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Self-Regulatory Consequences Of Observing Others Making Goal Progress: A Longitudinal Field Study In Weight Loss Groups, James P. Reynolds, Thomas L. Webb, Kathleen C. Mcculloch, Grainne M. Fitzsimons

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

OBJECTIVE: What happens when people see others making progress toward a goal that they also hold? Is it motivating or could it undermine goal pursuit because people feel that they have made progress themselves (i.e., they experience vicarious goal satiation)?

METHODS: We investigated these questions in a longitudinal field context - a group weight loss programme. N = 132 participants who were overweight or obese and attended weekly weight loss classes completed questionnaires over 11 weeks to investigate the consequences of observing other people making progress toward their goal of losing weight

RESULTS: Observing others making good progress was associated …