Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Giving in to sin
Ever wonder what makes you more likely to give into temptation? What makes you eat sweets on your diet, or break that promise to yourself not to gossip? Researchers at Duke University, the University of Southern California and the University of Pennsylvania have been looking at the power of suggestion, and how having mixed feelings on a subject (i.e., wanting to do something but knowing you shouldn't) affects your ability to resist giving in. What they found is that simply being asked questions about something that tempts you can significantly increase the chances you will give in to it.
For example, the researchers looked at two groups of college students. The first group was asked how often the students intended to skip class the next week. The control group was asked how often they intended to floss. At the end of the week, students from the first group had an average of one more absence from class compared with the second group. Slackers.
The researchers theorize in next month's Journal of Consumer Research that seemingly harmless questions about intention can be more powerful than we imagine, and that these kinds of queries lower our guard and make us feel freer about giving into our desires. That could explain how some TV ads are more effective than others, and probably how some people are more likely to get you to do what you know you shouldn't.
Fortunately, the researchers also noticed that thinking about how to avoid temptation ahead of time, and deciding on a reward for sticking to your guns does help thwart the power of temptation.
What is your personal vice, and how do you avoid the temptation to indulge? Have you noticed that being asked about it makes you more likely to think about it and thus makes it harder to resist? Have you found that self-rewards and other pre-meditated plans help? If not, what does?
ABOUT THE BLOGGet a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends -- info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
PREVIOUS POSTS• Red meat risks
• Fit Buddies update
• Washing off the E. Coli not so easy
• A face behind the spinach scare
• Are women responsible for obesity among children?
• Bono takes on the world's toughest issues
• Cultural barriers to mental health
• Fit Buddies update
• For Mother's Day, focus on the heart
• Clinton gets people to care about AIDS