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Constrained Physical Space Constrains Hedonism

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  • Alison Jing Xu
  • Dolores Albarracín

Abstract

Prior research shows that people demonstrate greater regulation of motor and social activities when they are in a confined physical space. This article examines whether space constraint affects people’s behavior toward hedonistic consumption of vice products (e.g., high-calorie foods) and their self-regulation in general. We propose that space constraint may have a generalized effect that enhances regulation of behaviors that are unrelated to the space. Manipulating space constraint by varying density or by assigning individual participants to different-sized rooms, three experiments demonstrated that smaller (vs. larger) spaces reduce impulsive purchase of vice products, lead to lower consumption of high-calorie foods, and yield fewer false alarms in a go/no-go task. Consistent with our findings, both international and US data showed that more densely populated regions have a lower prevalence of outcomes associated with low self-control (e.g., prevalence of overweight and obesity, death caused by road traffic accidents).

Suggested Citation

  • Alison Jing Xu & Dolores Albarracín, 2016. "Constrained Physical Space Constrains Hedonism," Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(4), pages 557-568.
  • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jacres:doi:10.1086/688222
    DOI: 10.1086/688222
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Manoj Thomas & Kalpesh Kaushik Desai & Satheeshkumar Seenivasan, 2011. "How Credit Card Payments Increase Unhealthy Food Purchases: Visceral Regulation of Vices," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 38(1), pages 126-139.
    2. Jiewen Hong & Angela Y. Lee, 2008. "Be Fit and Be Strong: Mastering Self-Regulation through Regulatory Fit," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 34(5), pages 682-695, August.
    3. Boyoun (Grace) Chae & Rui (Juliet) Zhu, 2014. "Environmental Disorder Leads to Self-Regulatory Failure," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 40(6), pages 1203-1218.
    4. Klaus Wertenbroch, 1998. "Consumption Self-Control by Rationing Purchase Quantities of Virtue and Vice," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 17(4), pages 317-337.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sumitra Auschaitrakul & Dan King & Yanfen You, 2024. "From physical space to mental space: feelings of being physically constrained increase consumer preference for mind-expanding products," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 231-242, June.

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