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Dusthimer N Masters Thesis2016.pdf (6.67 MB)

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Temptation and Construal Level Associations as a Marker of Unsuccessful versus Successful Dieting

Dusthimer, Nicole
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1462024089

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
The primary goal of this research is to explore differences in how unsuccessful and successful self-controllers construe temptations in a self-control conflict. We focus on this self-control conflict from the perspective of construal level theory (CLT; Trope & Liberman, 2003). Past research has shown that high-level construal, relative to low-level construal, promotes successful self-control decisions (e.g. Fujita, 2011; Fujita, Trope, Liberman, & Levin-Sagi, 2006). Unsuccessful self-controllers might repeatedly evoke low-level construal when considering a temptation, whereas successful self-controllers might repeatedly evoke high-level construal when considering a temptation. Over time, this could lead to associations between temptations and construal level. We examined if unsuccessful self-controllers associate temptations with low-level construal to a greater extent and high-level construal to a lesser extent than successful self-controllers. We considered weaker associations between temptations and high-level construal, relative to low-level construal, to be weaker associations, and stronger associations between temptations and high-level construal, relative to low-level construal, to be stronger associations. In three studies, we first examined whether participants associate temptations with construal level using a single category IAT. We then examined if unsuccessful dieters show a cognitive signature of weaker associations, and if this is attenuated for successful dieters. Although all three studies indicated that participants associate temptations with low-level construal, only Studies 1 and 2 showed the expected pattern where unsuccessful dieters had weaker associations and these weaker associations were attenuated for successful dieters. We also examined if these weaker associations predicted future self-control failure with a variety of in-lab self-control measures. Overall, all three studies provided some descriptive evidence for the role of these associations in predicting self-control failure. Finally, in Study 3 we used two measurement checks to assess whether participants with weaker associations (stronger associations) actually construed temptations in low-level (high-level) terms. These measurement checks provided mixed results, and possible reasons for this inconsistency are discussed. Important future directions, as well as implications for self-control and construal level theory, are discussed.
Kentaro Fujita, Dr. (Advisor)
Lisa Libby, Dr. (Committee Member)
Ellen Peters, Dr. (Committee Member)
73 p.
Psychology
psychology; self-control; motivation; construal level

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dusthimer, N. (2016). Temptation and Construal Level Associations as a Marker of Unsuccessful versus Successful Dieting [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1462024089

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dusthimer, Nicole. Temptation and Construal Level Associations as a Marker of Unsuccessful versus Successful Dieting. 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1462024089.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dusthimer, Nicole. "Temptation and Construal Level Associations as a Marker of Unsuccessful versus Successful Dieting." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1462024089

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1462024089
473
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.