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Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
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Discrepancies between implicit and explicit motivation and unhealthy eating behavior.

Veronika Job1, Daniela Oertig, Veronika Brandstätter

  • 1University of Zurich, Switzerland. vjob@stanford.edu

Journal of Personality
|June 16, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Psychological conflict between implicit and explicit motives can cause stress, influencing eating behaviors. This study found that motive discrepancies are linked to unsettled eating patterns, particularly in middle-aged women.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Health Psychology

Background:

  • Stress significantly impacts eating behaviors.
  • Intrapersonal psychological conflict, arising from discrepancies between implicit and explicit motives, is a key stressor.
  • Understanding the link between motive discrepancies and eating behavior is crucial for mental and physical health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between motive discrepancies and eating behavior.
  • To examine how implicit and explicit motives interact to influence food consumption.
  • To explore the role of emotional distress in mediating this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Study 1: A quasi-experimental lab study (N=53) assessed snack consumption during a taste test.
  • Study 2: A cross-sectional study (N=100) of middle-aged women examined motive discrepancies and eating behavior indices.
  • Statistical analyses included regression to identify interaction effects and mediation analyses for emotional distress.

Main Results:

  • In Study 1, the interaction between implicit achievement motive and explicit task commitment predicted snack intake.
  • Study 2 revealed that overall motive discrepancy correlated with unsettled eating in middle-aged women.
  • Specific interaction effects were found for power and achievement motivation, but not affiliation. Emotional distress partially mediated the link between motive discrepancy and eating behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Motive discrepancies represent a significant source of psychological stress that influences eating behavior.
  • The findings highlight the complex interplay between implicit/explicit motives, stress, and disordered eating patterns.
  • Interventions addressing motive discrepancies may help mitigate stress-related eating behaviors.