Loes Janssen

Mindlessness revisited: Sequential request techniques foster compliance by draining self-control resources

The present research extends previous findings suggesting that sequential request techniques, such as the Foot-in-the-Door (FITD) or Door-in-the-Face (DITF) technique, are primarily effective under conditions conducive of mindlessness. We forward that this mindlessness may be the product of the influence technique itself. More specifically, based on the notion of self-control as a limited resource, we hypothesize that actively responding to the initial request-phase of a FITD-compliance gaining procedure drains the target of his/her self-regulatory resources, thus creating the mindlessness so often observed in social influence settings. This resource depletion opens the door for compliance with the target request. The results were in line with these expectations. More specifically, we observed that active responding to an initial request of a FITD technique reduced the availability of self-regulatory resources. This state of resource depletion mediated the effect of the technique on behavioral compliance. In addition, the results of this study ruled out the alternate explanation that the effects were attributable to mood or a general tendency for acquiescence.

Impaired self-control can promote prosocial and health-fostering behavior

Symposia (In alphabetical order by convenor) SYMPOSIUM: Applications of action planning in psychological interventions for healthy eating Convenor: Adriaanse M.,* & Gawrilow C.; *Utrecht University, Netherlands Aims: Most studies on action planning in the health domain relate to initiating healthpromoting behaviours (Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006). As today’s most predominant health concerns pertain to health-risk behaviours like unhealthy eating this symposium aims to investigate the effectiveness of action planning for diminishing unhealthy eating. Moreover, we aim to extend previous research by looking at non-student samples and longer time frames. Additionally, the symposium addresses boundary conditions for the effectiveness of action planning by looking at quality of plans and potential ironic effects. Rationale: The effectiveness of action planning in promoting goal-directed behaviour is well established. Unfortunately, research assessing the effects of this strategy in the longer term, in non-student samples, or to reduce health-risk behaviours is limited and little is known about its boundary conditions. As the 2009 EHPS conference aims to relate theoretical knowledge to psychological interventions, applications and boundary conditions of action planning is a particularly relevant topic for this years conference. Summary: The symposium starts with two talks about applications of action planning in non-student samples and over longer time periods. Specifically, Gawrilow will discuss the efficacy of implementation intentions in promoting healthy diets in overweight children. Stadler will then talk about effects of action planning on long-term diet change in a non-student sample. The symposium continues with two talks discussing boundary conditions of action planning effects. Firstly, Aarts will discuss the effects of hunger on the quality of plans. Subsequently, Adriaanse will discuss potential ironic rebound effects when planning to avoid health-risk behaviours. Discussant: Sheeran P. *University of Sheffield, UK. Paper 1: Planning of eating behaviour in overweight children Gawrilow C.,* Sage K., Tabibzadeh P., Oettingen G., & Gollwitzer P.; *University of Hamburg, Germany A self-regulation strategy that facilitates the translation of goal commitments into goaldirected behaviour is the formation of implementation intentions. We tested the effectiveness of implementation intentions in promoting a healthy diet in overweight children. Thirty-four overweight children were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: goal intention or goal intentionþ implementation intention. Participants and their parents filled out questionnaires and kept an online eating-diary for a time period of four weeks. Children who were instructed ISSN 0887–0446 print/ISSN 1476–8321 online 2009 Taylor & Francis DOI: 10.1080/08870440903126405 http://www.informaworld.com to form implementation intentions ate healthier than participants in the goal intention condition, ps5 .05. Furthermore, children in the goal intention condition showed enhanced restrained eating in the follow-up (p5 .05), whereas children in the implementation intention condition did not (ns). We interpret these findings by referring to implementation intention theory: Implementation intentions are thought to convert the top-down control of action into bottom-up control of action. Paper 2: Intervention effects of information and self-regulation on eating over the course of two years Stadler G.,* Oettingen G., Gollwitzer P., Gaertner O., & Mueller A.; *Columbia University, USA The study’s primary objective was to test the effects of two brief interventions (information vs. informationþ self-regulation) on long-term diet change. Participants (n1⁄4 255) filled out six 7-day diet diaries over the course of the 24-month randomized controlled trial. Participants in both groups ate more fruits and vegetables (0.47 to 1.00 daily servings) than at baseline during the first four months after intervention. Participants in both groups reduced their intake of fat and added sugar and these changes were positively correlated. Two years later, participants in the informationþ self-regulation group maintained the higher intake of fruits and vegetables whereas participants in the information group returned to baseline levels. Forming action plans was related to diet change. Adding self-regulation to information interventions seems to increase their effectiveness for long-term behaviour change and action planning was found to be a key mechanism. Paper 3: The influence of hunger on coping planning for the maintenance of weight loss goals Stock M.,* Aarts F., de Ridder D., & Ouwehand C.; *Utrecht University, Netherlands Background: Coping planning – specifying coping responses to potential goal-threatening situations – can be effective in diminishing unhealthy eating. However, people seem to lack the necessary awareness of potential goal-threatening situations for healthy eating. We tested whether this might be explained by the fact that satiated people underestimate influences of hunger craving on their future behaviour and whether this results in lower quality plans. Methods: A hungry and satiated group were compared on their evaluation of vignettes describing potential goal-threatening situations (Study 1; n1⁄4 73) and on quality of coping plans for healthy diet (Study 2; n1⁄4 52). Findings: Compared to satiated participants, hungry participants evaluated the situations as more difficult, (p1⁄4 .004), but made lower quality coping plans (p1⁄4 .022). Discussion: Results indicate that hungry people were more aware of potential goal-threatening situations, but did not construct better coping plans. Possible explanations and implications for interventions are discussed. Paper 4: Planning what not to eat: Ironic effect of suppression plans Adriaanse M.,* van Oosten A., de Ridder D., & de Wit J.; *Utrecht University, Netherlands Background: In contrast to positive findings for initiating new behaviours, results for implementation intentions aimed at changing existing habits are mixed. One explanation could be that planning not to perform an unwanted habit, may lead to a heightened accessibility of the habit and result in ironic rebound effects. Methods: Study 1 (n1⁄4 50) and 2 (n1⁄4 47) tested whether suppression plans result in a heightened accessibility of the habit compared to 16 Abstracts