Ego Depletion and Self-Regulation Failure: A Resource Model of Self-Control

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy F. Baumeister
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Resource Model

Ego Depletion: A Resource Model of Volition, Self-Regulation, and Controlled Processing

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy F. Baumeister ◽  
Mark Muraven ◽  
Dianne M. Tice
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Resource Model ◽  
Controlled Processing

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 Exploring the Interplay of Trait Self–Control and Ego Depletion: Empirical Evidence for Ironic Effects

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 413-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Imhoff ◽  
Alexander F. Schmidt ◽  
Friederike Gerstenberg
Keyword(s):  
Achievement Motivation ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Total N ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Behaviour Study ◽  
Low Self Control ◽  
Ironic Effects

Trait self–control (TSC) has been conceptualized as a general and abstract ability to exert self–regulation across multiple domains that has mostly beneficial effects. However, its relationship to situational depletion of self–regulatory resources has received little attention. We systematically explore the interplay of trait and situational self–control in two studies (total N = 264). In contrast with a positive view of TSC, the results show greater ego depletion effects for high (vs. low) self–control abilities across such diverse domains as candy consumption (Study 1), risk–taking behaviour (Study 2) and achievement motivation (Study 2). It is proposed that these ironic effects are attributable to high–TSC individuals’ less frequent active inhibition of impulses in everyday life and their resulting lack of experience in resisting acute temptations. A third study (N> = 358) corroborated this general reasoning by showing that TSC is indeed associated with less frequent impulse inhibition in daily routines. Our data point to a downside of dispositional self–control in ego depletion paradigms. Other explanations and potential future avenues for resolving inconsistent findings across the literature are discussed. Copyright © 2013 European Association of Personality Psychology

The Long Reach of Self-Control

2020 ◽  
pp. 17-46
Author(s):  
Roy F. Baumeister ◽  
Andrew J. Vonasch ◽  
Hallgeir Sjåstad
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Psychological Processes ◽  
Physical Energy ◽  
Making Choices

Abundant evidence suggests that people exert self-control as if the exertions consumed a limited energy resource, akin to the folk notion of willpower. After exerting self-control, subsequent efforts at self-control are often relatively feeble and unsuccessful. The state of low willpower is called ego depletion. Studies on ego depletion have shown effects on intelligent thought (which is impaired during ego depletion), decision-making (depleted persons shift to more superficial ways of choosing, or prefer to avoid making choices), and passivity (depleted people become more passive). The psychological processes of self-regulation and ego depletion are linked to physical energy, as indicated by evidence that hunger makes people more short-sighted, and that food intake tends to counteract ego depletion. Depletion increases in response to interpersonal conflict, poor sleep, and confronting uncertainty. In daily life, good self-control is linked to avoiding problems and temptations, low stress, and higher happiness.

Ego depletion reduces proselfs' concern with the well-being of others

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Balliet ◽  
Jeff Joireman
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Adverse Impact ◽  
Control Task ◽  
Similar Measure ◽  
Basic Proposition ◽  
Primary Hypothesis ◽  
Practical Implications

Previous research suggests that people predisposed toward a more cooperative orientation are stronger at self-control and, accordingly, are better able to ward off the adverse impact of ego depletion on self-regulation (Seeley & Gardner, 2003). Building on this research, we tested the hypothesis that ego depletion would lead to a reduction in concern with the well-being of others among proselfs, but not among prosocials. Study 1 supported the basic proposition that prosocials are higher than proselfs in trait self-control. In Study 2, participants originally classified as prosocials versus proselfs based on mathematical games engaged in an ego depletion task or a control task and later completed a similar measure of prosocial versus proself values. Supporting the primary hypothesis, ego depletion reduced proselfs concern with the well-being of others at time 2, but had no impact among prosocials. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Systematic Literature Review on Importance of Limited Resource Model in Health-oriented Behaviours

2021 ◽  
pp. 097226292199986
Author(s):  
Astha Gupta ◽  
Kirti Sharma ◽  
Ritu Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Resource Model ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Limited Resource Model

This article aims to review research on the relationship between self-control and health-oriented behaviours (healthy eating, physical exercise, smoking and alcohol abstinence) using the strength or limited resource model. The present work also aims to discuss alternative explanations for why initial acts of self-control impair subsequent adherence to health-oriented behaviours. The authors adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines to conduct a systematic review. Database searches were performed to identify 25 articles, published in English from 2000 to 2020, that empirically tested the theory in the health domain. The available evidence supported the relationship between self-control and health-oriented behaviours, and the performance of health-oriented behaviours was found to reduce self-control resources. Mixed findings exist regarding the impact of a number of mediators and moderators in strengthening the relationship, and few studies have attempted to explain the mechanisms behind the controversial concept of ego depletion or the factors that can facilitate the performance of health behaviours under depletion conditions. Gaps in the reviewed studies were identified and the review highlighted the role of mediators and moderators. A decision-making framework is proposed (which can be tested in the future) to explain the role of dispositional self-control in health behaviours and how health behaviours can be facilitated, even in a state of low self-control.

Ego-Depletion and Risk Behavior

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Unger ◽  
Dagmar Stahlberg
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Risk Behavior ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Adverse Outcome ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Risk Averse ◽  
Expected Values

Ego-depletion theory postulates the existence of a mental resource that is necessary for self-regulation. If the resource is diminished by a task involving self-control, achievement in subsequent self-control tasks will be impaired. Three experiments examined whether ego-depletion limits people’s intentionality regarding risk behavior (i.e., choosing an option that has a certain probability of resulting in an adverse outcome). It is assumed that people operating under ego-depletion lack the self-control to deal with these possibly negative outcomes and will, therefore, be prone to avoid risky alternatives, if the decision requires certain levels of responsibility and information processing (i.e., people will choose safe options in an investment scenario with actual pay-offs according to expected values). Results support the assumption that people become risk averse under ego-depletion even when controlling for the alternate assumption that ego-depletion strengthens an existing individual disposition toward risk taking.

scholarly journals Getting a grip on the handgrip task: Handgrip duration correlates with neuroticism but not conscientiousness

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Goldberg ◽  
Lisa Flook ◽  
Matthew James Hirshberg ◽  
David Findley ◽  
Pelin Kesebir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Cold Pressor Test ◽  
Cold Pressor ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Isometric Handgrip ◽  
Depletion Effect ◽  
Highly Correlated

Questions regarding the replicability of key findings in the self-regulation literature (e.g., ego-depletion effect) have led some to call for a more thorough evaluation of commonly used measures of self-control. The isometric handgrip task is one such measure. The current study examined correlates of handgrip persistence using data drawn from a larger randomized controlled trial. Handgrip persistence was measured both at baseline and following a physical stressor (cold pressor test). Correlations were examined between handgrip performance and personality traits theoretically closely linked with self-regulation: conscientiousness and neuroticism. Baseline handgrip performance was correlated with several measures drawn from the nomological network of self-regulation including measures of trait neuroticism, mindfulness, anxiety sensitivity, perceived stress, and positive affect, although not with trait conscientiousness. Baseline handgrip predicted aversiveness experienced during the physical stressor, while changes in handgrip performance tracked changes in implicit and explicit negative affect (i.e., affective reactivity). These associations were largely maintained when controlling for variables highly correlated with overall grip strength (i.e., gender, height, and weight), although correlations separated by gender suggest associations were primarily driven by female participants. Results support future research using the handgrip task.

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