The effects of resolving to diet on restrained and unrestrained eaters: The ?false hope syndrome?
International Journal of Eating DisordersPublished 1 December 1999
Janet Polivy, C. Peter Herman
Citations68
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.70
SNIP1.46
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TL;DR
It is proposed that self-change efforts capitalize on a "false hope syndrome," in which the initial commitment to change brings immediate rewards (largely improvements in self-image), regardless of the eventual outcome.
Abstract
These results are discussed in terms of variations on the false hope syndrome for different kinds of individuals (novices and veterans).
Keywords
PsychologyMedicine
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