A regulatory focus perspective on eating behavior: how prevention and promotion focus relates to emotional, external, and restrained eating

Abstract

By applying regulatory focus theory (RFT) to the context of eating behavior, the present research examines the relations between individual differences in the two motivational orientations as conceptualized in RFT, that is, prevention-focused and promotion-focused self-regulation and emotional, external, and restrained eating. Building on a representative study conducted in the Netherlands (N = 4,230), it is documented that individual differences in prevention focus are positively related to emotional eating whereas negligible associations are found in regards to external and restrained eating. Individual differences in promotion focus are positively related to external eating whereas negligible associations are found in regards to emotional and restrained eating. In relating RFT to different eating styles we were able to document significant relations of basic self-regulatory orientations with regard to essential daily behavior associated with health and well-being. The implications for changing eating styles are discussed.

The watching eyes phenomenon: The role of a sense of being seen and public self‐awareness

“…That is, individuals with relatively strong chronic public self‐awareness behave more prosocially under watching eyes conditions because they are anxious about and motivated to avoid the negative judgments and evaluations of others. In fact, it is an open question for future research to examine whether the avoidance system (anxiously avoiding negative evaluations) or the approach system (eagerly approaching positive evaluations) underlies the watching eyes phenomenon (Pfattheicher & Keller, 2013; Pfattheicher & Sassenrath, ). The present research reflects a meaningful basis in this regard.…”

A regulatory focus perspective on reputational concerns: The impact of prevention-focused self-regulation

“…Moreover, prevention-focused individuals are motivated to avoid losses and to approach non-losses. In doing so, prevention-focused individuals typically prefer avoidance strategies and are sensitive with the presence or absence of negative outcomes and information (Higgins 2012b;Pfattheicher and Sassenrath 2014;Higgins 2008, 2011). Neural correlates support this assumption indicating a greater activity in the amygdala, anterior cingulate, and extrastriate cortex for prevention-focused individuals when negative (vs. positive) information is presented (Cunningham et al 2005).…”

Food craving: new contributions on its assessment, moderators, and consequences

“…Food craving is also associated with external eating, that is, it is often triggered by cues in the environment. Pfattheicher and Sassenrath ( 2014 ) report that emotional eating is positively related to individual differences in prevention focus while external eating is positively related to individual differences in promotion focus. Hence, this study showed that trait-like self-regulatory orientations are differentially related to specific eating styles, which may inspire intervention approaches for the reduction of food craving.…”