License to indulge: reflecting on prior (academic) success increases unhealthy snack intake

Abstract

Background: Self-licensing is the process whereby people make excuses to (temporarily) abandon their long term goal(s). In the domain of eating behavior, prior success has been identified as a commonly used license, yet this claim lacks sufficient empirical evidence. The support for this type of license is limited in that only hypothetical food choices have been examined. Therefore, the present studies aimed to look at the effect of a ‘success-license’ on actual food intake. Methods: In Study 1 (N = 81) and Study 2 (N = 91) female students were provided with a license to indulge (by means of reflecting on prior academic success; license condition) or not (control condition). Unhealthy snack intake was measured in a subsequent a taste-test. Results: In both studies, participants in the license condition ate significantly more of the provided unhealthy snack than participants in the control condition. Discussion: Together, these findings extend previous research by showing that a success-license increases indulgent eating behavior. The underlying mechanism remains to be empirically verified in future studies, as well as the role of positive affect.