Social Representations of Insects as Food: An Explorative-Comparative Study among Millennials and X-Generation Consumers

Abstract

The aim of the research here presented is to describe and compare the social representations of entomophagy co-constructed and circulating among different groups of consumers. Social representations theory (SRT) allows us to understand a social reality that the individual builds based on his own experience in everyday life symbolic exchanges, whose primary function is to adapt concepts and abstract ideas using objectification and anchoring processes. We carried out this research within the structural approach methodological framework. We explored the structure (central core and peripheral schemes) and the content (information, opinions, attitudes, and beliefs) of the social representations of entomophagy by using mixed methodological strategies (hierarchized evocations, validated scales, check-list, projective tool, open-ended questions). Data were processed employing different R packages. The main results show an essential role played by generative processes (objectification and anchoring) as well as cognitive polyphasia and thémata in the co-construction of the social representations of entomophagy. Data could help in understanding the sensory characteristics of “insects as food” that should be used or avoided, for example, in communication aimed to promote entomophagy.

Acceptance of Insect-Based Food Products in Western Societies: A Systematic Review

“…Of the 119 studies reviewed, 52 examined gender ( 2 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 49 , 51 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 61 , 62 , 64 – 67 , 69 , 71 – 74 , 76 , 77 , 83 , 84 , 86 , 87 , 92 – 94 , 96 , 97 , 99 – 101 , 104 – 109 , 111 – 117 ). Of those 52 studies, 71.2% identified masculinity as a positive influence on acceptance of insects as food ( 2 , 36 , 41 , 44 , 51 , 55 , 58 , 61 , 62 , 65 – 67 , 69 , 71 , 76 , 77 , 83 , 84 , 86 , 87 , 92 – 94 , 96 , 97 , 99 – 101 , 104 , 105 , 112 , 114 , 116 , 117 ), whereas approximately one-third of those studies (34.6%) found no effect of gender ( 37 , …”

“…Regarding the influence of gender, many studies showed that men were more likely to accept foods made from insects ( 2 , 36 , 41 , 44 , 51 , 55 , 58 , 61 , 62 , 65 – 67 , 69 , 71 , 76 , 77 , 83 , 84 , 86 , 87 , 92 – 94 , 96 , 97 , 99 – 101 , 104 , 105 , 112 , 114 , 116 , 117 ). In addition, the results suggest that the degree of processing is crucial for the influence of gender.…”

“…The most frequently investigated factor affecting the acceptance of insects as food is gender, a variable known to have an effect on dietary habits (37,110). Of the 119 studies reviewed, 52 examined gender (2,36,37,39,41,42,44,49,51,55,56,58,61, [104][105][106][107][108][109][111][112][113][114][115][116][117]. Of those 52 studies, 71.2% identified masculinity as a positive influence on acceptance of insects as food (2, 36, 41, 44, 51, 55, 58, 61, 62, 65-67, 69, 71, 76, 77, 83, 84, 86, 87, 92-94, 96, 97, 99-101, 104, 105, 112, 114, 116, 117), whereas approximately one-third of those studies (34.6%) found no effect of gender (37, 39, 42, 49, 56, 64, 66, 71, 72, 74, 76, 106-109, 111, 113, 115).…”

Consumer attitude and acceptance toward fish fed with insects: a focus on the new generations

“…Still, there are only few contributions relating youngsters and insects, and these generally focus on insects as food (e.g. Fasanelli et al, 2020;Sogari et al, 2019c), not as feed.…”

Edible Insects and Global Food Security

“…Beside the fundamental aspects connected to food safety and consumers’ health, recent research has shown the importance of understanding the attitudes and beliefs that determine the willingness to eat insects, directly and indirectly. In this research path, Fasanelli and colleagues [ 2 ] study—for the first time in contemporary research—the social representations that different categories of consumers have developed and hold as regards entomophagy. Using a mixed-methods approach, the authors contribute to a better understanding of consumers’ beliefs, their structure and relative importance, thus allowing insight into communication strategies.…”