Biting versus chewing: Eating style and social aggression in children

•Using teeth to bite food may be connected to aggressive behavior, as with animals.•Children ages 6–10 were served chicken either on-the-bone (bite) or pre-cut (chew).•When eating on-the-bone chicken, kids appeared more aggressive and less compliant.•Behaviors included violation of counselors' instructions by leaving the eating area.

Does biting food lead to aggressive behavior? An experimental study is reported where children ages 6–10 (n = 12) were served chicken either on-the-bone or pre-cut in bite-size pieces. When children ate on-the-bone chicken, they exhibited more aggressive behavior than pre-cut, boneless chicken. For example, children were more likely to violate the counselor's instructions by leaving the eating area after eating on-the-bone chicken compared to kids who ate pre-cut chicken. These findings suggest a connection between how children eat and how they behave. This could have implications for developmental psychologists as well as for educators and parents.