Changing past behavior without means of a time machine: Effects on future behavioral decisions

Four theories concerning the cognitive mediation of past behavior were tested using the ease of retrieval effect to manipulate past behavior. Experiment 1 (n = 83) showed that participants randomized to an easy retrieval condition reported performing the behavior more frequently and had significantly more positive behavioral intentions than participants randomized to a difficult retrieval condition, and that the effects were mediated through attitudes. Experiment 2 (n = 77) replicated this finding in a different behavioral domain and extended it by showing that perceived behavioral control also mediated the effect of the manipulation on behavioral intention. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to further understanding the cognitive mediation of past behavior.