scholarly journals A pre-registered test of competing theories to explain ego depletion effects using psychophysiological indicators of mental effort

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolin Gieseler ◽  
David D. Loschelder ◽  
Veronika Job ◽  
Malte Friese
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Mental Effort ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Strength Model ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Competing Models

A prominent, hotly debated idea—the ‘ego depletion’ phenomenon—suggests that engaging in effortful, demanding tasks leads to poorer subsequent self-control performance. Several theories seek to explain the emergence of ego depletion effects. The two most prominent ones are the strength model of self-control (Baumeister & Vohs, 2016) and the process model of self-control (Inzlicht & Schmeichel, 2012). Predictions of these models are predominantly identical on the behavioral level. The models’ predictions differ, however, on the level of invested mental effort. The present pre-registered study (N = 179) contrasted these competing predictions combining an established moderator counteracting ego depletion effects (i.e., self-affirmation) and psychophysiological indicators of mental effort (i.e., systolic blood pressure and pre-ejection period). Our data provide moderate evidence for ego-depletion—decrements in self-control performance after a high- versus low-demanding task in the non-affirmed conditions. Self-affirmation had an unexpected effect: Contrary to previous research, self-affirmed participants performed similarly poorly as participants in the high demand+non-affirmed condition. Although this unexpected finding limited the ability to contrast competing model predictions, it points to hitherto unknown effects of self-affirmation on self-control performance. Systolic blood pressure reactivity emerged as a valid indicator of invested mental effort, but the data show no sign of disengagement after a high demanding task predicted by the process (but not the strength) model. We explore systolic blood pressure progression across the sequential task paradigm, suggest a testable account for the effects of self-affirmation on self-control performance, and discuss theoretical implications of the results for the two competing models.

scholarly journals Bored Into Depletion? Toward a Tentative Integration of Perceived Self-Control Exertion and Boredom as Guiding Signals for Goal-Directed Behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1272-1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanja Wolff ◽  
Corinna S. Martarelli
Keyword(s):  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Strength Model ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
The Past ◽  
Working Model ◽  
Societal Relevance ◽  
Depletion Effect ◽  
Control Research ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

During the past two decades, self-control research has been dominated by the strength model of self-control, which is built on the premise that the capacity for self-control is a limited global resource that can become temporarily depleted, resulting in a state called ego depletion. The foundations of ego depletion have recently been questioned. Thus, although self-control is among the most researched psychological concepts with high societal relevance, an inconsistent body of literature limits our understanding of how self-control operates. Here, we propose that the inconsistencies are partly due to a confound that has unknowingly and systematically been introduced into the ego-depletion research: boredom. We propose that boredom might affect results of self-control research by placing an unwanted demand on self-control and signaling that one should explore behavioral alternatives. To account for boredom in self-controlled behavior, we provide a working model that integrates evidence from reward-based models of self-control and recent theorizing on boredom to explain the effects of both self-control exertion and boredom on subsequent self-control performance. We propose that task-induced boredom should be systematically monitored in self-control research to assess the validity of the ego-depletion effect.

scholarly journals Bored into depletion? Towards a tentative integration of perceived self-control exertion and boredom as guiding signals for goal-directed behavior

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanja Wolff ◽  
Corinna Martarelli
Keyword(s):  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Strength Model ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
The Past ◽  
Working Model ◽  
Societal Relevance ◽  
Depletion Effect ◽  
Control Research ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

During the past two decades, self-control research has been dominated by the strength model of self-control which is built on the premise that the capacity for self-control is a limited global resource that can become temporarily depleted, resulting in a state called ego depletion. The foundations of ego depletion have recently been questioned. Thus, although self-control is among the most researched psychological concepts with high societal relevance, an inconsistent body of literature limits our understanding of how self-control operates. Here, we propose that the inconsistencies are partly due to a confound that has unknowingly and systematically been introduced into ego depletion research: Boredom. We propose that boredom might affect results of self-control research by 1) placing an unwanted self-control demand, and 2) signaling that one should explore behavioral alternatives. To account for boredom in self-controlled behavior, we provide a working model that integrates evidence from reward-based models of self-control and recent theorizing on boredom to explain effects of both self-control exertion and boredom on subsequent self-control performance. We propose that task-induced boredom should be systematically monitored in self-control research to assess the validity of the ego depletion effect.

scholarly journals Emotional, Cognitive and Self-Enhancement Processes in Aggressive Behavior After Interpersonal Rejection and Exclusion

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 707-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Rajchert
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Strength Model ◽  
Displaced Aggression ◽  
Cognitive Readiness ◽  
Interpersonal Rejection ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Exclusion Effect

The relationship between exclusion or rejection and aggression is already well documented, but there is still a debate about the mechanisms that underlie this effect. In two studies we focused on the propensity to react aggressively (readiness for aggression) on the bases of emotional, cognitive or self-enhancement (personality-immanent) processes. In both studies we first measured readiness for aggression and then ego-depleted participants. Next, in Study 1 we excluded participants (n = 96) using an online ball throwing game and measured displaced aggressive behavior - intensity and duration of an unpleasant noise administrated to a stranger. In Study 2 participants (n = 140) were rejected by a peer on the basis of an interview that they gave and then could retaliate by reducing peer's chance for getting a job. The results show that exclusion effect on displaced aggression was moderated by cognitive readiness for aggression, while rejection effect on retaliatory aggression was shaped by emotional and personality-immanent readiness for aggression as well as ego-depletion. The results were discussed in light of the strength model of self-control by Baumeister, Vohs, and Tice (2007).

Ego depletion and the strength model of self-control: A meta-analysis.

2010 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin S. Hagger ◽  
Chantelle Wood ◽  
Chris Stiff ◽  
Nikos L. D. Chatzisarantis
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Strength Model

scholarly journals Post-Depletion Aggression Restrained: Replicabily of Brief Mindfulness Induction In Indonesian Sample

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleoputri Yusainy ◽  
Wahyu Wicaksono
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Competitive Reaction ◽  
Time Task ◽  
Mindfulness Induction ◽  
British Sample

Mindfulness practice is being promoted in Western countries as a means to improve one’s ability to restrain aggression under “depleted” condition. The applicability of this framework in non-Western settings is yet to be determined. This study (N = 119 Indonesian undergraduates) directly replicated Yusainy and Lawrence (2015) experiment with native British sample, to examine the moderation of mindfulness induction on post-depletion aggression (i.e., blast intensity in an adapted competitive reaction-time task). Similar results were obtained, in that mindfulness induction moderated the ego-depletion and (i) blast intensity link under low/moderate provocation, and (ii) self-control performance link after the aggression task. Notably, the benefit of mindfulness was also indicated in our additional aggression measure of the late deliverance of maximum blast in depleted females. While Western operationalisation of mindfulness operates quite similarly across cultures, the inclusion of a subtle measure of aggression appears to be crucial for Indonesian females.

scholarly journals Construal level and ego depletion influence on self-control performance of military personnel with and without burnout

IBRO Reports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. S460-S461
Author(s):  
Alexander Unger ◽  
Julie Papastamatelou ◽  
Lening A. Olivera-Figueroa
Keyword(s):  
Military Personnel ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Construal Level ◽  
Control Performance

Development of a Within-Subject, Repeated-Measures Ego-Depletion Paradigm

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 271-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoë Francis ◽  
Marina Milyavskaya ◽  
Hause Lin ◽  
Michael Inzlicht
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Lower Energy ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Practice Effects ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Depletion Effect ◽  
Limited Statistical Power

Abstract. Ego depletion is under scrutiny for low replicability, possibly reflecting the limited statistical power available in between-subject designs. In response, we created a within-subject, repeated-measures ego-depletion paradigm that repeatedly alternated depletion and recovery manipulations. Each manipulation was followed by measuring subjective fatigue, mood, and self-control performance. Across 12 studies (N = 754), participants reliably reported having lower energy and mood after depleting manipulations compared to after recovery manipulations. Depletion manipulations did not consistently affect behavioral self-control, although the depletion effect was meta-analytically significant (d = .045). Furthermore, unintended fatigue and practice effects occurred over the course of the paradigm, systematically interfering with the intended depletion effects. We recommend that depletion research takes advantage of within-subject designs across multiple sessions to avoid spillover effects between measurements.

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.

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