Abstract
Prior research implicates ego-depletion in directed-attention failure, but provides few explanations for the effect. I theorize that ego-depletion weakens ones ability to maintain cognitive-arousal in non-stimulating situations, which increases proneness to boredom. In one study, 90 participants first either underwent ego-depletion (white-bear thought-suppression) or a non-depleting control activity (solved arithmetic problems). They then had their arousal manipulated by either performing an arousal-bolstering physical exercise or waited sitting for an equivalent amount of time in a quite room to facilitate low arousal. All participants then completed the continuous performance task (CPT) as a measure of directed-attention. Attention was measured in terms of accuracy (number of errors) on the CPT. Results revealed a moderated-mediation such that without an arousal-inducing exercise, ego-depleted participants experienced greater boredom and performed worse on the CPT. However, with an arousal-inducing exercise, the effect of ego-depletion on CPT performance disappeared and the effect on boredom was reversed.
Highlights
A culmination of research from the past 15 years supports the theory that self-control behaves as a limited mental resource
Without an arousal-bolstering exercise, ego-depleted participants reported greater sleepiness during the continuous performance task (CPT) (M = 9.4, SD = 1.8) than those who solved simple arithmetic problems (M = 6.8, SD = 3.5); this effect was large, d = .93 (Δ = .74). This difference in reported sleepiness during the CPT between the ego-depleted and arithmetic participants disappeared for those participants who did an arousal-inducing exercise
Directed-attention performance was measured in terms of the number of errors made on the CPT with more errors indicated worse attention
Summary
A culmination of research from the past 15 years supports the theory that self-control behaves as a limited mental resource. When people exert self-control in one instance, their subsequent attempts to use self-control are impaired, even on otherwise unrelated tasks (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice, 1998; Muraven & Baumeister, 2000). This phenomenon is called ego-depletion and one is described as being ego-depleted when their state self-regulatory ability/motivation has been compromised by a recent exertion of willpower. The ego-depleting effects of sustaining attention are so widely acknowledged and accepted, that focusing attention is occasionally used as a method for inducing a state of ego-depletion (e.g., Galliot et al, 2007). Few explanations for ego-depletion’s effect on attention have been offered
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
