People with a 'Sweet Tooth' have sweeter dispositions

26, Nov. ScienceDaily

If you're dealing with a crabby co-worker or sour-faced friend, perhaps some new research can help. It sheds light on the question: Can eating sweets make you-well-sweet? A new study by researchers at North Dakota State University, Fargo, Gettysburg College and Saint Xavier University suggests people with a "sweet tooth" have sweeter dispositions.

The research was conducted by Dr. Brian Meier, associate professor of psychology at Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa.; Dr. Michael D. Robinson, NDSU professor of psychology; Dr. Sara Moeller, assistant professor at Saint Xavier University, Chicago, Ill.; and Miles Riemer-Peltz of Gettysburg College.

The paper, "Sweet Taste Preferences and Experiences Predict Pro-Social Inferences, Personalities, and Behaviors," is being published by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

According to Meier, "Taste is something we experience every day. Our research examined whether metaphors that link taste preferences with pro-social experiences (e.g., "she's a sweetheart") can be used to shed light on actual personality traits and behavior."

The research included a series of five studies. In one study, the authors found participants who ate a sweet food (a specific brand of chocolate), versus a non-sweet food (a cracker), or no food, were more likely to volunteer to help another person in need.

The authors also found in another study that people believe that a person who likes sweet foods like candy or chocolate cake (compared to foods from the other four taste types) is also more agreeable or helpful, but not more extroverted or neurotic.