Universität zu Köln

Forstmann, Matthias, Burgmer, Pascal ORCID: 0000-0003-3664-0539 and Mussweiler, Thomas (2012). The Mind Is Willing, but the Flesh Is Weak: The Effects of Mind-Body Dualism on Health Behavior. Psychol. Sci., 23 (10). S. 1239 - 1246. THOUSAND OAKS: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC. ISSN 1467-9280

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Abstract

Beliefs in mind-body dualism-that is, perceiving one's mind and body as two distinct entities-are evident in virtually all human cultures. Despite their prevalence, surprisingly little is known about the psychological implications of holding such beliefs. In the research reported here, we investigated the relationship between dualistic beliefs and health behaviors. We theorized that holding dualistic beliefs leads people to perceive their body as a mere shell and, thus, to neglect it. Supporting this hypothesis, our results showed that participants who were primed with dualism reported less engagement in healthy behaviors and less positive attitudes toward such behaviors than did participants primed with physicalism. Additionally, we investigated the bidirectionality of this link. Activating health-related concepts affected participants' subsequently reported metaphysical beliefs in mind-body dualism. A final set of studies demonstrated that participants primed with dualism make real-life decisions that may ultimately compromise their physical health (e. g., consuming unhealthy food). These findings have potential implications for health interventions.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Forstmann, Matthias UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Burgmer, Pascal UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-3664-0539 UNSPECIFIED Mussweiler, Thomas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-481194
DOI:	10.1177/0956797612442392
Journal or Publication Title:	Psychol. Sci.
Volume:	23
Number:	10
Page Range:	S. 1239 - 1246
Date:	2012
Publisher:	SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
Place of Publication:	THOUSAND OAKS
ISSN:	1467-9280
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language BELIEFS; AFTERLIFE Multiple languages Psychology, Multidisciplinary Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/48119