Implicit Theories About Willpower in Resisting Temptations and Emotion Control

2017 ◽  
Vol 225 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Bernecker ◽  
Veronika Job
Keyword(s):  
Stroop Task ◽  
Implicit Theories ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Resource Theory ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Control Task ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Emotion Control

Abstract. Previous research suggests that people’s implicit theories about willpower affect continuous self-control performance in the domain of strenuous mental activities. The present research expands these findings to two further domains of self-control: resisting temptations and emotion control. In Study 1, participants were either led to resist a temptation or not. Participants who believed that willpower gets depleted by resistance to temptations (limited-resource theory) performed significantly worse in a subsequent Stroop task compared to participants who believed that resisting temptations activates their willpower (nonlimited-resource theory). In Study 2, participants controlled their emotions during a funny video or were allowed to express them. Participants who believed that controlling emotions depletes willpower performed worse in a subsequent persistence task than those who believed that controlling emotions activates willpower. Results suggest that implicit theories about willpower are domain specific and sensitive to the domain of the initial self-control task rather than that of the subsequent self-control task.

scholarly journals Task Duration and Task Order do not Matter: No Effect on Self-Control Performance

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanja Wolff ◽  
Vanda Sieber ◽  
Maik Bieleke ◽  
Chris Englert
Keyword(s):  
Limited Resource ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Control Task ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Task Duration ◽  
Depletion Effect ◽  
Task Variation

The strength model of self-control proposes that all acts of self-control are energized by one global limited resource that becomes temporarily depleted by a primary self-control task, leading to impaired self-control performance in secondary self-control tasks. However, failed replications have cast doubt on the existence of this so-called ego depletion effect. Here, we investigated between-task (i.e. variation in self-control tasks) and within-task variation (i.e. task duration) as possible explanations for the conflicting literature on ego depletion effects. In a high-powered experiment (N = 709 participants), we used two established self-control tasks (Stroop task, transcription task) to test how variations in the duration of primary and secondary self-control tasks (2, 4, 8, or 16 minutes per task) affect the occurrence of an ego depletion effect (i.e., impaired performance in the secondary task). In line with the ego depletion hypothesis, subjects perceived longer lasting secondary tasks as more self-control demanding. Contrary to the ego depletion hypothesis, however, performance did neither suffer from prior self-control exertion, nor as a function of task duration. If anything, performance tended to improve when the primary self-control task lasted longer. These effects did not differ between the two self-control tasks, suggesting that the observed null findings were independent of task type.

scholarly journals Searching for the bottom of the ego well: Failure to uncover ego depletion in Many Labs 3

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Vadillo ◽  
Natalie Gold ◽  
Magda Osman
Keyword(s):  
Stroop Task ◽  
Secondary Task ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Significant Evidence ◽  
Heated Debate ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Optimal Measure

According to a popular model of self-control, willpower depends on a limited resource that can be depleted when we perform a task demanding self-control. Over the last five years, the reliability of the empirical evidence supporting this model has become the subject of heated debate. In the present study, we reanalysed data from a large-scale study –Many Labs 3– to test whether performing a depleting task has any effect on a secondary task that also relies on self-control. Although we used a large sample of more than 2,000 participants for our analyses, we did not find any significant evidence of ego-depletion: Persistence on an anagram solving task (a typical measure of self-control) was not affected by previous completion of a Stroop task (a typical depleting task in this literature). Our results suggest that persistence in anagram solving may not be an optimal measure to test depletion effects.

The effect of implicit theories on self-control performance

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dikla Shmueli ◽  
Mark Muraven ◽  
Tiffany Szymanski ◽  
Samantha Stevens ◽  
Andrew Philip
Keyword(s):  
Implicit Theories ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Control Performance

Who Believes in Nonlimited Willpower? In Search of Correlates of Implicit Theories of Self-Control

2018 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-299
Author(s):  
Jan Jędrzejczyk ◽  
Marcin Zajenkowski
Keyword(s):  
Time Perspective ◽  
Implicit Theories ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Emotional Stability ◽  
Future Time Perspective ◽  
Mental Activity ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Strength Model ◽  
Domain Specific

Recently, the most prominent model of self-control, the strength model, was criticized, and other explanations of self-control have been proposed. One of them is a concept of lay, implicit, willpower theories, that is, believing either that willpower is limited (as in the strength model) or nonlimited. Research shows that holding a nonlimited-resource belief prevents individuals from suffering ego depletion and is related to successful self-regulation. The current study explored how personality, time perspective, and intelligence predict willpower theories. Additionally, two aspects of willpower theories, strenuous mental activity and resistance to temptations, were measured separately. The results indicated that the two aspects of willpower theories were not correlated with each other. This supports hypothesis that willpower theories may be domain specific and also suggests that these two aspects should not be aggregated into one, homogenous scale as was done in some previous research. Both aspects of holding a nonlimited-resource theory were related positively to emotional stability and negatively to past negative time perspective. Strenuous mental activity was positively associated with intellect and negatively with present fatalism, whereas resistance to temptations was correlated positively with conscientiousness and future time perspective. There were no relations between willpower theories and intelligence, which posits that similar life outcomes related with these two attributes are based on distinct mechanisms. Regression analyses revealed that only personality traits (emotional stability and conscientiousness) remained significant predictors of willpower beliefs.

scholarly journals Searching for the bottom of the ego well: failure to uncover ego depletion in Many Labs 3

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 180390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Vadillo ◽  
Natalie Gold ◽  
Magda Osman
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Stroop Task ◽  
Secondary Task ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Real Effect ◽  
Significant Evidence ◽  
Optimal Measure

According to a popular model of self-control, willpower depends on a limited resource that can be depleted when we perform a task demanding self-control. This theory has been put to the test in hundreds of experiments showing that completing a task that demands high self-control usually hinders performance in any secondary task that subsequently taxes self-control. Over the last 5 years, the reliability of the empirical evidence supporting this model has been questioned. In the present study, we reanalysed data from a large-scale study—Many Labs 3—to test whether performing a depleting task has any effect on a secondary task that also relies on self-control. Although we used a large sample of more than 2000 participants for our analyses, we did not find any significant evidence of ego depletion: persistence on an anagram-solving task (a typical measure of self-control) was not affected by previous completion of a Stroop task (a typical depleting task in this literature). Our results suggest that either ego depletion is not a real effect or, alternatively, persistence in anagram solving may not be an optimal measure to test it.

scholarly journals EXPRESS: The Role of Regulatory-, Affective-, and Motivational Resources in the Spillover of Sleep in the Home Domain to Employee Effectiveness in the Work Domain

2021 ◽  
pp. 001872672110524
Author(s):  
Wladislaw Rivkin ◽  
Stefan Diestel ◽  
Jakob Stollberger ◽  
Claudia Sacramento
Keyword(s):  
Implicit Theories ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Resource Theory ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Diary Studies ◽  
Lack Of Sleep ◽  
Employee Effectiveness

How does sleep affect employee effectiveness and what can employees do to remain effective on days with a lack of sleep? Drawing on the conservation of resources theory our research expands on the cognitive (regulatory resources), affective (positive affect), and motivational (subjective vitality) mechanisms that link sleep and employee effectiveness. Furthermore, considering the crucial role of individual beliefs in the spillover of sleep to work, we examine the moderating role of implicit theories about willpower – a mindset about the resource-draining nature of self-regulation – in the relation between sleep duration and employee effectiveness through regulatory resources availability. Two daily diary studies with a combined sample of Ntotal=214 employees (Ntotal=1317 workdays) demonstrate the predominant role of cognitive and affective resources in linking sleep at home to engagement, in-, and extra-role performance at work. Moreover, the spillover of sleep to employee effectiveness via cognitive resources is stronger for individuals holding a limited as compared to a non-limited resource theory. This research not only expands our theoretical understanding of the psychological mechanisms that link sleep to employee effectiveness but also offers practical implications by highlighting the protective role of holding a non-limited resource theory on days with a lack of sleep.

scholarly journals A Schema-Activation Approach to Failure and Success in Self-Control

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Bertrams
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Theoretical Explanation ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Control Task ◽  
Depletion Effect ◽  
Schema Activation ◽  
Schema Model

Numerous studies confirm the so-called ego depletion effect (i.e., self-control is impaired after an initial unrelated self-control task). There are also many studies on the moderators of the effect. During recent years, the criticism on this limited-resource approach to willpower has increased, and alternative models have been developed. I argue that the existing models cannot explain the variety of results found in the ego depletion literature (e.g., the vicarious depletion effect). Therefore, I sought a theoretical explanation that incorporates many of the findings, and, thus, I introduce the schema model of self-control. It is characterized by several mediating paths, with each having specific moderators. Referring to related schema conceptions already existing in the literature (i.e., illness schemas and emotion schemas), I posit that the processes that cause ego depletion effects occur around the activation of the fatigue/decreased vitality schema. This schema becomes activated via the registration of behavioral and physiological changes related to exercising self-control. The activation of the fatigue/vitality schema should instigate the motivation to conserve energy and, therefore, cause reduced effort and decreased performance in a subsequent self-control task. The moderators (e.g., energy supply) should influence the (non)activation of the fatigue/vitality schema or its consequences.

scholarly journals The Sweet Taste of Success

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin S. Hagger ◽  
Nikos L. D. Chatzisarantis
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Sweet Taste ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Mouth Rinse ◽  
Control Task ◽  
Metabolic Mechanism ◽  
Effect Of Glucose ◽  
Glucose Supplementation

According to the resource-depletion model, self-control is a limited resource that is depleted after a period of exertion. Evidence consistent with this model indicates that self-control relies on glucose metabolism and glucose supplementation to depleted individuals replenishes self-control resources. In five experiments, we tested an alternative hypothesis that glucose in the oral cavity counteracts the deleterious effects of self-control depletion. We predicted a glucose mouth rinse, as opposed to an artificially sweetened placebo rinse, would lead to better self-control after depletion. In Studies 1 to 3, participants engaging in a depleting task performed significantly better on a subsequent self-control task after receiving a glucose mouth rinse, as opposed to participants rinsing with a placebo. Studies 4 and 5 replicated these findings and demonstrated that the glucose mouth rinse had no effect on self-control in nondepleted participants. Results are consistent with a neural rather than metabolic mechanism for the effect of glucose supplementation on self-control.

Ego Depletion

2019 ◽  
pp. 111-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Muraven ◽  
Jacek Buczny ◽  
Kyle F. Law
Keyword(s):  
Limited Resource ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Negative Outcomes ◽  
Ego Strength ◽  
Loss Of Self ◽  
Comprehensive Theory ◽  
Depletion Effect

Self-control all too often fails. Despite people’s best intentions and considerable negative outcomes, people often find themselves at the losing end of resisting temptation, combating urges, and changing their behavior. One reason for these failures may be that exerting self-control depletes a limited resource (ego depletion) that is necessary for the success of self-control. Hence, after exerting self-control, individuals are less able resist temptations, fight urges, or stop a behavior that results in a loss of self-control. This chapter reviews the evidence for this theory in a wide variety of domains and examines what behaviors appear to deplete ego strength and how depletion affects behavior. A comprehensive theory that examines how depletion operates is put forth and used to examine some factors that might moderate the depletion effect.

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