TY - JOUR
T1 - Resisting temptation of unhealthy food: Interaction between temptation-elicited goal activation and self-control
AU - Haynes, Ashleigh
AU - Kemps, Eva
AU - Moffitt, Robyn
AU - Mohr, Philip
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - Counteractive control theory suggests that the cognitive accessibility of a goal in response to a temptation cue predicts self-regulation of behaviour consistent with that goal. The current study provided a novel test of this effect in the eating domain, exploring the moderating role of trait self-control. A sample of 124 women (18-25 years) completed a lexical decision task to assess cognitive accessibility of the weight-management goal after food temptation priming. Eating self-regulation was operationalised as unhealthy snack food intake measured in a task disguised as a taste-test. Participants completed trait self-control and temptation experience intensity measures. Cognitive accessibility predicted lower food intake, but only among high self-control participants. The relationship was mediated by temptation experience intensity: participants with high cognitive accessibility felt less tempted, and subsequently ate less food. Results suggest that changing the processes underlying the temptation experience, rather than the cognitive accessibility of a goal may more effectively enhance self-regulation among low self-control individuals.
AB - Counteractive control theory suggests that the cognitive accessibility of a goal in response to a temptation cue predicts self-regulation of behaviour consistent with that goal. The current study provided a novel test of this effect in the eating domain, exploring the moderating role of trait self-control. A sample of 124 women (18-25 years) completed a lexical decision task to assess cognitive accessibility of the weight-management goal after food temptation priming. Eating self-regulation was operationalised as unhealthy snack food intake measured in a task disguised as a taste-test. Participants completed trait self-control and temptation experience intensity measures. Cognitive accessibility predicted lower food intake, but only among high self-control participants. The relationship was mediated by temptation experience intensity: participants with high cognitive accessibility felt less tempted, and subsequently ate less food. Results suggest that changing the processes underlying the temptation experience, rather than the cognitive accessibility of a goal may more effectively enhance self-regulation among low self-control individuals.
KW - Counteractive control theory
KW - Food intake
KW - Self-control
KW - Self-regulation
KW - Weight-management goal
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84903301964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11031-014-9393-6
DO - 10.1007/s11031-014-9393-6
M3 - Article
VL - 38
SP - 485
EP - 495
JO - Motivation and Emotion
JF - Motivation and Emotion
SN - 0146-7239
IS - 4
ER -