Final answer:
The psychologists are exploring the psychological factors affecting eating behaviors, such as the impact of anxiety-inducing environmental stimuli. They're informed by Psychological principles and may also consider the Hawthorne effect in their research methodology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The psychologists in the question are most likely following principles rooted in Psychology, specifically within the realm of Behavioral Science. These researchers are investigating psychological factors such as anxiety and its influence on people's eating behavior in the presence of specific environmental stimuli, like loud noises or flashing lights. The behavioral tendencies they're examining reflect how people might consume more food due to the distress these conditions cause. This study also touches upon social norms and the factors affecting what we eat, which includes culture, availability, cost, education, as well as physiological and psychosocial influences.
The psychologists likely utilize observations and controlled experiments to gauge behavioral changes in eating due to anxiety-inducing stimuli. Their study might have to account for the Hawthorne effect, where subjects alter their behavior because they are aware they're being observed. The overall aim of this research is to understand the complex relationship between environment, psychology, and eating habits.