Dr. C. Peter Herman

RESEARCH

Dr. Herman works (usually in conjunction with Janet Polivy) on issues pertaining to self-regulation and the control of appetitive behaviour in humans. Much of the research focuses specifically on eating, in dieters and in normal eaters, in an attempt to elucidate the physiological, cognitive, emotional, sensory, and social factors that control food intake. Attempts to inhibit eating produce a dynamic tension in the individual, creating a self-regulatory challenge. What are the factors that influence whether people will be able to successfully inhibit their food intake? Why is such success so rare? The importance of social factors in the control of eating raises broader questions about social influence on behaviour, and Herman is interested in social-influence processes (especially conformity) more generally.