Date of Submission
2018
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
Department Chair
Robert A DiTomasso, PhD, ABPP
First Advisor
Stephen Poteau, PhD
Second Advisor
Celine Thompson, PhD
Third Advisor
Kelly Kollias, PsyD
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between an endorsement of either free will or determinism and judgment of others’ weight management behaviors in a general population. Participants completed the Free Will and Determinism – Plus (FAD-Plus) to assess their beliefs in free will or determinism. Two groups were compared for analysis: determinism, which includes both scientific and fatalistic variants, and free will, which includes randomness. After completing the FAD-Plus, participants answered questions regarding their judgment of weight management behaviors on one of two case vignettes designed by the investigator that depict different weight management behaviors and outcomes. Participants then answered questions involving the weight management behaviors depicted in the vignette. Participants also answered questions regarding their overall weight attitudes on the Anti-Fat Attitudes Scale. The hypotheses for this study follow: (a) Participants endorsing free will world views will more strongly judge, both positively and negatively, successful and unsuccessful weight management behaviors, respectively, compared to those endorsing a determinist worldview and (b) There will be a difference between dieters and nondieters on judgments of both successful and unsuccessful weight loss attempts on case vignettes. To assess the relationship between all variables, a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was completed.
Recommended Citation
Henderson, Jarrett W., "The Impact of an Endorsement of Free Will Versus Determinism on Judgment of Weight Management Behaviors" (2018). PCOM Psychology Dissertations. 487.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/psychology_dissertations/487