When variety is not the spice of life: The influence of perceived relational self-threat on variety seeking in snack choices

People often seek variety in food choices because they believe variety offers them many benefits such as giving them a chance to explore new foods while decreasing the likelihood of boredom from eating the same food repeatedly. While much research has explored situational factors that increase variety seeking behavior, we explore a situational factor that decreases variety seeking. Specifically, this research investigates how perceived relational threat affects variety seeking in snack choices. Across three studies, we experimentally manipulate relational self-threat and find that those who experience high (vs. low) threat seek less variety (Study 1), even when the same choice set is construed as having more (vs. less) variety (Study 2). This effect is attenuated when people have the chance to engage in self-affirmation (Study 3).