Research paper
Hofmann W, Baumeister RF, Förster G, Vohs KD. Everyday temptations: an experience sampling study of desire, conflict, and self-control. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2012 Jun;102(6):1318-35. doi:10.1037/a0026545
Why we cite it
Experience sampling study of 205 adults over one week, generating 7,827 reports of desire episodes in everyday life. Provides the first large-scale empirical picture of how frequently people experience desires, how often those desires conflict with other goals, and when self-control succeeds or fails in natural settings. The key finding for behavior change: availability of the desired object increases desire strength, and self-control failures cluster predictably when desires are strong, willpower is depleted, or habitual responses are engaged — making environment design a logical upstream intervention. Referenced in companion 112 for food proximity and environment design.