Self-control—or the ability to subdue one's impulses, emotions, and behaviors to achieve long-term goals—is what separates modern people from their ancient ancestors and the rest of the animal kingdom.
Self-control is primarily rooted in the prefrontal cortex—the planning, problem-solving, and decision making center of the brain—which is significantly larger in humans than in other mammals.
The richness of nerve connections in the prefrontal cortex enables people to plan, evaluate alternative actions, and ideally avoid doing things they'll later regret, rather than immediately respond to every impulse as it arises.
The ability to exert self-control is often referred to as willpower. It allows people to direct their
attention despite the presence of competing stimuli, and it underlies all kinds of achievement, from school to the workplace. It benefits relationships as well. Impulsivity, Willpower, Ego Depletion Self-Control
Does the “Marshmallow Test" Predict Success?
Trying Versus Doing
Do We Overeat Because of Poor Self-Control? Why You Lose Self-Control
One of the most famous studies of self-control is known as “the marshmallow test,” which found that children who, left alone in a room with a plate containing a marshmallow, were able to resist eating the candy in order to be rewarded with two in the future, later showed numerous positive outcomes. Notably, they had higher academic achievement than those who had wolfed the treat down immediately.
The study’s results seemed to indicate that self-control is an innate ability with wide-reaching implications for people's lives,. Later studies have suggested that self-control actually changes significantly over a lifetime and can be improved with practice.
There is significant debate in science as to whether willpower is a finite resource. Some studies indicate that exercising willpower makes demands on mental energy. This concept, called ego depletion, is one possible explanation for why individuals are more apt to reach for a chocolate chip cookie when they're feeling overworked.
Recently, however, scientists have failed to replicate some of the studies underlying the concept of ego depletion. A better understanding of why individuals give in to some impulses—but are able to successfully resist others—is critical for helping people who suffer from addictive behaviors, impulsivity, and eating disorders.
Self-control—or the ability to subdue one's impulses, emotions, and behaviors to achieve long-term goals—is what separates modern people from their ancient ancestors and the rest of the animal kingdom.
Self-control is primarily rooted in the prefrontal cortex—the planning, problem-solving, and decision making center of the brain—which is significantly larger in humans than in other mammals.
The richness of nerve connections in the prefrontal cortex enables people to plan, evaluate alternative actions, and ideally avoid doing things they'll later regret, rather than immediately respond to every impulse as it arises.
The ability to exert self-control is often referred to as willpower. It allows people to direct their
attention despite the presence of competing stimuli, and it underlies all kinds of achievement, from school to the workplace. It benefits relationships as well. Impulsivity, Willpower, Ego Depletion Self-Control
Does the “Marshmallow Test" Predict Success?
Trying Versus Doing
Do We Overeat Because of Poor Self-Control? Why You Lose Self-Control
One of the most famous studies of self-control is known as “the marshmallow test,” which found that children who, left alone in a room with a plate containing a marshmallow, were able to resist eating the candy in order to be rewarded with two in the future, later showed numerous positive outcomes.
Notably, they had higher academic achievement than those who had wolfed the treat down immediately.
The study’s results seemed to indicate that self-control is an innate ability with wide-reaching implications for people's lives,. Later studies have suggested that self-control actually changes significantly over a lifetime and can be improved with practice.
There is significant debate in science as to whether willpower is a finite resource. Some studies indicate that exercising willpower makes demands on mental energy.
This concept, called ego depletion, is one possible explanation for why individuals are more apt to reach for a chocolate chip cookie when they're feeling overworked.
Recently, however, scientists have failed to replicate some of the studies underlying the concept of ego depletion.
A better understanding of why individuals give in to some impulses—but are able to successfully resist others—is critical for helping people who suffer from addictive behaviors, impulsivity, and eating disorders.
No comments:
Post a Comment