Effects of Olfactory Sense on Chocolate Craving

Chocolate has been referred to as one of the most socially acceptable addictions. It is one of America’s most craved foods, and women tend to crave it more frequently than men. Kemps and Tiggemann (2013) conducted an innovative experiment to reconcile the ideas of mental imagery, scent, and craving. After presenting images of sweet foods and having female undergraduate students smell a neutral scent, the researchers found that the neutral smell decreased craving for sweet foods. In the present study, researchers sought to replicate many aspects of Kemps and Tiggemann’s design. This new study went one step further, though: in addition to anticipating that a neutral or fresh scent would reduce one’s craving level, there was also an anticipation that smelling a sweet scent would increase craving levels. To test the research hypothesis, female undergraduate students received three smell conditions (no scent, fresh scent, and sweet scent) in the experiment. The order of the three conditions was counterbalanced. In all conditions, the students were shown a series of 12 images of chocolate food (cakes, muffins, ice cream, and brownies) on a large projector screen. Each image appeared for five seconds and was followed by an eight second retention period, during which participants were instructed to smell one of the essential oils. The students inhaled Slique essential oil in the fresh scent condition, inhaled vanilla essential oil in the sweet scent condition, and inhaled no essential oil in the control condition. After inhaling the scent, the students were asked to rate their craving level for the food just presented in the image on a 100 mm visual analogue scale. An analysis based on the 93 participants’ craving responses revealed a significant effect of the olfactory conditions, (F=73.813, p\u3c.001). That is, the students’ level of craving for chocolate food was higher in the sweet scent condition (M=59.31, SD=4.85), but lower in the fresh scent condition (M=34.65, SD=4.79), compared to the control condition (M=46.97, SD=6.67). These findings are important for a variety of populations including practitioners, nutritionists, and individuals seeking to curb their cravings or lose weight

Effects of Olfactory Sense on Chocolate Craving

In the present study, we assessed the effect of the olfactory sense on chocolate craving in college females. Building on previous research by Kemps and Tiggemann (2013), we hypothesized that a fresh scent would decrease one’s craving level for chocolate food. While the precursor study only addressed the decrease of chocolate craving, we also hypothesized that a sweet scent would increase one’s craving level for chocolate foods. In the present experiment, participants rated their craving levels after viewing images of chocolate foods and inhaling essential oils: one fresh (Slique™ essence), and one sweet (vanilla). Results supported both of the hypotheses: inhaling a fresh scent reduced females’ craving levels; similarly, when a sweet scent was inhaled, the participants’ craving levels for chocolate food increased. These findings are particularly beneficial for women seeking weight loss and the findings can be applied in contexts such as weight loss programs, therapy, and maintenance programs, even beyond college settings. The results are particularly useful for helping women regarding stimuli that might serve as triggers for chocolate cravings

A Qualitative Assessment of Military Kids: Instabilities & Constants

In the present study, we addressed the following research question: Do college-aged military kids report similar patterns in affect, behavior, and cognition due to shared perceptions and experiences? The study was conducted through semi-structured qualitative research interviews on a selective, Midwest, private college campus. Participants were asked questions regarding their upbringing as a military child and were asked to identify any potential connections between their past experiences and their current beliefs and behaviors. We report qualitative findings relating to themes in the areas of family dynamics, adaptability, and lifestyles

Relationships and Client Protection Differences in the APA and ACA Ethical Codes

We present the results of a line-by-line comparison regarding relationship and client protection issues between the American Psychological Association (APA) and American Counseling Association (ACA) ethical codes. Out of 144 total differences in these ethical codes, 34 differences pertain specifically to the topics of relationships and client protection. Results from the study showed ACA to provide extensive requirements and prohibitions relating to the therapeutic relationship, compared to APA’s more general and principle-driven approach to this domain. Citing a few examples here, we note that ACA requires more extensive documentation of relationship boundary changes pertaining to romantic and/or sexual relationships, therapeutic role changes, and other redefinitions of relationships. Additionally, ACA and APA both limit the potential for multiple relationships, but ACA specifically prohibits counselors from terminating a therapeutic relationship in order to pursue a romantic relationship with someone closely related to their client. In sum regarding this domain, the ACA is more definitive, prescriptive, and limiting in what appears to be attempts at providing strengthened client protection. Similarly, the ACA is more detailed and narrow regarding client/counselor relationships and other therapeutic boundary establishments. The protections also are more fully extended to the counseling supervisor/supervisee relationship in the ACA code. In contrast, the APA is more general and/or silent in the domains which are spelled-out in detail by ACA. In the present study, we draw attention to the specific wording in the two documents and how these differences in words potentially impact clinical practice with both clients and supervisees. We also discuss how the results of the present study have implications for undergraduate students who are at the point of decision-making regarding which profession to select. Additionally, any psychologist who supervises counselors must ensure that all ethical standards—of both psychology and counseling—are upheld when counselors work under the licenses of a practicing psychologist. And finally, agencies who hire both licensed psychologist and licensed counselors must be aware of these significant differences in the APA and ACA ethical codes. We place the results of the present study into the larger context of the overall differences between the two codes

March 1971 Full Issue

In the present qualitative study, researchers focused on the similarities among college-aged military kids due to similar upbringings and shared experiences. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews in which participants were asked to draw conclusions between past experiences and present attitudes. Researchers found major themes during the interviews and the themes of military pride, respect, and acculturation are the focus of the current presentation

Freshman PKs at a Christian College: A Qualitative Study

Children of pastors are commonly stereotyped in one of two different ways: either they are seen as the model child, or as the prodigal. The model child is perceived as sheltered and naïve, with high expectations placed on them. In contrast the rebel is perhaps the more common stereotype, where children of pastors are seen as having negative feelings toward their father\u27s position, and living their life in reaction to their parents\u27 faith. The purpose of this study was to determine if either of these stereotypes, or other unifying factors, were present and continuing into their college years. We interviewed 23 college students at Cedarville University whose fathers were full-time pastors of evangelical churches. While in some aspects these students are much like their non-PK peers, themes of being stereotyped, viewing their fathers as spiritual authority figures, and finding identity in their father\u27s calling emerged