Name: Why some people find exercise harder than others
Uploaded: 2014-11-25T16:06:32Z
Duration: 13 min 54 s
Description: Why do some people struggle more than others to keep off the pounds? Social psychologist Emily Balcetis shows research that addresses one of the many factors: our vision. In an informative talk, she shows how when it comes to fitness, some people quite literally see the world differently -- and offers a surprisingly simple solution to overcome these differences.

The Naked Face

Language as context for the perception of emotion

Through the eyes of dieters: Biased size perception of food following tempting food primes

See the ball, hit the ball: Study correlates perceived ball size with batting average

Putting to a bigger hole: Golf performance relates to perceived size

Political partisanship influences perception of biracial candidates' skin tone

Study: Political Bent Affects How We View Skin Tone

Wishful seeing

*Social Psychology of Visual Perception*

Necessity vs. Luxury: What Makes Resolutions Stick?

*Willpower*

The Problem with Positive Thinking

Seeing Mountains in Molehills: Embodied Visual Perception of the Environment

Visual perception and regulatory conflict: motivation and physiology influence distance perception

During Exercise, Keep Your Eyes on the Prize: How Focus Helps Shorten Perceived Workout Time

Daniel Simons: Seeing the World as It Isn't

*The Invisible Gorilla*

The Writing's on the Wall

Seeing the expected, the desired, and the feared: Influences on perceptual interpretation and directed attention

Anxiety and orienting of gaze to angry and fearful faces

More Than Meets the Eye: How Video Evidence Alters Our Decision Making

Effects of implementation intentions on anxiety, perceived proximity, and motor performance

The Struggles of a Psychologist Studying Self-Control

The Police Officer's Dilemma

*The Marshmallow Test*

Why do some people struggle more than others to keep off the pounds? Social psychologist Emily Balcetis shows research that addresses one of the many factors: our vision. In an informative talk, she shows how when it comes to fitness, some people quite literally see the world differently -- and offers a surprisingly simple solution to overcome these differences.

Why some people find exercise harder than others

People experience the world through their own unique perspectives, which can shape everything from how they interpret emotions to how far they perceive a finish line. In studies, those who were out of shape saw exercise tasks as more daunting, but motivation and focus made the same challenge appear easier. One simple change—focusing solely on a goal—helped participants see the finish line as 30 percent closer and made the exercise require less effort. Our perception is not just mental; it tangibly affects performance and the way we experience challenges.