One of the areas in which temptations often interfere with people’s self-control is the domain of eating and dieting behavior. In the present article, we review research on the psychological processes underlying the failures and successes of chronic dieters in resisting food temptations. A goal conflict model of eating as well as research testing this model is presented to understand the difficulties that dieters face in our Western food-rich environment. In addition, we discuss how we may boost self-control to prevent dieters from giving in to temptation. Watch a movie or study for an exam?...

Have you ever found yourself eating a tempting chocolate cake, although you want to lose a few pounds? Have you ever found yourself watching television, although you planned to work on an important but maybe boring project that day? Did you ever procrastin ate with submitting your tax declaration , preferring to go to a hockey game that night? Or did you ever catch yourself flirting with another person, although you feel strongly committed to your intimate relationship? All these challenging sit uations require a large amount of willpower and thus put a person ’ s self-discipline or self-...