reading notes for succeed Flashcards
(220 cards)
self control
the ability to guide your actions in pursuit of a goal
what is to preserve and stay on course, despite temptations distractions and the demands of competing goals
self-control
self control can vary in
strength
how can self control vary
from person to person and moment to moment
roy baumeister et al study
This is one of the earliest tests of the theory of self-control strength (a.k.a self-regulatory strength).
what did roy do
Presented very hungry college students with a bowl of chocolates and a bowl of radishes.
o Both bowls were placed in front of each student, who was left alone to stare at the bowls.
what were the two conditions in baumeisters study
Radish condition: Some students asked to eat two or three radishes during their time alone, and not to eat any chocolates.
Chocolate condition: Others were asked to eat two or three chocolates and not eat any radishes.
what was another step in baumesiters method
to see how much self-control the students in each group had used up, Baumeister gave each of them a difficult unsolvable puzzle. He was interested to see how long the students would take to give up.
results of roys study
As the “muscle” theory predicted, the radish eaters gave up much faster and even felt more tired afterwards.
even everyday actions like making a decision can sap your self-control
if you understand self control
you can play accordinfly
self control is like a muscle
if you rest it for a while you get your strength back. depletion is temporary
dealing with a temptation sseems to get
easier over time
whats another way to overcome lack of self control strength
well-chosen incentives and rewards
mark muraven and elisaveta slessareva study
watch 5 min video of robin williams
what were the two conditions of mark and elisavetas study
No laugh condition: Half were told not to laugh or smile (they are being observed)- had their willpower resources depleted
Other half can do whatever they want.
results of marks study
When paid low (1 cent per ounce), those allowed to laugh drank twice as much.
→ When paid well (25 cent per ounce), the effect disappeared! (this shows effect of good incentives/rewards)
can money create self control and replenish willpower?
nope- more like increasing you motivation through better rewards can help comensate for a temporary loss of self control
self control is neither
innate or unchangable; it is learned
you get more self control the same way you get
bigger muscles- train it
engaging in actiities such as sexcersicing, keeping track of finances, and what you eat, fixing posture etc can help
develop your overall self-control capacity
in one study, those who stuck to daily exercise became more likely to
wash dishes sooner and les slikely to impulsively spend money
matthew gaillot et al experiment
They asked participants to spend 2 weeks using their non-dominant hand to do things (ex: brush their teeth). After two weeks, they performed better on a task that requires self-control than the control group (who didn’t exercise their self-control muscle). The task was to avoid using stereotypes when forming an impression of someone
what is the first step to goal setting
decide where you want to go and be specific
our desires will just be
desires until we translate them into goals