title: Knowledge of the self-control benefits of high-level versus low-level construal.
abstract: Research indicates that inducing high-level construal (processing that highlights invariant, essential features) relative to low-level construal (processing that highlights idiosyncratic, peripheral features) promotes self-control (Fujita & Carnevale, 2012). In the present work, we investigate to what extent people recognize the self-control benefits of high-level construal, and explore the consequences of this knowledge. Studies 1 and 2 provide initial evidence that individuals are aware that high-level relative to low-level construal promotes self-control in the dieting domain. Studies 3 and 4 find that individual differences in this knowledge predict self-control success outcomes (i.e., body mass index) among those who are motivated by dieting goals. Examining academics as a domain of self-control, Study 5 demonstrates that those with higher knowledge of construal level's impact on self-control earned higher end-of-semester grades to the extent that they were motivated to do well academically. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: MacGregor
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Purchase College, State University of New York.
authors.forename: Jessica J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Carnevale
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Nicole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Dusthimer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology*