Public Self-Awareness and Success-Failure Feedback as Disinhibitors of Restrained Eating

This study investigated the role of public self-awareness and distress in disinhibiting eating. Ninety-six women who were classified as restrained or unrestrained eaters completed a computerized social perception test during which public self-awareness (low vs. high) and type of feedback (success vs...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Basic and applied social psychology 1994-12, Vol.15 (4), p.509-521
Main Authors: Stephens, Gretchen C., Prentice-Dunn, Steven, Spruill, Jean C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Disinhibition
Eating behaviour
Factors
Feedback
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Selfawareness
Success-Failure
Theories
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study investigated the role of public self-awareness and distress in disinhibiting eating. Ninety-six women who were classified as restrained or unrestrained eaters completed a computerized social perception test during which public self-awareness (low vs. high) and type of feedback (success vs. failure) were manipulated. Following the test, restrained subjects ate more than did unrestrained subjects. When public self-awareness was low, subjects who received failure feedback consumed more than those who were exposed to success feedback. An opposite pattern occurred in the high-self-awareness condition. A post hoc examination revealed that restrained subjects exhibited more regulated eating behavior when exposed to a combination of disinhibitors, whereas each disinhibitor taken separately was associated with increased consumption. Results were interpreted in terms of the self-awareness reduction model of eating.
ISSN:0197-3533
1532-4834
DOI:10.1207/s15324834basp1504_7