Introducing Functional and Dysfunctional Self-Licensing: Associations with Indices of (Un)Successful Dietary Regulation.

OBJECTIVE: Giving in to food temptations is typically labeled as self-regulation failure. However, when indulgence stems from self-licensing processes, i.e., relying on reasons to justify diet deviations, these instances might actually promote successful goal striving. This research aimed to theoretically define and test under what conditions self-licensing would be considered functional (e.g., when it ultimately serves the long-term goal of weight control) and dysfunctional (e.g., when it threatens successful goal striving) METHOD: First, a pool of items reflecting functional and dysfunctional ways of self-licensing was tested and representative items were selected (Study 1; N = 194). Next, their classification was corroborated by examining the associations with indices of (un)successful dietary regulation (Study 2; N = 147). Finally, it was tested whether (dys)functional self-licensing predicted unhealthy snack intake, by means of participants keeping an unhealthy snack diary (Study 3; N = 54) RESULTS: The theorized distinction was confirmed, and the obtained correlational patterns supported the proposed (dys)functionality of the two types of self-licensing. Importantly, results showed that dysfunctional self-licensing predicted higher snack intake, whereas functional self-licensing predicted lower snack intake CONCLUSION: The present studies provide evidence for the existence of two types of self-licensing, and thereby contributes to theoretical development. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.