Binge-watching (i.e., watching multiple episodes of a TV series back-to-back) has
become standard viewing practice. Yet, this phenomenon has recently generated
concerns regarding its potential negative outcomes on the long run. The presumed
addictive nature of this behavior has also received increasing scientific interest, with
preliminary findings reporting associations between binge-watching, self-control
impairments, and heightened impulsivity. Nevertheless, previous studies only relied
on self-report data. The current preregistered study therefore investigated whether
non-problematic and problematic binge-watchers differ not only in self-report
but also in experimental measures of behavioral impulsivity. Based on their viewing
characteristics, 60 TV series viewers were allocated to one of three predetermined
groups: non-binge-watchers, trouble-free binge-watchers (absence of negative
impact) and problematic binge-watchers (presence of negative impact). Participants
performed tasks assessing response inhibition (Stop-Signal Task) and impulsive
reward seeking (Delay Discounting Task), and completed self-reported questionnaires
on sociodemographics, affect, symptoms of problematic binge-watching, and impulsive
personality traits. According to the preregistered analytic plan, one-way analyses
of covariance (ANCOVAs) were computed to compare the predetermined groups.
With gender being controlled for, no differences were identified in self-report impulsivity
and response inhibition abilities. Trouble-free binge-watchers reported higher
rates of delay discounting than non-binge-watchers. Although preliminary, our results
challenge the notion that problematic binge-watching is characterized by the same
neuropsychological impairments as in addictive disorders as, contrary to our
preregistered hypotheses, no differences emerged between non-problematic and
problematic binge-watchers regarding self-control variables considered as hallmarks
of the latter. These results suggest the need for formulating and testing alternative
conceptualizations of problematic binge-watching.