To weigh or not to weigh: The relationship between self-weighing behavior and body image among adults

Given the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S., identifying behaviors that aid or hinder weight control efforts continues to be a research priority. Body weight monitoring is a technique used in many popular weight management programs. However, how weight monitoring—particularly self-weighing behavior—relates to psychological constructs like body image is poorly understood. Participants included 268 undergraduates (190 women, 78 men) at a midwestern university who completed questionnaires about self-weighing behavior and body image (Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire; Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire: Weight and Shape Concern subscales). Among women, more frequent self-weighing was associated with greater Appearance Orientation, Overweight Preoccupation, and Shape Concern. Among men, more frequent self-weighing was associated with greater Body Areas Satisfaction, Health and Fitness Orientation, and positive Health Evaluation. Results suggest that self-weighing is a fairly common behavior, but its relationship with body image is complex and gender-specific.     

Oligopoly Bargaining: Effects of Agreement Pressure and Opponent Strategies

Previous research on oligopoly bargaining has shown soft strategies to be superior to tough strategies and has suggested that this effect may be moderated by agreement pressure. However, previous research is difficult to interpret because the effects of strategy changes and subsequent strategies have not been adequately tested. Female students from introductory psychology classes were assigned the role of buyers and bargained with initially soft or tough and subsequently soft or tough programmed (seller) strategies under low or high agreement pressure. Subjects had the opportunity to bargain with the strategy (seller) of their choice and to change sellers at any time. As hypothesized, soft seller strategies were found to be superior to tough strategies. In addition, the superiority of soft seller strategies was increased by low agreement pressure.     

Strategies for Oligopoly Negotiations Involving Multiple Issues

This study compared the effectiveness of cooperative, distributive, and integrative strategies in oligopoly negotiations involving multiple issues. Seventy-five female subjects from introductory psychology classes assumed the role of buyers and negotiated with three programmed strategies (sellers). Subjects could bargain with the seller of their choice and could change sellers at any time. Results indicated that subjects made most offers to and reached most agreements with the cooperative seller. Furthermore, the cooperative seller strategy tended to earn most profit per customer contact and produced most joint profit per customer contact. However, the integrative seller tended to produce most seller profit per agreement and joint profit per agreement.     

A review of experiments in explicit bargaining

Bargaining was defined as a situation where: (1) there are two or more parties with divergent interests, (2) the parties can communicate, (3) mutual compromise is possible, (4) provisional offers can be made, and (5) the provisional offers do not fix the tangible outcomes until an offer is accepted by all sides. The typical bargaining paradigm is described. Next the limitations of general theories of bargaining are discussed. The results of relevant experiments are then reviewed and evaluated. Particular attention is given to the effects of general bargaining predispositions, the payoff system, the social relationship between the bargainer, his opponent and significant others, situational factors, and bargaining strategy.