When planning is not enough: fighting unhealthy snacking habits by mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII)
Abstract
In two experiments a self‐regulatory strategy combining mental contrasting with the formation of implementation intentions (MCII) was tested for its effectiveness in diminishing unhealthy snacking habits. Study 1 (N = 51) showed that participants in the MCII condition consumed fewer unhealthy snacks than participants in a control condition who thought about and listed healthy options for snacks. In Study 2 (N = 59) MCII was more effective than mental contrasting or formulating implementation intentions alone and mental contrasting was found to increase perceived clarity about critical cues for unhealthy snacking. Together, these findings suggest that MCII is an effective strategy for fighting habits and that one of the underlying processes making MCII superior to implementation intentions alone may be that mental contrasting produces clarity about the critical cues for the unwanted habitual behavior. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Combining mental contrasting with implementation intentions is more effective in goal pursuit than either mental contrasting or implementation intentions.
“Both laboratory experiments and field studies have shown that combining mental contrasting with implementation intentions is more effective in goal pursuit than either mental contrasting or implementation intentions (Adriaanse et al., 2010; Kirk et al., 2013).”
From A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Mental Contrasting With Implementation Intentions on Goal Attainment (2021) · cites this paper as Adriaanse et al., 2010
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“Both laboratory experiments and field studies have shown that combining mental contrasting with implementation intentions is more effective in goal pursuit than either mental contrasting or implementation intentions (Adriaanse et al., 2010; Kirk et al., 2013).”
InfluentialChoosing not to follow rules that will reduce the spread of COVID-19
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“Another successful strategy involved tying inhibitory plans to cues that activate habits (Adriaanse et al., 2010).”
- Authors
- Adriaanse, M. A., Oettingen, G., Gollwitzer, P. M., Hennes, E. P., de Ridder, D. T. D., & de Wit, J. B. F.
- Affiliations
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- University of Konstanz (DE)
- New York University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Adriaanse, Marieke A.
- Venue
- European Journal of Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-11-24
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1277-1293
- ISSN
- 0046-2772 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0992
- OpenAlex
- W2157568931
- Cited by
- 247
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 17.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- mental contrasting with implementation intentions, unhealthy snacking, self-regulation, habit change, implementation intentions, mental contrasting, dietary habits
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