Motivation Predicts Self-Control of Racial Bias After Viewing Alcohol Advertisements

Exerting self-control shifts motivation toward rewarding cues (i.e., approach motivation) and impairs control of racial bias. However, whether approach motivation predicts deficits in control of racial bias is unknown. Exertion of self-control is also related to alcohol use, but whether exerting self-control shifts motivation toward alcohol-related cues is not established. Similar to exerting self-control, viewing alcohol-related cues shifts motivation and promotes racial bias. The current study examined the interaction between exerting self-control and viewing alcohol-related cues on approach motivation and its influence on racial bias. Participants (N = 71) exerted (or did not exert) selfcontrol and then viewed neutral (e.g., water) and alcohol advertisements. To assess shifts toward rewarding cues, neurophysiological indices of approach motivation (LPP, cortical asymmetries) were assessed while participants viewed advertisements. Participants then completed a measure of racial bias assessing behavioral and neurophysiological indices of self-control (ERN, N2). No differences in approach motivation emerged between those who exerted or did not exert self-control. However, alcohol-related individual differences (alcohol identity, coping drinking motives, and alcohol sensitivity) predicted greater approach motivation (i.e., cortical asymmetries) while viewing alcohol advertisements among those who exerted self-control. Participants who exerted self-control also exhibited lower behavioral control of racial bias and impaired error detection (i.e., ERN). Greater approach motivation predicted lower behavioral control of racial bias and error detection, suggesting approach motivation is a mechanism for impaired self-control. Results support motivational theories on self-control and provide insight on the relations among alcohol advertising, self-control, and racial bias. MOTIVATION AND SELF-CONTROL OF RACIAL BIAS 3 Motivation Predicts Self-Control of Racial Bias After Viewing Alcohol Advertisements Self-control is limited in capacity, resulting in the inability to successfully regulate behavior after exerting self-control. Exerting self-control may shift motivation away from cues related to controlling behavior and toward cues related to rewarding behavior (i.e., approach motivation; Inzlicht, Schmeichel, & Macrae, 2014). Approach motivation increases after exerting self-control (Schmeichel, Harmon-Jones, HarmonJones, 2010). However, shifts in approach motivation seem to depend on individual differences (Schmeichel, Crowell, & Harmon-Jones, 2015). Among people who drink alcohol, alcohol-related cues are known to elicit greater motivational reactivity compared to neutral cues (Bartholow, Lust, & Tragesser, 2010). Exerting self-control is related to greater alcohol consumption (Muraven, Collins, & Neinhaus, 2002), but whether exerting self-control is related to greater motivation toward alcohol-related cues is not reported in the literature. Further, whether shifts in motivation toward alcohol-related cues after exerting self-control depend on individual differences, such as trait approach motivation, implicit alcohol identity, alcohol motivations, alcohol sensitivity, and alcohol preference, is not established. Exerting self-control and viewing alcohol-related cues also promote racial bias (Govorun & Payne, 2006; Stepanova, Bartholow, Saults, & Friedman, 2012). Whether regulation of racial bias is impaired after viewing alcohol-related cues (e.g., advertisements) following exertion of self-control has not been tested. Further, whether approach motivation is related to subsequent self-control of racial bias is yet to be established. The purpose of this study is to examine the interaction between self-control (not exerted, exerted) and viewing advertisements (neutral, alcohol) on approach MOTIVATION AND SELF-CONTROL OF RACIAL BIAS 4 motivation and its subsequent influence on racial bias. To provide background and context for this study, the following sections will review key areas in the literatures on measurement and theories of self-control, motivation, alcohol-related cues, individual difference variables including trait approach motivation, implicit alcohol identity, alcohol motivations, alcohol sensitivity, and alcohol preference, and racial bias.