Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1991 Gender differences in choice shifts: a study of social influence on consumer attitude toward food irradiation Li-Jun Zhao Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Food Science Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons, and the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Zhao, Li-Jun, "Gender differences in choice shifts: a tudys of social influence on consumer attitude toward food irradiation" (1991). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 16783. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/16783 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Gender differences in choice shifts: A study of social influence on consumer attitude toward food irradiation by Li-jun Zhao A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Major: Sociology Signatures have been redacted for privacy Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1991 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION ••• .1 Objectives. .2 CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW •••••.• .3 Theories of Choice Shifts ••••••• .3 Persuasive Arguments Theory ••••••• • ••••• 5 Social Comparison Theory •••• • ••••• 6 Self-Categorization Theory •• .8 Gender Differences in Choice Shifts. .9 Expectation states Theory •••••• • ••• 11 Gender Schema Theory ••••••••••. ...... 12 Gender Role strain ••••••••••••• . ....... 13 Other Correlates of Choice Shifts •• . ........ 14 Self-Esteem ••••••••••••••• .15 Self-Efficacy •••••••••••••••••• • •• 16 Locus of Control •••••••••••••••••••• .