Table 3 Summary of vignettes for the six experimental groups

• 19-year-old psychology student who has AN

• 19-year-old psychology student who is obese

• 19-year-old psychology student who has melanoma

• Extremely underweight

• Extremely overweight

• Most dangerous form of skin cancer that required chemotherapy

• Very self-conscious about her body

• Very self-conscious about her body

• Very self-conscious about her hair loss

• Avoids social situations, especially those that require her to eat in public

• Avoids social situations, especially those that require her to eat in public

• Avoids social situations due to embarrassment

• Feels very sad and anxious about her body

• Feels very sad and anxious about her body

• Feels very scared and anxious about her recent health condition

• Experiences irregular heartbeats and is at high risk of heart attack

• Experiences high blood pressure and is therefore at high risk of heart attack

• At risk of the cancer returning and spreading throughout her body

Vignette B – Blameworthy version

• Deliberately chooses to restrict eating and exercise excessively

• Deliberately chooses to overeat and avoid exercise

• Deliberately spent time in the sun to get a tan

• Not willing to consider other ways to experience pleasure

• Not willing to consider other ways to feel good about herself

• Not willing to consider other ways to feel good about herself

• Chooses to focus solely on getting pleasure from eating

• Stuck to usual routine of spending time lying in the sun

• Chooses to focus solely on continuing to lose weight

• Gets annoyed with friends who provide unwanted advice

• Gets annoyed with friends who provide unwanted advice

• Chose to ignore advice from friends who encouraged her to use sunscreen and wear a hat

• Ignores advice from doctor and dietitian

• Ignores advice from doctor and dietitian

Vignette B – Non-blameworthy version

• Driven by illness to restrict eating and exercise excessively

• Driven by strong appetite to engage in overeating

• Illness results in feeling self-conscious about hair-loss

• History of AN within her family

• History of obesity within her family

• History of cancer within her family

• Doctor has explained genetic contributions to the condition

• Doctor has explained genetic contributions to the condition

• Doctor has explained genetic contributions to the condition

• Has made many personal attempts at gaining weight

• Has made many personal attempts at losing weight

• Has made many personal attempts at being cautious in the sun

• Referred to clinical psychologist and actively participating in therapy

• Referred to clinical psychologist and actively participating in therapy

• Referred to cancer specialist and actively monitoring changes in skin

• Trying to eat more even though it makes her anxious

• Trying to walk more even though it is physically uncomfortable

• Trying to keep out of the sun as much as possible