Sustainable food choices as an impression management strategy

Abstract

Although living standards in certain parts of the world have improved significantly in recent decades, these improvements have often been accompanied by environmental degradation that poses health risks to millions of people. Sustainable food choices play a critical role in addressing these environmental challenges. The current review summarizes how sustainable food choices are used as an impression management action aimed at projecting a desirable image of oneself to others. We show how three distinct factors — status striving, group cooperation, and the desire to attract a partner — influence the use of sustainable food as an impression management tactic. The review concludes by highlighting several future research directions based on recent research on related topics.