title: Oops I Did it Again: Examining Self-Licensing Effects in a Subsequent Self-Regulation Dilemma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have mainly examined the immediate effects of self-licensing on self-regulation failure. The present vignette studies examined what happens when a second self-regulation dilemma is encountered.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Studies 1 (N = 52) and 2 (N = 166), participants read a vignette in which the protagonist chooses to buy a treat while being on a diet, which was preceded by a license (License condition) or not (Control condition). The self-reported likelihood of indulging again when a second dilemma was presented in the same situation served as the dependent variable. Study 2 included measures of self-regulatory ability (motivation and self-efficacy) and also presented the dilemma in a new situation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study 1 showed that participants were more likely to indulge again after an initial indulgent choice with a license. This was replicated in Study 2, which also showed that self-licensing had no effect on goal re-engagement in a new situation. A marginally significant positive effect of self-licensing was found for self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained suggest that self-licensing negatively affects goal re-engagement in the same situation, but not in a new situation. Whether self-licensing maintains or increases feelings of self-efficacy needs to be validated in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sosja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prinsen
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Catharine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Ridder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D000068356:Self-Control; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dieting; eating behavior; justify; self-licensing; self-regulation failure