Social interaction effects on restrained eating

The eating behavior of college women scoring within either the above-average or middle ranges on the Restraint Scale was compared following brief social encounters with male students or other female students, or a no-encounter control situation. The eating of average restraint women was significantly depressed following interaction with a partner whom the subjects considered attractive. For high restraint women a nonsignificant tendency towards disinhibition of eating following interaction with an attractive other occurred. Personality ratings by partners indicated that high restraint women presented a distinct social persona to male, but not female, strangers in the brief experimental interaction.