Psychology 2054B 001 FW25
Psychology of Eating
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Fall/Winter 2025
Psychology 2054B Section 001
PSYCHOLOGY OF EATING
1. Calendar Description
This course examines the neurobehavioural, developmental, cognitive and social determinants of eating behaviour. Topics may include the biology of hunger and satiety, food preference and choice, social and cultural meanings of food, media influences, body image, emotions and eating, obesity and dieting, and disordered eating.
https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/academics/timetables.html
Antirequisite(s): Psychology 3254A/B
Prerequisite(s): n/a
3 lecture hours
Course Weight: 0.5
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2. Course Information
Instructor: Dr. Christine Tenk
Email: ctenk2@uwo.ca
Email replies are usually within 24 hours Monday - Friday. I do not check email Friday evenings and check infrequently on weekends and holidays. If you email Friday after 4:00 pm or on the weekend, expect a reply Monday afternoon.
Office & Phone: see OWL
Office Hours: see OWL
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Office: TBD
Office Hours: TBD
Email: TBD
Time and Location of Classes: See OWL or Student Centre for Timetable
For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.
3. Course Materials
You are responsible for obtaining and using the materials needed for your learning success.
- OWL
Course information and materials, such as announcements, lecture slides, assignments, learning activities, and grades, are posted on OWL. You are responsible for checking OWL and your Western email frequently.
2. Course Readings
Download weekly course readings from Western course readings website: https://coursereadings.lib.uwo.ca
4. Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge
|
Lectures, In-class activities & discussions, Reflections |
Exams, Reflections |
|
Knowledge of Methodologies
|
Lectures, Discussions, Readings
|
Exams
|
|
Application of Knowledge
|
Lectures, In-class activities & discussions, Reflections, Readings, |
Exams, Reflections |
|
Communication Skills
|
In-class activities & discussions, Reflections |
Reflections |
|
Awareness of Limits of Knowledge
|
Lectures, Discussions, Readings, Reflections |
Reflections
|
|
Autonomy and Professional Capacity
|
In-class activities & discussions, Reflections
|
Reflections,
|
5 Evaluation
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives
Reflections 30%
Midterm Exam 33%
Final Examination 37%
Reflections
There are 3 reflection activities. Your best 2 of 3 marks will contribute 30% of your final grade (15% each).
Reflection #1 is completed in-class, in small groups on Jan. 21. Topic: Identify common and diverse cultural influences on eating behaviour.
Reflection #2 is completed in-class, in small groups on Mar. 18. Topic: Identify common and diverse social influences on eating behaviour.
Reflection #3 is completed on OWL, individually on Apr. 1. Topic: Identify individual influences on eating behaviour.
Further assessment details will be provided in class and on OWL.
Note that students must be present in class on Jan. 21 to participate in Reflection #1 and on Mar. 18 to participate in Reflection #2.
Note that no academic consideration will be given for missed learning reflections. The flexibility included in these assessments, best 2 of 3 counting, is the consideration.
Examinations. There will be a midterm and a final exam. The midterm is worth 33% of your final grade and the final exam 37%. Both examinations will be multiple choice, and both are scheduled for 2 hours. The midterm will cover material from Topics #1 - 5 and the corresponding classes. The final exam will cover material from Topics #6 – 11 and the corresponding classes.
Note that you are responsible for all of the readings in a topic including material not covered in class.
Note that academic consideration based on self-attestation cannot be used for the midterm exam.
Policy on Missing Coursework
Only the top 2 of 3 written reflections will be included in your final grade. You may miss up to 1 reflection without penalty. No make up reflections are provided. If you miss more than one reflection, please seek official accommodation by submitting your documentation to the academic counselling office in your home faculty. In these cases, the reflection grade will be reweighted.
Students who miss the midterm or final exam require official accommodation approved through the academic counselling office in your home faculty. Students with approved accommodation will be offered a make up exam at a time to be scheduled after the original exam date. There will be ONE make midterm and ONE make-up final exam offered. If a student is unable to attend a make-up when it is offered, they will be required to write the make-up the next time the course is taught.
Note that acceptable documentation and approval through your faculty’s academic counselling office is required for the midterm exam; academic consideration based on self-attestation cannot be used for the midterm exam.
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines, which are as follows (see: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf )
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
Policy on Grade Rounding
Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.
6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule
|
Component |
Weight |
Due Date
|
|
In-class reflection activities (best 2 of 3) |
30% |
Jan. 21 Mar. 18 Apr. 1 |
|
Midterm (Topics #1 – 5, Jan. 7 – Feb. 11, inclusive) |
33% |
Feb. 25 |
|
Final Exam (Topics #6 – 11, Mar. 4 – Apr. 8, inclusive) |
37% |
During April Final Exam Period – Date TBA |
7 Class Schedule
|
Date |
Description |
Reading |
Assessments |
|
Jan. 7 |
Welcome Healthy eating
|
Course outline Topic #1 |
|
|
Jan. 14 |
The meaning of food |
Topic #2 |
|
|
Jan. 21
|
Cultural influences on eating |
Topic #3 |
In-class reflection activity |
|
Jan. 28 |
Neuroscience Basics Food Reward |
Topic #4 |
|
|
Feb. 4 |
Appetite regulation I |
Topic #5 |
|
|
Feb. 11 |
Appetite regulation II |
Topic #5 |
|
|
Feb. 18 |
Winter Reading Week – NO CLASS |
||
|
Feb. 25 |
Midterm – In Class |
Topics #1 - 5 |
Midterm |
|
Mar. 4 |
Cognitive development & learning processes |
Topic #6 |
|
|
Mar. 11 |
Social influences on eating |
Topic #7 |
|
|
Mar. 18 |
Media influences, stereotypes, and body image |
Topic #8 |
In-class reflection activity |
|
Mar. 25 |
Obesity |
Topic #9 |
|
|
Apr. 1 |
Individual influences on eating |
Topic #10 |
Online reflection activity |
|
Apr. 8 |
Disordered eating |
Topic #11 |
|
|
April Exam Period – Date TBA |
Final Exam |
Topics #6 - 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 Academic Integrity
Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices
You can bring your own laptop, tablet or other device to class to assist your learning. You will required to have your own or share a device to complete some in-class assignments and activities.
However, if you are going to use Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, etc or engage in other activities not related to course content, please sit at the back or edges of the classroom.
Research has shown that non-academic use of laptops and smartphones during class has a negative correlation with exam grades (Ravizza et al., 2014). That is, the more students use their devices in class on non-class tasks, the lower their marks on tests and exams, regardless of intellectual ability. What is most concerning is that not only do those students have lower marks, the students sitting behind them who can be distracted by their screens also score significantly lower on tests and exams (Sana et al., 2013).
If you choose to hurt your own academic performance, that is your decision. However, if in doing so you compromise the experience and success of those sitting near you, that is not acceptable. It is a matter of respect for your classmates.
Students who are distracting others or disrupting the learning environment will be asked to refrain from these activities and/or to leave the classroom.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com.
Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.
AI Policy for Psychology:
Responsible use of AI is allowed in Psychology. This includes using AI for brainstorming, improving grammar, or doing preliminary/background research on a topic.
AI is not to be used in place of critical thinking.
The misuse of AI undermines the academic values of this course. Relying on AI to create full drafts or fabricate sources is prohibited. You are ultimately responsible for any work submitted, so it is highly advised that you critically review your Generative AI output before incorporating this information into your assignments.
If you use AI, you must clearly explain its role in your work. All written assignments will require an AI Usage Statement, in which you will indicate what tools you have used, what you have used them for, and (broadly) how you have modified this information. Assignments without an AI Usage Statement will not be accepted.
Violations of this policy will be handled according to Western’s scholastic offense policies.
Multiple Choice Exams
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education
View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.
Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.
If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information. Email: aew@uwo.ca Phone: 519 661-2147
10 Absence & Academic Consideration
Academic Considerations: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement
Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
12 Land Acknowledgement
Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as both the original caretakers, and contemporary stewards of the land, as well as vital contributors of our society.
We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.
