Document Type
Article
Publication Title
SSRN Anthropology of Agriculture & Nutrition eJournal
Publication Date
8-2025
Keywords
hunger, commensal relations, appetite expression
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of starvation and famine on certain eating habits. These include commensal relations within households, dispositions towards eating with strangers and modes of appetite expression. It tests the proposition that much of the variation seen in these aspects of eating behavior worldwide can be explained by societal experiences with hunger. The study analyzes data from 124 societies and finds significant associations between episodes of food insufficiency and non-inclusive, uncongenial eating practices. This research contributes to the understanding of how food supply and nutritional circumstances shape cultural arrangements and offers insights into the broader implications of food scarcity on human relations.
DOI
10.13140/RG.2.2.25777.70245
Recommended Citation
Dirks, Robert, "The Effects of Hunger, Starvation, and Famine on Certain Eating Habits: A Cross-Cultural Study" (2025). Faculty Publications – Sociology and Anthropology. 17.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/fpsa/17
Included in
Human Ecology Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons