80 Making Connections (IntroPSYC, and SDG 2): Zero Hunger

By Meghan E. Norris and Riley J.T. Bonar

In this unit, we are exploring topics related to motivation and emotion. We will talk about concepts like drive states, where we experience motivation to fulfill goals related to survival and reproduction. One of these drive states that is easy to think of is hunger. When we are hungry, we are motivated to find food and eat it. You might be familiar with the term hangry—when you feel so hungry that you become angry. This is a scientifically validated experience! You can learn more from Dr. Jennifer MacCormack, a social psychologist, about feeling hangry in the optional video below:

There is a direct connection between the psychological science of motivation, and SDG 2: Zero Hunger. This SDG is focused on eliminating hunger by 2030. As per the UN, in 2024, 1 in 12 globally faced hunger and approximately 28 per cent of all people (~2.3 billion people) were moderately or severely food insecure.

Sustainable Development Goal 2 end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture infographic. "Zero Hunger" goal is at risk. More than 600 million people worldwide are projected to face hunger in 2030. Despite dropping in 2021, high food prices continue to plage many nations. Share of countries experienced moderately to abnormally high food prices, with 15.2% of countries from 2015 to 2019 facing increased food prices, to 48.1% of countries facing increased food prices in 2020. That number dropped to 21.5% of countries facing heightened food prices in 2021 but remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. Little to no progress has been made in reducing anemia worldwide since 2000. Prevelanece of anemia in women aged 15-49 has remained stagent at around 30%. 1 in 3 people worldwide will struggle with moderate to severe food insecurity. Finally, malnutrition persists worlwide, jeopardizing children's well-being and future development. As of 2023, 148 million children under age 5 are affected by stunting, 45 million children experiencing wasting, and 37 million children are overweight.

Drive states, such as hunger, are a topic in psychological science research. This research connects with work being done to reduce food insecurity. If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to explore this Fact Sheet from the Canadian Psychological Association. It talks about the essential role of psychology for developing and delivering client-centered care individually and at a community level, the importance of psychological scientists advocating on issues related to food insecurity, and the importance of students understanding areas of psychology that primarily conduct work in this area. Namely, the subdiscipline of psychology called Community Psychology is very active in this area. We invite you to explore this open access (free) chapter on Community Psychology in Canada if it is of interest to you.

Emotion is a topic also covered in this unit, and a topic that is studied in depth in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University. If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to learn more about the work of Dr. Vera Vine.  Dr. Vine’s work focuses on biopsychosocial mechanisms in the development of youth emotion dysregulation and related outcomes (e.g., depression, suicide). She is especially interested in understanding the costs, benefits, and foundations–social and biological–of emotion awareness.

References:

Brunson, L., Gilmer, A., & Loomis, C. (2019). Applications and careers in community psychology: Practicing in settings, systems, and communities to build well-being and promote social justice. In M. E. Norris (Ed.), The Canadian handbook for careers in psychological science. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/psychologycareers/chapter/applications-and-careers-in-community-psychology/

MacCormack, J. (n.d.). The psychology of “hangry”: American Psychological Association [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFgnzqVXA0c

United Nations. (n.d.). Goal 2: Zero hunger. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/

How to cite this using APA Style:

Norris, M. E., & Bonar, R. J. T. (2026). Making connections (IntroPSYC and SDG 2): Zero hunger. In PSYC 100: Principles of psychology. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/testbookje/chapter/making-connections-intropsyc-and-sdg-2-zero-hunger/

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