PUBLIC SELF-AWARENESS AND SUCCESS FAILURE FEEDBACK AS DISINHIBITORS OF RESTRAINED EATING

This study investigated the role of public self-awareness and distress in disinhibiting eating. Ninety-six women who were classified as rest rained or unrestrained eaters completed a computerized social percepti on test during which public self-awareness (low vs. high) and type of feedback (success vs. failure) were manipulated. Following the test, r estrained subjects ate more than did unrestrained subjects. When publi c self-awareness was low, subjects who received failure feedback consu med more than those who were exposed to success feedback. An opposite pattern occurred in the high-self-awareness condition. A post hoc exam ination revealed that restrained subjects exhibited more regulated eat ing behavior when exposed to a combination of disinhibitors, whereas e ach disinhibitor taken saparetely was associated with increased consum ption. Results were interpreted in terms of the self-awareness reducti on model of eating.