Does a dieting goal affect automatic cognitive processes and their trainability?

This study investigated implicit self-control dispositions—implicit approach tendencies towards low-caloric food rather than towards high-caloric food—in dieters. Action tendencies were assessed and trained using the Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT). Additionally, positive/negative affective associations [Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT)], approach/avoidance associations (BIAT), and attentional biases [Dot Probe Task (DPT)] were assessed before and after training. Before training, dieters showed a more negative affective association with high-caloric food than non-dieters (positive/negative BIAT), consistent with the presence of self-control dispositions. On the AAT, all participants, not just dieters, showed more approach of low-caloric food than of high-caloric food. Results of neither the approach/avoidance BIAT nor the DPT showed any indication of implicit self-control dispositions. This study also investigated whether implicit self-control dispositions interfered with AAT training effects. This did not seem to be the case, as action tendencies could be strengthened even further. Moreover, training effects generalized to the DPT.
Keywords: Implicit self-control dispositions, Dieting goal, Action tendencies, Associations Attentional bias