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Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology

Descriptive Norms

Evidence-informed definition Updated May 13, 2026 How to cite this entry

Descriptive norms reflect what most group members actually do (i.e., ‘most young people eat less than the recommended amount of vegetables’). Thus, a descriptive norm involves one’s perception of what most others actually do.

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Written by The Center for Nutritional Psychology
Reviewed by CNP Encyclopedia Editorial Board
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The Center for Nutritional Psychology. (2026). Descriptive Norms. In Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.

https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/encyclopedia/descriptive-norms/
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