(C8894) Self-Regulation – Essential Reading (b), Week 3
(C8894) Self-Regulation: Essential Reading (b), Week 3
Why self-control seems (but may not be) limited
Inzlicht, M., Schmeichel, B. J., & Macrae, C. N. (2014). Why self-control seems (but
may not be) limited. Trends in cognitive sciences, 18(3), 127-133.
Key terms
Ego depletion – Period of time when individuals are briefly less successful at
performing self-control. (Page 127)
Self-control – Mental processes which allow individuals to alter their behaviour,
emotions and thoughts so they can reach their goals (1). (Page 127)
Glucose – Carbohydrate/sugar absorbed into the blood stream during digestion.
(Page 127)
Resource Model
The resource model argues that restraint is based on a limited resource or energy.
Performing self-control depletes this limited resource/energy, leading to ego
depletion. (Page 127)
When individuals engage in a motivationally demanding activity at the first task,
their performance will be diminished for the second task (Hagger et al., 2010).
(Page 128)
However, some researchers suggest that experiments explaining this model do
not observe resource depletion directly. (Page 128)
The only direct attempt to measure putative resource comes from work studying
glucose (Gailliot et al., 2007). (Page 128)
- This research argues that performing a motivationally demanding task will
lead to reductions in blood glucose, which then lead to reduced self-control,
and then ego depletion. (Page 128)
Process model of self-control depletion
This model integrates ideas from multiple theories, such as: (Page 128)
i. Opportunity cost model of performance (Kurzban et al., 2013)
ii. Labour/leisure trade-offs in cognitive control (Kool & Botvinick, 2012)
iii. Psychology of fatigue (Hockey, 2013)
Ultimate account: Model is based on evolutionary considerations which lead
organisms to prefer an optimal trade-off between exploitation and exploration
(Tooby & Cosmides, 2005) (Page 129)
Intermediate account: Labour economics: As time is limited, people prefer to
balance rewarding labour and rewarding leisure (Kagel et al., 1995) (Page 129)
Intermediate account: Even though individuals usually avoid hard work (Hull,
1943) and cognitive exertion (Kool et al., 2010), they be especially unmotivated to
engage if they have just finished working. (Page 129)
Proximate account: Initial acts of self-control lead to a shift in motivation, from
‘have-to’ to ‘want-to’. ‘Want-to’ tasks are completed because the individual feels
that they are enjoyable and meaningful. (Hockey et al., 2013) (Page 130)
- However, the distinction between ‘have-to’ and ‘want-to’ is not always clear
Depletion fuels desire (Hoffman et al., 2012)
