There's another part of self control that I wasn't able to incorporate into my essay but that I find fascinating: ego depletion. This term basically explores the idea that self control is like a muscle that can be depleted. Ego depletion helps explain why dieters often cheat and/or binge eat at night; they've been exerting self control all day, so by nightfall they've completely exhausted their willpower and give in to their wants.
She'll regret this in the morning when her self control "muscle" is replenished
(http://www.diseaseproof.com/uploads/image/DP%20-%20the%20anatomy%20of%20a%20binge.jpg)
Many experiments have been done to test this theory. One involved having participants watch a comedy routine and try to use self control to prevent themselves from laughing, while another group did not undergo this exercise. When both groups were tested on another task involving self control, those who didn't have to control their laughter did more poorly than the other group.
Of course, this doesn't mean that there is no hope for those with weaker self control "muscles"--like any other muscle, the self control muscle can be "toned" with proper "exercise." Exerting self control on a regular basis can actually improve one's ability to sustain self control for longer.
Sources:
Baumeister, R.F. "Ego Depletion: Is the Active Self a Limited Resource?" Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1998. 74: 1252-1265.
I really find the issue of self-control an interesting aspect for consideration. So other than "exercising" self-control regularly are there other theories on how to improve one's own capacity for self-control? For me, I used to exercise like crazy, every morning without fail. It was like I could not function the rest of the day without exercising. Now that I'm out of the habit, though, it has been impossible to start again (laaaaaack of control on my part, haha). Is that along the same lines or simply an issue of habit?
ReplyDeleteThis may be obvious, but the topic of self-control in regards to eating reminds me of the importance of eating breakfast. It is often said that people who eat breakfast are thinner on average. I never understood how that was possible, because I assumed that eating breakfast was just added calories to one's day. But, I then learned that people who eat breakfast are likely to be thinner because they are less likely to binge at their other meals. Now that I regularly eat breakfast, I realize that I am less hungry during lunch and dinner. So rather than trying to "control" yourself, and possibly skip breakfast or eat lightly all day, it is better to eat a balanced amount throughout the day so that you do not lose control at night.
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