Abstract
Based on theoretical and empirical studies dealing with the facilitation and inhibiting effects of different psychic distances (low vs. high construal-level), we tested if the exhibition of self-control under a high construal-level is a more efficient and less resource exhausting mode, compared to the exhibition of self-control under a low construal level. Prior studies already showed that the execution of self-control results in a lower construal-level and a high construal-level has facilitating effects on self-control. We expand upon these studies by: 1. operationalizing the whole process of ego-depletion through two sequential self-control tasks, 2. combining one ego-depletion and one construal-level manipulation in a 2 by 2 design and 3. varying the sequence of manipulations. In Experiment 1, we examined how the manipulation of the participants before and after being depleted, affects the self-control performance in a final task. In Experiment 2, we re-tested the offset of ego-depletion on another self-control measurement, with the condition of a high construal-level manipulated first. In Experiment 1 the ego-depletion effect remained existent when the construal-level was manipulated after the execution of self-control in a stroop test, but it was offset, when the construal-level was manipulated before the stoop test. Drawing on measurements of the perceived available self-control resources in Experiment 2, we were able to rule out an alternative approach, explaining similar results by an attentional shift towards reduced resources under low construal-level.
Highlights
The core idea of the construal-level theory (Liberman et al, 2002; Liberman & Trope, 2008; Trope & Liberman, 2010) consists of a continuum from a very concrete to a very abstract mode of thinking
The third dimension of social distance refers to a continuum of intimate to more formal social relationships, which can be exemplified by either talking with a close friend versus talking with the CEO of a company
The first manipulation check consisted of an item directly after the ego-depletion inducing stroop test, which measured “self-reported efficiency”
Summary
The core idea of the construal-level theory (Liberman et al, 2002; Liberman & Trope, 2008; Trope & Liberman, 2010) consists of a continuum from a very concrete to a very abstract mode of thinking (often referred to as concrete versus abstract mind-set). To apply a rule similar to a behavioral intention that enables a more automatic processing without using substantial self-control resources We assume, that the latter is more probable in the state of an abstract mind-set, because an abstract mind-set enables better long-term goal guided processing and is more adequate for the adoption of an unusual rule to process the non-dominating but requested response in a stroop task (identifying font colors). Contrary to previous explanations that are mainly based on attention shifts away from reduced self-control resources (Agrawal & Wan, 2009; Wan & Agrawal, 2011), we considered that different mind-sets would change the subsequent execution of self-control This variation of the preand post-manipulation of the construal-level before and after the depleting stroop test enables us to test the outlined assumption of an altered way of executing self-control. A pure attentional shift away from the limited resources of self-control under high construal-level should be independent from the sequence of the manipulations
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