Axsom & Cooper, 1985: Performing effortful tasks claimed to help losing weight increased weight loss among overweight undergraduates over one year
Reference:
Axsom, D., & Cooper, J. (1985). Cognitive dissonance and psychotherapy: The role of effort justification in inducing weight loss. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 21(2), 149-160.
Download PDFSummary:
Overweight undergraduates were told that various perceptual and cognitive tasks they would complete over four experimental sessions would enhance “neuro-physiological arousal” and help them lose weight. Those for whom the tasks required high effort (distinguishing similar lines, reciting text as their voice echoes back) lost an average of 6 pounds a year later. By contrast, students for whom the tasks were easy, short, and included breaks and those in a control condition lost no weight.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
To See the Self as AdequateApproach to Desired Meaning
What about it?
Link Self-Integrity to a Behavior or Attitude to Motivate Positive ChangePsychological Question Addressed
Did I work hard at this?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Heading
Did I work hard at this?Social Area:
Health
Intervention Technique:
Increasing commitment through action, effort justification