scholarly journals Why Self-Report Measures of Self-Control and Inhibition Tasks Do Not Substantially Correlate

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lasse Wennerhold ◽  
Malte Friese

Trait self-control is often defined as the ability to inhibit dominant responses including thoughts, emotions, and behavioral impulses. Despite the pivotal role of inhibition for trait self-control, a growing body of evidence found small-to-zero correlations between self-report measures of trait self-control and behavioral inhibition tasks. These observations seem puzzling considering that both types of measures are often seen as operationalizations of the same or at least closely related theoretical constructs. Previous explanations for this non-correspondence focused on psychometric properties of the measures. Here, we discuss three further factors that may explain the empirical non-correspondence between trait self-control scales and behavioral inhibition tasks: (1) the distinction between typical and maximum performance, (2) the measurement of single versus repeated performance, and (3) differences between impulses in different domains. Specifically, we argue that a) self-report measures of trait self-control are designed to assess typical performance, and relative to these, behavioral inhibition tasks are designed to assess maximum performance; b) self-report measures of trait self-control capture central tendencies of aggregates of many different instances of behavior, whereas behavioral inhibition tasks are momentary, one-time state measures; and c) most self-report measures of trait self-control are designed to measure general, cross-domain inhibition, whereas behavioral inhibition tasks also measure narrower, domain-specific inhibition to a substantial degree. In conclusion, we argue that it is implausible to hypothesize more than a low correlation between self-report measures of trait self-control and behavioral inhibition tasks as they genuinely focus on different aspects of the theoretical construct of self-control. We also discuss the broader implications of these issues for self-control as a theoretical construct and its appropriate measurement.

2020 ◽  
pp. 001112872098189
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Holt ◽  
Kevin F. Steinmetz

Criminological inquiry consistently identifies a gender difference in offending rates, which are also evident among certain forms of cybercrime. The gender difference in cybercrime offending is particularly large within computer hacking, though few have specifically addressed this issue through applications of criminological theory. The current study attempted to account for the gender disparity in hacking through a test of power-control theory, which considers the role of class and family structure. This analysis also incorporated an extension of power-control theory through the influence of low self-control. Using data from the Second International Self-Report of Delinquency study (ISRD-2), logistic regression analyses were estimated, producing partial support for both theories to account for hacking. Implications for theory and research were explored in detail.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eli Tsukayama ◽  
Angela Lee Duckworth ◽  
Betty Kim

We propose a model of impulsivity that predicts both domain–general and domain–specific variance in behaviours that produce short–term gratification at the expense of long–term goals and standards. Specifically, we posit that domain–general impulsivity is explained by domain–general self–control strategies and resources, whereas domain–specific impulsivity is explained by how tempting individuals find various impulsive behaviours, and to a lesser extent, in perceptions of their long–term harm. Using a novel self–report measure, factor analyses produced six (non–exhaustive) domains of impulsive behaviour (Studies 1–2): work, interpersonal relationships, drugs, food, exercise and finances. Domain–general self–control explained 40% of the variance in domain–general impulsive behaviour between individuals, reffect = .71. Domain–specific temptation ( reffect = .83) and perceived harm ( reffect = −.26) explained 40% and 2% of the unique within–individual variance in impulsive behaviour, respectively (59% together). In Study 3, we recruited individuals in special interest groups (e.g. procrastinators) to confirm that individuals who are especially tempted by behaviours in their target domain are not likely to be more tempted in non–target domains. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


2020 ◽  
pp. 105960112096356
Author(s):  
Barjinder Singh ◽  
Margaret Shaffer ◽  
Thirumalai Thattai Rajan Selvarajan

Drawing on Conservation of Resources and spillover theories, we empirically examine work and community outcomes of both organizational and community embeddedness and the underlying mechanism whereby the two forms of embeddedness influence both domain-specific and cross-domain outcomes. With data from 165 matched pairs of employees and their colleagues from a Midwestern US organization, we found that organizational and community embeddedness influence specific individual behaviors both within and across their respective domains. Additionally, we found support for the mediating role of psychological flourishing in the relationships between embeddedness and various organizational and community outcomes. We discuss the theoretical contributions and practical implications of our findings, as well as suggestions for future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 2714-2736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangsong Liu ◽  
Harold Chui ◽  
Man Cheung Chung

Previous research demonstrated the association between parent–adolescent relationship quality and deviant peer affiliation, but it is unclear whether this relation is mediated by other psychological and interpersonal variables, whether father– and mother–adolescent relationship quality have different pathways in predicting deviant peer affiliation, and whether gender moderates these associations. A sample of 543 students from grades 10 to 12 (42.7% male; age M = 16.2 years, SD = 1.0) was selected from a Chinese high school in Shenzhen, China. They provided demographic variables and completed self-report measures of father– and mother–adolescent relationship quality, self-control, friendship quality, and deviant peer affiliation. The results showed that lower father–adolescent relationship quality was associated with lower self-control, which in turn was associated with higher deviant peer affiliation. Mother–adolescent relationship quality did not have direct or indirect association with deviant peer affiliation. In addition, male and female adolescents had no significant difference in the associations between father– and mother–adolescent relationship quality, self-control, friendship quality, and deviant peer affiliation. Implications and limitations of these findings were discussed.


2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 683-684
Author(s):  
Peter F. Dominey

In Carruthers’ formulation, cross-domain thinking requires translation of domain specific data into a common format, and linguistic LF thus plays the role of the common medium of exchange. Alternatively, I propose a process-oriented characterization, in which there is no common representation and cross-domain thinking is rather the process of establishing mappings across domains, as in the process of analogical reasoning.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah C. Venables ◽  
Jens Foell ◽  
James R. Yancey ◽  
Michael J. Kane ◽  
Randall W. Engle ◽  
...  

Recent mental health initiatives have called for a shift away from purely report-based conceptualizations of psychopathology toward a biobehaviorally oriented framework. The current work illustrates a measurement-oriented approach to challenges inherent in efforts to integrate biological and behavioral indicators with psychological-report variables. Specifically, we undertook to quantify the construct of inhibitory control (inhibition-disinhibition) as the individual difference dimension tapped by self-report, task-behavioral, and brain response indicators of susceptibility to disinhibitory problems (externalizing proneness). In line with prediction, measures of each type cohered to form domain-specific factors, and these factors loaded in turn onto a cross-domain inhibitory control factor reflecting the variance in common among the domain factors. Cross-domain scores predicted behavioral-performance and brain-response criterion measures as well as clinical problems (i.e., antisocial behaviors and substance abuse). Implications of this new cross-domain model for research on neurobiological mechanisms of inhibitory control and health/performance outcomes associated with this dispositional characteristic are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Magnusson ◽  
A. Crandall ◽  
K. Evans

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine the role of low self-control as a mediator or moderator between early age at sexual debut and risky sexual behavior in young adulthood. Methods Data on 5734 male and female Add Health participants were used. Self-control (waves 1 & 3), age at sexual debut (wave 3) and risky sexual behavior (wave 4) were used in a structural equation modeling framework to assess the relationships of interest. Results Approximately 17% of respondents were < 15 years at first sexual intercourse. Among females only, both early age at first intercourse (Parent-report: z = 5.08, p < .001; Self-report: z = 2.05, p < .05) and low self-control at wave 3 (Parent-report: z = 2.30, p < .05; Self-report: z = 2.31, p < .05) mediated the relationship between low self-control at wave 1 and risky sexual behaviors in young adulthood. Similarly in the male-only model, both early age at first intercourse (Parent-report: z = 2.92, p < .01; Self-report: z = 3.04, p < .01) and low self-control at wave 3 (Parent-report: z = 1.99, p < .05; Self-report: z = 3.15, p < .01) mediated the relationship between low self-control and risky sexual behaviors in young adulthood. There was evidence of moderation in the male-only model (− 0.26, p < .01), such that lower impulsivity strengthened the relationship between early sex and risky sex. Conclusions This study confirms the role of executive functions in sexual behaviors and suggests that interventions aimed at improving self-control may be beneficial in reducing risky sexual behavior.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fu Yu Kwok ◽  
Rebecca Bull ◽  
David Muñez

Existing research has mainly examined the role of cognitive correlates of early reading and mathematics from a stationary perspective that does not consider how these skills unfold and interact over time. This approach constraints the interpretation of cross-domain associations and the specificity of domain-specific covariates. In this study, we disentangle the role of these predictors and investigate cross-domain associations between reading, math, and two related domain-specific predictors (phonological awareness and fluency with number sets) over the kindergarten years (n=512, Mage=54months, SDage=3.5, 52% females). Results reveal that the overlap between reading and math skills changes over development. Reciprocal associations between reading and math abilities are observed at earlier stages; then, reading abilities become the lead force. Findings also show that phonological awareness and fluency with number sets are domain-specific predictors that do not contribute to cross-domain gains in academic skills. Indeed, there is a trend for domain-specific skills to be more strongly related to achievement at the beginning of formal education than at the beginning of kindergarten, which suggests an increasing differentiation of domains over the kindergarten years. Such findings have implications for the timing and nature of interventions that aim to support children’s reading and mathematical development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Mosley ◽  
Sylvain Laborde ◽  
Emma Kavanagh

Abstract. The aims of this study were to assess the predictive role of coping-related variables (CRV) on cardiac vagal activity (derived from heart rate variability), and to investigate the influence of CRV (and cardiac vagal activity) on prone rifle shooting performance under low pressure (LP) and high pressure (HP) conditions. Participants ( n = 38) competed in a shooting task under LP and HP. Cardiac vagal activity measurements were taken at baseline, task, and recovery for 5 min, alongside ratings of stress via a visual analogue scale. Upon task conclusion, self-report measures of motivation, stress appraisal, attention, perceived pressure, and trait CRV questionnaires (Decision-Specific Reinvestment Scale [DSRS], Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale [MSRS], and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire [TEIQue]) were completed. Results indicated that task cardiac vagal activity was predicted by resting cardiac vagal activity and self-control in HP and LP. Post-task cardiac vagal activity was predicted by resting cardiac vagal activity in both conditions with the addition of a trait and state CRV in HP. Cardiac vagal reactivity, the change from resting to task, was predicted by resting cardiac vagal activity and self-control in LP and HP. Cardiac vagal recovery, the change from task to post-task, was predicted by a trait CRV in HP. Shooting performance was predicted by experience and cardiac vagal activity in LP and cardiac vagal activity and a trait in HP. Findings suggest both CRV and cardiac vagal activity influence cardiac vagal activity throughout a pressure task. Additionally, shooting performance directly influences cardiac vagal recovery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 1533-1555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Holt ◽  
Jordana N. Navarro ◽  
Shelly Clevenger

Criminological research has demonstrated the significant relationship between deviant peer associations, a lack of self-control, and individual delinquency. These relationships also account for involvement in cybercrime, though these results are based largely on adult samples. There is less research considering juvenile offending online, particularly examining involvement in property-based offenses such as computer hacking. This study utilized an international sample of 48,327 juvenile respondents in the Second International Self-Report of Delinquency (ISRD-2) study to examine the role of gender as a moderating factor in the relationship between deviant peer associations, self-control, opportunity, and self-reported computer hacking behavior. The findings demonstrated different correlates associated with hacking for males and females, as well as differences on the basis of urban and rural residency.


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