorance concerning the reduction of meat intake in Dutch supermarkets: A field study.
| Τίτλος: | Attempts to correct pluralistic ignorance concerning the reduction of meat intake in Dutch supermarkets: A field study. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Moojen JRD; Social, Health & Organizational Psychology Department, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands., Gillebaart M; Social, Health & Organizational Psychology Department, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: M.Gillebaart@uu.nl., de Ridder DTD; Social, Health & Organizational Psychology Department, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: D.T.D.deRidder@uu.nl. |
| Πηγή: | Appetite [Appetite] 2026 Oct 01; Vol. 225, pp. 108602. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 22. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Academic Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8006808 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1095-8304 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01956663 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Appetite Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: London, New York, Academic Press. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Food Preferences*/psychology , Diet, Healthy*/psychology , Choice Behavior* , Meat* , Food Markets* , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* , Consumer Behavior*, Humans ; Netherlands ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult |
| Περίληψη: | Changing environments to stimulate healthy and sustainable food choices is increasingly relevant, as inaccurate group perceptions of others' attitudes and behaviors, known as pluralistic ignorance, can lead to choices that conflict with personal values. Supermarkets, as environments where many food choices are made, present a unique opportunity for addressing such misperceptions. In this field study (baseline N = 202, intervention N = 199), we assessed the presence of pluralistic ignorance in a Dutch supermarket context and implemented an intervention aimed at correcting these misperceptions. Using a mixed-methods approach with supermarket customers, we measured participants' perceptions of their own and other customers' beliefs about sustainable food choices, particularly meat reduction. An intervention communicating actual norms was used to address misperceptions. The results confirmed the existence of pluralistic ignorance on the topic of meat reduction, with participants underestimating others' beliefs about the importance, frequency, normality and intentions for reducing meat intake. However, the intervention failed to significantly correct these misperceptions or reduce unsustainable food choices. These findings highlight the challenges of addressing pluralistic ignorance in real-life complex settings. They indicate that more comprehensive, multi-component interventions may be needed, and point to an important direction for future research. For policy and practice, the results imply that simple interventions alone may be insufficient and that supermarkets may require integrated strategies (e.g., pricing, product placement, sustained messaging) to promote meat-reduction behaviors. (Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest None. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Field study; Food choices; Pluralistic ignorance; Pluralistic ignorance intervention; Social norms |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260522 Date Completed: 20260708 Latest Revision: 20260803 |
| Update Code: | 20260804 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.appet.2026.108602 |
| PMID: | 42172867 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1095-8304 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.appet.2026.108602 |