Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T20:35:13.287Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Does Cognitive Distraction Lead to Overeating in Restrained Eaters?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

Brigitte Boon ,
Wolfgang Stroebe ,
Henk Schut  and
Anita Jansen
Brigitte Boon
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Wolfgang Stroebe
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Henk Schut
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Anita Jansen
Affiliation:
Maastricht University, The Netherlands
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Restrained eaters have been found to overeat after various events or so-called disinhibitors, such as eating a preload or strong emotional states. Little research has focused on why such events lead to a break of the restrained eaters' control and to overeating. The present study examines the role of cognitive distraction as a possible mechanism underlying these effects. Two experiments were conducted, both designed to test hypotheses derived from Wegner's Ironic Process Theory and focusing on the behavioural consequences of cognitive control over eating. In both experiments subjects were tested in a 2 (restrained/unrestrained) by 2 (distraction/no distraction) design. The results do not confirm the prediction flowing from the Ironic Process Theory: cognitive distraction does not lead to overeating in restrained eaters. Implications of these findings for the Boundary Model are also discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , October 1997 , pp. 319 - 327
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Herman, C. P. & Polivy, J. (1984). A boundary model for the regulation of eating. In Stunkard, A. J. & Stellar, E. (Eds.), Eating and its disorders. New York: Raven Press.Google Scholar
Herman, C. P. & Polivy, J. (1993). Mental control of eating: Excitatory and inhibitory food thoughts. In Wegner, D. M. & Pennebaker, J. W. (Eds.), Handbook of mental control. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Hibscher, J. A. & Herman, C. P. (1977). Obesity, dieting and the expression of obese characteristics. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 91, 374–380.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jansen, A., Oosterlaan, J., Merckelbach, H., & Hout, M. A. van den (1988). Nonregulation of food intake in restrained emotional and external eaters. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 10, 345–353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowe, M. R. (1993). The effects of dieting on eating behavior: A three factor model. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 100–121.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Polivy, J. & Herman, C. P. (1991). Good and bad dieters: Self-perception and reaction to a dietary challenge. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 91–99.3.0.CO;2-6>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Polivy, J., Herman, C. P., Hacket, R., & Kuleshnyk, J. (1986). The effects of self-attention and public attention on eating in restrained and unrestrained subjects. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 1253–1260.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Polivy, J., Herman, C. P., & Warsh, S. (1978). Internal and external components of emotionality in restrained and unrestrained eaters. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 497–504.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ruderman, A. J. (1986). Dietary restraint: A theoretical and empirical review. Psychological Bulletin, 99, 247–262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ruderman, A. J. & Christensen, H. (1983). Restraint theory and its applicability to overweight individuals. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92, 210–215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ruderman, A. J. & Wilson, G. T. (1979). Weight, restraint, cognitions and counter-regulation. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 17, 581–590.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spencer, J. A. & Fremouw, W. J. (1979). Binge eating as a function of restraint and weight classification. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88, 262–267.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vos, P. G. (1988). Bourdon Vos Test: Handleiding. Lisse: Swets en Zeitlinger.Google Scholar
Wegner, D. M. (1994). Ironic processes of mental control. Psychological Review, 101, 34–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wegner, D. M. & Erber, R. (1993). Social foundations of mental control. In Wegner, D. M. & Pennebaker, J. W. (Eds.), Handbook of mental control (pp. 36–56). Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Wegner, D. M., Schneider, D. J., Carter, S. R. III, & White, T. L. (1987). Paradoxical effects of thought suppression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 5–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woody, E. Z., Constanzo, P. R., Liefer, H., & Conger, J. (1981). The effects of taste and caloric perceptions on eating behavior of restrained and unrestrained subjects. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 5, 381–390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.