Trait self-control and healthy/unhealthy food choices: the role of response conflict

Abstract

Background: Self-control refers to inhibiting impulsive, unhealthy behaviors and initiating healthy, desired behaviors. While self-control is essential in health and well-being, self-control success remains somewhat of a mystery. Differences in response conflict (e.g., candy vs. health) could be how high trait self-controllers achieve self-control success. Methods: Self-control was assessed through self-report. Study 1 (N=140 online participants) consisted of self-reports of conflict about healthy and unhealthy foods. Study 2 (N=115 university students) employed an implicit measure of response conflict. While participants moved healthy/unhealthy food pictures to positive/negative categories, their computer mouse movements were recorded. These movements reflected extent and course of the response conflict. Findings: High trait self-controllers self-reported less conflict about healthy and unhealthy foods. Study 2 revealed that although response conflict was present for both high and low trait self-controllers, high self-controllers identified and resolved conflicts faster than low self-controllers. Discussion: Trait self-control is not associated with differences in the presence or size of the response conflict per se, but the process of solving the response conflict is more efficient for high trait self-controllers.