A person who is highly restrained in their eating behaviour eats a small slice of chocolate cake, which exceeds their self-imposed daily calorie target. According to the boundary model of obesity (Herman and Polivy), how does this cognitive restraint paradoxically lead to overeating later in the day?
The intake of high-density sugar shifts their physiological satiety boundary lower, narrowing their zone of biological indifference.
Exceeding their self-imposed cognitive boundary triggers disinhibition, causing them to abandon restraint and eat until they reach physical fullness.
The breach of their diet induces a state of learned helplessness, permanently disabling their physiological hunger and satiety mechanisms.
The individual shifts from a high-restraint state to relying entirely on external cues, such as the visual presence of other food.
Practise AQA A Level Psychology Psychological explanations for obesity with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 13 questions, matched to the AQA A Level Psychology (7182) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
