RESEARCH_FILE
Régine G. Kuijer
University of Canterbury
Known for:Empirically demonstrating that food-guilt associations predict worse dietary outcomes than food-celebration associations — inverting the common intuition that guilt motivates healthy restraint
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“This late hour is the only time that's mine”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“The night isn't paying me back. It's borrowing from tomorrow's me at a brutal rate.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
For one evening, write down three things you do after 11 p.m. in real time—not what you planned, what you actually do. The next morning, rate whether each one felt like it was truly yours or like you were just staying awake.
Key findings
- 2014
With Julia A. Boyce, Kuijer ran two studies measuring associations between chocolate cake and guilt versus celebration. Participants with guilt associations showed lower perceived behavioral control and less successful weight management the following week; celebration associations were linked to healthier eating. Chocolate cake. Guilt or celebration? Associations with healthy eating attitudes, perceived behavioural control, intentions and weight-loss ↗