Is offering candy to dieters a great way to sell them a car?

Self-control is a limited resource. When we use it to resist temptation we have less left to defend against persuasive appeals:

Four studies investigated a self-control theory of resistance to persuasion. This theory asserts that resistance to persuasion requires and consumes self-control resources. Study 1 showed that resistance to a persuasive message reduced the ability to engage in a subsequent self-control task. Studies 2 and 3 showed that self-control depletion leads to increased persuasion. Study 4 showed that self-control depletion increased persuasion, particularly under effortful resistance (i.e., strong arguments). Together, these findings suggest that self-control plays a vital role in the process of resistance to persuasion. People must have self-control resources to fend off persuasive appeals; without them, they become susceptible to influence.

Source: “The Role of Self-Control in Resistance to Persuasion” from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

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