Feb 26 Flashcards
marshmallow task
involves resisting temptation
tests kids to see how long they can resist
and examines the strategies they use to resist
resisting temptation: strategies
- COGNITIVE REFRAMING
- STRATEGIC ATTENTIONAL DEPLOYMENT
both reduce temptation
what makes it easier to delay gratification?
shifting focus away from an object’s most tempting features
ie. kids who imagined the marshmallow as a fluffy white cloud or plain white ball were better at resisting
ie. kids who were able to distract themselves did better too
correlation between ability to delay gratification at age 4 and…
desirable outcomes later in life
- higher SAT scores
- lower rates of substance dependence
- higher income & SES
- better interpersonal functioning (less impulsive, less aggressive)
does the marshmallow task (and its correlations with later outcomes) replicate?
subsequent replication with modified (shortened) version of task and larger, more representative sample
significant correlation between performance on modified marshmallow task & subsequent ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (but not behavioural problems)
^ however, MUCH SMALLER EFFECT than in original study
marshmallow task replication - significant correlation found…
between performance on marshmallow task and subsequent ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ONLY
not correlated with behavioural problems
marshmallow task replication - effect further diminished when controlling for…
- background characteristics
ie. family income, maternal education
- earlier tests of cognitive functioning
life history theory
individuals adapt their strategies based on environmental stability
in UNPREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENTS, people may prioritize IMMEDIATE REWARDS (“fast” strategy)
in STABLE ENVIRONMENTS, people are more likely to INVEST in LONG TERM GOALS (“slow” strategy)
extensive evidence that childhood self-control predicts better outcomes…
in adulthood
ie. longitudinal study following 1000 individuals from birth into adulthood
longitudinal study following 1000 individuals from birth into adulthood
as adults, children once rated by parents and teachers as HIGHER in TRAIT SELF CONTROL…
- wealthier
- less likely to commit crime
- lower rates of substance dependence
- better physical health
^ effects were INDEPENDENT of intelligence, socioeconomic status, family background
trait self control’s relationship to state self control
experience sampling shows that TRAIT self control is RELATED TO LESS (not more) STATE self control
doesn’t appear to be the case that people high in trait self control spend more time exercising self control - rather, they EXPERIENCE FEWER PROBLEMATIC DESIRES
have less motivational conflict
3 things we can do about self control
- proactive control
- well-aligned desires
- self-compassion
proactive control
situation selection or pre-commitment!
proactive strategies to DESIGN OUR ENVIRONMENT or LOCK IN our decisions with the aim of REDUCING FUTURE TEMPTATIONS
2 types of proactive control
situation selection
pre-commitment
examples of situation selection/precommitment
- not keeping unhealthy snacks at home
- setting up an automatic transfer to savings account
- preemptively tying yourself to a ship mast to resist the song of the sirens (Odysseus)
some measures of self-control may be tapping in to…
conscientiousness
conscientiousness
multi-faceted construct
- self control
- industriousness
- responsibility
- traditionalism
conscientious: industriousness component
strong work ethic
enjoyment of effort
conscientious: responsibility component
following through on commitments
being accountable to others
conscientious: traditionalism component
valuing societal norms and rules
perhaps conscientious individuals are more likely to…
internalize virtuous desires
if we want to be more like conscientious people, we shouldn’t focus on ways to get through temptation, but instead should…
should be pursuing self-aligned goals
if we’re struggling we should self-assess
ask why we’re doing this - it this is something we should be pursuing
sense of depletion can be a valuable source of info for this - prompts us to take stock of our situation and take proactive action
can self control be trained?
guiding hypothesis: practicing self control in one area can lead to improvements in other areas of life
mixed research findings - some support but heterogeneity in effect sizes
possible mechanisms behind idea that practicing self control in one area can lead to improvements in other areas of life
- changes in self-perception
^ beginning to see yourself as someone who works hard, who has self control
^ becomes part of your identity
- learning to love effort
^ avoid effort less after the training, particularly if effort has been rewarded
^ effort becomes enjoyable because we derive a sense of meaning from it
self-compassion
ability to treat ourselves with kindness during struggles
self-compassion promotes…
a more open, less defensive stance
isn’t about denying failure, but allows us to look at a situation head on without pain and think about where we went wrong
self-compassion interventions have been found to…
increase self-regulation
increase subsequent self control
self-compassion may be particularly important for…
individuals high in conscientiousness
although conscientiousness is typically associated with greater wellbeing, people high in this trait suffer greater hits to wellbeing following major setbacks
self-compassion study: self-forgiveness for procrastination on first term exam…
associated with LESS PROCRASTINATION on second exam
mediated by negative emotion - negative emotion combats effective studying and breeds procrastination
