Impulsive versus reflective influences on health behavior: a theoretical framework and empirical review

Abstract Often, health behavior seems to be governed not only by reasoned attitudes and goal-directed behavior but also by impulsive influences. The notion of a conflict between reflective and impulsive processing which is incorporated in prominent dual-system accounts (e.g., Metcalfe & Mischel, 1999 Metcalfe, J. and Mischel, W. 1999. A hot/cool system analysis of delay of gratification: Dynamics of willpower. Psychological Review, 106: 3–19. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; Strack & Deutsch, 2004 Strack, F. and Deutsch, R. 2004. Reflective and impulsive determinants of social behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 8: 220–247. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] ,…