Tag: Cognitive bias

According to research from Carnegie Mellon, sandwiches made by someone else can taste better due to sensory-specific satiety, which dulls your appetite for a food while you prepare it yourself. This surprising psychological effect explains why the grass often seems greener on your dining companion’s plate, even when the ingredients are identical.

Globally, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has seen a dramatic increase, with worldwide adult obesity more than doubling since 1990. This public health crisis begs the question: why do people make unhealthy food choices, and what factors influence our decisions at mealtime and beyond?

According to a 2025 study published in *The Organic Halo Effect*, participants perceived organic-labeled food as having lower calorie content than conventional food, despite nutritional similarities. This cognitive bias, which is a prime example of the health halo effect, demonstrates how a single attribute can mislead us into believing a product is healthier overall. This article explores how to recognize and avoid such psychological tricks when grocery shopping and dining out.

In many contexts, the human brain processes and associates specific colors with immediate meaning, triggering an instinctive response. This powerful psychological shortcut leads to the common question: are greens or reds more important? From diet to data, the answer reveals a complex interplay of signals where context is paramount.

In 1907, statistician Francis Galton observed that the average guess of a butchered ox's weight by a crowd at a fair was astoundingly accurate. This famous anecdote poses a central question: is people's choice good, and can it be trusted? The answer is far more complex than a simple yes or no, balancing the potential for collective wisdom with the dangers of popular fallacies and social pressures.

A 2022 study published in *BMC Public Health* revealed that environmental factors, including built, social, and economic elements, significantly influence the food choices of young people. This indicates that our daily dietary decisions are not solely based on personal preference or willpower, but are also shaped by the powerful, often subconscious, forces of our surroundings.

According to a study on eating behaviors, people often misperceive the caloric content of 'junk food'. The phenomenon of why do I feel skinnier after eating junk is less about your physical state and more about a complex mix of psychology and temporary physiological changes.

Studies rooted in social psychology show that once a label is applied, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, powerfully shaping an individual's actions and identity. This phenomenon reveals the profound way our perceptions of others and ourselves, influenced by how can labeling affect behavior, can dictate reality.

According to research on consumer perception, a single positive attribute of a food can lead to overestimating its overall healthfulness, a bias known as the “health halo” effect. So, when people ask, "Are halos healthy?", the answer depends entirely on which type of "halo" is in question, from a nutrient-rich fruit to a low-calorie frozen treat or even a marketing gimmick.

Over 50% of your daily recommended vitamin C can be found in just two medium Wonderful Halos mandarins, a popular, sweet citrus fruit. However, when asking, 'Do halos have any nutritional value?', it's crucial to distinguish between this nutritious fruit and the deceptive marketing phenomenon known as the 'health halo' effect, which can mislead consumers into making poor dietary choices.