Self-control Strength Research Articles

The Predictive Value of Virtue: Many Virtues Predict Lower Depression and Anxiety Symptom Scores Among College Students…But Gratitude Dominates

Depression and anxiety symptoms have risen in the last decade, especially among college students. Virtues are potentially strong predictive factors of mental health symptoms, but a minimal amount of research has explored which virtues are the strongest predictors. We examined the relative predictive strength of gratitude, forgiveness, patience, intellectual humility, and self-control using dominance analyses. Results suggested that gratitude had the strongest predictive value for lower anxiety and depressive symptom scores compared to forgiveness, intellectual humility, patience, and self-control. An implication of these findings is that when considering intervention work with young emerging adults, researchers may do well to start with gratitude, then promote other virtues such as forgiveness and self-control.

Self-Control Depletion, Frustration Tolerance, Irritability, and Engagement in Risky Behaviors in College Students With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Risk

College students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often have poor self-control, low frustration tolerance (FT), and associated irritability. These features are associated with engagement in risky behaviors (ERBs). The Self-Control Strength Model (SCSM) was used to examine relationships between ADHD symptoms, FT, irritability, and self-control resource depletion and associations with ERBs in 247 college students randomized into depletion/non-depletion groups. Participants completed state and trait measures and two experimental tasks: the Stroop Color-Word Task to deplete resources, and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (Computerized) to induce frustration and measure frustration tolerance. Linear and logistic regressions were used to analyze associations, and demonstrated that ADHD symptoms and FT were positively associated with several ERBs. However, due to failure of the Stroop to adequately deplete self-control resources, the SCSM cannot be fully analyzed. Ultimately, these results provide additional support for positive associations between ADHD symptoms, state irritability, and ERB in college students.

Ego Depletion Hampers Logical Reasoning and Monitoring Accuracy: An Experimental Study

Irrespective of much research examining the effects of ego depletion on self-control related measures in social psychology, inadequate attention has been paid regarding whether ego depletion influences on logical reasoning performance. To address this gap, this experimental study randomly assigned Chinese college students (n = 112) to either an ego-depletion or control condition. After manipulating self-control strength through typing words without an e-task, they were instructed to work on logical reasoning questions as well as surveys assessing their cognitive, motivational, and metacognitive processes. The results supported our hypotheses regarding logical reasoning and monitoring accuracy, as depleted students were significantly outperformed by non-depleted students. Furthermore, mental effort was a significant mediator between the ego depletion manipulation and logical reasoning performance. Our findings contribute to the ongoing debate about the existence of the ego depletion effect. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed and more future research is needed.

To the victor belong the spoils? A theoretical investigation of star employee hierarchies

Star employees are characterized by their high-status position in organizations. Yet, important distinctions in stardom are likely to exist among stars within an organization. These distinctions, in turn, may have important implications for not only the organization but also the stars themselves. Examining star employees via a resource perspective, we integrate conservation of resources theory and the theory of self-control strength to examine the risks and benefits associated with different levels of stardom. In this work we introduce and investigate two unique star profiles identified as the “superstar” and the “understudy.” Specifically, we examine both the potentially unforeseen risks associated with superstar status and the unanticipated benefits associated with understudy status. We further consider how characteristics of stars and contextual factors may serve as important contingencies. Given the extent to which stars guide organizational success and the intention of many employees to reach various levels of stardom, this work has important theoretical and practical implications.

Adolescents Problem Behaviors during COVID-19: Types, Risk Factors, and Interventions

COVID-19 has brought many issues to our society. One among them is the problem behaviors in adolescents. Compared to adults, adolescents are more vulnerable to both the virus and stressors brought by the pandemic. This article focuses on adolescents problem behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on previous studies, we analyze four types of problem behaviors that are prevalent during the pandemic in depth depression and anxiety, suicidal ideation, internet addiction, and truancy. According to their definitions, we categorize depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation as internal problem behaviors, and internet addiction and truancy as external problem behaviors. The risk factors and intervention strategies are also discussed in line with existing research. Risk factors are discussed from the individual (big five personality traits and self-control strength), family (family relationship), and school aspects (interpersonal relationship and academic stress). Intervention strategies are also explored at individual, family, and school levels. Interventions discussed in this article include logotherapy, physical activities, attachment-based family therapy, and peer education.

Toward controlling of a pandemic: How self-control ability influences willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine

What influences people's vaccine attitudes and intentions in the combat against the COVID-19 pandemic? Extending beyond health factors, the present research examines whether non-health-specific factors—such as one's self-control ability—influence individual attitudes toward vaccination. Drawing on the social psychology literature, we propose that self-control, which is often associated with adherence to social norms and with engagement in socially desirable behaviors, can lead to more favorable attitudes toward vaccines. Study 1 provided correlational evidence for our theoretical perspective that students scoring high on trait self-control expressed less vaccine hesitancy than students scoring low on self-control. Employing a more representative population, Study 2 examined the relationship with behaviors. It was found that non-student adults with higher self-control strength levels were more likely to accept vaccine appointments opportunities than those with lower self-control strength levels. Using an experimental design, Study 3 found that participants exerting a high level of effort for attentional self-control in the incongruent Stroop task condition showed lower COVID-19 vaccine acceptance than participants in the congruent condition. In sum, our research provides the first experimental evidence that high self-control can have a reliable impact on individual perceptions of vaccination.

Elites Do Not Deplete - No Effect of Prior Mental Exertion on Subsequent Shooting Performance in Elite Shooters.

In order to perform at the highest level, elite shooters have to remain focused during the whole course of a tournament, which regularly lasts multiple hours. Investing self-control over extended time periods is often associated with lower levels of perceived self-control strength (i.e., the subjective estimation of how much mental effort one is capable of investing in a given task) and impaired performance in several sports-related domains. However, previous findings on the effects of prior self-control efforts on shooting performance have been mixed, as elite shooters seem to be less affected by preceding self-control demanding tasks than sub-elite athletes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of self-control on shooting performance in elite shooters. Hence, we randomly assigned elite shooters to an experimental (n = 12) or a control condition (n = 11) and asked them to perform a series of 40 shots at baseline (T1) and again after a task which either did or did not require self-control (T2). Additionally, we continuously measured the shooters’ level of perceived self-control strength. We assumed that in elite athletes, shooting accuracy as well as the perceived level of self-control strength would not be significantly affected over time from T1 to T2 in both conditions. In line with our assumptions, Bayesian linear mixed effect models revealed that shooting performance remained relatively stable in both conditions over time and the conditions also did not differ significantly in their perceived levels of self-control strength. Contrary to resource-based theories of self-control, these results speak against the idea of a limited self-control resource as previous acts of self-control did not impair subsequent shooting performance in elite athletes.

Testing the Effects of a Preceding Self-Control Task on Decision-Making in Soccer Refereeing.

The present study tested the assumption that the momentary level of self-control strength affects the accuracy rates in a sports-related judgment and decision-making task. A total of N = 27 participants rated the veracity of 28 video-taped statements of soccer players who were interviewed by a non-visible referee after a critical game-related situation. In half of the videos, the players were lying, and in the other half, they were telling the truth. Participants were tested twice: once with temporarily depleted self-control strength and once with temporarily available self-control strength (order counterbalanced; measurements separated by exactly 7 days). Self-control strength was experimentally manipulated with the Stroop task. In line with two-process models of information processing, we hypothesized that under ego depletion, information is processed in a rather heuristic manner, leading to lower accuracy rates. Contrary to our expectations, the level of temporarily available self-control strength did not have an effect on accuracy rates. Limitations and implications for future research endeavors are discussed.

РЕЦЕПЦІЯ МАСКУЛІННИХ КОНЦЕПТІВ У ПОЕЗІЇ ВОЛОДИМИРА ЗАБАШТАНСЬКОГО

The article considers the artistic specificity of masculine concepts of Volodymyr Zabashtansky, due to the connection between the life path and creative heritage of the word-painter. It turns out that the basis for the artistic delineation of the male archetypal triad - fatherhood (archetype of the Father), strength (archetype of the Warrior) and power (archetype of the Leader) was the dramatic fate of the poet as a kind of public initiation, as the author was forcibly removed mutilation of the body. Particular attention is paid to outlining the affiliation of a lyrical hero or character to the male community, giving it a set of pronounced masculine traits. It is proved that the concept of male strength is associated with the strength of intelligence, feelings, spirituality, self-control and self-development. It is established that he acquires the features of the concept of wisdom, which is expressed by the author through the prism of awareness of the mission of man as a creator, which for him is identical to serving people - a purely male mission.

РЕЦЕПЦІЯ МАСКУЛІННИХ КОНЦЕПТІВ У ПОЕЗІЇ ВОЛОДИМИРА ЗАБАШТАНСЬКОГО

The article considers the artistic specificity of masculine concepts of Volodymyr Zabashtansky, due to the connection between the life path and creative heritage of the word-painter. It turns out that the basis for the artistic delineation of the male archetypal triad - fatherhood (archetype of the Father), strength (archetype of the Warrior) and power (archetype of the Leader) was the dramatic fate of the poet as a kind of public initiation, as the author was forcibly removed mutilation of the body. Particular attention is paid to outlining the affiliation of a lyrical hero or character to the male community, giving it a set of pronounced masculine traits. It is proved that the concept of male strength is associated with the strength of intelligence, feelings, spirituality, self-control and self-development. It is established that he acquires the features of the concept of wisdom, which is expressed by the author through the prism of awareness of the mission of man as a creator, which for him is identical to serving people - a purely male mission.

An investigation of the effects of self-reported self-control strength on shooting performance

During professional shooting tournaments, which typically last multiple hours, athletes must stay focused at all times in order to perform at their highest levels. Sustaining attention over extended periods of time relies on self-control. Crucially, perceived state self-control strength appears to wane as a function of task duration, which ultimately can impair shooting performance. In the present study, we tested the assumption that the level of self-reported self-control strength decreases over the course of a 1-h shooting task measured twice during a regular training day and separated by a 2-h break. Additionally, we assumed that shooting performance would be linked with fluctuations in self-control. A total of 21 shooters (14 elite and 7 sub-elite) took part in this study and were asked to perform a series of 10 shots at a standardized target, five times in the morning and five times in the afternoon (i.e., 100 shots total). The participants also reported their perceived state self-control strength at the baseline (prior to the start of the morning session as well as the afternoon session) and after a series of 10 shots each in the morning and afternoon (i.e., 12 measurements in total). In line with our hypotheses, we observed that perceived state self-control diminished with the number of shots performed, and that perceived state self-control could explain shooting performance. Additionally, these observations could explain the difference in shooting performance between elite and sub-elite athletes. The results suggest that the perception of self-control strength is highly important for optimal shooting performance. Practical implications are discussed.

Does state self-control depletion predict relationship functioning and partner aggression? An ecological momentary assessment study of community couples.

Intimate relationship functioning depends upon the ability to accommodate one's partner and to inhibit retaliatory and aggressive impulses when disagreements arise. However, accommodation and inhibition may be difficult when self-control strength is weak or depleted by prior exertion of self-control. The present study considered whether state self-control depletion prospectively predicts male and female self-reports of anger with partner and arguing with partner. Consistent with the I3 Model (Finkel, 2014, Adv Exp Soc Psychol, 49, 1-104), we also considered whether the association between elevated anger and arguing (i.e., instigation) and partner aggression was stronger when state self-control (i.e., inhibition) was depleted or among people high in negative urgency. In this ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study, heavy drinking married and cohabiting heterosexual couples (N = 191) responded to three randomly signaled reports each day for 30 days. Depletion predicted anger and arguing with partners both cross-sectionally and prospectively for men and women. However, after controlling for prior levels of anger and arguing, these effects were diminished, and supplemental analyses revealed that anger and arguing with partner predicted subsequent depletion. Anger and arguing were strongly associated with concurrent reports of partner aggression perpetration and victimization (verbal and/or physical). However, neither state self-control depletion nor negative urgency moderated these effects. Overall, results suggest a modest impact of depletion on daily couple functioning as well as a potential cyclical effect of arguing on depletion.

Self-Control, External Environment, and Delinquency: A Test of Self-Control Theory in Rural China.

Although self-control consistently emerges as one of the most robust correlates of delinquent behavior, limited empirical attempts have been made to explore the contextual variability of the relationship between self-control and delinquency outside of Western societies. Using data collected from 587 seventh- to ninth-grade students across 10 middle schools in a rural county of Southeast China, we examine self-control's efficacy in explaining juvenile delinquency in the presence of external environmental factors, and investigate relative strength of self-control and contextual factors in predicting delinquent behaviors. Our results confirm that self-control is an important predictor of delinquent behavior in a non-Western cultural context. However, certain environmental factors rooted in family, school, and peer groups are also shown to be the predictors of delinquent behavior where strength seems to exceed that of self-control. These findings shed more nuanced insights on the nexus between self-control, external situations, and delinquency, and in a broader sense, contribute to the elaboration of a more comprehensive understanding of self-control theory.

Self-control during daily work activities and work-to-nonwork conflict

Drawing on theories of self-regulation we propose that the nature of the activities performed at work, particularly those requiring self-control, can play an important role in the work-to-nonwork conflict process. We argue that because functional nonwork behavior requires continued self-control after work, occurrences of work-to-nonwork conflict will be more likely when one's limited self-control resources are expended during the day, and incidents of subsequent self-control failure in relation to the nonwork domain become more likely. We test hypotheses via a daily diary study, capturing the timing of different activities across a workday, along with independent ratings of how much self-control the activities require. We find, at the within-person level, that the extent that work activities performed that day require selfcontrol explains variance in work-to-nonwork conflict, beyond the effects of work hours and mediated by depleted state self-control capacity after work. Furthermore, afternoon self-controlled work activities, compared to morning, are more strongly associated with work-to-nonwork conflict. Against our hypothesis, low sleep quantity weakened the association between self-controlled work activities and self-control capacity. We discuss our findings in relation to the utility of self-regulation approaches to work-to-nonwork conflict based on the self-control strength model.

The “10 Mentality”: A Longitudinal Case Study of Self-Control Strength in Two Competitive Recurve Archers

In this case study, the authors’ aim was to apply the tenets of the strength model of self-control (Baumeister et al., 1998) with two Israeli competitive archers over the 2019–20 season. According to this model, the ability to control the self is based on a finite resource that can become temporarily depleted. Under ego depletion, subsequent self-control acts are executed less efficiently, potentially resulting in lower effort and attentional focus. Recurve archery is a closed, self-paced shooting sport, which requires exerting control over physical and mental elements. Archers’ ability to control their performance sequence is partly dependent on self-control. The two archers practiced (in consultation sessions, training and competitions, and independently) a range of well-established intervention techniques (e.g., self-talk, performance routines, mindfulness) designed to increase their self-control strength and focus on the present shot. Archers self-reported data on their trait and state of self-control and mental states during several performance situations in training and competition. The results indicated a complex self-control—performance relationship, potentially underlined by the athletes’ preperformance mental state, self-control strength, and subjective perceptions of temporarily available self-control resources. The archers’ and the authors’ reflections demonstrate the importance of incorporating self-control training in an idiosyncratic manner to achieve positive performance outcomes.

Time management disposition and related factors among nursing managers in China: A cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study was to gain a general overview of the time management disposition of clinical nursing managers in China and its related factors. Effective time management is important for managers to achieve organizational goals. However, there is a lack of big-sample research exploring the impact of psychological and socio-demographic characteristics on time management disposition. The study adopted a cross-sectional and descriptive design; 531 nursing managers from seven regions of China were recruited. The nursing managers performed best on sense of time's value, followed by time monitoring ability and sense of time efficacy. Time management disposition was predicted by self-efficacy, SDS scores, managerial experience, the character strength of self-control and number of children. The "norm" level of the Chinese clinical nursing managers' time management disposition was at a favourable level, but these managers performed poorly in the aspect of time monitoring. It is recommended that actions be taken to improve nursing managers' time management disposition in order to maximize their time-use efficiency and enhance the quality of nursing management. A greater understanding of nursing managers' time management disposition will provide a reference for subsequent actions to improve nursing managers' time management behaviour, which in turn will improve the quality and efficiency of nursing management.

Creative Flexibility Performance Is Neither Related to Anxiety, Nor to Self-Control Strength, Nor to Their Interaction.

Previous research has reliably found that self-control strength moderates the anxiety-performance relationship for cognitive and perceptual-motor tasks that involve executive functioning. In the present preregistered experiment (N = 200; https://aspredicted.org/a775h.pdf), we investigated whether the interaction of anxiety and self-control also predicts creative flexibility performance. According to the Attentional Control Theory, anxiety can impair executive functioning. In the case that creative flexibility relies on executive functions, anxiety should therefore interfere with creative flexibility performance. However, self-control strength has been demonstrated to serve as a buffer against the negative effects of anxiety on executive functioning. Therefore, we assumed that there will be a negative relationship between anxiety and creative flexibility performance, and that this negative relationship would be more pronounced for participants who are low compared to high in momentary self-control strength. Analogous to the previous studies, we manipulated the participants’ self-control strength (ego depletion vs. no depletion) and subsequently induced a potentially threatening test situation. The participants then completed a measure of their state anxiety and a standardized test of creative flexibility. Contrary to our expectation, self-control strength, state anxiety, and their interaction did not predict creative flexibility performance. Complementary Bayesian hypothesis testing revealed strong support for the null hypothesis. Therefore, we conclude that, at least under certain conditions, creative flexibility performance may be unrelated to resource-dependent executive functions.

Unable to Resist the Temptation to Tell the Truth or to Lie for the Organization? Identification Makes the Difference

Previous research indicates that the depletion of self-regulatory resources can promote unethical behavior that benefits the self. Extending this literature, we focus on norm-transgressing behavior that is intended to primarily benefit others. In particular, we predicted a differing effect of self-regulatory resource depletion on dishonesty that benefits one’s group, depending on the degree of identification with the group. Following a dual process approach, we argue that if identification with the group is strong, then people may have an automatic inclination to benefit their group even perhaps by lying. In contrast, if identification with the group is weak, then the default, uncontrolled impulse may be to tell the truth. Accordingly, identification with the social group should interact with self-regulatory resource depletion in predicting group-benefiting dishonesty. Focusing on pro-organizational dishonesty, we tested our hypotheses in one field study with 1269 employees and in one experimental study with 71 university students. As predicted, the results revealed a highly significant interaction of organizational identification and self-control strength: Depletion of self-regulatory resources increased the level of pro-organizational dishonesty among those who identify highly with the organization, but decreased the level of such behavior among those who identify less.

On the importance of self-control strength for regular physical activity

ObjectivesPhysical activity intentions do not automatically lead to physical activity behavior, indicating that there are other (psychological) factors involved. In the present study, we tested the assumption that self-control strength is required to bridge the intention-behavior gap in terms of initial and weekly intentions. DesignA total of N = 259 individuals, who registered for a weekly university sports course, were followed for 13 weeks. MethodsAt baseline, trait self-control strength as well as the intention to take part in the respective sports course on a regular basis were measured. Then, we registered weekly participation and asked the participants after each training session to report their intention to show up at next week’s training session. ResultsDespite very high baseline as well as weekly exercise intentions, the participation rate dropped considerably over time, indicating a large intention-behavior gap. The association of within-person fluctuations in weekly intentions and actual participation was moderated by self-control: Only in individuals with high levels of trait self-control strength stronger intentions were associated with a higher chance of actual re-attendance. Baseline intention was also associated with participation but not moderated by self-control. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that high levels of self-control strength are beneficial in order to translate short-term intentions into actual behavior. Practical implications on how to improve self-control are discussed.

The preference for sustainable coffee and a new approach for dealing with hypothetical bias

There is a large literature on the effects of sustainability labels. However, much of this research is based on stated preference methods, thus hypothetical bias must be dealt with. Hypothetical bias can be defined as the difference between stated, hypothetical behavior and actual behavior in the real market. We conducted an online choice experiment with coffees, of which some were labeled as water saving. To mitigate hypothetical bias, we used “cheap talk”. We find a statistically significant effect of a 6% higher choice probability and €1.30 higher willingness to pay for labeled coffee. However, we also implemented the water label in a real online shop, and we do not find this effect. Assuming that hypothetical bias especially affects individuals who are more concerned about their appearance and who lack self-control, we augment our baseline models with interaction terms, estimating separate coefficients for respondents who differ in their concern for appearance and strength of self-control. This approach reveals the hypothetical bias and it controls it away. We propose that our interaction terms are a simple robustness check that complements existing approaches to deal with hypothetical bias.