How to Feel Less Guilty About Guilty Pleasures
Published at
Thinkstock(HONG KONG) — So you’re sitting in a restaurant after the main course and along comes the waiter with the desert tray to offer a delectable treat to top off the meal.
Often, people will turn down the dessert, not because they’re not hungry but because they feel guilty about the indulgence.
However, what happens if a dinner companion gets a desert and offers to share it? Well, that’s a different story for a lot of people, according to researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Fangyuan Chen and Jaideep Sengupta say, “When it comes to purchasing and consuming products normally associated with feelings of guilt, reducing someone’s sense of free choice could ultimately boost their overall well-being.”
In other words, people don’t need to have their arm twisted to enjoy a guilty pleasure, provided somebody else is making the choice for them.
The researchers say that companies that sell products considered indulgent, such as chocolate cake, can use this information to entice consumers by making them feel less responsible for their actions.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio