1
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Garcia-Guerrero S, O’Hora D, Zgonnikov A, Scherbaum S. The action dynamics of approach-avoidance conflict during decision-making. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2023; 76:160-179. [PMID: 35236183 PMCID: PMC9773158 DOI: 10.1177/17470218221087625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Approach-avoidance conflict is observed in the competing motivations towards the benefits and away from the costs of a decision. The current study investigates the action dynamics of response motion during such conflicts in an attempt to characterise their dynamic resolution. An approach-avoidance conflict was generated by varying the appetitive consequences of a decision (i.e., point rewards and shorter participation time) in the presence of simultaneous aversive consequences (i.e., shock probability). Across two experiments, approach-avoidance conflict differentially affected response trajectories. Approach trajectories were less complex than avoidance trajectories and, as approach and avoidance motivations neared equipotentiality, response trajectories were more deflected from the shortest route to the eventual choice. Consistency in the location of approach and avoidance response options reduced variability in performance enabling more sensitive estimates of dynamic conflict. The time course of competing influences on response trajectories including trial-to-trial effects and conflict between approach and avoidance were estimated using regression analyses. We discuss these findings in terms of a dynamic theory of approach-avoidance that we hope will lead to insights of practical relevance in the field of maladaptive avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Garcia-Guerrero
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland,Santiago Garcia-Guerrero, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, University Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland.
| | - Denis O’Hora
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Arkady Zgonnikov
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Stefan Scherbaum
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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2
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McGregor I, Tran A, Auger E, Britton E, Hayes J, Elnakouri A, Eftekhari E, Sharpinskyi K, Arbiv OA, Nash K. Higher power dynamics: How meaning search and self-transcendence inspire approach motivation and magnanimity. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2022.104350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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3
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Jonker NC, Timmerman ME, de Jong PJ. The reward and punishment responsivity and motivation questionnaire (RPRM-Q): A stimulus-independent self-report measure of reward and punishment sensitivity that differentiates between responsivity and motivation. Front Psychol 2022; 13:929255. [PMID: 36033026 PMCID: PMC9404870 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.929255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Reward and punishment sensitivity seem important traits in understanding behavior in general and psychopathology in particular. Though the definitions used for reward and punishment sensitivity differentiate between responsivity and motivation, the measures thus far used to assess these constructs do not. Further, specificity of the type of reward (e.g., drugs) and punishment (e.g., spiders) in questionnaires might result in measurement bias especially when examining the relationship with psychopathology. Therefore, we developed a stimulus-independent multidimensional questionnaire of reward and punishment sensitivity that differentiates between responsivity and motivation. This study addresses the psychometric qualities of this newly developed reward and punishment responsivity and motivation questionnaire (RPRM-Q). On the basis of exploratory ordinal factor analysis (N = 273) that was used to examine the quality of the initial pool of 39 items, the number of items was reduced to 18. Confirmatory ordinal factor analysis on the remaining items in an independent sample (N = 328) supported a 18-item four-factor model, and showed acceptable to good internal reliability. The relationship between the subscales of the RPRM-Q and often used questionnaires was examined in the combined sample (N = 601), which showed some first support for the ability of the new questionnaire to differentiate between responsivity and motivation to approach/avoid. The findings indicate that the RPRM-Q might be a helpful instrument to further test the relevance of punishment and reward sensitivity in psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke C. Jonker
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Nienke C. Jonker,
| | - Marieke E. Timmerman
- Department of Psychometrics and Statistics, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Peter J. de Jong
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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4
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Galler M, Mikkelsen E, Næs T, Liland KH, Ares G, Varela P. Children’s sweet tooth: Explicit ratings vs. Implicit bias measured by the Approach avoidance task (AAT). Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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5
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Weydmann G, Souzedo FB, Tavares P, Corrêa L, Heidrich H, Holland H, Bizarro L. Parsing the link between reinforcement sensitivity theory and eating behavior: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 134:104525. [PMID: 34998836 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) is a widely studied psychobiological model of personality. RST factors seem to influence eating behavior, but how these personality traits are associated with distinct features of eating behavior is still unclear. In the present systematic review, we analyzed the relationship between RST personality factors and eating behavior using a parsing approach in which BMI-related results, self-reported results, and behavioral results were distinguished. Our analysis revealed that reward and punishment sensitivity seem to correlate and influence distinct features of eating behavior. The association between BMI and RST factors was uncertain, but nonlinear associations between reward sensitivity and weight need further testing. Reward sensitivity was linked to most eating behavior phenotypes (e.g., emotional eating and restrained eating), but only punishment sensitivity was primarily correlated with eating pathology. Reward sensitivity was the main factor linked with reactivity to food stimuli on many behavioral measures. The neurobiological personality factors of RST offer parsimonious concepts to understand eating behavior outcomes and the differential relationships observed are useful to translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gibson Weydmann
- Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcellos 2600, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Flávia Bellesia Souzedo
- Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcellos 2600, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Patrice Tavares
- Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcellos 2600, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luciana Corrêa
- Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Rua Sarmento Leite 245, 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Heiner Heidrich
- Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Rua Sarmento Leite 245, 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Heitor Holland
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Avenida Unisinos 950, 93022-000, São Leopoldo, Brazil
| | - Lisiane Bizarro
- Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcellos 2600, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Kirsten H, Seib-Pfeifer LE, Gibbons H. Effects of the calorie content of visual food stimuli and simulated situations on event-related frontal alpha asymmetry and event-related potentials in the context of food choices. Appetite 2021; 169:105805. [PMID: 34780810 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Approach and avoidance tendencies play an important role in everyday food choices when choosing between high-caloric, rather unhealthy, and low-caloric, rather healthy options. On a neuronal level, approach and avoidance motivation have been associated with asymmetrical activity of the frontal cortex, often quantified by alpha power averaged over several seconds of resting electroencephalogram (EEG). Going beyond the analysis of resting EEG, the present study aimed to investigate asymmetrical frontal activity in direct response to food stimuli in an event-related design and in combination with event-related potentials (ERPs). Therefore, a sample of 56 young and healthy participants completed a food choice task. They were asked to choose from a selection of high-caloric and low-caloric foods which they would want to eat on a normal day (baseline), when being on a diet, and in a reward situation. On the behavioural level, there was a clear preference for low-caloric foods. Well in line with that, time-frequency analyses of alpha asymmetry revealed relatively stronger temporary (950-1175 ms) left-hemispheric frontal activity, that is, a stronger approach tendency, in response to low-caloric as compared to high-caloric foods. Furthermore, larger P300 for low-caloric foods indicated an increased task relevance of low-caloric foods in the baseline and the reward situation. In contrast, the late positive potential (LPP), an index of subjective value, was larger for high-as compared to low-caloric foods, reflecting the intrinsic rewarding properties of high-caloric foods. ERPs, but not frontal alpha asymmetry, were influenced by the situational context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Kirsten
- Department of Psychology, University of Bonn, Kaiser-Karl-Ring 9, 53111, Bonn, Germany.
| | | | - Henning Gibbons
- Department of Psychology, University of Bonn, Kaiser-Karl-Ring 9, 53111, Bonn, Germany.
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7
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Kidd C, Loxton NJ. A narrative review of reward sensitivity, rash impulsivity, and food addiction in adolescents. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 109:110265. [PMID: 33545225 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence represents a neurodevelopmental period characterised by heightened reward drive and weaker inhibitory control that may increase vulnerability to compulsive overconsumption of highly-palatable foods and food addiction. This narrative review aimed to summarise research investigating the presence of food addiction in adolescents and establish the role that impulsivity traits (i.e., reward sensitivity and rash impulsivity), previously linked to substance and behavioural addictions, play in contributing to food addiction in this cohort. It was found that the prevalence of food addiction was typically higher in studies that recruited adolescents who were overweight/obese or from clinical populations. Overall, impulsivity was found to be more consistently associated with food addiction, while the relationships between measures of reward sensitivity and food addiction were mixed. Findings of this review suggest trait impulsivity may contribute to food addiction in adolescents, however, further longitudinal and prospective research is recommended to confirm these findings and to investigate the potential interactive effects of reward sensitivity and rash impulsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Kidd
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalie J Loxton
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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8
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Touchscreen-based assessment of food approach biases: Investigating reliability and item-specific preferences. Appetite 2021; 163:105190. [PMID: 33711352 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Strong cravings for unhealthy foods and implicit tendencies to approach them threaten the physical and mental health of vulnerable populations. Yet, implicit measures of food approach tendencies have methodological limitations, as existing approach-avoidance tasks (AAT) are often unreliable and require specialized hardware. We propose a novel method to measure approach biases: on a touchscreen, participants slide their hand either toward a food item (and away from control images) or away from it (and toward control images) in separate blocks. Adequate attention to the stimuli is ensured by the coupling of stimulus category to the required response. We found that this touchscreen-variant of the AAT yielded reliable bias scores when approach and avoidance were defined as movements relative to the stimulus rather than to the body. Compared to control images, we found an approach bias for low-calorie foods but not for high-calorie foods. This bias additionally varied on a food-by-food basis depending on the participant's desire to eat individual food items. Correlations with state and trait cravings were inconclusive. Future research needs to address the order effects that were found, in which participants avoiding foods in the first block showed larger biases than participants approaching food in the first block, likely due to insufficient opportunity to practice the task. Our findings highlight the need for approach bias retraining paradigms to use personalized stimulus sets. The task can enrich the methodological repertoire of research on eating disorders, obesity and cognitive bias modification.
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9
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Melkonyan A, Liu L, Brown EC, Meyer W, Madipakkam AR, Ringelmann L, Lange F, Schmid SM, Münte TF, Park SQ. Unchanged food approach-avoidance behaviour of healthy men after oxytocin administration. J Neuroendocrinol 2020; 32:e12923. [PMID: 33314397 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The oxytocinergic system has been assumed to contribute to food intake, possibly via interactions with dopamine. However, so far, it is unknown whether oxytocin influences the underlying motivational behaviour towards food. In the present study, we used a food-based approach-avoidance task (AAT) in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design to compare intranasal oxytocin with a placebo. In the AAT, participants pushed or pulled a joystick when images of foods with a high or low craving rating were presented, where differences in response times typically reflect approach and avoidance motivational biases towards positively and negatively valence stimuli, respectively. Thirty-three healthy male participants (age = 25.12 ± 3.51 years; body mass index = 24.25 ± 2.48 kg/m2 ) completed the two-session study, one with placebo and the other with oxytocin. We used mixed-effects models to investigate effects of treatment (oxytocin, placebo), response type (approach, avoid) and stimulus (high, low craving). The results showed that both approach and avoid responses tended to be faster for foods higher in craving compared to foods lower in craving. Most importantly, we did not observe any significant effects of oxytocin compared to placebo in motivational behaviour towards food. Our study demonstrates a general response bias towards foods with different craving values, which could have implications for future studies investigating food-related behaviour. We discuss possible explanations for the null effects of oxytocin and suggest further investigation of the relationship between oxytocin, dopamine and food-reward processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Melkonyan
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Elliot C Brown
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Willi Meyer
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Lina Ringelmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Franziska Lange
- Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sebastian M Schmid
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Thomas F Münte
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Soyoung Q Park
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, Berlin, Germany
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10
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Fricke K, Vogel S. How interindividual differences shape approach-avoidance behavior: Relating self-report and diagnostic measures of interindividual differences to behavioral measurements of approach and avoidance. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 111:30-56. [PMID: 31954150 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Responding to stimuli in ambiguous environments is partially governed by approach-avoidance tendencies. Imbalances in these approach-avoidance behaviors are implicated in many mental disorders including anxiety disorders, phobias and substance use disorders. While factors biasing human behavior in approach-avoidance conflicts have been researched in numerous experiments, a much-needed comprehensive overview integrating those findings is missing. Here, we systematically searched the existing literature on individual differences in task-based approach-avoidance behavior and aggregated the current evidence for the effect of self-reported approach/avoidance traits, anxiety and anxiety disorders, specific phobias, depression, aggression, anger and psychopathy, substance use and related disorders, eating disorders and habits, trauma, acute stress and, finally, hormone levels (mainly testosterone, oxytocin). We highlight consistent findings, underrepresented research areas and unexpected results, and detail the amount of controversy between studies. We discuss potential reasons for ambiguous results in some research areas, offer practical advice for future studies and highlight potential variables such as task-related researcher decisions that may influence how interindividual differences and disorders drive automatic approach-avoidance biases in behavioral experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Fricke
- Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Susanne Vogel
- Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457, Hamburg, Germany
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11
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Assessment of Automatically Activated Approach–Avoidance Biases Across Appetitive Substances. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40429-019-00254-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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12
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Turner D, Wittekind CE, Briken P, Fromberger P, Moritz S, Rettenberger M. Approach and Avoidance Biases Toward Sexual Stimuli and Their Association with the Dual Control Model of Sexual Response in Heterosexual Men. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:867-880. [PMID: 30238184 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1289-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Many models of human behavior work in an interaction of a dual system. While one system usually represents controlled and reflective behavioral responses, the other system reflects automatic and impulsive actions. In the impulsive system, positive stimuli initiate approach reactions and negative cues avoidance reactions. Besides stimulus valence, the behavioral response triggered by the impulsive system is influenced by personality (e.g., the propensity to react with approach or avoidance biases in a specific situation). The present study applied a computerized Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT; Rinck & Becker, 2007) to assess automatic behavioral approach and avoidance biases toward sexual and neutral stimuli in heterosexual men (N = 40). Individual AAT-performance was furthermore related to sexual excitation (SES) and the two sexual inhibition factors (SIS1 and SIS2) as proposed by the Dual Control Model of sexual response (Bancroft & Janssen, 2000). Against our hypotheses, participants did not show a stronger approach bias toward sexually preferred (i.e., images of women) than sexually not preferred stimuli (i.e., images of men or children). However, stronger approach biases toward images of women were positively associated with sexual excitation and negatively correlated with sexual inhibition due to a threat of performance failure (SIS1) even after controlling for potential confounds (i.e., general behavioral activation and inhibition). The results support the importance of the influence of dispositional traits measured with the Dual Control Model of sexual response on approach and avoidance biases toward sexually preferred stimuli in heterosexual men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Turner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Untere Zahlbacherstraße 8, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
- Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Charlotte E Wittekind
- Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, LMU, Munich, Germany
- Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peer Briken
- Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Fromberger
- Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Forensic Psychiatry, Human Medical Center Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Steffen Moritz
- Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Rettenberger
- Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Criminology (Kriminologische Zentralstelle - KrimZ), Wiesbaden, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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13
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Stop Pushing Me Away: Relative Level of Facebook Addiction Is Associated With Implicit Approach Motivation for Facebook Stimuli. Psychol Rep 2018; 122:2012-2025. [DOI: 10.1177/0033294118798624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of Facebook and other social media sites has increased to the point that some consider it to be a behavioral addiction. Previously, research has used the Approach–Avoidance Task to measure implicit approach and withdrawal tendencies in response to a variety of stimuli, including alcohol, desserts, cigarettes, spiders, and cannabis. When responding to these types of stimuli, individuals typically evidence an approach bias toward appetitive images and a withdrawal bias in response to undesirable and/or fearful stimuli. The present study was designed to test the validity of an adapted version of the Approach–Avoidance Task by investigating how self-reported Facebook addiction tendencies, measured via the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, predicted automatic approach tendencies toward Facebook-related stimuli using the Facebook-Approach–Avoidance Task. Participants with higher self-reported tendencies of Facebook addiction tended to approach Facebook-related stimuli faster. The present study is the first to indicate a relationship between self-reported Facebook addiction tendencies and implicit approach motivation using a behavioral measure. This finding provides initial support for the use of the Facebook-Approach–Avoidance Task as a measure of Facebook addiction, and further validation could lead to the development of additional assessment and training paradigms in the future.
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15
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Maxwell AL, Loxton NJ, Hennegan JM. Exposure to food cues moderates the indirect effect of reward sensitivity and external eating via implicit eating expectancies. Appetite 2017; 111:135-141. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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Loxton NJ, Tipman RJ. Reward sensitivity and food addiction in women. Appetite 2016; 115:28-35. [PMID: 27756640 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sensitivity to the rewarding properties of appetitive substances has long been implicated in excessive consumption of palatable foods and drugs of abuse. Previous research focusing on individual differences in reward responsiveness has found heightened trait reward sensitivity to be associated with binge-eating, hazardous drinking, and illicit substance use. Food addiction has been proposed as an extreme form of compulsive-overeating and has been associated with genetic markers of heightened reward responsiveness. However, little research has explicitly examined the association between reward sensitivity and food addiction. Further, the processes by which individual differences in this trait are associated with excessive over-consumption has not been determined. A total of 374 women from the community completed an online questionnaire assessing reward sensitivity, food addiction, emotional, externally-driven, and hedonic eating. High reward sensitivity was significantly associated with greater food addiction symptoms (r = 0.31). Bootstrapped tests of indirect effects found the relationship between reward sensitivity and food addiction symptom count to be uniquely mediated by binge-eating, emotional eating, and hedonic eating (notably, food availability). These indirect effects held even when controlling for BMI, anxiety, depression, and trait impulsivity. This study further supports the argument that high levels of reward sensitivity may offer a trait marker of vulnerability to excessive over-eating, beyond negative affect and impulse-control deficits. That the hedonic properties of food (especially food availability), emotional, and binge-eating behavior act as unique mediators suggest that interventions for reward-sensitive women presenting with food addiction may benefit from targeting food availability in addition to management of negative affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie J Loxton
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Q. 4122, Australia; Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Q. 4072, Australia.
| | - Renée J Tipman
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Q. 4072, Australia
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May CN, Nock NL, Bentley D, Demaree HA. Acute aerobic exercise increases implicit approach motivation for dessert images. J Health Psychol 2016; 23:807-817. [DOI: 10.1177/1359105316657404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the effect of acute exercise compared to a cognitive task on implicit approach/avoidance motivation to dessert food images using the Dessert–Approach–Avoidance Task. Participants randomized to exercise had a greater increase in approach motivation to dessert images compared to those completing cognitive tasks ( p=0.046), adjusting for disordered eating, task difficulty, and changes in negative affect. This study provides the first evidence for the use of the Dessert–Approach–Avoidance Task to evaluate the effects of acute exercise on implicit motivations for dessert images. Future studies should examine implicit response to food images using the Dessert–Approach–Avoidance Task in response to chronic exercise.
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