Unit 5 Self-Control Flashcards
How does the strength model of self-control conceptualize self-control?
According to strength model of self-control, all acts of self-control draw on a central, limited resource –> it’s finite and resources like self-control get depleted
What is ego-depletion? Summarize research demonstrating ego-depletion.
Ego-depletion = exerting self-control in one domain depletes the ability to exert it in another domain
Skipped meal before coming into lab then assigned to eat radishes or cookies, then performed a puzzle task
Radish eaters made fewer attempts, gave up sooner than chocolate chip eaters and control participants (who only joined the study for the puzzle task) –> displayed less self-control because all their self-control resources were used to not eat the cookies
What are the theoretical and empirical challenges to the strength model of self-control?
Theory suggests self-control is a finite resource, but studies challenge this idea
-Motivation can override depletion effects
▪ E.g., people perform just as well when given incentives (e.g., money)
-Beliefs about depletion shape performance
▪ E.g., if people are told a task was mentally exhausting, they struggle more afterward; if told it was energizing, they perform fine
-Implicit theories of willpower matter
▪ Those who believe willpower is unlimited don’t show depletion effects
o Perhaps ego-depletion is less about ability and more about willingness to exert effort
Summarize the research example of ego depletion in the real world described in class.
Hand hygiene compliance in hospitals analyzed
Compliance rates dropped by an estimated 8.7 percentage points from the start to the end of a typical 12-hour shift
▪ Higher work intensity led to steeper declines in compliance
Longer breaks between shifts helped restore compliance, especially for workers who had lower compliance before their
break
o Cumulative work hours mattered
▪ Both the decline in compliance during a shift and the benefits of breaks were stronger for those who worked more total hours in the preceding week –> spillover effect
Describe the marshmallow test.
Children asked to sit in a room with a marshmallow. Told that if they don’t eat it until the researcher comes back, they’ll get a second marshmallow.
According to Mischel, what kinds of strategies could children use to delay gratification?
o Cognitive reframing & strategic attentional deployment reduces temptation
o Shifting focus away from an object’s most tempting features makes it easier to delay gratification
o E.g., kids who imagined the marshmallow as a fluffy white cloud or plain white ball were better at resisting
o So were the kids who were able to distract themselves
What outcomes are associated with greater delayed gratification on the marshmallow test?
▪ Higher SAT scores
▪ Lower rates of substance dependence
▪ Higher income & SES
▪ Better interpersonal functioning
What is the evidence that environmental factors like socioeconomic status may affect performance on marshmallow task? What role do children’s expectations about the likelihood of receiving a larger reward play in their choice to delay gratification?
The higher the economic status, the better they perform on the marshmallow test
A child’s expectations about whether their actions will lead to rewards affect their performance
Children who learned waiting was rewarded (reliable condition) waited much longer for a second marshmallow than those who were taught waiting brought no reward (unreliable condition)
Self-control is shaped by experience
What is life history theory?
Life history theory = individuals adapt their strategies based on environmental stability
o In unpredictable environments, people may prioritize immediate rewards (a “fast” strategy) –> do not endorse delayed gratification
o In stable environments, people are more likely to invest in long-term goals (a “slow” strategy)
What is trait self-control? What outcomes is it associated with?
Trait-self control is a stable personality trait
o Extensive evidence that childhood self-control predicts better outcomes in adulthood → wealthier, less likely to commit crime, lower rates of substance dependence, better physical health
How does trait self-control relate to state self-control?
Experience sampling research shows that trait self-control is related to less, not more, state self-control
Does not appear to be the case that people high in trait self-control spend more time exercising self-control—rather, they experience fewer problematic desires –> they just aren’t as tempted in the first place and have fewer temptations overall.
What is situation selection/precommitment? What are some examples?
Situation selection or precommitment = proactive strategies to design our environment or lock in our decisions with the aim of reducing future temptations –> engineering environment to avoid temptation in the first place
ex: 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
What is conscientiousness?
Conscientiousness is a multifaceted construct:
▪ Self-control
▪ Industriousness = strong work ethic, enjoyment of effort
▪ Responsibility = following through on commitments and being accountable to others –> obligation to others
▪ Traditionalism = valuing societal norms and rules
Explain what is meant by the idea that individuals high in trait self-control/conscientiousness may have “well-aligned desires.”
Those is high trait self-control enjoy these “well-aligned” behaviours in the first place and therefore do not need to exhibit self-control in the first place –> ex: they like eating healthy and exercising and therefore they are more intrinsically motivated to do them.
Is there evidence that self-control can be trained?
Maybe?
-It may help to change your self-perceptions –> begin seeing yourself as someone who is disciplined
-begin to love effort –> if you avoid effort less often, you may begin to get more meaning out of it
What is self-compassion, and why is it important?
o Self-compassion = ability to treat ourselves with kindness during struggles
-Punishing yourself for self-control is not sustainable in the long-term
-In fact self-compassion interventions have been found to increase self-regulation and subsequent self-control
