Psychological Explanations: Studies
Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 13.1.12
Herman and Mack (1975)
Herman and Mack (1975) investigated disinhibition in restrained eaters (dieters). The study supports restraint theory as a psychological explanation for obesity.
Procedure
- Laboratory experiment.
- Two groups of participants who were either restricted eaters (dieters), or non-restricted eaters, were invited to take part in a study they were told was to test the impact of milkshake on perception of ice-cream flavours.
- Participants were given either zero, one or two strawberry milkshakes (pre-load) and then 3 flavours of ice cream to taste. They could eat as much as they wanted.
Results & conclusions
- Results
- The restrained eaters who had pre-loaded with milkshakes ate much more ice cream than the non-restrained dieters. It seemed once they had violated their diets they gave up on any self-restraint.
- Conclusion
- The finding that restrained eaters eat more after violating a diet is termed the disinhibition effect.
Evaluation
- Strengths
- Controlled and reliable.
- Practical applications.
- Limitations
- Ethics- deception.
- Individual differences.
- Social and cultural variations.
Test yourself on Psychological Explanations: Studies
What were Herman and Mack's (1975) findings?