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Effects of expectancy of outcome on the reactivity of self-monitoring

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Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of subjects' outcome expectancy on self-monitoring of a clinically relevant behavior, overeating. In conjunction with self-monitoring of eating habits, subjects received either a positive expectancy of behavior change or no expectancy regarding change. While both self-monitoring groups achieved significantly greater weight loss than controls, subjects in the expectancy group demonstrated significantly greater weight loss than no-expectancy subjects. Possible factors accounting for the disparity in findings between this and previous self-monitoring investigations are discussed.

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Hobbs, S.A., Walle, D.L. & Hammersly, G.A. Effects of expectancy of outcome on the reactivity of self-monitoring. Journal of Behavioral Assessment 1, 281–288 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321370

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