Keeping the Goal in Sight: Testing the Influence of Narrowed Visual Attention on Physical Activity

Emily Balcetis; Matthew T. Riccio; Dustin T. Duncan; Shana Cole

doi:10.1177/0146167219861438

Keeping the Goal in Sight: Testing the Influence of Narrowed Visual Attention on Physical Activity

Emily Balcetis, Matthew T. Riccio, Dustin T. Duncan, Shana Cole

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Rates of physical inactivity continue to rise in the United States. With this work, we tested the efficacy of a strategy affecting the scope of visual attention designed to promote walking as a form of exercise. Specifically, we examined the influence of narrowed attention on the frequency (Studies 1a, 1b, and 3) and efficiency (Studies 2 and 4) of physical activity in general (Studies 1 and 2) and within exercise bouts measured across multiple days (Studies 3 and 4). We provide convergent evidence by investigating both individual differences in (Studies 1 and 2) and experimentally manipulated patterns of visual attention orienting (Studies 3 and 4). We discuss implications of attentional strategies for self-regulation and fitness.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	485-496
Number of pages	12
Journal	Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Volume	46
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167219861438
State	Published - Mar 1 2020

Keywords

exercise
goals
scope
self-regulation
visual attention

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology

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10.1177/0146167219861438

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title = "Keeping the Goal in Sight: Testing the Influence of Narrowed Visual Attention on Physical Activity",

abstract = "Rates of physical inactivity continue to rise in the United States. With this work, we tested the efficacy of a strategy affecting the scope of visual attention designed to promote walking as a form of exercise. Specifically, we examined the influence of narrowed attention on the frequency (Studies 1a, 1b, and 3) and efficiency (Studies 2 and 4) of physical activity in general (Studies 1 and 2) and within exercise bouts measured across multiple days (Studies 3 and 4). We provide convergent evidence by investigating both individual differences in (Studies 1 and 2) and experimentally manipulated patterns of visual attention orienting (Studies 3 and 4). We discuss implications of attentional strategies for self-regulation and fitness.",

keywords = "exercise, goals, scope, self-regulation, visual attention",

author = "Emily Balcetis and Riccio, {Matthew T.} and Duncan, {Dustin T.} and Shana Cole",

note = "Funding Information: The authors thank Blair Cox for her assistance. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Support for this work provided by grants awarded by National Science Foundation to Balcetis (SBE 1460626, BCS 1147550). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.",

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AU - Cole, Shana

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank Blair Cox for her assistance. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Support for this work provided by grants awarded by National Science Foundation to Balcetis (SBE 1460626, BCS 1147550). Publisher Copyright: © 2019 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

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N2 - Rates of physical inactivity continue to rise in the United States. With this work, we tested the efficacy of a strategy affecting the scope of visual attention designed to promote walking as a form of exercise. Specifically, we examined the influence of narrowed attention on the frequency (Studies 1a, 1b, and 3) and efficiency (Studies 2 and 4) of physical activity in general (Studies 1 and 2) and within exercise bouts measured across multiple days (Studies 3 and 4). We provide convergent evidence by investigating both individual differences in (Studies 1 and 2) and experimentally manipulated patterns of visual attention orienting (Studies 3 and 4). We discuss implications of attentional strategies for self-regulation and fitness.

AB - Rates of physical inactivity continue to rise in the United States. With this work, we tested the efficacy of a strategy affecting the scope of visual attention designed to promote walking as a form of exercise. Specifically, we examined the influence of narrowed attention on the frequency (Studies 1a, 1b, and 3) and efficiency (Studies 2 and 4) of physical activity in general (Studies 1 and 2) and within exercise bouts measured across multiple days (Studies 3 and 4). We provide convergent evidence by investigating both individual differences in (Studies 1 and 2) and experimentally manipulated patterns of visual attention orienting (Studies 3 and 4). We discuss implications of attentional strategies for self-regulation and fitness.

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Keeping the Goal in Sight: Testing the Influence of Narrowed Visual Attention on Physical Activity

Abstract

Keywords

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