Abstract:

Social norms, encompassing shared expectations for behavior within groups, profoundly influence individual conduct, particularly in the domain of eating behavior. This review systematically examines how social norms—specifically descriptive norms (perceptions of what others do) and injunctive norms (perceptions of what ought to be done)—shape women’s dietary practices through distinct yet interconnected psychological pathways. Grounded in a synthesized theoretical framework that integrates social cognitive theory, social comparison theory, and social identity theory, we propose a tripartite model of influence operating through cognitive, emotional, and behavioral routes. Cognitively, norms transmitted via family, media, and peers are internalized to form women’s dietary beliefs, self-concept, and gender-linked food schemas. Emotionally, normative pressures—especially those emphasizing thinness and dietary restraint—trigger upward social comparisons, resulting in body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and guilt, which in turn motivate maladaptive eating patterns such as restrictive or emotional eating. Behaviorally, norms direct action through observational learning, conformity under social pressure, and identity-driven adoption of group-typical eating behaviors. Critically, the impact of norms depends on whether an individual’s attentional focus aligns with descriptive or injunctive cues, a distinction elaborated through the focus theory of normative conduct. Furthermore, we bridge social-psychological mechanisms with neurophysiological evidence, illustrating how chronic normative stress may dysregulate the HPA axis and impair prefrontal executive function, thereby exacerbating disordered eating. Based on this multilevel analysis, we propose targeted intervention strategies: correcting misperceived descriptive norms to avoid boomerang effects, designing injunctive norm-based policies that support autonomy and internalization, and cultivating social support systems to buffer negative affect and enhance self-regulation. Finally, we highlight the need for culturally contextualized research—particularly in collectivist settings like China—and longitudinal designs to clarify the dynamic interactions among norms, emotions, and behavior. This review not only advances theoretical integration in the field but also offers evidence-based guidance for promoting healthier, more autonomous eating practices among women under normative influence.

Key words: social norms, descriptive norms, injunctive norms, dietary behavior, gender roles